Winter Haven police search for suspect accused of carjacking friend's vehicle at knifepoint

WINTER HAVEN — Winter Haven police are searching for a man armed with a knife who is accused of carjacking a friend's Nissan Altima on Thursday.

Tommy Harwell, 31, of Central Avenue, W., faces an armed carjacking charge after police said he placed a kitchen knife to a woman's throat and ordered her out of her car.

The incident occurred about 5:45 p.m. at the Banyan Beach Motel, 1630 Sixth Street, N.W., police said.

Earlier, Harwell had seen a former co-worker walk from Publix to another store in the Northgate shopping plaza. The two had worked together at Winter Haven Hospital earlier this year, police reported.

He asked her to help jump-start his car at the motel. Once they arrived at the motel, Harwell walked into the front office. When he returned, Harwell entered the passenger side door of the woman's car and placed a sharp kitchen knife to her throat, police said. He ordered her out of the car several times as she grabbed the blade of the knife and pushed it away from her throat, according to the WHPD. She grabbed her cellphone, then exited the car before Harwell jumped into the driver's side and drove north on U.S. 17, police reported.

Harwell was last sen in the victim's maroon 2011 Nissan Altima with Florida license plate, CHR-158. He is white, six feet tall, bald and weighs about 260 pounds.

Anyone with information about Harwell or the victim's car is asked to call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 800-226-TIPS (8477). Callers are guaranteed anonymity and could be eligible for a $3,000 reward.

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