Suspect caught in Lake Wales vandalism; police say he had ties to competing company
Share and Follow

LAKE WALES, Fla. (WFLA) — Months after a Lake Wales insurance business was vandalized with Molotov cocktails and the words, “Civil War Trump,” detectives believe they have cracked the case.

Lake Wales police said Thursday they identified Jason Roberts as the suspect responsible for vandalizing the UniVista Insurance business on March 20.

Roberts, they discovered, is the brother of the co-owner of Logical Insurance, a competing insurance company in the same plaza as UniVista.

Investigators said they were able to develop Roberts as a suspect using surveillance footage. The video showed a light-colored Toyota Prius in the plaza around the same time two bottles of flammable liquid were thrown through the front lobby glass of UniVista.

(UniVista Insurance)

The Molotov cocktails scorched the floor and filled the space with smoke.

Police also found the words, “Civil War Trump” spray painted on the business, and a bullet hole in a wall directly opposite the front door. The bullet traveled through two rooms and was found lodged in a wall, according to authorities.

The businessowner, German Portillo, told News Channel 8 he’s owned UniVista Insurance for eight years, but had only been open at the location for three weeks.

“What is the message that you want, that you want to give? Because apparently there was a message sent. You want me out of here? Why? You want me to do business? Why don’t you like me? Why? That’s my question,” Portillo said immediately after the incident.

Detectives later determined that the Toyota Prius seen in the area belonged to Sarasota Pathology, a company in which Roberts was the courier supervisor for their subsidiary, SaraPath Diagnostics.

Officials said Roberts resigned on March 24 after not showing up for work for at least two days in a row. The company’s HR director informed detectives that Roberts had no legitimate work-related business in Lake Wales at the time of the March 20 incident.

Investigators found Roberts on July 17 in Jasper, Georgia. Pickens County deputies assisted in taking Roberts into custody.

According to Lake Wales police, Roberts is being charged with armed burglary, arson, shooting into a dwelling, felony criminal mischief, discharging a firearm in public and two counts of possession of fire bombs.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

Waymo Expands Robotaxi Services: Key Details on Their Highway Rollout

SAN FRANCISCO – Waymo is set to expand its autonomous vehicle operations…

Court Set to Review Legal Challenge on Prosecutor’s Appointment in Cases Against James Comey and Letitia James

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – In a courtroom drama set to unfold this Thursday,…

Tragic Market Accident in South Korea: Truck Collision Leaves 2 Dead, 18 Injured

SEOUL – A tragic incident unfolded at a bustling outdoor market in…

US Bishops Implement Nationwide Ban on Gender-Affirming Care in Catholic Hospitals: A New Directive

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops took a decisive step on Wednesday…

Chicago Day Care Worker Released from Immigration Detention Following Strong Community Support

CHICAGO – In a development that has brought relief to many, Diana…

Starbucks Workers Stage Major 65-Store Strike on Red Cup Day: What It Means for Customers and the Company

Over a thousand unionized Starbucks employees are set to strike at 65…

Asian Markets Show Varied Performance Amidst Wall Street’s Record Fluctuations

In the bustling financial world of Manila, Asian markets displayed varied performances…

Disney’s Streaming Success and Thriving Parks Boost Q4, While TV Networks and Films Face Challenges

In its latest financial report, Disney delivered a mixed performance for the…