CRIME & SAFETY
Deadly crash closes U.S. 17-92 near Davenport
DAVENPORT, Fla. (WFLA) — The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a deadly crash on U.S. 17-92 just north of Davenport. Deputies said the crash happened around 4:19 a.m. Tuesday near Ernie Caldwell Boulevard. U.S. 17-92 is closed in both directions due to the crash. Deputies didn’t say...
Sheriff Grady Judd says deputy in crash that killed 5-year-old is ‘devastated’
POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said a deputy who was involved a crash Saturday night that killed a 5-year-old is “devastated.”. Judd said the deputy was responding to a call for backup with his lights and siren on when a woman pulled into an intersection when she got a green light.
Polk County Pest and Lawn Service Worker Arrested for Indecent Exposure to Customers
• Tyler Mountain, a pest and lawn service worker in Polk County, Florida, has been accused of exposing himself to customers. • Mountain was arrested twice last week for two separate incidents involving indecent exposure.
Jury awards Winter Haven man $2.6 million for injuries from apartment fire
A Polk County jury awarded a Winter Haven man $2.6 million in damages against his former landlord, Diversified Land Management LLC, over a 2019 fire that left the man with severe injuries. Lawyers for Luis Agosto declined the defense’s pre-trial settlement offer of $75,000 and went to trial, Morgan &...
Weekly Safety Report: Fatal Crash, Train Derailment, Shooting, Walmart Incident in Polk County, Florida
This week in Polk County, Florida, there were several incidents that occurred, including a firefighter killed in a crash on I-4, a train derailment with no injuries, a man charged with attempted murder after shooting at deputies, a child firing a gun inside a Walmart, a fatal head-on crash, and a single-engine plane making an emergency landing.
Wisconsin police chief joined Oath Keepers in 2017
The police chief of the Town of Dover Water Patrol signed up for membership with the Oath Keepers, the right-wing, anti-government group involved in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Chief Joshua Martinson, who has been employed by the Dover Water Patrol since 2015, according to the...
Weekly Safety Report: Stolen Semi-Truck, Burglary, and High-Speed Chase hit Plant City, Florida
This week in Plant City, Florida, the police investigated several incidents including a stolen semi-truck, burglary of a construction site, and damage to new homes under construction. Additionally, a high-speed chase occurred involving a Plant City man who was accused of driving recklessly and reaching speeds of 123 mph.
Fire nearly ruins a Thanksgiving celebration for one Lakeland community
LAKELAND Fla. — The Lakeland Fire Department says a fire broke out around 10 p.m. on Wednesday night, destroying a clubhouse for a tightknit community in Lakeland. The incident happened near 1601 Josephine St. Some neighbors woke up to find the clubhouse fully engulfed in flames and worried the fire would spread to their homes.
Weekly Safety Report: Arrests Made in Seffner Homicide, Shooting Investigation in Tampa, and More
Four Central Florida 19-year-olds have been arrested in connection with a 2022 homicide in Seffner. A man was shot on West Hillsborough Ave in Tampa, but his injuries are non-life threatening. A Tampa home was the scene of a gruesome murder, with the suspect being someone the victim met on a dating website. Tampa rapper Billy Adams is facing murder charges and has a court hearing scheduled. A well-connected youth motivational speaker from Tampa has been arrested for allegedly engaging in sexual acts with a 16-year-old girl. Tampa Police have arrested a 14-year-old in connection with a fatal shooting in Ybor City.
Lakeland mobile home community clubhouse engulfed in flames: LFD
LAKELAND, Fla. - A fire broke out at Hickory Hills Manor Mobile Home Community on Wednesday night, according to officials. The Lakeland Fire Department (LFD) says they responded to 1601 Josephine Street around 10 p.m. to fight the fire that started in the community's clubhouse. An investigation revealed that the...
The Great Kathleen Train Wreck of 1963: A Tragic Chapter in Florida's History
The year 1963 is forever marked by the tragic event that shook the quiet town of Kathleen, Florida - The Great Kathleen Train Wreck. On that catastrophic night, the silence was shattered by the head-on collision of two locomotives. The devastating impact led to a massive explosion and an unyielding fire that engulfed the trains, leaving a nightmarish landscape of twisted metal and smoldering ruins. This disaster has etched itself into Florida's history as one of the most disastrous train wrecks.
High-Speed Chase Ends in Arrest: Driver Hits Power Pole
TAMPA, Fla. - In the early morning hours of Thursday, Hillsborough County witnessed a high-stakes pursuit that concluded with the arrest of 54-year-old Ross Jones. The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) initiated the pursuit when Jones, displaying a lack of tail lights and failing to maintain lanes on US 98 and Griffin Road in Lakeland, evaded a routine traffic stop.
Florida Woman Wanted for Probation Violation Found Hiding in Couch
• Stacy Usher, a wanted Florida woman, was found hiding in a couch by deputies. • Usher had been on the run since early November for violating her probation related to the sale of fentanyl and unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
Two Arrested for Selling Stolen Appliances from New Construction Homes
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office successfully arrested two individuals selling stolen appliances from new construction homes throughout Central Florida, including Hillsborough County, Pasco County, Manatee County, Sarasota County, Osceola County, and Polk County. Through investigative means, detectives confirmed that CHV Multihome Appliances, located at 4115 Gunn Highway, Tampa, was...