The Polk County Sheriff’s Office conducted an undercover operation at Saddle Creek Park and Gator Creek Preserve in response to complaints of lewd activity.
On July 25, 2024, at approximately 9:25 AM, a PCSO undercover detective was approached by 67-year-old Pablo Coronado at Saddle Creek Park in Lakeland. After a brief conversation, Coronado made unsolicited physical contact and expressed willingness to engage in sexual acts. The detective arrested Coronado without incident.
“This is a family park, a place where parents bring their children to make pleasant memories. They don’t want their children witnessing behavior like this. That’s why we do these undercover operations at various parks across the county. We want our community to be a safe place for parents to raise their children.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
Upon his arrest, Coronado expressed remorse and admitted to going to the park to commit lewd acts. He was issued a 10-year trespass warning for all Polk County Parks.
Coronado was charged with offering/agreeing to commit a lewd act (M2) and simple battery (M1) and was transported to the Sheriff’s Processing Center without incident.
Polk County Sheriff’s Office detectives from the agency’s Traffic Homicide Investigations have arrested the driver who caused a fatal crash in Davenport on Friday, July 19, 2024.
36-year old Tiffany West of Orlando was arrested Wednesday, July 24th and taken to the Polk County Jail. She was charged with Vehicular Homicide (F2).
Detectives were able to calculate West’s vehicle had been traveling between 72-79 mph (at a minimum) in a 30 mph zone.
39-year old Alicia Carmona was ejected during the crash, and she died at the scene.
Carmona’s two children were also injured.
“I am happy to say that the two children have been released from the hospital and they are now living with their aunt. They still have some physical injuries to recover from, but even worse for them is that they lost their mother due to the irresponsible actions of Tiffany West.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff.
A sample of West’s blood was taken after the crash, and it was sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to be tested. PCSO detectives noted that West showed signs of impairment Friday night, and they anticipate that DUI Manslaughter and other charges are likely once the results of the blood test are received.
The investigation is ongoing.
ORIGINAL NEWS RELEASE SENT OUT ON JULY 20, 2024:
Speed and impairment suspected factors in fatal crash near Davenport
A single-vehicle crash near Davenport on Friday, July 19, 2024, resulted in the death of one person, and injuries to three others.
The crash occurred at around 7:54 pmon North Ridge Trail, and is being investigated by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Investigations.
The preliminary investigation has found that a 2024 Nissan sedan left the roadway at a 90-degree corner while traveling at a high-rate of speed. The vehicle went over a guardrail, through a fence, and struck a tree.
One of the passengers was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene. She was identified as 39-year old Alicia Carmona of Jacksonville.
Ms. Carmona’s two children—a 15-year old girl, and a 10-year old boy, were injured. They were both taken to a hospital and were reported to be in stable condition.
The driver of the vehicle was identified as 36-year old Tiffany Alexander West of Orlando. Ms. West was transported to a hospital with facial fractures.
A THI detective observed signs of impairment from Ms. West, and a sample of her blood was obtained for testing.
The crash remains under investigation, and criminal charges are expected.
North Ridge Trail was closed for about five hours while detectives worked at the scene.
Sheriff Grady Judd and Polk County Public Schools Superintendent Fred Heid will brief the media at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, at the PCSO Sheriff’s Operations Center (1891 Jim Keene Blvd., Winter Haven) about a new safety initiative being launched this school year that aims to keep school children riding on buses safer.
The Safe Stop program provides state-of-the-art technology mounted on school buses – it includes cameras which will capture those who violate Florida Statute 316.172, passing a stopped school bus that is displaying a stop signal. The violation videos and license plate images captured will be reviewed by a PCSO deputy sheriff before a warning or traffic citation is issued to the registered owner of the vehicle.
A school bus equipped with the Safe Stop camera technology will be parked in front of the Sheriff’s Operations Center at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow morning for b-roll purposes. Polk County Public Schools will also provide a link with more photos and videos. A representative with Verra Mobility, the company providing the technology, will also be available at the briefing.
A single-vehicle crash near Davenport on Friday, July 19, 2024, resulted in the death of one person, and injuries to three others.
The crash occurred at around 7:54 pmon North Ridge Trail, and is being investigated by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Investigations.
The preliminary investigation has found that a 2024 Nissan sedan left the roadway at a 90-degree corner while traveling at a high-rate of speed. The vehicle went over a guardrail, through a fence, and struck a tree.
One of the passengers was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene. She was identified as 39-year old Alicia Carmona of Jacksonville.
Ms. Carmona’s two children—a 15-year old girl, and a 10-year old boy, were injured. They were both taken to a hospital and were reported to be in stable condition.
The driver of the vehicle was identified as 36-year old Tiffany Alexander West of Orlando. Ms. West was transported to a hospital with facial fractures.
A THI detective observed signs of impairment from Ms. West, and a sample of her blood was obtained for testing.
The crash remains under investigation, and criminal charges are expected.
North Ridge Trail was closed for about five hours while detectives worked at the scene.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reminds boaters and divers to practice safe boating and diving habits by maintaining 360-degree awareness and adhering to all divers-down flag regulations.
Divers-down flags and buoys are crucial warning devices used by divers and dive vessels to signal the presence of divers in the water. These devices must feature a divers-down symbol — a red rectangle or square with a white diagonal stripe — and must be prominently displayed whenever divers are wholly or partially submerged and using a face mask, snorkel or underwater breathing apparatus.
“When navigating near a divers-down flag, boaters must operate at idle speed within 300 feet in open water or within 100 feet on rivers, inlets or navigational channels,” said Maj. Bill Holcomb, FWC Boating and Waterways Section Leader. “And divers need to stay within 300 feet of their properly displayed flags on open water and 100 feet on rivers, inlets or navigational channels.”
The divers-down symbol must measure at least 12 x 12 inches when displayed from the water, and at least 20 x 24 inches when displayed from a vessel, positioned at the highest point to maximize visibility. Flags must be constructed to remain fully unfurled, even in calm conditions, while buoys must display the symbol on each of their flat sides.
“In the summertime there is a lot going on out there and these regulations are important for divers to remember whether they are diving for scallops in north Florida, lobster in south Florida or recreationally throughout the state,” said Col. Brian Smith, Director of the FWC Division of Law Enforcement. “Vessel operators should be aware of what is going on around them at all times and be on the lookout for divers-down flags nearby. It’s also good to remember to take the dive flag down and wear a life jacket while underway. This is not just responsible boating and ensuring the safety of divers and the boating public – it’s also the law.”
Every year, the FWC responds to incidents where a diver was struck, injured or killed by a vessel. Working together, vessel operators and divers can each play a part in preventing tragedy on the water this summer.
For more information, visit MyFWC.com/boating, click on “Boating Regulations,” and select “Divers-down Warning Devices.”
Boating violations may be reported anonymously to the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (888-404-3922) or text 847411 (Tip411) with keyword “FWC” and information about the location and violation.
The call came in at approximately 5:35pm, 7/17/24, for a structure fire at 656 Bradbury Rd. The residence is listed as a mobile home. The call is considered an active structure fire.
According to reports firefighters just confirmed, with two sweeps, by two separate engine units that go in pairs through the structure, that the mobile home did not have any victims in it.
Multiple units from Haines City Fire Department and Polk County Fire Rescue are currently on scene: AT038, BC002, EN003, FC507, HCBC1, HCEN1, HEN2, HCTW1, MR030, MR230, SF501, TE013
The active fire appears to now be out with significant fire & smoke damage.
If more information is released we will update this article.
He started his career studying law in law school, then helping draft laws as a legislative aide. Now Chad Davis wants to create laws by running for the State House of Representatives.
As someone who interned with think tanks then worked as a legislative aide for a local senator, he is intimately familiar with public policy and the legislative process, thus making him the most qualified to pass laws as a state representative.
“I am the only experienced person in this race in the legislative process,” he said. “I know what the job entails. I have done it from the inside. I understand how the process works and what mistakes to avoid….[If elected] I will be ready to work from day one.”
A fourth generation Winter Haven resident, Davis grew up in a family dedicated to serving the public and their community. His father was a judge for 32 years and the mayor of Winter Haven in 1978. His parents were involved in their local community and church, and Davis very much wanted to follow in their footsteps.
“I was inspired to help my community become better and grow,” he said. “My inspiration was to consider something in public service, having grown up in that environment.”
Initially, Davis attended seminary to become a Catholic priest. However, after studying philosophy, he decided to attend law school and earn his master’s degree in public policy. After working a couple summer internships for government and advocacy organizations in Washington D.C., he desired to seek a career outside the Beltway.
As someone with a law degree, former senator Kelli Stargel saw potential in hiring him as an aide with experience in law. So, he worked alongside her during her eight years as senator. His experience allowed him to learn the legislative process inside and out, providing him valuable experience very few new lawmakers have.
“During those eight years, I learned the legislative process well,” he said. “I learned the budget process very well, which is a complicated thing to figure out. With the District 48 seat now open, the timing is right for me to use my experience to serve our community.”
As a devout Catholic, he holds the deep conviction that all people are created in the image of God and thus possess individual dignity and worth. He also considers the family unit to be the building block of society. As such, he values limited government and family values.
If elected to his position, he expects to address issues as they arise. However, he is keenly interested in helping homeowners access affordable insurance and alleviate their financial burdens. After all, if the family is the building block of society, then owning a home is imperative for that family unit to thrive.
As someone who has worked extensively in Tallahassee, Davis would bring with him the necessary skills to collaborate and form relationships with lawmakers on all levels, thus helping expediate the legislative process.
“I expect it to be very collaborative going in as a freshman member,” he said. “The most important thing for me is to contribute as part of a team. By being prepared to work with my fellow Polk County legislative delegation, I think we will be very effective and successful.”
You know how old this movie makes me feel? The original Despicable Me film was released in 2010—one year after I graduated college. This franchise has been around for 14 years with four movies and two spin-off films starring its titular Minion characters.
Let me repeat that last part: the Despicable Me franchise has been around for 14 years. If you were a young kid when the first movie premiered, chances are you’re either starting college or preparing to graduate from it. And the first movie came out one year after I finished college. These movies are old enough to be nostalgic. That makes me feel older!
I say all that because, well, sometimes I wonder if I’m too old to watch or review these types of movies. Despicable Me. Trolls. Paw Patrol. All of these films are evidently made for very young children, not adults like myself. Clearly, I am not the target demographic.
So, sometimes I wonder if deriding these movies as “bad” is just me being a “grumpy old man” who isn’t “hip” with what “kids these days” are into. (Do young people still use words like “hip”? Or is that lingo considered “cringe”? Dang, I’m old!) In other words, do I not like these movies because they’re genuinely bad? Or is it because they weren’t made for me? Honestly, sometimes I feel the answer is the latter.
Sure, I can criticize how these movies have very simple formulaic plots with predictable story beats and trite overused tropes. But, then again, the only reason I can recognize that these plots and tropes are played out is because I’m old enough to have seen them play out in countless movies before. For me, it may be the same old same old, but for the very young children these films are marketed to, it’s probably their first time watching them.
As a young kid, I forced my parents to watch plenty of cheesy kids’ films, either by dragging them to the theaters or making them watch them on VHS on repeat. I’m old enough to have watched the Power Rangers and Pokémon movies…in theaters! I enjoyed watching them, but my folks probably didn’t. And annoyed me when they rolled their eyes at it. They thought those movies were stupid. And I resented them for that because I thought they were peak cinema. (Admittedly, I still think Pokémon: The First Movie was great!)
So, who am I to dismiss movies like Despicable Me 4? Wouldn’t that make me an “out of touch” adult? Clearly, children love the franchise enough for it to have spawned six movies. And the new movie recently broke box office records. After all, it was the highest-grossing film on 4th of July weekend, and both it and Inside Out 2 are the highest-grossing movies of the year. Of the year! Again, who am I to judge that?
And again, the Despicable Me franchise is old enough to be nostalgic. The young kids who watched the first movie are now old enough to graduate high school or even college. Just two years ago, when the second Minions movie premiered, there was a viral trend where groups of teenagers would watch the movie in theaters dressed in their fanciest clothes (and also throw bananas at the movie screen). I don’t know if these kids were doing all that “for the lulz” or if
they had a sincere love for these films to consider them “peak cinema.” Honestly, it would not surprise me if it was genuinely the latter.
So, no. I didn’t care for Despicable Me 4. And I say this as someone who loved the first movie and thought the second movie was pretty good. But even if I don’t like this movie, I genuinely don’t know if I can deride it as bad. It’s not made for me. And chances are, the only people who are watching this movie are the children who love the series or the people who grew up with it and have genuine nostalgic memories of it. It’s for them, not for me. So, I hope they enjoy it.
I write all that to say: I didn’t care for Despicable Me 4 and have nothing else to say about it.
I didn’t care for Despicable Me 4, and I have nothing else to say about it.
The Polk County Fire Rescue is currently on scene off a motorcycle vs car on Hwy 27 near Paradise Island RV Park. Emergency crews have notified dispatch that motorcyclist is in the roadway.
The accident occurred at approximately 8:21pm
A fight apparently also ensued and firefighters are calling for additional law enforcement help.
Emergency crews have advised the injured motorcyclist is not going to be a trauma alert. Helicopter is being “stand down”
Roadway should open sooner rather than later.
Update: Injured motorcyclist loaded and being transported by ambulance.
Sheriff Judd gives preliminary details about what appears at this point in the investigation to be an industrial accident-related death that occurred on Friday, July 12, 2024, at a Mosaic plant in the Bradley area south of Mulberry. The decedent’s name is Jameka Williams. She was 29 years old. OSHA is on the scene and will be investigating the incident. An autopsy will be conducted later in the week.
OSHA is on the scene and will be investigating the incident. An autopsy will be conducted later in the week.
Here is the video
Sheriff Grady Judd Updates Media On Industrial Accident Resulting In Fatality
