The Florida Highway Patrol just arrived on scene of a fatal crash on S.R. 60 East. The crash occurred near the intersection of Peavine Rd. & S.R. 60.
According to reports the accident occurred around 10am and FHP arrived on scene just after 11am.
We believe the roadway will be blocked for an extended time. According to the FHP the roadway is shut down and motorists are advised to seek alternative routes.
LAKELAND, FL (June 13, 2022) – On Sunday, June 12, 2022, shortly after 8:00 p.m., uniform patrol officers responded to the 900 block of West 6th Street in reference to a shooting that occurred in the parking lot area of Webster Park. On scene, officers located a 46-year-old male victim inside a vehicle with gunshot wounds. Officers immediately began securing the location and rendering aid until emergency medical responders from Lakeland Fire Department and Polk County Fire Rescue arrived. The victim was declared deceased at the scene.
Detectives responded to the scene, and began processing evidence and interviewing potential witnesses. At this time, detectives are attempting to locate 32-year-old Quinton Owens as they believe he may have information related to the case. Owens is described at 6’1″ and weighs approximately 250 pounds.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Biko Duhaney at 863.834.5918or [email protected].
Or if you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Heartland Crime Stoppers Florida:
Tipsters will always remain anonymous when sending a tip through Crime Stoppers and could be eligible for a cash reward if the information leads to an arrest.
The name of the victim is being withheld in accordance with Marsy’s Law.
By Carl Fish
Frostproof, Florida – On 6/08/2022 Polk County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Iris Johnson, DOB: 11/20/1972, and charged her with 4 counts of 1st Degree Attempted Murder. Details of the situation are limited, but it appears to have stemmed from an argument.
The following is an excerpt from the Polk County Sheriffs Office (It should be noted that this is an unedited report of facts by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. These facts are up for question and everyone is entitled to question the validity of facts by law enforcement in a court of law. The Daily Ridge does not rewrite these facts as some meanings or interpretations could be in error and change context. We do however redact witness & victims names. We hope readers appreciate being able to read the information and come to their own understanding and conclusions) :
On 6/6/2022 at approximately 2200 hours, I was directed by supervision to respond to the incident location to investigate this incident. The incident location is in the immediate area of Fort Meade Road in Frostproof, Florida, which is within the jurisdiction of Polk County, Florida.
Upon arrival on scene, after obtaining sworn recorded statements from the victims and witnesses, it was determined that the suspect, Iris Johnson, actually and intentionally stabbed the four victims with a sharp object after getting in a verbal altercation with three of the victims. In doing so, Iris intended to cause the death of the
four victims that went beyond just thinking or talking about it. Iris acted with a premeditated design to kill the four victims. The act of stabbing the victims would have resulted in their deaths, but Iris failed in doing so.
The four victims received the following injuries as a result of this incident:
REDACTED : stab wound to right upper back, stab wound to right side of neck, and a collapsed lung.
REDACTED: one stab wound to her left lateral neck near the ear and one stab wound to her left shoulder.
REDACTED: one stab wound to her left shoulder, three stab wounds to the area of her left back, one laceration along her forehead, and one laceration along her hairline near her left ear.
REDACTED: one stab wound to her left arm and one laceration to her neck.
John McGee Park Celebrates Ribbon Cutting
by James Coulter
A newly-renovated park was renamed to honor the legacy of a late entrepreneur whose business gave back to the local community.
Formerly Cypress Youth Sports Complex, John McGree Park in Lakeland was officially dedicated last Saturday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the City of Lakeland.
Located at 2125 S. Edgewood Drive, the park was renovated to include, as reported by the City of Lakeland website, “1/2-mile walking path, two lighted multipurpose fields, and a brand-new automotive-themed playground recognizing McGee Tire Stores, started by the late John McGee.”
These renovations were financed through a $6,000 donation provided by the family of the late John McGee, a local entrepreneur who started and owned McGee Tire Stores. In honor of him and his store, the new playground includes an automotive theme with play cars and tires.
“This is a tremendous gift, and the City of Lakeland is extremely grateful that we have citizens like Mike and Kathy McGee that care about the well-being of the community, enough to donate $600,000 toward the park,” said City Manager Shawn Sherrouse, as reported by the City of Lakeland. “This park is a much-needed facility that serves our youth sports programs, and we are thankful to the McGee Family for making the park so much better with their donation. The kids will love the new car-themed playground.”
John McGee started McGee Tire Stores in 1974 after moving from Minnesota. Creating a new business during that time was rough, as the economy was suffering from double-digit unemployment, interest rates, and inflation, said his son, Mike McGee.
Despite the odds, he managed to open two new stores within ten years. Unfortunately, upon finishing the second store in the northside of Lakeland, he discovered that the location was losing more money than the first one was making, Mike explained.
John McGee was a member of the Rotary Club in North Lakeland. George Jenkins, the late founder and owner of Publix Supermarkets, was also a member at that time. When Jenkins inquired about the new business, McGee replied that his business was doing poorly and he may not be a member of a rotary for long.
Jenkins, upon hearing that, placed an order a few days later for seven truckloads of nearly 1,400 Goodyear steel-belted truck tires, which was a half-million-dollar sale that helped with the store’s negative cash flow, Mike explained.
Upon his retirement in 1991, McGee had opened 30 store locations with more than 200 employees. “He impacted many people aside from family in a positive way,” Mike said.
The key to his success was his positive, humble attitude. McGee was a person who never gloated about his success, and he considered the wellbeing of others over his own.
“He was very positive,” Mike said. “If something good happened, he praised everybody in the store. Not himself, but everybody in the store. And if something bad happened, he took the blame for it. He also lived a humble lifestyle as well. He was born in 1929, so he grew up in the great depression, and it informed a lot of his character.”
To honor his father’s legacy, Mike and his sister, Kathy, donated $6,000 to help renovate Cypress Youth Sports Complex. He has searched for potential causes and decided to invest in the local park, which was renamed after his father in dedication of his business’s legacy.
“I feel very blessed and great,” Mike said. “It is nice and our grandchildren or maybe even their grandchildren will be playing on those fields. We feel very blessed to do this.”
Boomers Property Services Celebrates Ribbon Cutting
by James Coulter
After spending a long-time house searching, finding the perfect home feels awesome. But is that “perfect” home truly the right one for you? Appearances can be deceiving, and sometimes, plenty of underlying problems are hiding in plain sight. Before you buy your dream home, you should have it properly inspected first.
Whether you are buying a new home, building one from scratch, or renovating your current abode, Boomer Property Services in Lakeland offers everything you need to ensure your house is safe and sound. More than simply locating potential problems, they will also educate you on everything you need to know so you can make the best decision moving forward with your homeownership.
“We are always available for consultation and to help the client through the process. Questions are always free, and we do our very best to provide as much information as the client requests. We tailor the reports to the CLIENT’S request. You are always in command,” their website states. “You won’t get just a cookie-cutter report but rather a detailed accounting of the structure based on your request. Life safety and your requests are our priority. We will NEVER cut corners in that regard.”
Curtis Kniffin, Sr. started his business because he knew that homeowners old and new were often unaware of potential construction problems that could lead to bigger pains if left unattended and untreated. With more than 40 years of experience under his belt, and by utilizing the most up-to-date technology and construction methods, he wants to let you know not only what is wrong with your home, but also how you can detect and diagnose these problems for yourself whenever they arise.
“At Boomers Property Services, we strive to offer services to both buyers and sellers of residential and commercial properties the most accurate and up-to-date information on the structure and mechanical workings of the major components of any given building,” their website states. “Using technologies such as thermal imaging, moisture detection, magnetometers, and photographs, and by creating a narrative that is simple to read and understand, we can make sure you get the information you need.”
For example, most homeowners do not know the overall life expectancy of caulking on their building’s exterior is three years. As such, they do not know how often their building needs to be recalked, which often leads to leaky structures and mold formation. Kniffin educates his clients on these matters and offers them information on how they can detect these problems.
Since moving to Lakeland and opening his business there, he has seen firsthand the community grow with new housing. More houses mean more opportunities to educate homeowners on maintaining their new homes. Whenever he goes out for inspections, he loves being able to leave with his clients knowing more about their homes than when he first arrived, he said. He also wants to ensure that builders build their buildings to the latest, up-to-date standards.
“We love living in Lakeland,” he said. “The growth has been astronomical…[W]e make sure the builder is building [to specifications], not just to pass home inspections. A lot of builders will do that when they are building out-of-state. They just get the structure up and pass inspection and then I come in and find out it is not to spec. Very rarely does a builder turn over a set of plans. We keep an eye on them and make sure they are up to spec.”
Boomers Property Services celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Greater Lakeland Chamber of Commerce. The event was hosted at the Chamber on Friday afternoon with the ribbon-cutting outside, followed by speeches and a brisket lunch prepared by Kniffin himself inside.
Mayor Bill Mutz commended Kniffin for bringing his business to Lakeland upon moving to the city nine years ago. Since then, housing has boomed within the community, and with it, the need for a home inspection.
“When we look at all the construction in front of us, it is dizzying,” he said. “We have projects we are working on right now. So great place to be. Inspection is so important to the process that people do not know what they bought. It is a wonderful service that they provide. So on behalf of the city, we are very grateful for your great work.”
Craig Morby, Chamber Board of Directors Member, boasted about how Lakeland was a fine city to start a business and new home. Boomer Property Services helped provide both, which is why the business was a great addition to the Chamber, he said.
“Being part of a Chamber family is something that means a lot to us,” he said. “So on behalf of the chamber board of directors. We are excited to have you, be part of the chamber, we are here to support you. We have some excellent members and excellent directors and a really good family here. So if there is anything you need, anything we can do to support you, feel free to reach out.”
For more information about Boomer Property Services, visit their website at: https://www.boomerspropertyservices.com. Or call: (863) 604-5646.
On Thursday, June 9, 2022, Polk County Sheriff’s detectives arrested 18-year-old Chelsea May McGhee of Tampa, 17-year-old Aaliyah Fontanez of Lutz*, and 16-year-old Matthew Prado of Polk City* for armed burglary after they broke into two vehicles and stole two firearms in Lakeland. All three teens were on juvenile probation at the time of their arrests.
Around 2:50 a.m. Thursday morning, detectives responded to the area of Dosseywood Court in Lakeland after receiving a report of a suspicious U-Haul truck in the neighborhood. A witness called the PCSO Emergency Communications Center and said he saw three teens wearing dark hoodies getting out of a U-Haul. The witness exited his home and began walking toward the U-Haul, at which time the teens jumped back in the truck and fled the neighborhood.
Detectives immediately began a search for the U-Haul and located it and the three teens at the Dollar General (1085 W. Pipkin Rd.) in Lakeland. Detectives asked the teens, McGhee, Fontanez, and Prado, to exit the vehicle. As the three were exiting the U-Haul, detectives saw a gun on the passenger side floor. Two firearms were located inside the vehicle – a Glock 9mm handgun and a Turkish Citadel 12 gauge shotgun.
McGhee told detectives she rented the U-Haul in Brandon, and that she initially attempted to rent a car, but was not able to because of her age. She said that after renting the U-Haul, she picked up Fontanez and Prado, and the three travelled to Polk County. McGhee and Prado admitted to detectives they had burglarized two vehicles in the Dosseywood Court area and had stolen the two firearms.
So far, detectives have identified two victims – the firearms were stolen from one of them. This investigation is on-going, and if more victims are located additional charges will be added.
“Thanks to the citizen who saw something and then said something, two stolen firearms were recovered from the hands of criminals. These teens have lengthy criminal histories, yet they are still committing crimes even while serving probation. The Juvenile Justice System must hold juveniles accountable to protect law abiding citizens. And I have another message to the community: please, don’t leave firearms or other valuables in your vehicles, and be sure to lock them up. There’s a reason we say, “Lock it or lose it.”– Grady Judd, Sheriff
Chelsea May McGhee was arrested for:
· Armed Burglary – Crossing County Line enhancement (F1) (2 counts)
· Grand Theft of a Firearm (F3) (2 counts)
· Conspiracy to Commit Vehicle Burglary (F3) (2 counts)
· Possession of Burglary Tools with intent to Use (F3) (2 counts)
· Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor (M1) (2 counts)
She was transported to the Polk County Jail where she is being held without bond. McGhee’s prior criminal history includes 7 felonies and 3 misdemeanors for grand theft of a vehicle, vehicle burglary, battery, resisting a law enforcement officer, trespassing, petit theft, and violation of probation. At the time of her arrest she was on juvenile probation in Hillsborough County for burglary and grand theft of a vehicle.
Aaliyah Fontanez* was arrested for:
· Armed Burglary – Crossing County Line enhancement (F1) (2 counts)
· Grand Theft of a Firearm (F3) (2 counts)
· Conspiracy to Commit Vehicle Burglary (F3) (2 counts)
· Possession of Burglary Tools with intent to Use (F3) (2 counts)
She was transported to Juvenile Assessment Center. Fontanez’s prior criminal history includes 4 felonies and 15 misdemeanors for grand theft of a vehicle, hit and run with property damage, battery, felony criminal mischief, reckless driving, driving without a license, failure to appear, petit theft, resisting a law enforcement officer, trespassing, and violation of probation. At the time of her arrest she was on juvenile probation in Hillsborough County for grand theft of a vehicle, resisting a law enforcement officer, and fleeing to elude.
Matthew Prado* was arrested for:
· Armed Burglary – Crossing County Line enhancement (F1) (2 counts)
· Grand Theft of a Firearm (F3) (2 counts)
· Conspiracy to Commit Vehicle Burglary (F3) (2 counts)
· Possession of Burglary Tools with intent to Use (F3) (2 counts)
He was transported to the Juvenile Assessment Center. Prado’s prior criminal history includes 14 felonies and 7 misdemeanors for grand theft of a fire extinguisher, vehicle burglary, felony battery, battery, domestic violence battery, resisting a law enforcement officer, trespassing, failure to appear, and violation of probation. At the time of his arrest he was on juvenile probation in Hillsborough County for burglary, petit theft, and trespassing.
*Per Florida State Statute 119 information about juveniles charged with felonies is public record.
A man who fled from a fatal crash in Polk County on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, was arrested about 24-hours later, after Traffic Homicide detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office diligently worked to locate the suspect’s vehicle.
46-year old Edy Juarez Granados of Plant City was arrested Thursday evening at his home, and was charged with: Leaving the Scene of a Crash Involving Death (F1), Leaving the Scene of a Crash Involving Injury (F3, 3-counts), Leaving the Scene of a Crash Involving Property Damage (M2, 3-counts), and Driving with No Valid License (M2). Juarez Granados is also in the United States illegally, so U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was notified—an ICE hold has been placed on Juarez Granados.
The crash occurred at around 6:11 p.m., Wednesday, on US 17, near the intersection of County Road 640 in Homeland (south of Bartow).
21-year old Tyler Baysden of Jacksonville, North Carolina was killed in the crash. He was the driver of a 2006 Infiniti G35. His passenger, suffered a broken leg and abrasions and was taken to a local hospital.
Juarez Granados was driving a 2001 Nissan Frontier, which was also recovered by detectives at the suspect’s residence.
Two other vehicles, a 2021 Jeep Compass and a dump truck were also involved in the crash. The occupants of those vehicles suffered very minor injuries.
When deputies arrived at the crash scene, Juarez Granados and his Nissan were gone.
Dash camera video from the commercial dump truck, as well as other evidence and witness statements, showed that Juarez Granados lost control of his Nissan truck during a light rain while driving northbound on US 17, south of the intersection with County Road 640. His vehicle crossed over the median while rotating counterclockwise and entered the south bound lane. His truck struck Mr. Baysden’s Infinity, causing it to lose control and cross over into the northbound lane.
Mr. Baysden’s Infiniti then struck the other two vehicles, and Juarez Granados drove back into the northbound lanes and left the area.
“From the beginning of this investigation, our detectives and crime analysts did a fantastic job locating the suspect and vehicle so quickly. This suspect had no valid license and was in the country illegally–he should not have been driving in Florida. Because he was, an innocent person is dead.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
Juarez Granados admitted to detectives that he was involved in the crash and then refused to answer further questions.
Juarez Granados is know to sell ice-cream from the truck in the Fort Meade area—there were two commercial-type ice-cream coolers in the back of the Nissan when it was located.
Due to his arrest taking place in Plant City, Edy Juarez Granados was booked into the Hillsborough County Jail with no bond, and is awaiting extradition to the Polk County Jail.
The Animal Control section of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office will be offering free adoptions of dogs and cats on Saturday, June 11, 2022. The “Dog & Cat Days of Summer Adoption Event” will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the facility which is located just off of the Polk Parkway at 7115 DeCastro Road near Winter Haven (next to the North County Landfill and PCSO Processing Center).
All adopted animals will already be spayed or neutered, microchipped, have had its initial vaccinations, and will also be provided with a County license—all free of charge.
Additionally, for people who already have a pet dog, TLC PetSnip, Inc. will be onsite (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.) offering free distemper combo vaccines (200 available) and free rabies vaccinations. The first 75 dogs (must be spayed or neutered) that receive a rabies vaccination will receive a free 1 year Polk County license for the dog.
“The love of a pet dog or cat can be priceless…so we’ve literally made the adoptions for them priceless…as in, no cost. If you want to adopt one of these furry friends into your loving home, this Saturday is the best time to do it at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
The Best Friends group will be at the event for animal lovers who wish to foster a dog or cat.
Food trucks and a Crafters Market are also scheduled to be a part of the event.
Polk County Sheriff’s Office
It’s #NationalAdoptACatMonth and it just so happens that the PCSO Animal Control folks have plenty of fine felines just waiting for a good #FurEverHome.
Single? How about a kitty sidekick?
Newlyweds? We have cats that would be thrilled to be your first family member.
Big family? No worries—cats don’t take up much space and they don’t even need a place at the dinner table.
Retired? Cats are practically born retired.
Basically, what we’re saying is, come in to the PCSO Animal Control and adopt your new #PFF (#PurrfectFriendFurever) today!
UPDATE: June 3, 2022, here are the names of the deputies involved (who fired their agency weapon):
33-year-old Naiem Ali was hired in June 2018 as a detention deputy. He became a deputy sheriff in July 2020 and is assigned to Northwest District patrol.
33-year-old Brian Bates was hired in June 2012 as a detention deputy. He became a deputy sheriff in November 2014 and is assigned to Northwest District Crime Suppression Team.
21-year-old Michael Kohler was hired in June 2020 as a deputy sheriff. He is assigned to Northwest District patrol.
31-year-old Adam Pennell was hired in December 2013 as a deputy sheriff. He is assigned to Northwest District patrol.
This investigation remains on-going, and we have nothing new to report at this time.
ORIGINAL NEWS RELEASE FROM JUNE 3, 2022:
Active Shooter confronted; killed by Polk deputies
56-year-old Michael Alan Loman of 3925 Combee Road, North, Lakeland, was shot and killed by Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies after he refused to drop a rifle that he had been shooting inside and outside his home.
Earlier, Loman’s wife called 9-1-1 (6:07 p.m.) because her husband Michael was shooting his rifle inside and outside the home (in a residential mobile home park) and had threatened to kill her. He also threatened “suicide by cop” if deputies came to the residence, and threatened to kill responding deputies. During the 9-1-1 call, a gunshot was heard by dispatchers.
A witness in the neighborhood told deputies he heard a bullet passing near where he was standing while Loman was shooting outside his residence.
While Ms. Loman was still on 9-1-1 as deputies were in route, Mr. Loman came back into the residence saying he needed to reload and went back towards the bedroom–Ms. Loman then exited the home. Soon thereafter, deputies arrived (at approximately 6:18 p.m.) and directed Ms. Loman away from the home to safety.
While the deputies were there, Mr. Loman came out on the front porch brandishing a rifle. Deputies told Loman to drop the rifle multiple times. He did not. Mr. Loman was shot by deputies and died at the scene (approximately 6:22 p.m.). Five deputies were on scene; four deputies fired their weapons at Mr. Loman.
No deputies and no one else was injured.
Mr. Loman’s wife told deputies he had been drinking earlier in the day.
Loman’s criminal history includes one felony (possession of cocaine) and three misdemeanors (domestic violence battery and 2 DWLSR charges).
More information will be released on Monday, June 6, including the names of the deputies involved. No other information is expected to be released over the weekend while investigations are ongoing.
There are four ongoing investigations: A death investigation by the PCSO Bureau of Criminal Investigations; an internal investigation by the PCSO Administrative Investigations Unit; an autopsy by the Medical Examiner; and the State Attorney’s Office, who was on-scene and will be conducting an independent review.
For more information, please go to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page to view Sheriff Grady Judd’s media briefing: https://tinyurl.com/39w9vhx6
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