Bartow Police have arrested three suspects believed to be involved in the beating and shooting of an elderly Bartow man on Jan. 15, and they’re working to arrest more.

  • One suspect a juvenile from Winter Haven
  • Tip, info from multiple sources led to arrests
  • Suspects believed to members of a gang

Two of the suspects arrested are juveniles - ages 17 and 15. The other was 19 year old Stanley Smith, of Lake Wales.

The three have been charged with aggravated battery on a person 65 years old or older, robbery with a firearm, and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

Surveillance video in the area, a tip from a probation officer, and interviews with some people who knew the suspects led Bartow Police to arrest them.

“I just think you’re talking about a group of individual thugs who made a decision to go out on the weekend and see how many crimes they could commit,” said Chief Joe Hall.

Hall believes they may be in a gang. He believes they were in a stolen car at the time of the crime. Investigators said the three may also be involved in other crimes around Polk County.

Detectives aren’t sure who was the shooter.

“We are still piecing that together," said Det. Jason Griffith. "At this point, it’s kind of some 'he said she said.'”

Investigators said the juvenile had a lengthy criminal record, including "possession of firearm by a delinquent, burglaries, thefts and so forth,” according to Griffith.

The elderly man was walking with an 88-year-old woman in Mosaic Park at the time. She said she’s relieved they were caught.

“It’s good they got them. I think they should be punished," said the woman, who asked we not use her name in our story. "Especially the one who fired the shots. He definitely should do enough time to grow old to know what’s he done and what he could’ve done."

Her friend who was shot was released from the hospital Jan. 17, just three days after the incident. He said he felt blessed and was glad there were some arrests.  

"In the 35 years that I've been doing this particular job, I don't think I've seen as many cases as we've seen in the last three years of juvenile that we've seen here in the Polk county area," Hall said. "I'm not talking about  property crime, I'm talking about violent crimes. This was violent crime."