The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating a deputy involved shooting. The incident took place at the Oakwood Estate’s (a 55+ mobile home community) off Spirit Lake Rd. in Winter Haven. The suspect was shot & killed by a deputy.
Editors Note: We inaccurately stated the suspect fired on the deputy. We meant to say when the deputy fired at the suspect. We apologize for the confusion and the appearance of the suspect being armed. This was not our intent. As we stated below, we were not aware of if the victim had any weapon.
Deputy Involved Shooting At 55+ Community In Winter Haven
According to Polk County Sheriff, Grady Judd, at approximately 9:30pm a white male came to the community and got into some type of disturbance with his grandmother. During this disturbance law enforcement was contacted. The suspect apparently then hit his grandmother with a vehicle. Knocking her to the ground. The suspect then attempted to flee the scene and “T-Boned” a deputy searching for the address, according to Sheriff Judd. The suspect then jumped out of the vehicle and a confrontation ensued between the deputy and the suspect. The deputy shot the suspect, who was deceased at the scene according to Sheriff Judd.
The shooting took place on Sprucewood St. in the Oakwood Estates, Mobile Home Community
“This is all the information we are going to release tonight”, said Sheriff Judd. We expect we will have names and more information tomorrow according to Sheriff Judd.
The grandmother was taken by ambulance to a Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center.
At this time we are not aware if the suspect was armed when he fled his crashed vehicle and then proceeded to get into a confrontation with the deputy, which ultimately ended his life.
We will update this information as more is released tomorrow afternoon.
Sheriff Grady Judd
Around 1am this morning, Sheriff Judd gave a short video regarding what transpired in the incident.
Juania Lilly, 51, a Florida Department of Corrections officer, was arrested following an investigation into using a fraudulent handicapped placard at the Publix in Highlands City on Thursday.
On July 11th at approximately 9:30 AM, a Sheriff’s Service Officer (SSO) for the Polk County Sheriff’s Office was conducting parking enforcement duties when he discovered Juania Lilly’s car parked in a disabled/handicap parking space in front of Publix. He asked Lilly if the placard was hers, and she claimed it was her mother’s. The SSO ran the placard number, and the information came back to a person who is not Lilly’s mother. The owner of the placard stated she had lost it in April of 2023. He also observed that the placard was expired, but the date had been altered to make it look valid.
A Deputy Sheriff was called in to assist in the investigation, who interviewed Lilly – she told the deputy that she had obtained the placard because the original owner left it in Lilly’s car and that she (Lilly) works as a part-time Lyft driver in addition to working at the Polk Correctional Institute, a state-run prison in Polk County. She denied telling the SSO that the placard belonged to her mother.
Juania Lilly was arrested and charged with:
Unlawful Display of a Disabled Parking Permit (M2)
Unlawfully Altering a Motor Vehicle Registration (F3)
Failure to Deliver Lost Property (M2)
False Information to a LEO during a Felony Investigation (M1)
“It’s very disappointing when a public servant not only refuses to cooperate with a law enforcement investigation, but outright lies. She also committed a felony when she decided to alter and use someone else’s handicapped placard. Now she’s going to be held accountable for her crimes.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
Staff at the Florida Department of Corrections were notified of the arrest.
A registered sex offender who was convicted in Hardee County in 1991 for a sex offense against a child was arrested yesterday by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit for lewd molestation of two young victims in Polk County.
The investigation began when one victim disclosed to a family member that 58-year-old Jessie Valdez (DOB 11/30/1965) of Bartow had touched the victim’s private parts numerous times under and over her clothing when she was as young as seven and eight years old and that the sexual abuse continued over the years. The victim stated that the abuse sometimes took place in Valdez’s vehicle while Valdez played pornographic videos on his phone, and exposed himself to her.
During the investigation, another victim was discovered. She told detectives Valdez touched her numerous times under her clothing. Both victims were young girls that Valdez had access to. When a family member confronted Valdez he made incriminating statements and apologized for the abuse. Upon his arrest, he told his girlfriend to “sell everything because she was probably not going to see him for a long time.” He refused to cooperate with detectives.
Valdez was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with:
Lewd molestation on a victim under 12 years old (FL)
Lewd and lascivious molestation (F2)
Lewd and lascivious exhibition (F2)
Valdez’s cell phone was seized and a forensic examination of the device is ongoing. Further charges are pending the discovery of any other crimes.
“It takes a lot of courage for a young child, a victim of a sex crime, to come forward and we are so proud of these children for doing just that. We need to know if there are any other victims of this pedophile out there. Please contact us if you have any information about Jessie Valdez sexually abusing children.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
BARTOW, Fla. (July 11, 2024) – Polk County Fire Rescue responded to a two-alarm commercial structure fire today at 9:50 a.m. on State Road 60 in Bartow.
PCFR Ladder 15 arrived within six minutes of being dispatched. Upon PCFR’s arrival, it was determined that the structure involved was an old phosphate warehouse located on the property. Crews quickly began working to extinguish the fire and the scene was deemed under control by 10:13 a.m.
Photo Provided By PCFR
29 PCFR units responded to the scene in addition to one Bartow Fire Department unit that provided mutual aid.
There were no injuries reported or patients transported. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Photo Provided By PCFR
“Our Polk County Fire Rescue capabilities are multifaceted as we are prepared for all hazards present within the county,” said Fire Chief Hezedean A. Smith, D.M.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Unit was called to investigate a traffic crash last evening, Wednesday, July 10, 2024, around 9:30 p.m. in the Bradley Junction area south of Mulberry, during which a man was struck and fatally injured.
The man, 48-year-old Rafael Bubaire of Tampa, was driving a Trans-Phos semi-truck hauling a dump trailer when he stopped his rig in the northbound lane of Old Hwy 37 near Jamison Road, presumably due to a mechanical issue (deputies who arrived at the scene later noted that one of the right tires was flat). Bubaire got out of the semi to inspect it.
The driver of a 2020 white Chevy truck, 19-year-old Christopher Braswell of Tampa, was heading south on Old Hwy 37 when he saw the stopped semi in the northbound lane, then heard a loud noise. At that time, Bubaire suddenly appeared in front of Braswell’s truck from the area of the rear semi axles. Braswell was unable to avoid striking Bubaire, and he ultimately died at the scene. Braswell immediately stopped and cooperated with law enforcement. He was not injured.
It was dark in the rural area at the time of the crash. Braswell was evaluated and did not appear to be impaired or distracted. The roadway in that area was shut down for several hours during the investigation.
Inside Out—along with The Incredibles and Toy Story 3—is among my top three favorite Pixar films. The film is truly a masterpiece. Through its creative portrayal of the inner workings of the human mind as a corporate bureaucracy, the film conveys complex psychological concepts into a simple story that can be enjoyed by all ages. Inside Out is truly a smart movie for both children and adults that delves deep into the human psyche and has fun doing it.
With Inside Out being one of Pixar’s most acclaimed movies, and with the film providing plenty of potential topics to explore, it was only a matter of time until a sequel was made. But will the second movie offer a deeper delve to show what makes us all tick? Or does this franchise need to visit more therapy sessions to unpack its emotional baggage?
Inside Out 2 continues to follow the inner workings of the mind of 13-year-old Riley. Upon becoming a teenager, she finds herself experiencing new emotions: Embarrassment, Envy, Ennui, and—most prominently—Anxiety. Unfortunately, during a hockey camping trip, her new emotions enact a hostile takeover of her mind, not only placing extreme emotional pressure on her but also making her lose her sense of self. Can the old emotions, led by Joy, regain control? Or will Riley end up becoming an emotional wreck?
Inside Out 2 builds upon the scenario and ideas set up in the first film. Inside Out established the conceit of our minds being controlled by five main emotions: Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger, and Disgust. It also established the concept of core memories, which serve to build our overall personalities, forming us into who we are. The first film utilized this conceit to explore the emotional state of a young girl feeling depressed following a big move to a new city/ Through that story, it conveyed the important message that, sometimes, it’s okay to not be okay, and that you shouldn’t feign joy to stifle your sadness.
Inside Out 2 expands upon all of that and more with the introduction of beliefs, which are rooted in our core memories to form our overall sense of self. For example, in this movie, Riley’s memories help form her belief that she is a good person and a good friend. However, while struggling to make new friends and keep her old friends, her sense of self is disrupted, which is all the more instigated by the introduction of her new emotions, especially anxiety.
Speaking of which, the character of Anxiety, while clearly an antagonist, never comes across as a straight-up villain. While she certainly exacerbates Riley’s emotional state by making her—well, anxious, Anxiety’s motivation is strictly to help Riley consider her life in the long term and figure out the best outcome for it. No spoilers, but the message ends up being that we shouldn’t allow anxiety to control our lives and that we ought not to be anxious over the things we cannot control.
Overall, Inside Out 2, while not as great as the first movie, still offers a creative, insightful, and entertaining look at concepts like adolescence, anxiety, and repressed emotions. As with the first film, it manifests into living color the abstract of the psychological in a way that even children
can understand and enjoy. If you loved the first film, you certainly want to check out the second one in theaters.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office provides 12 locations across Polk County where citizens can meet to exchange children during a custody exchange and where e-commerce transactions can take place.
The Florida Legislature passed a new law, HB 385/SB 580 (and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed) which requires Sheriff’s Offices to provide at least one “Safe Zone” to their communities. These zones, created to enhance the safety of parents and children during custody exchanges, are a measure in response to the unfortunate kidnapping and murder of Cassie Carli in 2022, during a child custody exchange.
Key Features of Safe Zones:
24/7 Video Surveillance: Continuous monitoring with recordings retained for at least 45 days.
Adequate Lighting and Signage: Well-lit areas marked by signage or for easy identification.
“We have long had ‘safe zones’ for e-commerce transactions at substations across the county, and I think it is a great idea to have these areas available for safe child exchanges, too. We’ve seen the potential dangers during child custody exchanges, including instances of violence. This new law highlights the importance of safety in these situations. Although the law mandates one location, we’ve gone above and beyond with Safe Zones at 12 substations and jails. We applaud the governor and the legislature for enacting this law.”
–Grady Judd, Sheriff
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office already has designated “Safe Zones” at 12 Sheriff’s Office substations and jails across the county. We encourage the community to use these zones not only for child custody exchanges, but for any and all meet ups which require a safe, neutral meeting location. When completing an online transaction and exchanging goods, we encourage citizens to require the buyer or seller to meet you at one of these locations—it will discourage criminals from attempting to take advantage of an unsuspecting victim.
Below is a list of all the Safe Zones provided by the PCSO:
Central County Jail – 2390 Bob Phillips Road, Bartow, FL 33830
South County Jail – 1103 US Hwy 98 West, Frostproof, FL 33823
Southwest District Office – 4120 US Hwy 98 South, Lakeland, FL 33813
Big mess on State Road 60 near Bonnie Mine Road, east of Mulberry this afternoon (July 9).
PCSO deputies spotted a stolen dark gray Dodge Ram pickup near Lake Wales at around noon. The truck had been reported stolen out of St Pete earlier this morning during an armed car-jacking.
The driver of the truck saw the deputy behind him and sped away.
At 12:11pm, the driver lost control of the truck when he tried passing a vehicle by going through the median. The truck crashed.
The female in the truck surrendered.
The driver remained in the truck, armed, and refused to come out.
K9 Odin was released and apprehended the suspect. The firearm was recovered.
No deputies or members of the public were injured.
The investigation is ongoing and charges are pending.
The driver was identified as 35-year old Cory Stowers of Pinellas Park. He has eight prior felony convictions. (His Dept of Corrections mugshot is included)
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has been awarded three Exempted Fishing Permits by NOAA Fisheries to conduct three unique studies. The studies will collect better data on Atlantic red snapper and other snapper-grouper species to improve management of these critical species in the south Atlantic. EFPs are permits that allow harvesting for specific purposes that are otherwise prohibited under current federal regulations. These studies will enable FWC to collaborate with anglers, test innovative ways to reduce red snapper discards, increase harvest opportunities and improve angler satisfaction. The FWC recognizes that a 1-day federal Atlantic red snapper season is disappointing, but in these studies, some participants will be selected to catch (and keep!) red snapper during a time that works for you!
The three studies of this project will take place off Florida’s east coast from the Florida/Georgia line south to the Dry Tortugas. Two studies, the FWC Study Fleet and the FWC Hot Spot Fleet, will be conducted from the Florida/Georgia line south to the NASA Assembly building in Cape Canaveral. The third study, named the FWC Southeast Florida Snapper Grouper Fleet, will be conducted from the NASA Assembly building south to the Dry Tortugas. Each study is somewhat different, but all focus on testing an aggregate snapper-grouper bag limit to reduce discards, improved reporting of catch and discard information via an FWC app, and evaluating angler satisfaction of EFP participants relative to those who have to abide by federal regulations. Anglers will be selected quarterly, and the project is projected to run through August 2025.
“For years, FWC has heard that anglers want to directly provide data to improve the management of Atlantic red snapper,” said FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto. “This is your opportunity to do so! Your participation is not just desired; it’s essential for these studies to be a success and improve management.”
“Like you, FWC is frustrated with the current state of Atlantic red snapper management. We recognize that people are seeing more red snapper than ever on the water. These particular EFPs try to turn discarded fish into landed catch and improve angler satisfaction by testing different management measures. We hope you will join us and directly contribute to improving fisheries management in the south Atlantic,” said Jessica McCawley, Director of FWC’s Division of Marine Fisheries Management.
The FWC strongly encourages recreational saltwater anglers to apply to participate through the Go Outdoors Florida application or by visiting MyFWC.com/AtlanticEFP for more information. The application process is designed to be simple and straightforward, ensuring that everyone can easily apply. The first application period is open July 8-17, with three additional application periods that will open this October plus in January and April of 2025. The application period will remain open for 10 days, and participants will be selected by a lottery system. If you have any questions about the application process, please don’t hesitate to contact us at the DMFM main office at 850-487-0554.
The FWC is incredibly excited to offer this unique opportunity. This collaboration has the potential to make a significant difference and improve fisheries management in the south Atlantic, giving us all hope for a better future.
This Marine Vet Turned Attorney is Running For Florida House of Representatives
by James Coulter
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She protected the freedoms of her fellow Americans as a Marine. She protected their rights as an attorney. Now she wants to serve their political interests by running to be their representative.
Amilee Stuckey is campaigning for Florida House of Representatives District 48. The primaries is on Tues., Aug. 20. She is currently running against six other candidates, five Republicans and one Democrat.
Amilee Stuckey has lived in Polk County since 2009. She served in the U.S. Marine Corps before starting her career as a lawyer. She currently runs a practice in Lake Wales, and she recently moved into a new office space on Central Avenue in Downtown Winter Haven.
As someone who has fought for the freedoms of her fellow Americans as a Marine vet and protected their rights as an attorney, Stuckey has spent her life upholding the values of the US Constitution. She hopes to continue doing so as a State Representative.
“As an attorney, I have noticed some glitches in the law that need to be fixed,” she said. “I always felt I had a calling on my life to serve others. I have served my country, my community, and [this campaign] is another step in my service to my fellow man.”
Previously, she had served as the Polk County Chair of the Donald J. Trump Presidential Campaign and as the Florida State Committee Woman. Having developed relationships with several lawmakers through her position, combined with her education and experience, makes her the most qualified candidate.
Stuckey felt a calling to become an elected representative. She prayed that if this was the Lord’s will to run, that a district be created in which she would be able to serve the people she cares most about. When such a district was created after reappointment, she knew the time to run was now.
“I noticed there is still more that can be done that cannot be done as a state committee woman, so the next natural step was to run for this office,” she said. “So, it was time for me to run.”
As a Christian conservative, Stuckey stands by the “America First” principles shared by other notable Republican politicians like President Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Specifically, she stands by the governor’s policies against illegal immigration and keeping Florida free.
“Right now there are thousands pouring across the Southern border and a lot of them end up in Florida. This is dangerous,” she said. “So, that is my top priority: to continue working with the governor on the work that he is doing to keep illegal immigrants out of Florida.”
Another top priority will be insurance. Currently, she sees Florida in a crisis where home insurance remains unaffordable and inaccessible. She hopes to work with lawmakers to enact
policies to benefit local homeowners and business owners to help alleviate their financial burdens.
“I have built a successful business here in Lake Wales, and not all of the candidates have been able to do that,” she said. “The combination of experience that I have sets me apart from everyone else. I have experienced living in many places. So, I have seen how things are done in other places. It is the breadth of my life experience that puts me above everyone else.”
In closing, she said: “I humbly ask for your vote on August 20th. I will be your conservative voice in Tallahassee who is unafraid to stand for you.”
