News and Investigations

On Saturday, August 23rd at around 5:35 pm, PCSO deputies responded to the area of Walk-In-Water Road and Cypresswood Drive, southeast of Lake Wales, following multiple reports of gunfire.

As the first deputy arrived, she heard rounds fly over her head, and she immediately took cover. 

Additional deputies arrived and a search for the source of the gunshots got underway.

During the investigation, a Chevy Tahoe that was parked on Cypresswood Drive was found to have two bullet holes. The owner of the Tahoe said he had the rear tailgate open and was reaching inside when he heard the two rounds hit his vehicle. He was not injured.

The gunfire was determined to originate from the property at 8854 Oakwood Drive, which is owned by 31-year old Jonatan Omar Amaria.

Amaria was present, along with four other men who were hired by Amaria to remodel his home.

Amaria was physically and verbally uncooperative during the investigation, and lied about not having a firearm at the scene. He told deputies he had only been target-shooting with a pellet gun. 

Interviews were conducted with the four employees and a search warrant was executed on the property.

Deputies recovered a .45 caliber pistol that Amaria had hidden in his van. An extensive canvas of the area led to multiple shell casings being recovered on the property.

A witness stated that Amaria had been observed shooting with a handgun into a body of water next to his property. 

Jonatan Amaria was arrested and charged with: Shooting into an Occupied Vehicle (F2), Tampering with Evidence (F3), Discharging a Firearm in Public (M1), Resisting without Violence (M1), and Culpable Negligence (M2).