Colorado incident similar to Lake Placid dragging

News this week out of Thornton, Colo., is tragically similar to an incident the Lake Placid Police Department is still working on.

Authorities in this town of more than 100,000 people - sixth most populous in the state - say a 16-year-old boy died after he was hit by a car and then beaten by its occupants.

Matt Barnes, Thornton Police spokesman, said a house party spilled into a street about 1:26 a.m. Monday, when the teenager was struck by the car. Barnes added that people in the car started beating the boy and others around him.

Several arrests have been made in Lake Placid since a Feb. 7 incident where two men were dragged by a pickup truck approximately 370 feet down East Royal Palm Avenue.

The driver, Christopher Sullivan, 20, has been charged with two counts of attempted vehicular homicide, three counts of attempted aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and leaving the scene of an accident with serious bodily injury.

He is set for arraignment on March 15.

David Lee Caudill, 31, and Larry Brian Hendrix, 19, were both in stable condition as of last Friday at Lee Memorial Hospital, according to Lake Placid Police Lt. James Fansler.

Hendrix was initially brought in with critical injuries he suffered from the dragging.

Caudill was reportedly kicked and hit with a golf club and brick by three juveniles after he'd already been hurt in the dragging.

Those three - Alberto Arceo, 17, Edward Luis Noland, 16, and Shayna Michelle Souza, 15 - were all charged with attempted felony murder for injuring Caudill further.

Fansler said more arrests are expected in the case. He thinks the youths would be tried as adults, but that decision is left up to the state attorney's office.

The community of Lake Placid has dealt with instances of teenagers fighting after school, but generally there are no serious injuries, according to Fansler. Incidents like the one from Feb. 7 are especially rare.

"This is kind of an isolated incident," Fansler said.

Sullivan also allegedly tried to hit the juveniles with his truck after one reached inside and stole a Snickers bar.

Sgt. John Barcinas, with the Highlands County Sheriff's Office, said he has not had any incidents like that since he took over as school resource over a year ago.

"They're pretty good," Barcinas said. "It comes in spurts. Knock on wood, it's been a real good year."

There was concern earlier this week after a large group of teens were seen heading toward Kenilworth Boulevard two afternoons in a row. Fears were that a fight might be going on, according to Barcinas.

He said there were no problems whatsoever and the group had just left Sebring High School for the day.

Descriptions have been vague, but a group of "young adults" have been responsible for recent robberies in Avon Park, according to Chief Matt Doughney.

Avon Park police are still looking for the individuals who reportedly attacked two people in a field behind Ridgedale Apartments and took their wallets.

In a separate incident, a group of three attacked an Avon Park man as he walked home from a convenience store near the corner of Memorial Drive and East Main Street, Doughney previously said.

The victim was bashed in the back of the head and lost consciousness briefly. His wallet was also taken.

Doughney said Wednesday no arrests have been made in the cases, but that investigators are following up a tip they received from Heartland Crime Stoppers.