DailyRidge

October 2, 2026

Winter Haven Woman Arrested After Dead Donkey, Multiple Dead Cats Found At Property

On Thursday, October 1, 2026, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested 59-year-old Melissa McKinney of Logan Lane in Winter Haven after an investigation by the Animal Cruelty Investigations Unit and Environmental Crimes detectives.The investigation began earlier in the week when Polk County Animal

Carl Fish

October 2, 2026

PCSO Arrests Two Men In Mud Hole Shooting That Left Four People Injured

After an exhaustive investigation in which detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office identified and interviewed more than 100 people, two men have been arrested and charged for the shooting of four people at the Lake Wales Mud Hole on Sunday, September 27, 2026.PCSO deputies responded at arou

Carl Fish

October 1, 2026

PCSO Looking For Alleged Suspect in Credit Card Fraud Case

CRIME: THEFT & CREDIT CARD FRAUDCRIME SCENE: POSNER PARK, DAVENPORTPOLK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE CASE 26-40392On September 28, 2026, the victim’s wallet was stolen while it was not in his possession at a business on Posner Blvd. in Davenport.Within the wallet was $470 in cash and six credit and debit

Allison

September 28, 2026

Dog Killed On U.S. 27 During Incident At Loves Truck Stop In Lake Wales, Suspect Facing Multiple Charges

A dispute between a couple at the Love’s Travel Stop along U.S. 27 turned into a chaotic arrest Monday morning that involved a Lake Wales Police K-9, a medical helicopter and the death of a dog that ran into traffic.The incident unfolded at approximately 11:31 a.m. Monday, according to information o

Carl Fish

September 28, 2026

Winter Haven Police: 15-Year-Old Girl Shot, 19-Year-Old Suspect Charged With Attempted Murder

A 19-year-old Winter Haven man is facing an attempted murder charge after police say he shot a 15-year-old girl Sunday night.According to the Winter Haven Police Department, officers responded to a residence on Avenue K NE at approximately 10:36 p.m. September 27 after receiving a report that someon

Carl Fish

September 27, 2026

PCSO Confirms Four Victims In South Lake Wales “Mud Hole” Shooting

By Carl FishThe Polk County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that four people were injured in a shooting late Saturday night near the area commonly known as the “Mud Hole” south of Lake Wales.The shooting occurred in the area of Alturas-Babson Park Cutoff Road and prompted a large response from the Po

Carl Fish

September 27, 2026

Multiple People Reportedly Shot Near South Lake Wales “Mud Hole,” One Patient Airlifted

Update: LAKE WALES, Fla. — The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a reported shooting that prompted a large law enforcement and emergency response late Saturday night into early Sunday morning near the area commonly known as the “Mud Hole” south of Lake Wales. The incident was reported in

Carl Fish

September 25, 2026

Three Killed After Car And Dump Truck Collide On SR 60 Near Lake Wales

Three people died as a result of a two-vehicle crash near Lake Wales early Thursday morning, September 24, 2026.Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched at about 4:22 am to State Road 60 at Acuff Road, after a two-vehicle crash was reported there.Upon the arrival of first respo

Carl Fish

September 24, 2026

Polk School Bus Employees Accused of Spraying Disabled 15-Year-Old With Disinfectant To ‘Teach Him A Lesson

New details released by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office allege two Polk County Public Schools transportation employees repeatedly sprayed a 15-year-old disabled student with disinfectant while he was riding a school bus.Bus driver Jeffrey Larson, 65, and bus attendant William “Cody” Roberts, 32, we

Carl Fish

September 23, 2026

Polk Tax Collector Joe Tedder Speaks Out After Employee Accused of Secretly Recording Women

Polk County Tax Collector Joe G. Tedder says an employee accused of secretly recording women inside an employee restroom was terminated as soon as his office identified him as the person responsible.The statement comes after the Polk County Sheriff’s Office announced that 60-year-old Sean Michael Kr

Carl Fish

September 23, 2026

PCSO: Lakeland Man Accused of Secretly Recording Women at Tax Collector IT Building Found Dead

PCSO Press Release: The body of Sean Michael Krause, 60, of Lakeland, was discovered in Colt Creek State Park this morning, September 22, 2026, by Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies. They were looking for a man who was a suspect in a video voyeurism investigation. At this point in the investigati

Carl Fish

September 20, 2026

Two Killed, Two Seriously Injured In Nearly Head-On Crash On US 17/92

DAVENPORT, Fla. — Two people were killed and two others seriously injured in a nearly head-on crash late Saturday night on US 17/92 near West James Street, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.The crash occurred at approximately 11:55 p.m. Saturday, September 19.According to FHP Sgt. Steve Gaskin

Carl Fish

September 18, 2026

Serious Crash Under Investigation in Lake Wales

By Maria Iannucci & Carl Fish LAKE WALES, Fla. — Lake Wales Police are investigating a serious single-vehicle crash that occurred around noon today in the area of Burns Avenue and Sherwood Drive.The incident initially came across emergency dispatch as a medical emergency, which is why Daily Ridge di

Carl Fish

September 18, 2026

Tragedy In Davenport: 14-Year-Old Student Killed In Electric Scooter Crash

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a crash that occurred on Thursday evening, September 17, 2026, on US 27 at McFee Drive in the Four Corners area of Davenport.Deputies were dispatched to the scene at about 7:55 pm.It was reported that a juvenile on a scooter was struck by a vehicle.U

Carl Fish

September 16, 2026

Additional Details After Florida Attorney General Announces Charges Against Man Accused of Videotaping 8-Year-Old Child For Exploitation

Lakeland, Florida – A child exploitation case announced Tuesday by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has roots in a Polk County investigation dating back more than a year, after a woman allegedly discovered a disturbing video on a phone used by the suspect.Rafiq Osborne McDonald, 34, is now fa

Carl Fish

September 16, 2026

Florida Attorney General Charges Man Who Allegedly Sexually Exploited An 8 Yr Old Child In Polk & Orange Counties

A 34-year-old man is facing charges that could send him to prison for life after investigators say he sexually abused a child under the age of 12, recorded the abuse and possessed child sexual abuse material.Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Tuesday that Rafiq Osborne McDonald has be

Carl Fish

September 15, 2026

Driver Accused of Leaving Bicyclist to Die After Reynolds Road Crash Is Legal Immigrant, Now Held on ICE Detainer

The PCSO Traffic Homicide Investigations Unit is investigating a vehicle vs bicycle crash that resulted in one fatality. The crash occurred on Sunday, September 13, 2026, at approximately 9:10 p.m. at Sunshine Ave. and Reynolds Rd. in Lakeland.According to evidence and witness statements, a Ford F-1

Carl Fish

September 15, 2026

Mother Calls Deputies After Son Allegedly Assaults Her, Investigation Leads To Incest & Adultery Arrest For Her

Daily Ridge StaffLakeland, Florida- What began as a call to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office about an alleged assault between a Lakeland mother and her son took a bizarre turn when deputies learned the two were allegedly involved in a sexual relationship.Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd discussed the

Carl Fish

September 14, 2026

Driver Applying Deodorant Crashes on Polk Parkway, Truck Ends Up Atop Concrete Barrier

POLK COUNTY, Fla. – An unusual case of distracted driving left a pickup truck perched atop a concrete barrier along the Polk Parkway Sunday morning, but fortunately no one was injured.According to Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Steve Gaskins, the crash happened around 7 a.m. Sunday, September 14, near

Allison

September 11, 2026

Detectives Say Lakeland Woman’s Ring Was Consistent With Injuries Found On 3-Month-Old Baby

On Thursday, September 10, 2026, PCSO deputies arrested 42-year-old Jessica Vlasac of Lakeland, charging her with aggravated child abuse (F1) resulting in the death of a 3-month-old infant who was in her care.According to the affidavit, at approximately 11:58 p.m. on Sunday, September 6, 2026, deput

Carl Fish

September 11, 2026

PCSO Arrests 57 Individuals in August for DUI

Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested 57 people for Driving Under the Influence of alcohol and/or drugs last month.One of the drivers arrested picked up his 3rd DUI.Of these arrests, 13 of them were involved in traffic crashes. Two of those involved in crashes had a child in the car with th

Allison

September 10, 2026

Plant City Man Overturns Dump Truck on SR-471

A 38-year-old Plant City man escaped injury early Thursday morning after the dump truck he was driving overturned on State Road 471.According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the man was traveling northbound on SR-471, south of SR-50, when he lost control of the dump truck.The truck was transporting a

Allison

September 1, 2026

Sheriff Judd Calls Woman Accused Of Poisoning Haines City Man A “Black Widow,” Warns Of Possible Other Victims

Haines City man thought he had met a woman named “Nala” through a dating app.Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd says what followed included money, a vehicle, whiskey, an alleged demand for $1,000 for sex and ultimately a trip to the hospital from what investigators say was an intentional drug overdose.N

Carl Fish

September 1, 2026

Polk City Man Involved in I-275 Crash While Hauling Tesla Batteries

A 58-year-old Polk City man was involved in a crash Tuesday morning while driving a tractor-trailer transporting Tesla vehicle batteries on I-275 in Pinellas County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.The crash happened around 10:30 a.m. September 1 as the tractor-trailer was traveling southbou

Allison