The PCSO Traffic Homicide Unit investigated a crash involving four vehicles in Davenport on Friday, March 31, 2023; one of the drivers involved is deceased, possibly from a medical episode. No other parties were injured.
According to the investigation so far, PCSO received a 911 call around 5:42 a.m. that morning from the area of US Hwy 27 North near the intersection of Bella Citta Blvd. When first responders arrived, they found 60-year-old Craig Etheredge of Davenport deceased in his blue 2008 Toyota Corolla.
Etheredge was traveling south on US Hwy 27 in the middle lane approaching the aforementioned intersection when he veered to the right and side-swiped a red 2017 Dodge Charger that was also heading southbound in the far right lane. He then drifted over and across the intersection, and struck a white Chevrolet Silverado truck that was facing northbound and stopped at the red light. This pushed the Silverado into a white 2016 Trex cement truck that was also stopped at the red light beside it.
Etheredge’s family told deputies that he was not feeling well and was driving himself to the hospital. It is possible he had a medical event while driving, which caused the crash and resulted in his death. The investigation is ongoing. The roadways in that area were closed for approximately four hours.
During the evening hours of Saturday, April 1, 2023, 29-year-old Colten McMullen(DOB 8/25/93) of Lakeland was arrested on US Hwy 92 west of Auburndale after hitting two vehicles and a bicyclist, and attempting to flee. The bicyclist is deceased.
According to the affidavit, just after 10:00 p.m. the Auburndale Police Department responded to a traffic crash near the Walmart on US Hwy 92, where the at-fault driver (later positively identified as McMullen) had struck another vehicle and fled the scene.
While fleeing west down US 92 in his white Chevy Silverado, McMullen struck another vehicle within PCSO’s jurisdiction approximately two miles down the road from the first crash. Deputies responded to investigate that crash and search for the fleeing suspect. The victims in the Dodge Journey SUV told deputies that after the Silverado struck the rear of their vehicle, it continued west and swerved right, partially off of the roadway, where it struck an adult male bicyclist. The suspect did not stop to render aid. First responders found the bicyclist, a 37-year-old Lakeland man, deceased from his injuries. Other witnesses in the area also reported the hit-and-run fatality.
After hitting the bicyclist, the Silverado continued until it became disabled, and McMullen stopped the truck approximately 1.5 miles west of Old Dixie Hwy. Deputies arrived and took him into custody. He showed several signs of impairment and told deputies that he had been drinking at the Apple Lounge on Recker Hwy that evening. He told deputies the truck is his and that he “wrecked” but that he wasn’t sure how many times he wrecked. He was taken into custody and charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving death, a first degree felony, and leaving the scene of a crash causing property damage, a misdemeanor.
Further charges are pending the toxicological results of his blood alcohol content. He is being held in the Polk County Jail on no bond until a first appearance hearing.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim’s family who are certainly grieving the loss of their loved one, and our gratitude goes out to all of the witnesses who assisted us during this investigation. Thanks to their cooperation and a swift response from law enforcement, we were able to take McMullen into custody before he could hurt anyone else.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
The DC Extended Universe (DCEU) has proven to be quite the tumultuous movie franchise. Originally, it was marketed as the “darker” and “edgier” competitor of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but its superficial “maturity” only led to cinematic disasters like Man of Steel and Batman v Superman. Only after it shaved off its “edge” and lightened its tone did the DCEU gain momentum with some real successes: Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Suicide Squad, and Shazam!
Without exaggeration and with all sincerity, the original 2019 Shazam! is the best DCEU film, if for no other reason than it’s the most fun and hilarious. How can it not be? The movie has a very fun and hilarious premise: what if a young boy was granted the power to turn into an adult and gain super abilities like super strength, speed, and flight? The answer is a superhero version of 1988’s Big, with a boy taking full advantage of being both an adult and superhero, from performing heroic feats to legally buying beer at a gas station for his teenage companion.
Zachary Levi (despite the glaring fault of his anti-vaccine views) does a great job of playing a young boy trapped inside the body of an adult man with his immature quips and mannerisms. He certainly has you believe he is a young boy turned into a man. And he certainly appears to have fun playing that role, which makes it even more fun watching him play that role.
Shazam: Fury of the Gods follows where the last movie ended. Two years had passed since Billy Baxton and his foster family of children gained the superpowers of Shazam. They try to use their powers to be superheroes and save the day, but, still being young inexperienced children, they often fail in their endeavors, to the point of their team being dubbed the “Philly Fiascos.”
Aside from the many failures of him and his superhero team, Billy also battles with the insecurity of almost turning 18 and soon aging out of the foster system. That, along with his other family members doing their separate things, makes him question his place in his family and worry about his future within it.
Of course, things take an unexpected turn when he and the others are hunted by the Daughters of Atlas, the Greek titan punished with holding up the Earth, and who was one of the legendary heroes whose powers were stolen to create Shazam. His daughters now seek to hunt down Billy and his family and steal back those powers for their own nefarious purposes. Will Billy keep his family together, both figuratively and literally, in the face of these new threats?
Admittedly, this review is going to be short because I don’t have much to say about it. Shazam is your typical superhero movie with your typical message about the importance of family. It follows the typical beats of those stories, and thus you know what the typical outcome is going to be. This movie is typical, which is what I’m trying to get at. It’s average—or “mid”, as the kids these days will put it.
But, again, as with the original movie, what makes this sequel work is Zachary Levi and the other actors, all of whom do a good job of acting like kids inside the bodies of adults. Special
props to Meagan Good, who does an excellent job of playing a young woman being played by a young girl playing a young woman. There’s one scene at the start where she and the team are saving people from a collapsing bridge. She sees a car with a basket of baby kittens. She coos in excitement over their cuteness and snatches them to rescue them, leaving behind the confused human occupants before returning to save them.
Moments like that essentially save this movie from being just average. Like the original movie, it is fun and hilarious. There are plenty of funny moments that certainly prove entertaining and add levity to the heavy action.
For example, one of the scenes involves a little girl having to tame a unicorn to save a city from an army of monsters by tossing Skittles at it and asking it to “taste the rainbow!” If moments like that make you roll your eyes and scoff, you’ll want to avoid this movie. But if you like fun and having fun, then give this movie a chance.
Not many superhero movies know how to be fun anymore. Aside from the Guardians of the Galaxy, Deadpool, and Ant-Man films, most superhero movies take themselves way too seriously. That was especially true for the DCEU at its start. So it’s a real relief to finally be able to watch movies like Shazam that don’t take themselves too seriously and know how to have a good time. We need more movies like that.
So, it’s a real pity that Shazam: Fury of the Gods isn’t doing well at the box office or in reviews. The movie flopped its opening weekend with only a measly $30.5 million, and with a meager 52 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
Don’t let its poor performance fool you. The new Shazam! movie may not be great, but it’s pretty good for what it is. If you liked the campy children’s movies of the 1980s, both this and Shazam! 2019 have that exact feel that will make you feel good and make you chuckle. Overall, I’d certainly recommend watching this movie, at least as a matinee.
On March 29, 2023, Polk County Sheriff’s Office detectives arrested 33-year-old Ricardo Guerra-Vergara and 32-year-old Eduardo Rojas-Astudillofor multiple vehicle burglaries, grand theft, fraud and other charges. Both Guerra-Vergara and Rojas-Astudillo are Chilean citizens who are in the United States illegally.
Hunt Fountain Park burglaries
On March 25, 2023, detectives began investigating two vehicle burglaries that occurred at Hunt Fountain Park (2020 Duff Road) in Lakeland. An additional vehicle at the park was damaged from an attempted burglary as well. The suspects removed personal items, including credit and debit cards, from the vehicles. The burglaries occurred while the victims were attending youth sporting events at the park.
The victims received multiple notifications from their financial institutions alerting them to fraudulent activity associated with the stolen credit and debit cards while they were at the park, at which time they returned to their vehicles and found them damaged and/or burglarized.
In the first burglary, two victims received multiple alerts of suspected fraudulent activity from their financial institutions. Detectives confirmed that a total of $4,994.19 was withdrawn using the stolen cards, and an additional $9,529.26 was attempted but the transactions were declined.
Another victim received alerts that someone attempted to withdraw $6669.63 from different credit and debit cards. When the victim checked, all of the fraudulently used cards were still in her wallet, however, $957 in cash was taken from her car.
Another victim whose car was parked in the lot reported damage to her driver side keyhole, but nothing from within her vehicle was missing.
Lake Parker Park burglary
During the investigation, detectives learned that the Lakeland Police Department was investigating a similar vehicle burglary by the same suspects at the Lake Parker Pavilion Park (830 E. Robson St.) that also occurred on March 25th. The suspects burglarized one vehicle and damaged a second vehicle in a failed attempt to break into it.
PCSO detectives obtained video evidence at Lake Parker Park that identified a gray Dodge Durango as the suspects’ vehicle. The video revealed three Hispanic males in the Durango—the truck stopped beside a victim’s vehicle and exited the Durango. Two of the men appeared to be look-outs, while the third male entered the victim’s vehicle. All three returned to the Durango and left the park.
A total of four victims had personal items in the burglarized vehicle. The suspects attempted to withdraw a total of $13,200.66 from the victims’ credit and debit cards. The attempted transactions were declined by the financial institutions. Also stolen from the vehicle was $795 in cash.
The Dodge Durango was determined to have been rented from Miami, Florida, and the vehicle information was disseminated to area law enforcement agencies.
On March 29th, The Haines City Police Department located the Durango at the Bank of America (905 E. Hinson Ave.) in Haines City. Officers confirmed the identities of the men in the Durango as Guerra-Vergara and Rojas-Astudillo. They were detained until PCSO detectives arrived.
PCSO detectives showed both suspects a photo of themselves from the Lake Parker Pavilion Park security video. Rojas-Astudillo admitted they were the men in the photo. Detectives also heard Guerra-Vergara make the statements, “I was wearing a hat, so they can’t tell it was me,” and “They can’t prove anything, we returned all of the cards.”
“Not only are these criminals in the country illegally, they are preying on the innocent citizens of Polk County. Because of the quick work by my detectives and the partnership we have with other law enforcement agencies, these two thieves are off the street and in jail where they belong. Two key takeaways from this burglary trend are: don’t leave your valuables in plain view when you leave your car parked at a sports field, dog park, or gym, where suspects know women are more likely to leave their purses; and make sure your bank offers fraud alerts – the victims who had that set up on their phones were immediately notified that their cards had been stolen or compromised, which made a huge difference in this investigation.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
Ricardo Guerra-Vergara was charged with:
Grand theft (F3) (3 counts)
Vehicle burglary (F3) (3 counts)
Attempted vehicle burglary (F3) (2 counts)
Fraudulent use of credit cards (F3) (12 counts)
Obtaining property by fraud (F3)
Criminal use of personal identification (F3) (6 counts)
Criminal mischief (F3) (2 counts)
Traveling across county lines to commit a burglary (charge enhancement)
He is currently in the Polk County Jail and being held on a $29,000 bond.
Eduardo Rojas-Astudillo was charged with:
Grand theft (F3) (3 counts)
Vehicle burglary (F3) (3 counts)
Attempted vehicle burglary (F3) (2 counts)
Fraudulent use of credit cards (F3) (12 counts)
Obtaining property by fraud (F3)
Criminal use of personal identification (F3) (6 counts)
Criminal mischief (F3) (2 counts)
Traveling across county lines to commit a burglary (charge enhancement)
He is currently in the Polk County Jail and being held on a $29,000 bond.
PCSO has confirmed with the Department of Homeland Security/United States Border Patrol that both Guerra-Vergara and Rojas-Astudillo are in the United States illegally. The Department of Homeland Security has completed an immigration detainer for each of the suspects and they are being held in the Polk County jail with those detainers, in addition to their bond.
Need a new car? Looking for a Toyota, Hyundai, or Genesis? You can shop for all three brands at the newly-refurbished Lakeland Automall. Just as with their old location, they remain dedicated, as their website states, to “convenience, savings, and selection.”
At Lakeland Automall, not only can you expect a diverse selection of Toyota, Hyundai, and Genesis brand vehicles, but you can also expect “exceptional service” with sales focused on your personal needs and finances.
“When it comes to the vehicle you drive, never settle for anything but the best. We believe that everyone should be treated like a guest in our home,” their website states. “This philosophy translates to exceptional service, money-saving specials, and the latest Ford, Hyundai, and used car vehicle inventory selections to its Orlando, Tampa Bay, FL area customers, backed by outstanding service.”
Lakeland Automall relocated their Lakeland Hyundai facility into the former Lakeland Mazda building, all while completely remodeling their 1500 property. As the Lakeland Chamber reported: “For over a year and a $2M reinvestment. [they have] updated the facility with the latest technologies including 2 public access EV fast charging stations, an expanded three-lane service bay and completely remodeled sales and service showrooms.”
Lakeland Automall celebrated the grand opening of its newly-refurbished facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday.
Over the past year, the facility has undergone its journey towards a complete remodel of its property. Owner Greg Balasco owes their success to their committed staff who have remained steadfast throughout the entire process. Their next venture, he announced, will be to transform their old Mazda building into Genesis.
“In the end, what we see is absolutely beautiful,” he said. “I am proud to be here with everyone here. I am proud that we pulled this off and got everything done. It has been a fun experience. I am glad it is done…Thank you for supporting us through this long journey.”
Bob Kim, National VP of Sales, had traveled from their national headquarters in Atlanta to express his support and gratitude for the Lakeland campus. He presented a golden model of a Korean warship, 11 of which had bravely fought off a Japanese fleet of 201.
Kim has high expectations moving forward with the company. Last year, they sold 700,000 units, and they expect to sell between 1.2 – 1.5 million in a couple of years. They had already invested $1.5 billion in Savannah to build the first all-electric battery plant.
“Our commitment is there, and the partnership there is with you,” Kim said. “It says a lot about you about what you mean to us. We truly appreciate you. We appreciate it.”
Mayor Bill Mutz commended Lakeland Automall for its remodel. As the company has undergone development, so, too, has the city thanks to businesses like theirs. The economic development of
the city and its local businesses mirror each other, and for that, Mutz remains proud of the overall endeavor.
“I cannot tell you what a privilege it is to be reflected in this time and moment,” he said. We want to be reflected and available in our minds and hearts due to the passions that are within us and to fulfill our roles the best we can wherever we are, and when we do that, the rest just works out, think about doing your skills the best you can, make the most of the best and the least of the worst. That is what happened here.”
Lakeland Automall is located at 1430 W Memorial Blvd, Lakeland, FL 33815. For more information, visit their website at: https://www.lakelandautomall.com/
As Polk County continues experiencing dry weather conditions due to a prolonged lack of rainfall, Polk County Fire Rescue (PCFR) has issued an official burn ban ordinance.
The current increased risk of brush fires and uncontrolled fires are a threat to Polk County’s safety. The dry conditions don’t show signs of easing up any time in the near future, so Polk County Fire Rescue has issued the burn ban.
The burn ban includes:
Campfires;
Bonfires;
Unpermitted controlled burns;
Burning of yard and household trash;
Burning of construction debris;
Burning of organic debris;
Igniting of fireworks; and
Noncommercial burning of materials other than for religious or ceremonial purposes, in which case they must be contained in a barbecue grill or barbecue pit, and the total fuel area cannot exceed three feet in diameter and two feet in height.
“Polk County Fire Rescue has held off as long as we possibly can on issuing this burn ban,” said Polk County Fire Rescue Chief, Hezedean A. Smith, D.M. “The current dry conditions are favorable for the rapid development and spread of brush fires throughout the County. Ensuring the safety of every resident and visitor throughout Polk County and minimizing the likeliness for loss of property county wide are top priorities for Polk County Fire Rescue.”
More than 50 percent of Polk County is averaging over 501 on the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI). The KBDI index is a continuous reference scale used by the Florida Forest Service to assess the likelihood and severity of brush fires. The scale begins at zero, which reflects no danger, and rises to 800, which reflects extreme danger.
The burn ban applies to all unincorporated Polk and the following municipalities: Auburndale, Eagle Lake, Lake Alfred, Mulberry, Lake Hamilton, Haines City, Hillcrest Heights, Polk City, Winter Haven, Davenport, Dundee, Lakeland, Bartow, Frostproof, Fort Meade and Highland Park.
Anyone who refuses to comply or violates this burn ban shall be in violation of County Ordinance 08-015 and can be punished by a fine not to exceed $500 or by imprisonment by a term not to exceed 60 days in the county jail or both.
Update 8:30pm – The fire has increased in size to approximately 500 acres with 50% containment. Multiple outbuildings have been lost. 10 dozers(Lakeland, Orlando, and Okeechobee Districts) are working the fire. @PolkFire is assisting. Cause is unknown. Last update for tonight
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The Florida Fire Service advises they are battling a 300 acre fire near River Ranch. They currently have 9 dozers suppressing the spread of the fire.
From Canopy Oaks – Posted To Lake Wales Daily Facebook
Many camps have been destroyed. The fire isn’t far from Canopy Oaks off C. R. 630 E.
The initial call came in around 2:40pm.
We will update as more information released.
#RightGate Fire update- Fire is approximately 300 acres in size. @FLForestService has 9 dozers suppressing the fire. River Ranch has been closed to anyone entering. Several camps have been destroyed, too early to estimate. pic.twitter.com/p8Odw0QO7Q
HAINES CITY- This morning, Officer Nathaniel Moya and Officer Monica Lozano, the School Resource Officers at Haines City High School, received a tip regarding a student with a handgun in his vehicle. Officers Moya and Lozano immediately went to the student parking lot and confronted the student at the vehicle. The officers were able to recover a 9mm Taurus semi-automatic handgun from the vehicle. The student was placed under arrest for Possession of a Firearm on a School Campus and Unlawful Carry of a Firearm by a person under 18 years of age.
Based on recent events regarding school-related shootings, our School Resource Officers are more vigilant in their day-to-day interactions with students and social media posts in an attempt to thwart any possible incidents in our schools. We will still encourage students, parents, guardians, and school personnel to notify the Police Department of any written threats, verbal threats, and possession of any weapons that they are made aware, of that, could possibly harm any of the students or faculty in our schools.
We want to thank the tipster for providing this information today, as the quick actions of our officers, possibly prevented a dangerous situation at the Haines City High School.
Attribute statements to Deputy Police Chief Jay Hopwood.
Updated Details: Two murder suspects who were being sought by detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office were arrested by Delaware State Police on April 7, 2023. They were wanted for their part in the murder of a 34-year old Benjamin Mason III of Bartow, who was fatally shot while riding a motorcycle.
28-year old Wesley Vazquez Andino and 26-year old Adriana Oyola Del Valle were located and arrested on Polk County Warrants. Vazquez Andino has been charged with 1st Degree Murder (FC), while Oyola Del Valle was charged with Accessory to a Capital Felony (F1). Both were brought back to Polk County on April 24, 2023 and have been indicted by a Grand Jury.
The shooting occurred on March 26, 2023 at around 2:09 pm on Wheeler Street, in unincorporated Gordon Heights northeast of Bartow.
An autopsy revealed that a bullet entered Mason’s lower back, then travelled through his kidney, diaphragm, and lung.
Witnesses were only able to describe a blue Jeep and a short Hispanic male at the scene. That information was developed and eventually led PCSO detectives to the suspects’ shared residence on Chestnut Woods Drive in Lakeland, but they discovered that the couple hurriedly fled from there.
The couple was tracked down to a residence belonging to a relative of Oyola Del Valle in Wilmington, Delaware.
Following her arrest, Oyola Del Valle told a PCSO detective that they had attempted to purchase a dirt bike via Facebook Marketplace, and paid a requested $100 deposit. After paying the deposit, she said the seller hung up on them when they called him again, then blocked their number. The couple went to find the seller of the dirt bike in Gordon Heights. They saw Mason on the same dirt bike and yelled out to him, but Mason drove past them and drove away. Oyola Del Valle said that is when Vazquez Andino fired one shot at Mason, and then they fled from the scene.
Oyola Del Valle also said that her three children were in the Jeep at the time of the shooting.
“Witnesses weren’t able to give much information, but what they did provide was just enough that the PCSO homicide detectives were able to get on the right path toward solving this senseless murder. It was exceptional work by the detectives, but it also illustrates how even the smallest tip can help solve a crime.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
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Update April 25: Sheriff Grady Judd Will brief the media today at 1:30pm on an ambush murder that occurred on March 26, 2023. The shooting occurred on Wheeler Street in the unincorporated area of Bartow a man was shot and killed while riding a motorcycle. The suspect in that homicide (and a woman charged with accessory to a capital felony) arrived back in Polk County last night and were booked into the Polk County Jail. They were arrested on Polk County arrest warrants in Delaware earlier in April. The shooter has been charged with 1st degree murder.
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Original Press Release
A 34-year old man from the Gordon Heights area of Bartow was fatally wounded by a single gunshot Sunday afternoon, March 26, 2023 while he was on a dirt bike, and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office is still working to identify and arrest the shooter.
At about 2:09 pm, deputies were dispatched to a reported dirt bike crash on Wheeler Street, northeast of Bartow. First responders arrived and discovered the crash victim had a gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
An autopsy of the victim on Monday revealed that a bullet entered the victim’s lower right back and traveled through his kidney, diaphragm, and lung.
Witnesses told PCSO detectives they heard at least one gunshot in the area.
“At this early stage of the investigation, we don’t know why the victim was murdered. Somebody out there has information, even the smallest detail that could help us capture the killer. A family has lost a loved-one, and we need to bring his killer to justice.”– Grady Judd, Sheriff
Anyone with any information about this murder should contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at 863-298-6200. Anonymous tips can be made to Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477), and if an arrest is made based on a tip, the tipster would be eligible for a $3,000 reward.
HAINES CITY-The Haines City Police Department has been made aware of some videos that have surfaced on social media that depict portions of an incident where law enforcement attempted to initiate a traffic stop on a vehicle. The driver knowingly had a suspended driver license and tried to get away from the officer and was subsequently arrested. The driver was in possession of a visible firearm that was later determined to be possessed legally. Portions of the video show the interactions between the suspect and the lone arresting officer on scene. During some of these video interactions, the lone officer is seen utilizing protective actions directed at the suspect as he is trying to take him into custody, and secure the firearm in the driver’s possession. Neither the officer, nor the suspect were injured during the arrest.
Preliminary review of the documents, statements and video reveal the following:
On March 22nd at 11:06 A.M., Officer Justin Vasquez attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a silver vehicle due to a traffic violation of unlawful window tint near the intersection of 16th Street E and Melbourne Avenue. The vehicle driver saw officer Vasquez turn behind him and knowing he was driving on a suspended license, the driver, Miranda Brundidge III, pulled into a business hastily exits the vehicle, runs a short distance and continues to walk away from the vehicle. Officer Vasquez exited his patrol vehicle and pursued him on foot. Officer Vasquez could clearly see the handle of a firearm sticking out of Brundidge’s right front pants pocket.
Officer Vasquez gave loud verbal directives directed at the driver to “get on the ground.” He continued to say this over ten times and the suspect still refused to comply. Officer Vasquez was able to take one of the suspect’s hands and tried to get the suspect’s second hand to secure him with handcuffs. However, the suspect continued to resist, Officer Vasquez was alone, the suspect still had a readily accessible firearm and was continuing to resist so Officer Vasquez executed a take down to attempt to gain compliance, and forced the suspect to the ground.
Brundidge still refused to comply to verbal directives, and would not place his second hand behind his back. Officer Vasquez’s primary objective was focusing all of his efforts to prevent an escalation to deadly force. Once on the ground, Brundidge had his right arm under his body, he still refused to present the arm and hand, and the firearm was in his right front pocket. Officer Vasquez then struck Brundidge’s upper body in an attempt to gain compliance. These actions worked, and he was able to handcuff Brundidge behind his back.
Because Officer Vasquez was able to handcuff him, Officer Vasquez immediately took the suspect off the ground and escorted him to his patrol vehicle. As Officer Vasquez walked Brundidge to his car, Brundidge continued to resist Officer Vasquez by not only tensing his arms and pulling away, but also tensing and pushing away with his legs as they walked. Since Officer Vasquez was alone until he got Brundidge back to his car, he was unable to remove the firearm from his front pocket until back up arrived. As such, he had to keep Brundidge in a transporter position with is arms away from his body.
When Officer Vasquez arrived at his vehicle, his intent was to hold him against the vehicle till back-up arrived and he could safely disarm the suspect. However, the suspect continued resisting and pushed back against the Officer so, Officer Vasquez countered the resistive efforts by aggressively directing the suspect onto the hood of his car which would allow him to maintain control of the still armed suspect, with less effort.
During the time frame that took place at the patrol car, a citizen, who was videotaping the incident, can be clearly heard admonishing the suspect repeatedly to “just chill.”
Brundidge was arrested and charged with driving on a suspended license and resisting an officer. He was also issued two citations for illegal window tint, the reason Officer Vasquez attempted to initiate a traffic stop on Brundidge’s vehicle. Brundidge’s license was suspended for failure to pay court costs.
Brundidge made no admissions to driving the vehicle, in fact he adamantly denied driving the vehicle, despite video to the contrary. His past history consists of traffic violations to include a previous charge of knowingly driving on a suspended driver license.
As with any case involving the use of protective action by a Haines City Police Officer, this incident will be investigated and reviewed to determine if it complies with Florida State Statute and Agency Policies. In addition, although a formal complaint has not been received, the Chief and City Administration have directed that a full administrative investigation will be conducted, and the results will reviewed by the State Attorney’s office.
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Haines City Press Release
Haines City Police investigating Traffic Stop Involving A Suspect Driving on Suspended License Since October
HAINES CITY-Haines City Police Department has been made aware of some videos that have surfaced on social media that depict portions of an incident where law enforcement attempted to initiate a traffic stop on a vehicle. The driver knowingly had a suspended driver license and tried to get away from the officer and was subsequently arrested. The driver was in possession of a visible firearm that was later determined to be possessed legally. Portions of the video show the interactions between the suspect and the lone arresting officer on scene. During some of these video interactions, the lone officer is seen utilizing protective actions directed at the suspect as he is trying to take him into custody, and secure the firearm in the driver’s possession. Neither the officer, nor the suspect were injured during the arrest.
Chief Greg Goreck will address the media about this incident at 2:00 PM today.
