William Ormand III

Shoe Print, Fingerprints Lead To Arrest Of Lake Wales Man In Polk County Boat Theft

William Ormand III
William Ormand III

POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A Lake Wales man is behind bars after Polk County Sheriff’s Office detectives used a combination of old-fashioned detective work and modern forensic techniques to link him to the theft of a boat and trailer earlier this month.

The saga began on January 5th, when deputies responded to a report of a burglary and theft on Mammoth Grove Road in Lake Wales. The victim reported their boat and trailer stolen.

READ: Apopka Woman’s Wrong-Way Driving Leads To Duo’s Arrest In Polk County

A witness provided a crucial lead, stating that they saw the stolen trailer being towed by a red 4-door Dodge pickup truck and suggested a possible suspect: William Ormand III, who was known to work in the area and drive a matching vehicle.

The stolen boat and trailer were soon located at the Lake Easy boat ramp in Babson Park by an officer from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission. PCSO detectives then interviewed Ormand, who denied any involvement in the crime and claimed he had not been at the victim’s property.

READ: Zephyrhills Woman Dies In Tampa I-275 Crash Involving Abandoned Vehicle

However, detectives noticed a distinct similarity between the sole of Ormand’s boot and footprints found in the sand at the crime scene. When confronted with this evidence, Ormand immediately requested an attorney.

The investigation continued, and on January 15th, the PCSO’s Identification Section confirmed that fingerprints lifted from the stolen boat matched Ormand’s. This solidified the evidence against him.

Three days later, on January 18th, Ormand was located and arrested. He was booked into the Polk County Jail on charges of burglary and grand theft.

Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.

Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.

Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.

Login To Facebook To Comment