Florida woman rescued after car crashes into country club swimming pool
Decades after leaving the Coast Guard, a Lakeland man used his life-saving skills to safely pull a woman from a sinking car after police say she mistook the gas pedal for the brake and drove her car into a swimming pool Wednesday morning. Investigators said the SUV went over a curb, through a fence and then into the pool at Sandpipers Golf and Country Club on Grouse Drive.
Sheriff: Polk firefighter arrested for multiple counts of child pornography while at Lake Wales fire station
A Polk County firefighter is out of a job and behind bars after investigators arrested him for multiple counts of possession of child pornography. When detectives showed up at his fire station to investigate, they said his computer was actively downloading pornography files.
'Wake for Warriors' combat veterans gear up for wake surf competition
Members of "Wake for Warriors" will be competing at the Nautique Wake Surf Nationals on Lake Silver in Winter Haven this weekend. They are all former members of the military, many of whom have lost a limb but are now adaptive athletes.
Sheriff: Florida man 'having episode' when he murdered his own father
A 21-year-old Florida man is facing a murder charge for allegedly killing his father.
Unsolved: Winter Haven police canvas neighborhood where shooting at Fourth of July party killed father of 2
A father of two was fatally shot while attending a large impromptu block party in Winter Haven. The killer is still out there and police are hoping the right person steps forward to help them identify a suspect.
Five child victims located during Polk County undercover child porn sting
Sixteen people were arrested during an undercover child porn sting by the Polk County Sheriff's Office. Suspects included veterans, a former corrections officer, and two Winter Haven friends who created child pornography with three girls they had access to. In total, five child victims were identified.
New I-4 interchange opening in Four Corners area expected to alleviate traffic congestion
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is about to open a new interchange at Interstate 4 and County Road 532, which they say will alleviate traffic congestion.
Pregnancy centers concerned over vandalism following Roe v. Wade ruling
As some pregnancy centers have been vandalized in parts of the county, and even in Central Florida, following the Roe v. Wade ruling, it is causing concern for clinics that help pregnant women.
Polk man convicted of murder in death of woman he intentionally ran over with church van
A jury convicted 20-year-old Elijah Stansell of first-degree murder for the death of beloved Polk City librarian Suzette Penton, who died in 2020 after she was intentionally run over by a van. Stansell was behind the wheel and trying to flee after he and several other teens had attacked the victim's son.
Disney bus driver among 12 suspects arrested in Polk undercover child predator investigation
An online child predator investigation resulted in the arrest of a dozen suspects, including a Walt Disney World bus driver who was taken into custody while he was still in his work uniform.
Polk County paramedic dies on duty, fire rescue says
Polk County Fire Rescue is mourning the loss of 56-year-old paramedic Douglas Clemons, who died Tuesday while on duty at his fire station. Clemons was a 27-year veteran of Polk County EMS.
Polk County sheriff's Office investigating shooting in Lakeland involving deputy
A Polk County sheriff's deputy has been involved in a shooting incident, according to the agency.
Westbound lanes of I-4 reopen after crash near Osceola-Polk county line
The Florida Highway Patrol is responding to a multiple-vehicle crash near the Osceola-Polk county line with injuries reported.
Grady Judd: Unlocked door, slow response time in Uvalde school shooting 'is unacceptable'
"The doors weren’t locked, and he was in the school for an hour before they neutralized the threat. That is unacceptable," Sheriff Grady Judd in regards to the police response to the Texas school shooting.
‘I was smoking my meth pipe’: Florida man totals tractor-trailer during delivery to Publix shopping center
A tractor-trailer delivery driver is facing possession of methamphetamine charges after crashing into the back of a Publix shopping center in Haines City on Thursday afternoon.
Polk deputies search for suspect who broke into Davenport vacation rental while family was sleeping
Polk County deputies are searching for a home invasion suspect who they say entered a vacation rental home in the middle of the night while a family was sleeping.
Lakeland owner's pet cat euthanized after unknown person shot it, deputies say
Polk County deputies are searching for the person who shot a cat outside a Lakeland home, injuring the feline's spine. Officials said it had to be euthanized.
Police searching for man accused of attacking 73-year-old outside Publix in Winter Haven
Police say the victim confronted a driver who he says almost drove into him. They say that's when the driver got out of his truck and punched the older man who said he would call police.
Florida wildlife officials on lookout for sick turtles
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is asking members of the public to report freshwater turtles that appear sick, act strangely or are dead.
Auburndale man arrested in Georgia following 'suspicious disappearance' of 81-year-old man, deputies say
A Polk County man is facing a murder charge after he was found and arrested in Georgia.