Polk County Sheriff’s Office on the scene of semi pulling an empty trailer struck by an Amtrak train with passengers at the crossing located on Scenic Hwy South at Lake Livingston Road in #Frostproof. There are no reported injuries.
Motorcyclist Going At A High Rate Of Speed Killed In Crash On Hwy 17/92 In Haines City
The Florida Highway Patrol Is investigating a fatal motorcycle crash on 17/92 in Haines City. According to the FHP reporting a motorcycle was traveling eastbound on US Highway 17-92 at a high rate of speed. At the same time an SUV was traveling northbound on Dyson Road. At the intersection, SUV proceeded North into the path of the motorcycle. As a result, the motorcycle struck the left side of the SUV. The motorcyclist suffered fatal injuries at the scene of the crash.
The roadway was blocked for several hours.
Joey Foley: True Homegrown Polk County Talent
by James Coulter
County artist Joey Foley has traveled and performed everywhere in the Southern U.S., including Ole Red in Orlando, Gatlinburg, and Nashville. However, his favorite place to play is in his home county.
Polk County is his community, and he proudly supports it and sings its praises wherever he goes. For that reason, he proudly supports and performs at local fundraisers such as those hosted by local philanthropist Melanie Brown Culpepper.
“To me, it is just as important to get involved with that as your local community as it is to be performing in your local community,” he said. “Because one day, when all these things like Nashville and Gatlinburg and all those great places are gone, there will still be this local community, and I want them to still love me no matter where I go or what I do so, therefore, I make a valiant effort to be involved in this community and what is going on in [it].”
Joey Foley was born and raised in Auburndale with his two sisters, Susan and Melissa, and by their grandmother, Edna Willis. In 1979, At the ripe age of 10, he started his career path as a performer as a member of the Black Mountain Cloggers. In the 1990s, he started his own clogging company called the Midnight Clogging Express, which had an illustrious 30-year run performing at schools in Haines City and Auburndale.
After retiring from clogging in 2015, Joey put his focus on music and trying to remain active in his local music community. He worked with the likes of the Nathan Baldwin Band, Polk County Porch Pickers, Aggie Road Band, and the classic country duo, Foley & Burns.
Joey Foley is currently traveling as a solo artist, sharing his love for classic country music and his love for Polk County all across the nation, as well as some of the popular spots right here in Central Florida.
His musical influences include big legendary stars like John Anderson, Keat Wheatly, and Marty Rayburn. Some of his biggest influences were right here in Polk County with folks like Haywood Hinson, Carl Chambers, and Jim Stafford.
“Those guys had a great direct effect on me,” Foley said. “So it [my influence] comes from all different directions from bluegrass to country music to gospel music to national artists to folks right here in our local market that took time with me when I was as a kid to share their talent and knowledge with me.”
Joey Foley owes his success to his down-to-earth nature and presentation. He may be a big star, but personally, he will always be the country boy born and raised in Polk County. He loves his local community, and he wants to continue having his community love him in return.
“I have been very blessed to be performing in the Polk County market for 40 years and one of the testaments why is because of the way I present myself,” he said. “There is still nothing like
coming right back home to Polk County and performing for the good folks right here and whatever place they need me to be in.”
Joey Foley appeared and performed as a guest on the Chattin on the Ridge podcast. Listen to his interview and performance on the podcast episode here: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/yXovyjn5kCb
Polk Sheriff Deputy Charged With Speeding, Driving Under The Influence, Fleeing To Elude After Allegedly Clocked Doing 117 MPH On Hwy 98
Polk County Sheriff’s Office Press Release
22-year-old Jakob Kite of Polk County was arrested early Sunday morning after his speed was measured over 100 miles per hour, he refused to pull over for a traffic stop, and fled from deputies. Kite was hired as a Polk County detention deputy trainee in February of 2020, and later became a deputy sheriff assigned to the southwest district in April of 2023. He resigned after he was arrested.
At approximately 12:06 a.m. Sunday morning, September 4, Polk County Sheriff’s Office traffic deputies were conducting traffic enforcement on US Hwy 98 South on traffic travelling in the area of Smith Lane near Lakeland. A deputy clocked a vehicle (Subaru Impreza) travelling south on Hwy 98 towards Bartow at 105 mph in a 60 mph zone. Another deputy later clocked the vehicle between 114 mph and 117 mph utilizing a laser speed enforcement device. Deputies began attempting to catch up to the vehicle to conduct a traffic stop. The vehicle continued onto Lyle Pkwy in Bartow, then onto EF Griffin Rd and travelled north towards Hwy 540A. While travelling on EF Griffin Rd and still attempting to catch up to the vehicle, one of the traffic deputies clocked the vehicle at 130 mph in a 45 mph zone using moving radar.
The deputies initiated a traffic stop on EF Griffin Rd as the vehicle neared Hwy 540A, utilizing emergency lights and siren. The driver of the vehicle refused to stop. Deputies observed the vehicle go through the stop sign at EF Griffin Rd and Hwy 540A, veering to the left. As the vehicle attempted to go westbound on Hwy 540A, it struck the concrete median separating westbound and eastbound lanes of travel on Hwy 540A, causing damage to the front tires of the vehicle. The vehicle was able to get into the westbound lanes, and at one point swerved towards one of the deputy’s patrol vehicles in an aggressive manner, almost striking his patrol vehicle. The vehicle continued westbound on Hwy 540A, and the deputies initiated a pursuit.
After several attempts, one of the deputies successfully conducted a PIT maneuver (Precision Immobilization Technique) that disabled the fleeing vehicle.
The suspect was taken into custody after initially refusing to exit his car. Kite appeared to be impaired/intoxicated. Kite was transported to the Sheriff’s Processing Center where breath samples were taken. Kite’s breath alcohol level was determined to be .035 G/210L and .034 G/210L. A Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) evaluated Kite and a urine sample was taken.
Kite was charged with Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer, Resisting without Violence, Resisting with Violence, Fleeing to Elude, Leaving the Scene of a Crash with Property Damage, Reckless Driving, and DUI. Kite was also issued citations for multiple driving infractions, including four speeding tickets (130 mph in a 45 mph zone / 105 mph in a 60 mph zone / 90 mph in a 45 mph zone / 60 mph in a 45 mph zone) and running a Stop Sign (2).
“This kind of driving and reckless behavior is unacceptable for any responsible citizen, let alone a deputy sheriff. It is hard to describe how disappointed and angry I am towards Kite’s dangerously stupid behavior. Had he not resigned, he would have been fired. We will absolutely hold him accountable for his criminal conduct. I appreciate and applaud our traffic deputies for doing the right thing and taking Kite into custody.” Grady Judd, Sheriff
This Local Seven-Year-Old is Fighting for His Life with AML
This Local Seven-Year-Old is Fighting for His Life with AML
by James Coulter
Luke Shaver, 7, is a plucky young lad. He loves learning about the Titanic and even has many of the dates and number of passengers on the ship memorized by heart. He loves playing Super Mario, and he especially loves animals. Recently, he has been sharing jokes from his favorite joke book.
Luke is super smart and super loving. So, when the young boy was diagnosed with leukemia, he received an outpouring of love from the community.
His ordeal began on a Monday when he was sent home sick. His mother, Judith Shaver, took him to the doctor, but the doctor assumed the boy was doing okay.
The next day, Luke returned to school, but he was still not feeling well. His mother took him to the emergency room at the Lakeland hospital. After some tests, he was rushed to NemoursChildren’s Hospital in Orlando. It was there he received his diagnosis.
“On August 22 around 9:40, the worse words a parent could hear hit me like a ton of bricks,” his mother wrote on Facebook. “It was not until they used the word cancer I understood.”
“I died a little that moment,” she wrote. “My heart wasn’t beating. My world crashed. How did my son…Luke of all people have cancer?”
Luke was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), a rare form of Leukemia that affects 700 people under the age of 20 each year, with 500 affecting young children like him.
Compounding matters further was that leukemia cells were discovered in his spinal fluid, which makes treatment from chemotherapy even more difficult, explained Cody McCain, a close friend of the family.
Seeing the young boy suddenly struggling within an inch of his life from cancer has proven most devastating for both his mother and father, Jeremy; yet the outpouring of love and care from the community since then has been overwhelming.
“The community has been amazing,” McCain said. “Luke’s mom and dad, they are not asking for anything, there is nothing in this world material-wise that they want or need. All they are asking for is the community to pray. Anyone who hears about Luke, we just want prayers. That being said, the community has been amazing.”
On Friday evening, Eric Miner, State Boss of the Legion of St. Michael Polk County chapter, hosted a Bike Night at Tanner’s Lakeside with a live performance by local band Conspiracy Theory, merchandise by Ten-86 Outfitters, and specials like $1 wings and $2 Jell-O shots. His event raised $452 for the Shaver family.
A similar event has been planned for Sat. Sep. 9 at Beef O’Brady’s in Lake Wales from 11 AM – 2 PM. The event will feature a donation box along with three businesses raffling off gift baskets.
Currently, a Facebook page, Fight Like Luke, has been created to show support for Luke and his family. The page has since gained nearly a thousand followers. To learn more about it, visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/820840626112959
A Labor Day fire has displaced three families in Winter Haven.
A Labor Day fire has displaced three families in Winter Haven.
A fire that was discovered in a multi-story structure on Ave. C SW has displaced three families on Labor Day. The Red Cross is assisting.
At approximately 3:35 pm today (9/4/23) WHFD responders were called to a structure fire where they found an upstairs unit with a fire involved in the kitchen area. The structure has three units in the building.
The fire was contained to the upstairs unit and was quickly contained to that unit.
Investigators will be on hand to find the cause of the fire.
There were no injuries.
Florida Sheriff Invokes Don’t “Try That In A Small Town” Following Officer Involved Shooting Of Car Jacking Suspect
Update: The armed carjacking suspect, 32-year-old Joshua Lee Walker (DOB 8/8/91), succumbed to his injuries at the hospital last evening and is deceased. The Officer Involved Deadly Incident Task Force for the 10th Judicial Circuit continues to investigate.
The gun he was in possession of, with which he used to commit several felonies, was a loaded 9 mm Springfield, with a live round in the chamber and 10 live rounds in the 13-round capacity magazine. He is a convicted felon and not legally allowed to possess a firearm.
Walker had active Polk County warrants for: Harassing Communication, Grand Theft of a Firearm (2 Counts), Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Harassing a Witness/Victim. His criminal history includes eight felony convictions and two trips to FL state prison (from 2016 to 2018, and from 2018 to 2022).
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Sheriff Judd and Bartow PD Chief Andy Ray are briefing the media about the task force investigation of a BPD Officer-involved shooting on US Hwy 98 in Bartow. No officers were injured. The suspect is in a local hospital.
The suspect is Joshua Lee Thomas, DOB 8/8/91. He has been to state prison two times, with 8 prior felony convictions. His criminal history is 30 pages long. He had several active warrants when this incident occurred.
During the press conference explaining the situation Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd mentioned multiple times “Don’t Try That In A Small”. A very popular and controversial song. Here is the full press conference below.
According to Bartow Police Chief Andy Ray & Sheriff Grady Judd the suspect attempted to car jack multiple cars, rammed into cars and eventually pointed a gun at Bartow officers.
Bartow Police Department Officer Involved Shooting
Sheriff Grady Judd and Bartow Police Chief Andy Ray will brief the media at 6:15 PM tonight(Monday, September 4, 2023) in Bartow near the Bartow Regional Medical Center on US Highway 98 regarding the Officer Involved Deadly Incident Task Force for the 10th Judicial Circuit investigating a Bartow Police officer-involved shooting that occurred earlier this afternoon.
No law enforcement officers were injured. The suspect has been transported to a local hospital.
We will bring you more as it becomes available.
Updated Details Here: Bartow Police Shooting
Sheriff Judd To Brief Media On Father Killing His 16 Yr Old Son
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd briefed media on murder of 16 Yr Old boy by his estrange father. The PCSO Mobile Command Center is set up on the 2500 block of Old Bartow Road in Lake Wales which is near the murder location.
The father, Stephen Thomas Rodda, killed his 16-year-old son Stephen Rodda. According to Sheriff Judd, Stephen Rodda was an outstanding teen! He went to Frostproof High School and was helping his grandparents at the time.
Stephen Rodda apparently wasn’t around much. Living out of state. According to the sheriff the suspect Stephen Sr. used an angle grinder to kill his son. According to Sheriff Judd a warrant for some minor charges was issued out of state.
To this point Sheriff Judd didn’t have a motive for the killing.
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Sheriff Grady Judd will brief the media around 3:15 p.m. today (Monday, September 4, 2023) at the scene of a homicide where a father killed his 16-year-old son.
The PCSO Mobile Command Center is set up on the 2500 block of Old Bartow Road in Lake Wales. The nearest cross street is North Acuff Road.
This is the second incident in a week in Polk County where a parent has killed their own child. Last Sunday, August 27th, a woman killed her two children.
26 Yr Old Winter Haven Man Killed In Polk City Ctash
A Winter Haven man was killed and his passenger injured in a single-vehicle crash that occurred early this morning in unincorporated Polk City at the county line. Around 12:42 a.m. on Monday, September 4, 2023, the PCSO ECC received a 911 call regarding the crash, which occurred on Commonwealth Avenue North just north of Green Pond Road.
First responders arrived and located the driver of a blue 2017 Hyundai Elantra, 26-year-old Cameron Gumble of Winter Haven, deceased at the scene. His passenger, 24-year-old Austin Roberts, had minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital. It appears that Gumble was driving north at a high rate of speed when, for unknown reasons, he crossed over the southbound lane and into the grass, then struck a pine tree. Gumble was not wearing a seatbelt, and was ejected. Roberts was wearing a seatbelt, and the airbags deployed.
Photos from the scene are attached. The roadway was closed for approximately three hours during the investigation, which is ongoing.
