The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating fatal crash on SR 60 West at the intersection of Pine Grove Rd in Willow Oak (near Mulberry).
The crash occurred around 5:41 a.m. and it was reported that a truck and an SUV were involved. There are 2 fatalities and multiple people with injuries.
The eastbound lanes in the area of the crash will be shut down for several hours. Please consider alternate routes.
Sheriff Judd is heading to the scene of the double-fatal crash on SR 60 in Mulberry and will brief the media there at 9:15 a.m. this morning.
Saturday, May 6th, In-Gauge of Polk County donated a STOP THE BLEED, emergency blood loss control, tourniquet kit to the Florida Frontiersmen gun range, during the Frontiersmen’s May general meeting in Homeland, Florida, with approximately 100 people in attendance.
The Frontiersmen’s Chief Range Officer Joe Noto received the kit. May is National STOP THE BLEED Month and in an effort to generate public awareness of the ability to prevent needless deaths, due to traumatic blood loss, through simple easy to use techniques, with simple, easy to use equipment, In-Gauge of Polk County is donating emergency blood loss control, tourniquet kits to high risk locations. In-Gauge of Polk County, an NRA chartered, non-profit organization, in Winter Haven, Florida specializes in firearms safety training and is a licensed affiliate of STOPTHEBLEED.org. In addition to conducting firearms training, In-Gauge offers free STOP THE BLEED training clinics to the public. In-Gauge will be donating emergency blood loss control, tourniquet kits to other non-profit organizations throughout the month of May. Any non-profit organization having the need for a kit, can request one by simply sending an email request to [email protected] or through ‘CONTACT US’ on the In-Gauge website. Requests will be evaluated and granted based on need. In-Gauge will be conducting free, official STOP THE BLEED training clinics throughout the month of May. Day and afternoon, weekday and weekend classes are being conducted. Pre-registration is required for participation. Registration for the clinics can be done on the In-Gauge website or through EVENTBRITE.
On May 8, 2023, at approximately 4:40am, the Davenport Police Department responded to the RaceTrac store located at 38425 Hwy 27 in Davenport regarding a reported stabbing. Upon arrival, Davenport police officers discovered that a female clerk had been stabbed multiple times. She was immediately transported by Polk County Emergency Medical Services to a local hospital. Investigation revealed that an individual, identified as Marc Caseaf Tucker (dob: 03/02/1994) entered the store and began looking at various items and visiting the restroom. The clerk, who does not know Tucker, asked if she could assist him with his purchases, to which he declined. As the clerk was preparing to stock some food merchandise, Tucker approached her from behind and began repeatedly stabbing her in the back and side. The clerk fled from her attacker, however she slipped and fell to the floor, at which time, Tucker stabbed her several more times in the chest. The clerk physically resisted her attacker and was again able to escape, at which time Tucker fled the store into a nearby wooded area. Tucker later exited the wooded area and was taken into custody without incident. Other clerks were present in the store at the time of the incident, but did not witness the attack. They became aware of the event after hearing the victim screaming and observing Tucker flee the store. They rendered aid to the victim until the arrival of emergency medical personnel. As a result of the attack, the victim sustained a total of nine (9) stab wounds and is being treated at a local hospital. She is expected to survive her injuries. The victim’s name is being withheld in accordance with Marcy’s Law. “This was simply an unprovoked, random attack for no apparent reason other than the suspect, Marc Tucker, committing an evil act. The fact that the store clerk resisted and fought her attacker certainly facilitated her survival. We are praying for a quick recovery of the store clerk, and will do all we can to ensure Mr. Tucker is held accountable for his senseless actions.” ~ Chief Steve Parker 16 Bay Street W. – Davenport, FL 33837 – Telephone (863) 419-3307 – Fax (863) 419-3308
Marc Tucker is charged with Attempted First Degree Murder. Tucker, who is from the Winter Haven area but is currently homeless, has arrests dating back to 2013 that include Domestic Violence Battery, Assault, Theft, and Resisting Officer. He was released from the Florida State Prison system in January 2023 after serving less than a year of a 20-month sentence for multiple counts of Battery on Law Enforcement Officer. More recently, he was released from the Polk County Jail on April 11 after being arrested for Trespassing. Below is a photograph of Marc Tucker taken by Davenport Police following his arrest.
On May 2, 2023, PCSO deputies arrested 38-year-old Michael Grangerand 29-year-old Leila Chaney, both from Frostproof, after they lied during a hit and run crash investigation. Both Granger and Chaney are correctional officers with the Florida Department of Corrections and assigned to the Avon Park Correctional Institute.
Deputies also arrested 63-year-old Michael Granger of Frostproof, the father of 38-year-old Granger.
At around 3:13 p.m., deputies responded to the intersection of Platt Road and South Lake Patrick Road in Frostproof in reference to a single vehicle crash. According to evidence at the scene, a gray 2021 Hyundai flipped and rolled through a fence line and into a privately owned citrus grove, causing around $3,000 worth of damage to trees and an irrigation system.
Deputies found the vehicle unoccupied and believed the driver was injured due to blood found at the scene.
Deputies located the vehicle owners, Chaney and 38-year-old Granger, at their home. Chaney told deputies that she was the one who crashed the vehicle. As Chaney had no obvious injuries, deputies continued to question her about the crash, but she continued to insist she caused the crash and then left the scene.
38-year-old Granger also told deputies that Chaney was the only person in the Hyundai at the time of the crash and there were no others in the house.
When deputies attempted to take Chaney into custody, she began yelling and pulling away to avoid being arrested. Deputies were able to quickly gain control and arrest her.
Once arrested, Chaney confessed to lying about the crash. She told deputies the driver of the Hyundai was actually 63-year-old Michael Granger and that he was hiding in the house.
Deputies located 63-year-old Granger and transported him to an area hospital where he was treated for minor injuries and then taken to the Sheriff’s Processing Center to be booked in on three charges.
“There is never a good reason to leave a crash scene or lie about your involvement. Just do what’s right – it will be better for all involved in the long run.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
Once upon a time, there were certain things you did not need to tell people they shouldn’t do because it was common sense they shouldn’t do them. Sadly, common sense is dead these days. So now we must tell people not to do these things because they don’t know they shouldn’t do them.
So here are three things you should not do at Disney World—which, apparently, we need to tell you not to do because some people weren’t smart enough to know not to do them:
#1: Harass the Disney Characters
The meet-and-greet Disney characters are more than willing to do anything for guests: take pictures, sign autographs, and even record video messages. However, even Disney characters have personal boundaries (because everyone does), and yet some guests don’t know better enough not to cross them.
Case in point, in September 2021, a female guest thought it was a good idea to feel up the Gaston character at Magic Kingdom. Now, Gaston may be a flirt in the animated movie, but in real life, he’s played by a real-life human being with personal boundaries. So, when this girl decided to cross them, he demanded that she leave. No photo. No autograph. Just go and bring forward the next guest.
As Disney Fanatic reported: “The female Guest didn’t seem to understand what she had done wrong, or that the character performer was serious, but Gaston did not let up and refused to take a picture with her!”
Sadly, many Disney characters get mistreated by guests who don’t seem to know about personal space and bad touch. Many Disney princesses have reported being groped and touched inappropriately by guests, as have many scantily-clad characters like Tarzan. Even Jack Sparrow has been offered many hotel keys—but not to find buried treasure. And do we even have to spell out the type of harassment that black characters like Tiana have faced?
So, when you participate in Disney character meet and greets, remember the lessons about “bad touch” you should have learned in school. If you wouldn’t want to be touched somewhere, chances are, the Disney characters don’t either.
#2: Bathe in the Fountains
Disney World offers many opportunities for guests to cool off on a hot day. Many parks have water rides like Kali River Rapids and Splash Mountain (which, sadly, is closed for renovations). Every hotel has a swimming pool, and some even have water slides and splash pads. And, of course, if you can afford them, there are two water parks: Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach.
Unfortunately, it seems some guests simply can’t wait to return to their hotels to go swimming. Recently, several guests visiting Epcot thought it was a bright idea to cool off by taking a dip in one of the fountains. These guests were caught on video, which was then uploaded to TikTok with the caption, “What not to do in Epcot.”
Now, most people are smart enough to know that fountain water is not appropriate to swim in. It’s also not safe to drink, and yet too many guests insist on refilling their water bottles in water filled with chemicals, debris, and other dirty stuff that will certainly make them feel worse than slightly thirsty.
If you’re sweating up a storm and need to cool off, just hop a bus back to your hotel, put on your swim trunks, and take a plunge in the pool. Some hotels even have hot tubs. You certainly don’t need to turn a public fountain into one.
#3: Watch Dirty Videos and Do Dirty Things on Rides
Look. We get it. Waiting in two-to-three-hour long lines can be boring. And some of the rides the kids want to ride may not be entertaining for your liking. So, you’re tempted to take out your smartphone and watch something more interesting. Nobody is stopping you from watching the new season of The Mandalorian on Disney Plus while waiting in line for a ride—or even while you’re on the ride! (You spent money on admission. You do you!)
But…sigh. Do we need to tell you that you shouldn’t whip out your phone to watch dirty videos? And do we need to tell you that you shouldn’t whip something else out and play with it while you watch said dirty videos?
Apparently, we do. Because one man thought it was a bright idea to do so on Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. This guy was caught watching something that wasn’t family-friendly while doing something that most certainly wasn’t family-friendly. And to top it all off, he was smoking. Smoking in the parks is already prohibited, but what he chose to smoke was worse than a cigarette, if you know what I mean.
Look, if you need to ease some tension from a long day at the park, do everyone else a favor and wait until you get back to the hotel room. The bathroom in your guest room is going to offer much better privacy than an attraction, and it certainly isn’t going to jostle you around as much. (And please, keep the pot at home. It isn’t legal in Florida!)
What do you think? Do you think these guests lacked common sense? Did you think what they did went to far? Leave your comments on Facebook.
Detectives worked with Sanford Police Department and Seminole County Sheriff’s Office as Al Joseph Stenson fled to Slumberland Motel in Sanford, Florida. Stenson made statements that he would kill himself or force law enforcement to kill him. After hours long standoff involving crisis negotiation and SWAT, interactions ended in an officer involved shooting. Stenson was pronounced deceased at the scene. This case remains an active investigation and is ongoing. Law enforcement requests anyone with information regarding this case as it relates to Lake Wales, to contact Detective Ricky Hartwell at 863-678-4223.
Any inquiries revolving around the activities at SlumberlandMotel need to be directed to Sanford Police Department or Seminole County Sheriff’s Office.
——— Updated 1 —————
News Update 6:51am –
Detectives were able to determine Al Joseph Stenson murdered a mother and her three children early yesterday morning. Detectives have obtained an arrest warrant for Stenson on four counts of 1st degree murder. They have located Stensen and are actively working to take him into custody.
During this investigation, Detectives determined Stenson shot the victims in an apartment then fled immediately thereafter at approximately 5 AM. It was not until 8:51 PM on May 2 that law enforcement was notified when the victims were discovered by family members. The motive for the murders is unknown, however the victims and the suspect knew each other. We will not be releasing the names of the victims at this time due to Marsy’s Law.
We will provide additional updates as they become available. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.
—————— Original Press Release —————
Mother and Three Children Killed
Police Actively Investigating
On Tuesday, May 2 at approximately 8:51 PM, officers responded to Dawnligt Drive in Sunrise Apartments in regards to a medical call. Officers arrived on scene and found a mother and her three children, one adult and two juveniles, dead from apparent gunshot wounds. Officers are looking for Al Stenson, age 38 of Lake Wales. Officers believe he may live at the apartment, and could be injured as well. If anyone knows Mr. Stenson‘s whereabouts, please contact Lake Wales Police Department immediately at 863-678-4223 or dial 911.
Police are asking anyone with information to contact DetectiveRicky Hartwell with the Lake Wales Police Department at 863-678-4223. Or, if you would like to stay anonymous and be eligible for a CASH REWARD through Heartland Crime Stoppers:
There once was an old lady who had problems with her air conditioning. She called a local company to fix her problems, but they only made them worse to ring more money out of her.
She ended up paying more than $6,000, which was a new thermostat and a monthly subscription to a club membership. The company supposedly performed other work on her air conditioning, but despite all the money and effort, her unit kept breaking down on her.
That elderly woman was the grandmother of Scott Martines, who was currently working at another air conditioning repair company at the time. She called him in the middle of the night to inform him that her unit had broken down again. It was 89° in her home and she couldn’t bare the heat anymore.
Not only was the broken AC unit messing with her health, but it was also draining her bank account. When she informed Scott of the thousands of dollars she had spent trying to fix it, the news broke his heart. She never called him because, like any grandparent, she didn’t want to feel like a burden.
“I went over there one night and saw the company that charged her did none of the work that they said and actually made it worse,” he said. Things were disconnected and rigged to break, to give her no other choice than to replace them. “If it was done to my grandmother after she told them she had a grandson who works in the industry, and they still were able to do that to someone, you have to imagine how many companies are doing that to people, and I want to try to stop that.”
Learning how another AC repair company swindled his late grandmother with faulty and unnecessary repairs and expenses inspired him to start his own company to offer better, more honest service. That story and many alike is how Mission Air Services started.
“A situation like that hitting so close to home for me is what inspired me to get my own thing going so that I could stop exploitation in the HVAC industry,” he said. “I really want to be there standing in the gap stopping unethical things done by other companies.”
Martines has eight years of experience working in the air conditioning industry. His first-hand experience working within it did not leave a good impression on him. He learned how underhanded the industry could be and how frequently some companies swindle their customers.
His previous employer proved especially greedy and unethical. Martines mentioned how his former co-worker would ruin the air conditioning units of clients on purpose to force them to consider buying new, more expensive air conditioners.
” Martines said. “He would ruin the air conditioners and give them only one option to replace them. He was not a good person and damaged the lives of good, honest and hard-working blue collar families.”
Martines also worked with other companies that intentionally coached their employees to purposely ruin air conditioning units so customers would pay more for repairs and replacements. Working alongside such unabashedly unethical people inspired him to leave and start his own company and offer more ethical service.
“It always broke my heart because I care about this community, I care about customers. I am a customer myself,” Martines said. “The customer should always have their opinion matter. The power should always be given to the homeowner and not stolen from them.”
When you do business with Mission Air Services Inc., you can rest assured that what you pay for is what you need and nothing more. You will not be sidelined with hidden fees or unnecessary repairs. What you pay for is what you get.
Chris Fletcher, one of the owners with 14 years of experience, promises customers fast and reliable service with plenty of options. With his level of experience in the industry, he also knows how other companies treat customers like dollar signs rather than real-life people, and he hopes Mission Air can change that.
“Every company we were at, they turned into commission base, which is essentially forcing you into people’s homes and sell stuff when they did not need it,” Fletcher said. “We wanted to get away from that where it feels like we are salesmen coming into your house. We want to go to your house, fix your AC, and give you options to do other stuff.”
If you’ve ever been swindled by an AC repair company for paying for service you don’t need, or forced to replace a new air conditioning unit when your old unit worked just fine, rest assured that Mission Air Services knows your pain and will only offer you what you need and nothing more.
“It is the main reason for our name: our mission is to save customers from situations like that,” Martines explained. “Our mission is to provide our customers with not just better pricing but 100 percent customer satisfaction and 100 percent granted that customers will not be treated like that anymore. They will get the authentic company that they have not been offered yet.”
Scott Hirst, who also co-owns Mission Air, doesn’t consider his teammates to be mere fellow employees or his clients to be mere customers. They’re all like a big family to him, and he intends to treat them like one.
“I love scheduling to help customers out with affordable air, and it feels like I’m not working at the big companies,” Hirst explained. “I feel guilty in a sense of how they treat customers like a check. [We] treat them like people, like family.”
Not only does Mission Air expect to offer authentic, honest service, but they also want to inspire other companies to offer the same. They want to serve as an exemplar that serving customers with honesty and integrity, treating them as people and not dollar signs, is the true key to success.
“We are hoping other companies will see how we are doing it,” Martines said. “They will realize we are bringing all that bad stuff to light and they will change it. They will stop doing the
negative stuff and understand that you can still have a successful business. We are just hoping to change the game. We can bring back honesty and integrity to this industry.”
To learn more about Mission Air Services, visit their website at: https://www.missionairservices.com/
Looking for a great night to unwind and have fun with a few good laughs? Here are five reasons you should attend Jokes and Jamz 5 at Wales Pointe on Fri., May 19:
#1: Stay Out Late After 8 pm. Wales Pointe is the only place in Downtown Lake Wales where you can have a good time and good food after 8 p.m.
#2: Drinks. Wales Pointe recently opened its full bar. So if drink specials and libations are something you are interested in, then quench your thirst with some cocktails and other drinks.
#3:Very Funny Comedians. Want to laugh so hard that you began to tear up? Then take a listen to the hilarious comedy stylings of comedians Ryan Robinson and Scott Simpkins.
#4: Hot R&B Talent. Nothing goes better with drinks and a meal than live music performed by amazing artists. Enjoy the husband/wife duo Just The 2 of Us, with the wife singing covers to her husband playing saxophone. R&B Soul Songstress K. Tenee’ will also be performing.
#5: Great Food. Wales Pointe has a diverse selection of menu items ranging from wings & fries to shrimp & grits. Everything on the menu for Jokes and Jamz will be under $20.
“If you want to laugh and not worry about the problems of the work week and have fun without spending a whole bunch of money doing it, Jokes and Jamz 5 is for you,” said DJ Bush, organizer and official DJ of the Jokes & Jamz series.
This is the fifth installment of Jokes and Jamz, held at Wales Pointe Restaurant in Downtown Lake Wales. This is a quarterly event hosted every three months. The next show in the series will be hosted by Big Zee on May 19, with subsequent events in August and November.
DJ Bush started this series of comedy and music fusion as a way to provide entertainment in Lake Wales for young adults, the kind of entertainment normally found in big cities like Orlando and Tampa.
“I am from a larger city where there are a lot of things to do for different age groups, and I noticed in Polk there is a void for young professionals, folks 25 to 45,” he explained. “There is not much for us to do unless we want to hit a bar–which there is nothing wrong with that, but sometimes we want to do something different.”
DJ Bush has been deejaying out of Polk County for the last four years. He normally hosts private events like weddings, proms, birthdays, and homecomings. He wanted to bring his big-city experience to a small-town setting by creating something unique for young people to enjoy.
“So Jokes and Jamz was my attempt to create something fun for us to do that did not require us to drive to Orlando or Tampa and spend a ton of money to have a good time,” he further
elucidated. “We can enjoy a large city feel right here in Polk, have a great time, take a short ride home safely, and not break the bank.”
Since its inception, Jokes and Jamz has drawn out large crowds, and he expects even larger, more livelier crowds in the future.
“People come out to Jokes & Jamz to have a good time and have fun,” he said. “They want to be able to forget about their problems for a little bit.”
Jokes and Jamz 5 will be hosted by Big Zee of ZK Beauty on Fri. May 19 from 8 p.m to midnight at Wales Pointe, located at 207 E. Park Ave. Lake Wales, Fl, 33880.
For more information or to purchase your tickets, visit http://www.djbushentertainment/events. Tickets begin at $30.
Sheriff Grady Judd shared a story about someone who stole a $2.19 soft drink from a local gas station. The man goes to the cashier to pay for his stuff but not his drink. The cashier reminds him he needs to pay for it. Instead, the man marches to his car and drives away, despite the cashier’s protests.
Shortly after, the man is pulled over by a sheriff’s deputy. The officer asks him for his license. The man complies and asks why he was pulled over. The deputy replied that he received a call about someone who stole a soft drink from a local gas station.
“You stopped me over a soda that costs $2.19?” the man asked.
“No,” the officer replied. “I stopped you because you are a thief, the amount makes no difference.”
The cop then ordered the man to step out of the car. The man asked why. The officer said it was easier to put handcuffs on him if he stepped out of the car.
“I’m going to jail over a soda that cost $2.19?” the man asked.
“No,” the officer replied. “You’re going to jail for stealing. The value makes no difference.”
The deputy then said that the man would have to pay $500 in bail. He would also have to pay to get his car returned to him from impound, which would certainly cost more than $2.19 for a soft drink.
“The man had not appeared before the judge and he already had a tow bill and jail bond,” Sheriff Judd said. “Would it not have been easier for him to pay for a soda?”
Sheriff Judd told this witty anecdote during a chamber luncheon hosted by the Northeast Polk Chamber of Commerce on Thursday. The Honorable Sheriff served as the guest speaker that day. During his speech, he boasted about the low crime rates Polk County was experiencing due to the hard work and effort by him and his deputies.
Currently, Polk County is experiencing a record 51-year-low crime rate. Crime was not always that low, Sheriff Judd stated. He remembers when crime was high during the 70s and 80s. That all changed when both the state and country enacted “tough on crime” policies.
Following a gruesome incident where 17 tourists were murdered, Europe issued a warning that the state of Florida was unsafe for tourists to visit. This incident inspired the state to become more “tough on crime” and the crime rate took a sharp nose dive over the following decades to its all-time low point now, Judd explained.
The reason why crime went down, and why it continues to stay down, is because the state took law enforcement seriously. Back when crime was high, he remembered how many criminals would be sent off with a slap on a wrist.
Sheriff Judd recalls one incident involving a convict who was jailed with a 25-year life sentence. Shortly after being let out on parole for “good behavior,” the man robbed a liquor store, killed the person working there, went to a furniture store, and killed a teenager and the owner.
Sheriff Judd averred that such “light on crime”, “hug a thug” policies are why crime remains rampant in states like California and cities like New York City and Chicago. He argued that doing the exact opposite of those places is why crime in Polk County and Florida are at an all-time low.
“That is why crime is low in Florida and not in California. That is why the murder rate is low here and not in [other cities],” he said. “It is what you accept as a society that makes a difference, and we choose to make you safe.”
With Polk County set to become the fastest growing county in Florida, more and more people are moving from cities and states with high crime rates. While he openly welcomes new people moving here, he also urges them to leave behind the failed policies and attitudes that led to higher crime.
He recalled one instance where deputies responded to a domestic dispute. The offender in question shoved a deputy aside and ran to punch the person who called in the face. The deputies responded, as Judd said, “by introducing his face to the pavement.”
The man was then led to the patrol car and told he was going to jail. He told the officers that this was not how things were done in New York City. There, people were only “encouraged” to show up at court if they wanted to.
The officer replied: “Before we leave, look around. Do you see Empire State Building. This is not New York City. This is Polk County, Florida.”
“Don’t go poking the deputies and smacking people around,” Sheriff Judd said. “That will get you arrested.”
The Good Sheriff ended his speech by encouraging citizens to lock their car doors and park their vehicles in their garage. He insisted that taking such precautions could help reduce the overall crime rate even lower by 40 percent.
“If you don’t lock your cars, leave your wallet and purse there,” he said. “Go out on a limb and leave your car fob so they can drive away, too…It is the downside of crime so low and people feeling so safe that they do not lock their cars up.”
Prior to his speech, several Chamber members praised Sheriff Judd for the outstanding track record of his sheriff office. Donna Fellows, publisher at Four Corner Sun, which runs a regular column by the Sheriff, called him the “Best sheriff in the nation.”
Auburndale Police Department Press Release 10:08am –
On April 29, 2023, at about 8:33pm Auburndale Police with the assistance of the Polk County Sheriffs Office responded to the 3000 block of Allred Drive regarding a report of gunfire in the area with three people shot. The victims were two adult males and one juvenile male. At the time of this update, one victim has been treated and released from the hospital while the other two victims remain and are reported to be in stable condition.
Prior to the shooting, a disturbance had started between several subjects who have an ongoing feud in the neighborhood which escalated into a physical altercation and ultimately gunshots. One of the shooting victims, a juvenile, is believed to be a bystander and not involved in the physical altercation.
Auburndale detectives have arrested twenty six (26) year old Xavier Rakim Roberts and charged him with three (3) counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon; a second-degree felony.
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to call the Auburndale Police Department at (863) 965-5555, or if you have information and would like to remain anonymous, call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477).
————————-
Auburndale Police Press Released 1:30 am Saturday-
At approximately 8:33 p.m., Auburndale Police responded to a shooting in the 3000 block of Allred Drive in Auburndale. During the investigation it was discovered that three people were shot. The three victims were transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. One person has been taken into custody. At this time, all names are being withheld due to the investigation is still active. An updated media release will be sent later. Anyone with information is asked to call the Auburndale Police Department at (863) 965-5555 or if you have information and would like to remain anonymous call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS(8477).
