CRIME & SAFETY

This week in Lake County, Florida, several incidents occurred that required police intervention. These incidents include an argument between neighbors that escalated to gunfire, a man allegedly pointing a gun at his pregnant girlfriend, a student bringing an airsoft handgun to school, a teen slapping a housemate during an argument, and a teacher's assistant slapping a student for not following instructions.

• An 18-year-old boy, Jacob Farrell, was shot and killed in his backyard in Apopka, Florida. The family believes he was killed by a younger boy he knew and was trying to help.

In the quiet town of Mount Dora, Florida, the baffling case of Nicole Baldwin, a 41-year-old mother of three, continues to perplex and alarm both residents and law enforcement officials. Last seen on November 28 at her home on Strathmore Circle, near County Road 44, Baldwin’s sudden disappearance has led to an escalated investigation, stirring deep concern in the community.

The mother of an 11-year-old boy who allegedly shot two kids at an Apopka Pop Warner football practice is charged

This week in The Villages, Florida, several incidents of theft were reported. A resident was charged with stealing a golf cart from a local senior living center, a Walmart clerk was arrested for repeatedly stealing drinks and snacks, and a suspect was tracked down for stealing over $1,000 worth of liquor from a Publix store.

• A Florida mother, Sharelle Johnson, has been charged after her son shot two children during a Pop Warner football practice in Apopka in October. • The son allegedly took a loaded gun from an unsecured cardboard box in Johnson's car, which was easily accessible due to lack of safety locks or fasteners.

The Ocoee Police Department is seeking information into a 60-year-old veteran's shooting death following the recovery of the suspect vehicle. A $5,000 reward is being offered for tips that can help solve the case.

This week in Wildwood, Florida, several incidents occurred that required law enforcement intervention. These incidents include a jealous outburst at a bar, a theft at a grocery store, a DUI arrest near an accident scene, an arrest of a woman with a history of attacking someone, a failure to appear arrest, and a shoplifting incident at a truck stop.

This week in Lady Lake, Florida, several incidents occurred that raised concerns for public safety. A convicted felon was arrested while pushing a shopping cart along a busy roadway, found to be in possession of drugs and ammunition. Another incident involved a landlord turning in a stolen gun confiscated from a tenant, leading to the tenant's arrest. Lastly, a man claiming to be cold set his shoe on fire in the parking lot of a real estate office. These incidents highlight the need for vigilance and awareness in the community.

A suspect was arrested for theft after allegedly stealing a vehicle from a detailing shop in Leesburg. Police responded to the area of Warm Springs Avenue and Bexley Trail regarding a vehicle that had just been stolen from Wild Thangz, located at 716 N 14th Street, at 10:54 a.m. Wednesday, according to an arrest report from the Wildwood Police Department.

ORLANDO, Fla. - Investigators said a man from Apopka died after taking one pill from the wrong person almost a year ago. Now, we are hearing from his devastated fiancée. "We had all these dreams, we had all these aspirations, we had all these plans, and, it's just like it got cut short," says Carissa Carr.

A Leesburg man was arrested for stealing a woman’s cell phone at Publix after she tracked its location to him. Joe Audrey Perry Jr., 37, was charged with petit theft for his involvement with the incident last month. On the afternoon of Nov. 14, police responded to a residence...

OCOEE, Fla. – The former police chief of Ocoee was fired last month amid a series of complaints concerning her behavior, according to documents shared with News 6 on Thursday. In a letter, City Manager Robert Frank told Police Chief Saima Plasencia that her last day of employment would...

Ocoee, Florida experienced two notable incidents this week. Firstly, the city terminated its police chief, Saima Plasencia, after seven years of service. The decision was made to move the department in a different direction, with no official misconduct involved. Secondly, Ocoee police located a vehicle connected to a November homicide. The shooting, which occurred during a road rage incident at a gas station on Silver Star Road, resulted in the death of 60-year-old Gregory Reed.

A Leesburg woman was arrested for allegedly stealing food from a Walmart in Leesburg when a store employee caught her passing items through the self-checkout. Police responded to Walmart, located at 2501 Citrus Boulevard, regarding a theft for which the loss prevention officer had 51-year-old Rebecca Jeanne Santilli detained in his office at 1:07 p.m. Sunday, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department.

A Central Florida judge sentenced Ja’Marion Strange to 45 years in prison for the shooting death of a 13-year-old boy. Strange was 16 years-old in 2021 when he opened fire on the victim who was riding scooters with his brother at the Lee Davis Community Center in Tampa. The...

The City of Eustis Police and Fire Departments, along with the Amvets Mt. Dora Post 1992, came together at Walmart Sunday morning to give 30 children a Merry Christmas, with gift cards, shopping, and a hearty breakfast, along with a visit from Santa, for the annual Shop with a Cop event. Big smiles all around!Visit here for more details.

During the Dec. 5 Ocoee City Commission meeting, recently terminated Ocoee Police Chief Saima Plasencia claimed her dismissal was the result of a "coordinated effort" that came after she filed a grievance to her immediate supervisor, longtime city manager Robert Frank. Although Frank was never mentioned by name, Plasencia consistently...

A 21-year-old Wildwood man was arrested on a felony drug charge after running a red light. Daniel Bergery Jr. was driving a black vehicle at about 9 p.m. Thursday when he ran a red light at County Road 462 and International Drive, according to an arrest report from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.

A Central Florida family continues to seek justice a decade after Jim Johnson Junior was kidnapped and murdered. Despite no arrests or convictions, the family remains hopeful. The case remains active, with the public urged to share any information with law enforcement.