Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies charged 39-year-old Mark Anthony Poe of Frostproof for vehicular homicide (F2) yesterday, Sunday, June 26, 2022 after he caused a crash on S.R. 60 East at Stokes Road in Lake Wales that resulted in the death of a 27-year-old Lake Wales woman.
According to the investigation so far, at around 3:20 a.m.Poe was driving a white 2009 Chevrolet Silverado in the wrong lane—west in the eastbound lanes on S.R. 60 just east of the intersection of Stokes Road. There were three passengers in Poe’s truck. At the same time, the victim was driving a white 2017 Volkswagen Jetta east in the eastbound lanes of S.R. 60 when her vehicle was struck head-on by Poe’s truck.
The driver of the Volkswagen died at the scene.
The passengers in Poe’s vehicle were transported to a local hospital where they were treated and released.
Deputies identified Poe as the driver—he had bloodshot eyes and his speech was slurred. Additionally, deputies smelled an odor of alcohol in the Silverado and found an open beer bottle on the rear floorboard. Also located was an open bottle of Jack Daniels Fire Whiskey on the grass median just north of the Silverado. Poe was taken to a local hospital where he is being treated for his injuries. Once released he will be transported to the Polk County Jail.
This investigation is on-going and additional criminal charges are likely.
The roadway was closed for approximately four hours in the area of the crash.
Auburndale, Florida – The Florida Highway Patrol is reporting that a 31 Yr old Orlando man was struck and killed while riding a bike in Auburndale. The accident appears to have occurred around 7:09am. According to reports a sedan was traveling southbound on SR-559, North of Sunset Lane, and collided with a bicyclist also traveling southbound on SR-559. The bicyclist suffered fatal injuries at the scene of the crash.Florida Highway patrol does not release the name of accident victims due to Marsy’s Law.
The U.S. Supreme Court officially reversed Roe v. Wade on Friday, declaring that the constitutional right to abortion upheld for nearly a half century, no longer exists.
Writing for the court majority, Justice Samuel Alito said that the 1973 Roe ruling and repeated subsequent high court decisions reaffirming Roe “must be overruled” because they were “egregiously wrong,” the arguments “exceptionally weak” and so “damaging” that they amounted to “an abuse of judicial authority.”
The decision, most of which was leaked in early May, means that abortion rights will be rolled back in nearly half of the states immediately, with more restrictions likely to follow. For all practical purposes, abortion will not be available in large swaths of the country. The decision may well mean too that the court itself, as well as the abortion question, will become a focal point in the upcoming fall elections and in the fall and thereafter. For the rest of the article click here: Supreme Court Overturn’s Roe V Wade
According to an article by Guttmacher Institute :
26 States Are Certain or Likely to Ban Abortion Without Roe: Here’s Which Ones and Why
States Certain to Ban Abortion
If Roe were overturned or fundamentally weakened, 22 states have laws or constitutional amendments already in place that would make them certain to attempt to ban abortion as quickly as possible. Anti-abortion policymakers in several of these states have also indicated that they will introduce legislation modeled after the Texas six-week abortion ban.
By the time the Supreme Court hears oral arguments in the Mississippi case, there will be nine states in this group with an abortion ban still on the books from before Roe v. Wade, 13 states with a trigger ban tied to Roe being overturned, five states with a near-total abortion ban enacted after Roe, 11 states with a six-week ban that is not in effect and one state (Texas) with a six-week ban that is in effect, one state with an eight-week ban that is not in effect and four states whose constitutions specifically bar a right to abortion. Some states have multiple types of bans in place.
Pre-Roe ban: Law enacted before 1973 and never removed
“Trigger” ban: Law designed to be “triggered” and take effect automatically or by quick state action if Roe no longer applies
Near-total ban: Law enacted after Roe to prohibit abortion under all or nearly all circumstances (several of this type are currently blocked by court order)
Six-week ban: Law prohibiting abortion after six weeks of pregnancy (one in effect)
Eight-week ban: Law prohibiting abortion after eight weeks of pregnancy (none in effect)
State constitution bars protection: Constitution amended to prohibit any protection for abortion rights
Alabama—Pre-Roe ban, Near-total ban, State constitution bars protection
Arizona—Pre-Roe ban
Arkansas—Pre-Roe ban, Trigger ban, Near-total ban
Georgia—Six-week ban
Idaho—Trigger ban, Six-week ban
Iowa—Six-week ban
Kentucky—Trigger ban, Six-week ban
Louisiana—Trigger ban, Near-total ban, Six-week ban, State constitution bars protection
Michigan—Pre-Roe ban
Mississippi—Pre-Roe ban, Trigger ban, Six-week ban
Missouri—Trigger ban, Eight-week ban
North Dakota—Trigger ban, Six-week ban
Ohio—Six-week ban
Oklahoma—Pre-Roe ban, Trigger ban (effective November 1, 2021), Near-total ban, Six-week ban
South Carolina—Six-week ban
South Dakota—Trigger ban
Tennessee—Trigger ban, Six-week ban, State constitution bars protection
Texas—Pre-Roe ban, Trigger ban, Six-week ban
Utah—Trigger ban, Near-total ban
West Virginia—Pre-Roe ban, State constitution bars protection
Wisconsin—Pre-Roe ban
. Wyoming—Trigger ban
States Likely to Ban Abortion
An additional four states have political composition, history and other indicators—such as recent actions to limit access to abortion—that show they are likely to ban abortion as soon as possible without federal protections in place.
Florida—In 2021, the state legislature attempted to ban abortion at 20 weeks of pregnancy and an effort to adopt a Texas-style six-week ban was publicized. In April 2022, a 15-week abortion ban was enacted that is scheduled to go into effect in July.
Indiana—In the past decade, the legislature has enacted 55 abortion restrictions and bans, paving the way for a comprehensive ban.
Montana—For the first time in nearly a decade, new abortion restrictions were enacted in 2021, including restrictions on medication abortion and abortion at 20 weeks of pregnancy. (These restrictions currently cannot be enforced due to a court order.)
Nebraska—Although not one of the most prolific states on enacting abortion restrictions, it was the first to adopt a 22-week ban (in 2010), and in 2020, enacted a ban on the standard method for abortion after 15 weeks.
Beyond the 26 states certain or likely to attempt to ban abortion immediately, other states have demonstrated hostility toward abortion by adopting multiple restrictions in the past, but are not likely to ban abortion in the near future. Notably, North Carolina has a pre-Roe abortion ban in place, but it is unclear if the state’s law would be implemented quickly. However, this analysis may change in the next few years.
It is also important to remember that Roe would not have to be overturned entirely to start the process of activating some trigger laws. If the Court weakens or undermines existing federal constitutional protections, that may be enough momentum for states to start implementing these bans.
Good morning, I am Highlands County Sheriff Paul Blackman. I am here this morning to report what we currently know about an officer involved shooting. As always, what I am reporting is subject to change as the investigation unfolds and we gather additional evidence.
This morning, June 24th, at approximately 2:30 a.m., the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office received a call for service from the Florida Highway Patrol regarding a white van traveling north in the southbound lanes of US 27 near State Road 70 in the Lake Placid area. Our deputies responded and at 2:31 a.m., deputies located a white Econoline van in the area. At this point, the van was heading north in the northbound lanes.
Deputies followed the van for a short period and then conducted a traffic stop at 2:33 a.m., a mile north of Sun ‘n Lakes Blvd. south near Lake Placid.
At this point a deputy made contact with the driver and sole occupant of the van. During the traffic stop the deputy decided to issue the driver, 68-year-old white male Robert W. McNamara, a citation for failure to maintain a single lane.
While the deputy was writing the citation, Mr. McNamara refused to stay in his vehicle and was being what can be described as argumentative with the deputy. As the deputy was completing the citation, Mr. McNamara exited his van and approached the deputy. Mr. McNamara produced a black in color, pistol-grip shotgun and fired a round at the deputy. The deputy issuing the citation and a backup deputy returned gun fire, striking Mr. McNamara several times.
Our deputies did their best to provide Mr. McNamara medical treatment until Highlands County Emergency Medical Services arrived on scene and at 3:23 a.m. pronounced Mr. McNamara deceased.
The two deputies involved in this situation were not injured and have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of this investigation.
Mr. McNamara has a criminal history out of both Florida and Connecticut for narcotics and paraphernalia possession.
Also on scene is assistant state’s attorney for the 10th Judicial Circuit, John Kromholz, who will be overseeing the investigation of this incident.
Polk County, Florida – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that while members of the Polk County Dive & Rescue Team were training they found a vehicle submerged under the water. The dive team was training at Saddle Creek.
According to the public information officer the vehicle isn’t tied to anything that’s been reported missing or stolen. No body was found in the car. “So at this time it was simply a training exercise that uncovered a car.”
Many had speculated online that the vehicle was a green Oldsmobile. This prompted others to speculate it was the car of a missing person, Cynthia Louise Robinson, missing since January 1, 1992 from Lakeland. Sadly this does not appear to be the case.
Bartow, Fla. (June 22, 2022) –Funeral service for fallen Polk County Fire Rescue Engineer/Paramedic Douglas Clemons #0455 will be held this Friday, June 24, 2022 at 10:00 a.m.
Haines City Police Department detectives arrested a Haines City man, described as a “neighborhood taxi” driver and charged him with kidnapping and committing an Unnatural/lascivious act.
Forty-three-year-old Lorenzo De Jesus-Lopez was taken into custody after a 16-year-old girl told detectives that she used De Jesus-Lopez’s ride service several times during the past three years. The girl said that on severaloccasions, the suspect groped her thighs and asked to have sex with her on twooccasions. Each time the teenager said the driver fondled her breasts and she told him “no” and requested he take her back home.
The teen told detectives that on two occasions, when De Jesus-Lopez was driving her home, he took her to a dark construction site against her will, entered the car’s back seat, and attempted to coerce her to have sexual intercourse with him. Both times, the teenager said the driver fondled her breasts against her will and she told him, in no uncertain terms, that she did not want him to touch her and requested he take her back home. Onone occasion, he offered to pay her $600 for sex. The girl said she told him to “stop” and “take me home.”
The victim and her mother reported the incidents to the Haines City Police Department Tuesday, June 21, 2022.
Detectives located De Jesus-Lopez at his home at 7:25 p.m. Tuesday and brought him to the police department, where he first denied touching the victim inappropriately. Later in the interview, De Jesus-Lopez told detectives that he only touched the victim’s breast once in the construction site parking lot.
Interim Haines City Police Chief Loyd Stewart praised the teen’s courage in reporting the incident and advised residents to be careful who they use to obtain rides. “Anyone who thinks it is OK to prey on our city’s young people like this should know that we have ride share program just for you. But it goes straight to the Polk County Jail,” Stewart, said.
Detectives are requesting anyone with any information about other incidents involving the driver to come forward.
De Jesus-Lopez was booked into the Polk County Jail on the following charges:
2 counts of committing an Unnatural or Lascivious Act
Polk County Man, Elijah Stansell, was Convicted by a Polk County Jury on June 17th of First-Degree Murder.
Stansell, along with three other co-defendants, drove to the victim’s home to confront her son. When the victim returned home, she confronted the defendant who was driving the getaway van. As he was fleeing the area, the defendant drove his van directly towards the victim; severely injuring her. The victim subsequently died from her injuries. Stansell will be sentenced later this year to a mandatory life in prison sentence. State Attorney Brian Haas thanks Assistant State Attorney Bonde Johnson and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office for their work on this case.
Stansell will be sentenced later this year to a mandatory life sentence in prison.
Follow up article after arrests December 1, 2020:
Today, Sheriff Judd announced that 18-year-old Elijah Stansell is being charged with first degree murder in the death of 52-year-old Suzette Penton of Polk City. He has been in the Polk County Jail since November 9th for attempted felony murder, 3 counts contributing to the delinquency of a minor, burglary with assault, and lewd & lascivious battery on a minor. He was being held on no bond for the attempted felony murder charge, which is now being upgraded to first degree murder.
Elijah, driving a church van belonging to his father’s church, intentionally ran over and critically injured Ms. Penton on November 9, 2020. The van had 3 other teens inside – they have all been charged as adults, with attempted felony murder and burglary with assault.
Ms. Penton succumbed to her injuries on November 25, 2020.
Original Article Here November 10, 2020:
Four teenagers from the Winter Haven/Auburndale area have been charged with attempted murder after purposely running over the mother of another teen with whom they had an ongoing dispute.
According to the affidavits, deputies responded to the teenaged victim’s home in Polk City around 2:50 p.m. on Monday, November 9, 2020, and found an adult victim critically injured after being run over by a van. The known suspects fled the scene but the suspect vehicle information was quickly BOLO’ed (broadcast over the radio as “be on the lookout”) and located by responding deputies and Auburndale Police Officers.
During the investigation, deputies learned that 18-year-old Elijah Stansell brought three friends – 16-year-old Raven Sutton, 15-year-old Kimberly Stone, and 14-year-old Hannah Eubank – to the victim’s house to “handle” an ongoing dispute (romantic in nature). The suspects banged on the victim’s front door, but the victim came out of the side door and into the carport to see who was there. The group of suspects ran to the carport, where Stansell physically attacked him. The victim retreated into his home, followed by Stansell and Sutton. At that time, the victim’s mom came home, and the suspects ran off.
Boys And Girls Club of Polk County Opens Fort Meade Unit
by James Coulter
School’s out for the summer! And now the children of Fort Meade have a place to spend their vacation while their parents are away at work with a new Boys & Girls Club unit.
Housed at the Fort Meade Community Center, located at 10 3rd St SW, the 9th unit of the Boys & Girls Club of Polk County (BGCPolk) was commemorated with a grand opening ceremony on June 1.
The Fort Meade unit will facilitate the BGCPolk summer and after-school program. The facility includes amenities such as a playground, basketball court, and game room, and it will facilitate services such as arts and crafts, educational programs, prevention programs, meal service, mentoring, field trips, and tutoring, explained Director of Operations, John Lane.
“Our Vision is to provide a club experience that assures success is within reach of every young person who enters our doors, with all members on track to graduate from high school with a plan for the future, demonstrating good character and citizenship, and living a healthy lifestyle,” Lane stated.
This summer, the new unit will especially serve the function of facilitating BGCPolk’s summer program, which not only offers children the opportunity to have a place to stay, eat, and play while their parents are at work but also help them retain the knowledge they gained in school through educational and arts activities.
“BGCPolk recognizes the importance of providing our members with the tools to stay sharp and be prepared for the 2022-23 school year, especially given the struggles students are still experiencing due to school closures and virtual learning during the last two years with COVID-19,” their press release stated. “BGCPolk is excited to be able to offer valuable, high-yield programs to enrich the lives of Fort Meade kids!”
Currently, the Fort Meade facility has 100 children enrolled. The unit was proposed as a way to offer children within the community, especially within low-income households, access to vital programs and services to assist them with their academic endeavors.
CEO Steve Giordano mentioned how concerned Fort Meade citizens have requested such a facility for their community for years. Two of those citizens, Petrina and Lorenzo McCutchen, had originally approached the organization to request opening a BGCPolk location in their city. After all, studies have proven that communities receive a $10 return for every dollar invested in B&GC, Giordano stated.
“As a practical matter when a Boys and Girls Club opens, crime drops (kids are off the street during the peak hours when most juvenile crimes are committed), high school graduation improves, teen pregnancies are reduced and children learn, socialize, and get exercise,” he explained. “With our meal program, children get a hot meal after school and two meals during the summer. BGCPolk serves about 150,000 meals per year to the children who need us the most.”
The Fort Meade BGCPolk is located at: 10 3rd St SW, Fort Meade, FL 33841. For more information, visit their website at: https://www.bgcpolk.org/
This week is Mosquito Awareness Week! We are kicking off the week by highlighting Polk County’s own Mosquito Control Team.
Polk County’s Mosquito Control program was established in the early 1950s. Mosquito Control is one of the oldest programs overseen by Polk County’s government. Today, Polk County’s Mosquito Control Program practices Integrated Mosquito Management including surveillance, source reduction, larvicide and adulticide.
Mosquito Control’s team includes environmental technicians and specialists, entomologists and biologists, seasonal spray truck drivers and trappers, a pilot and administrative staff.
Residents can request a service call from Polk County’s Mosquito Control if they feel biting mosquitoes are a problem in their neighborhood. Mosquito control will contact the resident and learn about their situation. Technicians will search for evidence of adult biting mosquitoes or larvae surrounding the property. Based on their findings, Mosquito Control will follow-up with the resident to discuss the best course of action.
To learn more about Polk’s Mosquito Control Program or request a service call visit: https://www.polk-county.net/natural-resources/mosquito-control
