Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
Sorted by date Results 51 - 75 of 164
Tragedy struck Friday morning as a McLaughlin Middle School student was killed after being struck by a truck while waiting near a school bus stop in the fog. Lake Wales Police Department reports indicate that Jadin Galindo, 13, was waiting for his school bus in the dark at about 6:15 am when he was struck by a 2013 GMC Sierra truck. According to police reports the alleyway where he was sitting, near the intersection of Miami Street and Dr. JA Wiltshire Avenue, near Florida's N...
UPDATE: Suspect Dontavious Grant is in custody after his arrest without incident in Winter Haven. Law enforcement would like to thank the public for their assistance in this case. Lake Wales detectives are searching for a suspect involved in a New Year's Eve shooting that occurred in the 700 block of North Scenic Highway. During an investigation, detectives identified Dontavious Grant a suspect in the shooting. Grant, 29, frequents Lake Wales and Winter Haven. On January 6,...
Lake Wales Police have reported the arrest of Trenton Shane Tillman, 25, of Lake Wales, who was being sought by police after a theft of multiple weapons from Loan Star Pawn in Lake Wales on Friday December 23. Tillman turned himself in to Lake Wales police after learning that he was being sought. The suspect was identified by police using camera footage from the store. During the investigation detectives also identified two other individuals who they believe assisted Tillman...
Christopher Allen Eismon of Frostproof, faces numerous criminal charges including vehicle theft, fleeing to elude, resisting an officer, trespass in a citrus grove, driving while license suspended, attaching an unassigned license plate, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia after he was arrested following a short chase by local police. Sometime during the night of December 5th someone entered the locked city wastewater plant located at 840 Henry St...
A suspect identified by police as Trenton Shane Tillman, 25, of Lake Wales, is being sought by police after a theft of multiple weapons from a local pawn shop on Friday December 23. The theft of several firearms occurred at Loan Star Pawn,112 State Road 60 East. The suspect, was quickly identified using camera footage as the person taking the guns. Tillman frequents the Lake Wales and Winter Haven areas and is now armed with multiple firearms. Anyone with knowledge of...
A concerned student, a responsive parent, and quick action by Lake Wales Police may have averted a tragic ending after a student's "toy" gun was revealed to be a very dangerous, loaded pistol. Lake Wales Police Officers responded to the entrance of Dinner Lake, a subdivision on Chalet Suzanne Road, after receiving a report that a “toy gun” might be hidden in bushes near a school bus stop there. Police located a purple drawstring backpack behind one of the bushes near the ent...
Lake Wales Police and firefighters recovered the body of 31-year-old Christopher Shoemaker from Crystal Lake late Friday morning. Shoemaker, of Greeneville, Tennessee, was last seen by friends on Wednesday night, November 30, swimming in the lake, but they were reportedly uncertain if he had left the lake or experienced a problem while in the water, according to a police statement. Officers and Polk County Deputies searched Lake Wailes and Crystal Lake as well as the...
A late-evening shooting Wednesday at a local apartment complex left two men hospitalized and a suspect or suspects being sought by the Lake Wales Police Department. According to Lieutenant M. Smith of the LWPD, the two victims were sitting outside an apartment talking when they heard a series of shots ring out. They both realized they had been hit, and called for help. They also reported that there had been no prior disturbance or argument prior to the incident. At...
An alert Lake Wales Police officer led to the Saturday seizure of illegal and prescription drugs, as well as a large amount of cash. Officer Terry Schulze was on patrol and noticed a vehicle parked at the Prince of Wales motel which matched one usually driven by 24 year old Carlos Williams of Winter Haven, who is wanted on multiple violent felony crimes. Carlos Williams is . He is wanted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and domestic violence charges, and a warrant...
The solution to a missing persons case that has festered for years remains our of sight for investigators after an excavation under the floors of an aging home of Dr. J.A. Wiltshire Avenue turned up no remains. The home was the focal point of years of rumors after 24-year-old Debbie Williams was reported missing by family members in 1990. Her daughter Tamesha, then about nine years old, was subsequently raised by her grandmother. She has never had closure in the matter of her...
A missing woman, a distressed family, and decades of rumors have led the Lake Wales Police Department to reopen a "cold case" investigation that has many questioning why it's taken so long. At Tuesday's City Commission meeting, two residents came forward to challenge an official narrative about the case, stating that the family is "still grieving" and needed closure. The issue was raised only days after a private search and rescue team found evidence that a murder victim likel...
A vehicle reported as stolen by the owner from near the RaceTrac gas station has been recovered from a Haines City towing yard, leading to the arrest of the tow truck operator. Jesus Melendez of J & M Towing sent a letter to the victim stating the vehicle had been towed at the gas station manager's request. The letter also told the victim he could have his car back if he paid $735 in towing and storage fees. Race Trac management confirmed to police that they do not have...
Lake Wales Police have apparently unraveled the threads of a fatal shooting that occurred shortly after 1:30 in the afternoon on Sunday, August 28. Lake Wales Police were summoned to the area of 32 W. Seminole Avenue and found three young men had been wounded in an exchange of gunfire following an argument inside the apartment, As the group left the apartment, 21-year-old Camron Salas produced a handgun and began shooting. wounding two of the men, one 17 and one 18 years of...
A convicted felon and a Lake Wales Police Department canine were killed in a shooting in Lake Wales Wednesday morning. Ernest Borders, 57, was killed in the exchange of gunfire after opening fire after ordered to show his hands by two Lake Wales officers. Police K-9 Max was killed, but both officers escaped without injury. Lake Wales Police Chief Chris Velasquez said that the K-9 died so that the officers could survive. According to a statement issued by the Lake Wales Police...
Growing a Lake Wales medical practice of his own has long been the vision of one area physician, an outcome that has come to fruition for Dr. Ray Knisley, a board-certified dermatologist. Dr. Knisley is celebrating the first anniversary of his Clear Choice Dermatology clinic here on July 5 after working for other clinics in the area. "I couldn't do this sooner due to a non-compete clause," he said. Clear Choice is presently located in a two-story medical office building at...
A shooting in a parking lot has left one victim with wounds and a suspect on the run. Lake Wales police officers responded to the mid-evening call from the Lake Wales Garden Apartments. Officers found one victim with gunshot wounds and witnesses who identified the suspected shooter as Aaron Devon Garrison of Bartow. Officers learned Garrison, 27, shot the victim in the parking lot after arguing arguing with a person upstairs. After that altercation Garrison walked downstairs...
An Independence Day celebration in the best Lake Wales tradition is on tap this week as the City of Lake Wales rolls out a big effort to "bring out the community," according to City Recreation Coordinator Shay Irvis. Food, music, family fun and fireworks are all part of the celebration. The activities will begin in earnest at 3:00 with a host of "kid-friendly" games, according to Irvis. The celebration will conclude with a huge display of fireworks beginning at 9:00. "We'll...
An Independence Day celebration in the best Lake Wales tradition is on tap this week as the City of Lake Wales rolls out a big effort to "bring out the community," according to City Recreation Coordinator Shay Irvis. Food, music, family fun and fireworks are all part of the celebration. The activities will begin in earnest at 3:00 with a host of "kid-friendly" games, according to Irvis. The celebration will conclude with a huge display of fireworks beginning at 9:00. "We'll...
A new traffic pattern for Janie Howard Wilson Elementary is hoped to relieve problematic congestion along North Scenic Highway during the coming school year. A plan developed by Lake Wales Police Department in coordination with school officials will see the temporary closing of Florida Avenue at Scenic Highway during the hours of school pick-up and drop-off. Drivers will be directed instead to approach the school from the south, using Lincoln Avenue and C Street. According to...
An armed robber wearing a hoodie and mask stole an undisclosed amount of money from a cashier at the Gate gas station near the city limits on US 27 north Monday night. Police are seeking the assistance of the public in identifying the suspect pictured in security camera images. The suspect is described as "a black male in his early 20s with a thin build...wearing a red hoodie and a grey face mask carrying a multi-color backpack", according to a police bulletin. It was approxim...
The City of Lake Wales and area partners are lending a helping hand to seniors, providing home improvements and repairs The city's Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Legacy Housing Rehabilitation Program is designed to help homeowners 65 and older in the Northwest Neighborhood with a variety of services, such as roof repairs, exterior painting, light construction, and lawn cleanup. The program is supported by area partners including Keystone Challenge Fund, the Lake Wales...
Most Lake Wales voters have received a pair of deceptive postcards mailed by two out-of-town political committees that have caused Sheriff Grady Judd to issue a statement denying that he is supporting any candidates in Tuesday's city elections. The postcards, taken together, falsely imply that Judd has endorsed candidates for mayor and city commission. "I did not and am not endorsing any local candidates," Judd said in response to an email request for comment from Chevon...
Nearly two dozen middle school girls from Lake Wales and the surrounding area spent the weekend March 11-13 at camp learning about female empowerment and being encouraged to be "fearless" and to never stop reaching to achieve their goals. Rotary on the Ridge and the Lincoln Community Development Corp. partnered to host the first ever Camp Fearless at Lake Aurora Christian Camp. The girls participated in adventure activities, such as a zipline, giant swing and the gaga ball...
Lake Wales Police are seeking witnesses or information after receiving a call about shots being fired within an apartment complex only two blocks from McLaughlin Middle School. The incident occurred shortly after 3:00 pm Wednesday, according to a statement issued by Lt. Griffin Crosby of the LWPD. The school was placed on lockdown for a short time during the investigation, during which no further evidence was revealed. Although police believe the incident involved a dispute...
It took only a few months working in the Development Services Division at the City of Lake Wales for Autumn Cochella to realize she had found her passion and a life-long career path. After six years on the job she recently earned a coveted certification from the American Institute of Certified Planners. "This is my hometown," Cochella said. "I get it. The responsibility is more personal because I care on a different level. She stepped into the role in a bigger way recently...
