Lake Wales, FL – Lake Wales Care Center is devastated that a trusted employee, Marcus Kirby, appears to have misappropriated a considerable sum of funds for personal gain. Mr. Kirby accomplished this through intentional inappropriate handling of client funds. We want to emphasize that no donor or grant funds have been compromised in any way. This mishandling was a matter of not recording and depositing, in Care Center accounts,payments made by clients from various programs. Funds that were allocated for Individual Savings Accounts have been “made whole”.
When Care Center administration learned of this misappropriation of funds, authorities and board leaders were notified immediately. Care Center has cooperated to the fullest extent with the Lake Wales Police Department and intends to pursue appropriate legal action, to include restitution.
For 37 years, Care Center has received annual financial audits by a certified public accounting firm and without exception has received a clean audit for financial practices. Those audits are not designed to detect for fraud, however they do ensure our policies and practices for handling funds are appropriate and sound. This incident is not a result of inadequate procedures, but instead a deliberate deceptive action of an employee who did not follow prescribed protocols.
Care Center is saddened and highly disappointed in Mr. Kirby’s actions. Our hearts break for all those affected by his actions. It is our prayer he will follow a path of correction, restoration and restitution. We further pray that his family and all those affected by his actions will find peace and healing.
All questions and concerns should be addressed to Care Center Executive Director, Rob Quam.
PCSO deputies arrested 69-year-old David Roberts, Lake Wales, a Polk County Sheriff’s Office volunteer (Volunteer Sheriff’s Service Officer), for drug trafficking charges (selling Oxycodone pills) and weapons charges yesterday, April 29, 2022. Roberts was charged with: Possession of a vehicle used to traffic drugs, possess of narcotic paraphernalia, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, unlawful use of a 2-way communication device, possession of cannabis over 20 grams, trafficking in Oxycodone 25 grams or more, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Deputies received a tip earlier this month that Roberts receives a monthly prescription for 90 Oxycodone pills (10 mg) that he sells to others and that Roberts was seen carrying large amounts of cash. Undercover detectives contacted Roberts and asked to purchase Oxycodone. Roberts agreed and a meeting was set up yesterday at a convenience store in the Lake Wales area to conduct the transaction. U/C detectives agreed to purchase 90 Oxycodone pills from Roberts.
After the drug transaction, Roberts drove to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Southeast Command Center where he was taken into custody. The money for the drug transaction was located in his from pocket. Deputies then went to Roberts’ residence and located a .22 rifle, a handgun, ammunition, a prescription pill bottle for 90 Oxycodone pills, and a large mason jar full of a green leafy substance that tested positive for cannabis (25.02 grams). Roberts told deputies he does not have a medical marijuana card. Roberts has a 1971 conviction for burglary (a felony). Roberts became a PCSO volunteer in October of 2009. He has served as a volunteer Sheriff’s Service Officer out of the Southeast district office. VSSOs are civilian volunteer members and do not have law enforcement authority, assist with directing traffic, conducting neighborhood canvassing, documenting minor crashes, etc.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man in unincorporated Lake Wales on Thursday, April 28, 2022, for the death of a 52-year old Lake Wales woman.
19-year old Seth Settle of Lake Waleswas charged with: 2nd Degree Murder with a Weapon (FL), Tampering with Evidence (F3), Discharging a Firearm in a Residential Area (M1), and Giving False Information During an Investigation (5-counts, M1).
Prior to law enforcement being notified, the victim was transported to a local hospital at about 9:41 a.m. for penetrating injuries to her breast and left armpit. Due to the suspiciousness of the injuries, medical staff contacted law enforcement.
Deputies simultaneously responded to the hospital and the crime scene which was at a residence near Red Oak Court and Capps Road, east of Lake Wales. Seth Settle and his victim both resided in the same home at this location.
The victim passed away at about 10:26 a.m.
According to the arrest affidavit, Seth Settle told detectives that he had been sitting in his bedroom when the victim told him “Stop smoking in the house,” and she walked out of his room. Settle said he pointed a firearm at the door and the gun went off. He said that he exited his bedroom and found the victim unresponsive so he told another person in the house to call an ambulance, and then left the scene in a car.
Settle lied to detectives five separate times about where he disposed of the firearm. A friend of Settle contacted the Sheriff’s Office and reported that Settle had given him two firearms, and the weapons were recovered by detectives.
“The suspect is trying to play this off as an accident, but he had a loaded gun and intentionally pointed it at the door where the victim just exited and he fired it. He fled the scene without rendering aid, then he arranged for a friend to dispose of the weapon. These are not the actions of a man who just accidentally killed someone. He knew exactly what he was doing.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff.
Sheriff Grady Judd will brief the news media at 10:30 a.m. at the Polk County Sheriff’s Operations Center, 1891 Jim Keene Blvd., about two arrests made yesterday, April 28, 2022:
Deputies arrested 69-year-old David Roberts, Lake Wales, a Polk County Sheriff’s Office volunteer (Volunteer Sheriff’s Service Officer), for drug trafficking charges (selling Oxycodone pills) and weapons charges.
Deputies arrested 19-year-old Seth Settle of Lake Wales for shooting and killing a family member. He’s been charged with 2nd degree murder, tampering with evidence, providing false information to a law enforcement officer (5 counts) and discharging a firearm on a residential property. The murder occurred yesterday, April 28, 2022, in the unincorporated area near Lake Wales.
A 32-year old man was killed Thursday morning, April 28, 2022, during a two-vehicle crash near Mulberry.
Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the crash on State Road 37 at County Road 640 in unincorporated Mulberry at about 7:21 a.m., along with Polk County Fire Rescue.
When first responders arrived at the scene, Keith Holmes from Bradley Junction was found deceased on the ground.
The only other person involved in the crash was the driver of the other vehicle, 37-year old Kenneth Cason of Mulberry. Mr. Cason was transported to a local hospital with only minor injuries.
Mr. Holmes was the driver of a black 2008 Jeep Wrangler, and Mr. Cason was operating a white 2003 Dodge 1500 pick-up truck.
Based on evidence and witness statements, Mr. Holmes’ Jeep was travelling north on SR 37 and approaching the intersection with CR 640 while Mr. Cason’s Dodge, which was southbound, began making a left turn onto eastbound CR 640. While making the turn, the Dodge violated the right-of-way of the Jeep, and the vehicles collided.
The impact caused the Jeep to flip one time, which forced Mr. Holmes, who was not wearing a safety belt, to be ejected. Mr. Cason, who was wearing a safety belt, suffered minor bruises and abrasions.
The northbound side of SR 37 was closed for about three hours while the PCSO Traffic Homicide Unit was on the scene.
The investigation remains ongoing, and any charges are pending the outcome.
Lake Wales, Florida – The Daily Ridge began getting messages and calls shortly after 11am Thursday morning regarding an incident in East Lake Wales.
According to Brian Bruchey, public information officer, with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office a person at a residence on Red Oak Ct., in Country Oaks Community has been severely injured. That person has been transported to a local hospital for care. Details at this time are not available as the incident is under investigation.
We are told by readers that Red Oak Ct. is currently blocked off to through traffic.
We will update this article as more information becomes available.
Affidavit released from Lake Wales Police Department on the arrest of Marcus Kirby of Lake Wales:
On 04/05/2022, I made contact with Robert Quam, who is the registered agent of the Lake Wales Care Center INC. Lake Wales Care Center is a registered not for profit corporation within the city limits of Lake Wales. The Lake Wales Care Center is an organization that helps people in need within the community.
One of the programs ran by the Lake Wales Care Center is acting as a trustee for disabled adults, as a power of attorney to help protect them and their finances. This portion of the Lake Wales Care Center’s program was in the care of Marcus Kirby. Marcus Kirby’s position within the organization was to issue funds, pay bills, and to act as a trustee for both ■■■ accounts. To help with his duties Marcus Kirby was issued a Debit Card for both ■■■ bank accounts located at South State Bank.
Marcus Kirby provided small amounts of cash to both ■■■ as an allowance controlling the flow of money the spent which was his duties as the trustee of their money.
Marcus Kirby duties within the Lake Wales Care Center recently changed which led to a new person within the entity taking over the duties. This change in personnel led to the discovery of charges on both ■■■ South State Bank accounts, which raised alarms. Due to this Robert Quam notified the Lake Wales Police Department of the situation.
The charges that raised alarm were charges on the victim’s cards for dining, groceries, large cell phone bills, gas stations, vehicle maintenance, entertainment, photography, and utilities bills.
Robert Quam then provided me with both ■■■ South State Bank Statements.
On 04/25/2022, I met with-at the Lake Wales Care Center to review the charges on her bank statements. ■■■ explained she did not have a debit card to her account and did not ever access the fund in the account. During the interview I went through the charges from 01/01/2019 to 03/31/2022.
■■■ explained she did not ever use a debit card to her account and any charges using the debit card would not be charges she knew about. ■■■ was asked if she was ever taken to a restaurant by Marcus Kirby to which she replied no. ■■■ was asked if she was ever brought food from a restaurant or grocery store to which she replied no. The total charges accrued utilizing the debit card attached to ■■■ account is $5,527.05. The $5,527.05 was utilized by Marcus Kirby for his own gains with no benefit to ■■■■ land without her consent.
On 04/25/2022, I also spoke with ■■■ at the Lake Wales Care. During his interview I reviewed the charges on his account from the dates of 06/18/2021 to 04/14/2022. ■■■■ did not have knowledge he had an account and believed the cash provided to him by Marcus Kirby was for the work he provided to the Lake Wales Care Center. ■■■■ explained he never received food from any restaurants or grocery stores from Marcus Kirby. ■■■■ stated he was provided $20.00 a week by Marcus Kirby until he complained about the amount causing Marcus Kirby to misc the amount to $40.00 a week. ■■■■ stated this was the only thing Marcus Kirby provided him.
On 04/27/2022, Marcus Kirby came to the Lake Wales Police Department with the intent to turn himself in for the crimes he committed. I walked Marcus Kirby into an interview room and read him his Miranda Rights and he stated he would like to speak with me.
Marcus Kirby provided a statement explaining the charges on the victim’s cards. Marcus Kirby explained all charges accrued from the debit card attached to ■■■■■ account was indeed him and was used only for his gain except one. The one charge was for $71.74 for Amazon he explained was not him, but every other charge on ■■■■■ account was him and for his gain alone. The total amount Marcus Kirby stated he stole from ■■■■■ was $5,455.31. Marcus Kirby went through the bank statements line by line.
Marcus Kirby continued on to ■■■■■ account. Marcus Kirby stated all charges accrued from he debit card attached to ■■■■■ account was indeed him and was used only for his gain except one. The one charge was for $8.99 for the Apothecary Shop he explained was not him, but every other charge on ■■■■■ account was him and for his gain alone. The total amount Marcus Kirby stated he stole from ■■■■■ debit card was $10,215.03. Marcus Kirby then explained the amount issued to ■■■■■ weekly was $40.00 to him and $50.00 to his aunt for helping take care of him. The total amount of cash issued Marcus Kirby stated was issued to ■■■■■ and his aunt in the 11 months he was in control of the account was $3,960.00. The amount of money withdrawn by Marcus Kirby was $11,979.00. This shows the total amount of case taken by Marcus Kirby from ■■■■■ account was $8,019.00. This makes the total amount of money taken from ■■■■■ by Marcus Kirby $18,234.03 this number was agreed upon by Marcus Kirby.
Both ■■■■■ are disabled adults when Marcus Kirby knowingly used the victim’s funds. Marcus Kirby did this with the intent to permanently deprive the victims of the use of the funds. Marcus Kirby did this to benefit him alone. At the time Marcus Kirby did this he was in a position of trust as the trustee to their accounts due to their mental capacities. I believe it to evident, Marcus Kirby breached his fiduciary duty to the victims.
I believe l meet the state requirements to charge Marcus Kirby with exploitation of a disabled adult.
On April 22 Frank Hunt III provided a letter to packing house employees sharing that the packing house would be closing and not re-opening. According to the letter the reason for closing was due to Citrus Greening caused by hurricane Irma and lost citrus supply.
Hunt Bros. held on for the past five years hoping the trees would bounce back from Irma’s damage unfortunately reality set in as trees crashed and now must be replanted.
Packing House Citrus Line
According to the letter it will take nearly a decade for trees to start producing at a level that would be sustainable. In order to fund new planting Hunt Bros. states they were forced to sell over 1,000 acres of groves that even further reduced their future citrus supply.
The packing house is scheduled to conclude business and pack their last carton of fruit May 6th.
Lake Wales, Florida – On Tuesday night the Lake Wales Charter School convened it’s regularly scheduled board meeting. Many topics were on the agenda, however, retaining the high school principal wasn’t one of them. During the meeting an opportunity was given, per Roberts Rules of Order, for the public to speak. There were 10 speakers allowed. One of those speakers was LWHS freshman Ally Donley (her full speech to the board is below). She tried to reason with interim superintendent and the board into retaining Donna Dunson for one more year. Tearfully Ally stated “I don’t understand the rules all of you are arguing back and forth about, but I do understand how me and my friends feel about Ms. Dunson. I wish she would stay the next 3 years until I graduate, but I know she can’t. I also know that you grown ups can stop arguing about what is right and wrong and listen to what us students want. We want her to be here one more year. Please give her a chance to help us to get to know the new principal. Please show us kids what it means to be mature.”
The issue is, during a tumultuous time last year LWHS Principal Donna Dunson resigned as principal after 20/21 school year with her last day being 6/30/2022. This resignation came in August of 2021. However, after meeting Dr. Rodolfich (the new LWCS superintendent) having several discussions with him, and at the prompting from Dr. Rodolfich she had a change of heart. Dr. Rodolfich notified the board by email of his desire on April 1, 2022. Several days later Dr. Rodolfich advised the teachers at Lake Wales High School that he wanted Principal Dunson to stay onboard. After Principal Dunson Dunson sent an email to the LWCS administration she and Dr. Rodolfich we’re advised that due to policy and procedure her rescinding of her resignation could not be done. It also was learned that Dr. Rodolfich nor interim superintendent Smith could guarantee employment. This is clearly written out in the charter bylaws that the board only can confirm employment on a year to year basis for the Principal Position. The superintendent has the right to suggest her as a candidate. However, in an email Danny Gill, board chairman, informed Dr. Rodolfich (in an email LINK) that Principal Dunson would no longer be on staff as of June 30, 2022. He also advised Dr. Rodolfich that he felt the board has moved on “I believe the board is ready to move in a new direction and a clean start will help you to be the successful superintendent we need.” Dr. Rodolfich will not be coming onboard until July 1, 2022. In an email to the media Dr. Rodolfich realized his error and walked back those statements (LINK to that article). “I am publicly acknowledging my misunderstanding of the policies and my inability to make such decisions before my contract begins on July 1, 2022” said Dr. Rodolfich.
Several items have parents, LWHS Staff and community leaders disturbed. The administration says Dr. Rodolfich has no say so on Principal Dunson staying until he is an employee, yet they have given him an email address, let him tour and speak to schools and asked him to choose candidates from a pool of candidates that applied for the principal job over 120 days ago. Parents are also upset that interim superintendent won’t allow Principal Dunson to rescind her request to resign outright. He has pointed to policy and procedures, but we cannot find anything in the bylaws to prohibit this action. Additionally Interim Superintendent Smith advised that there is a path forward for Ms. Dunson to remain the principal, but it will require Dr. Rodolfich to again recommend keeping Principal Dunson, this time officially and open up the whole process again. However after the email from Chairman Gill it would appear to not be in Dr. Rodolfich’s best interest to do so.
One board member, Lori Hutto, asked if she could make a motion to suspend the search for a new principal and retain Principal Dunson for another year. That request was not acknowledged nor advisement on proper procedures of such a request wasn’t addressed by Chairman Gill.
Parents have vowed to continue to ask the board to directly address why they will not entertain the idea of Principal Dunson for an additional year. Her personal file is clear of any reprimands or written disciplinary in over 17 years from her time at Polk Avenue, originating Bok Academy or as Lake Wales High School Principal. Principal Dunson has take the high school from estimated 65% graduation rate to over an estimated 95% graduation rate.
Editors note: This is the first part of a multiple part series of articles regarding the Lake Wales Charter School Board.
At around 5:30 p.m., on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office responded to a two-vehicle crash involving a motorcycle. The crash occurred on Main Ave. at the intersection of Dawn Heights Dr. in unincorporated Lakeland. The two vehicles involved were a green 2021 Kawasaki Sport motorcycle being driven by 46-year-old Lani Kyle Youngblood of Lakeland, and a red 2015 Mitsubishi Mirage being driven by 63-year-old William David Anderson of Lakeland.
According to witness statements and evidence at the scene, Mr. Youngblood was traveling westbound on Maine Ave at a high rate of speed and illegally passing vehicles in the opposite lane. This roadway has a double yellow center line to indicate a no passing zone.
Mr. Anderson was traveling eastbound on Main Ave. and approaching Dawn Heights Dr. At the same time, Mr. Youngblood was illegally passing vehicles in the eastbound lane on Main Ave. and quickly attempted to re-enter the westbound lane when he struck the front of the Mitsubishi. Mr. Youngblood was ejected from the motorcycle and landed in a water-filled ditch on the north shoulder of the roadway.
Mr. Youngblood died at the scene. Mr. Anderson was taken to a local hospital where he was treated for minor injuries and then released.
The roadway was closed for approximately one and a half hours during the investigation, which is ongoing. I do not have a photo from the scene.
