In what reads like a scene plucked from a crime drama, Winter Haven's own Kelvin Smith, a 29-year-old convicted felon, elevated his criminal resume after an evening that culminated in car theft, armed intimidation, and illegal substance possession. As confirmed in a social media post by Winter Haven Public Safety Department, the events transpired on Saturday, where Smith, posturing as a friend's acquaintance, commandeered the victim's vehicle after a questionable series of events.
The victim's ordeal began under the guise of assistance, as they picked up Smith, later identified by law enforcement, after an 8 p.m. rendezvous orchestrated by a female associate; however, the drive devolved swiftly when Smith seized control of the car, wielding the threat of a hidden firearm, they were led to his residence. The rambling narrative of the night proceeds with Smith demanding the pair to "not leave him," something that quickly transitioned into a coercive act as he snatched the car keys and showcased the concealed gun, setting off a chain of fear-fueled decisions by the two victims in which they decided to flee and alert the authorities fearing for their safety and future wellbeing.
Smith's freedom was short-lived, as Winter Haven Police, collaborating with the Polk County Sheriff's Office, mobilized resources to track and apprehend him. The arrest came with findings of MDMA on Smith's person and, nestled inside the commandeered vehicle, trafficker volumes of narcotics including Fentanyl and Methamphetamine, the latter along with drug paraphernalia such as syringes. Tucked away in the backpack, law enforcement found fateful evidence sealing Smith's fate: additional packets of MDMA, more of the white powdery drugs, and, punctuating the cache, a handgun.
The capture of Smith and the recovery of illicit substances, as detailed by the Winter Haven Public Safety Department, unravel the narrative of a convicted felon unable to deviate from the lure of criminality; despite his claims of mere possession at the behest of others, denial of knowledge regarding the firearm—Smith faces severe legal repercussions. This includes a litany of felony and misdemeanor charges that hinge on armed trafficking, weapon possession by a convicted felon, and drug paraphernalia possession, reminiscent, if not reminiscent of his past convictions which include Possession of Methamphetamine and Burglary/Robbery both stamped on 11/15/2023.
