Local Officers Commended For Solving Ag Crimes

Two members of Highlands County's law enforcement community received recognition Monday from the Polk County Sheriff's Office, when members arrived in Highlands County to commend sheriff's agricultural Deputy Fred Tagtmeier and Lake Placid Police Officer Eddie San Miguel for their roles in solving agricultural crimes there.

Polk County Sheriff's Lt. Rick Holland and Capt. Brett Williams, with its Special Operations Unit, said if not for the tenacity and commitment of these two law enforcement officer identifying suspects, they believe that they would have continued to cause trouble in our communities and businesses.

"The joint operation between Polk County Sheriff's Office, Highlands County Sheriff's Office and the Lake Placid Police Department was initially launched in response to numerous thefts of aluminum citrus ladders, across county lines," a news release stated.

Both Tagtmeier and San Miguel helped the Polk County Sheriff's Office break up this ring that operated in Polk, Highlands and Hardee counties.

Holland stated that the information provided by Deputy Tagtmeier and Officer San Miguel led to the arrest of three suspects and the recovery of $39,000 worth of stolen agriculture equipment, a sheriff's news release stated.

The three suspects were from Polk County.

Sheriff Susan Benton and Police Chief Phil Williams, who were on hand for the presentation of the commendations, both praised their members for their commitment to solving crimes, recovering stolen property, and the overall teamwork shown between the three law enforcement agencies involved.

"It was an awesome case," said Benton on Thursday. "They did a great job clearing many cases in Polk County and several in Highlands County and recovered thousands of dollars in property.

"It's another example of how agencies working together in cooperation can accomplish so much more than working in a vacuum independently."

Chief Williams said Thursday it was a pleasure to work with the other law enforcement agencies.

"And it's especially a pleasure to furnish an asset (such as Officer San Miguel) that resulted in such a favorable outcome," he said.