At approximately 2:30 pm on Wednesday, January 12, 2022, a 2-seater Seaplane (1946 Yellow Piper J3C-65 SN: 16133, N88509) was attempting to land on Lake Smart.
Shortly after the pontoons landed on the lake, one of the wings dipped into the water causing the plane to catapult upward approximately 50 feet before crashing nose first into an orange grove about 40 yards from Lake Smart. The PCSO Emergency Communications Center received several 911 calls about the crash, and Winter Haven Police, Winter Haven Fire, and PCSO deputies immediately responded to the area.
There were two adults on board the plane at the time of the crash: 77-year-old John “Jack” Hamilton of Elizabethton, TN, a licensed pilot, and 22-year-old Landen MacFarland of Stuart, a flight instructor. Mr. Hamilton was visiting the Orlando area from Tennessee. He arrived at the Jack Brown Seaplane Base in Winter Haven and requested to fly with an instructor for a refresher course.
Both pilots were transported to a local hospital where they are being treated for serious injuries. Both men are listed in critical condition.
No one on the ground was injured.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the plane crash.
An update to this crash: PCSO was notified on January 12, 2022, that the bicyclist succumbed to the injuries she received. No charges are anticipated.
Original Article:
PCSO received a call around 6:27 a.m. on Thursday, December 9, 2021, regarding a crash on Cypress Gardens Blvd in the inside westbound lane at South Lake Florence Drive.
The driver of a green 2002 Ford Escort, 62-year-old Michael Carter of Winter Haven, was heading westbound when 66-year-old Thuy Duong (female) of Winter Haven rode her motorized tricycle into his path. It appears she was attempting to cross the Boulevard from the east just north of South Lake Florence Drive, at an angle west toward Helena Road. The front wheel of the Escort struck the front tire of the tricycle, and Duong was ejected from the bike and propelled onto the windshield. She was not wearing a helmet and suffered significant injuries. She’s in the ICU at a local hospital. It appears she was operating the tricycle on the sidewalk until attempting to cross the road, but did not attempt to cross at a crosswalk or traffic light.
Neither excessive speed, distracted driving, nor impairment on Carter’s part are suspected. The roadway in that area was shut down for approximately three hours during the investigation
US 27 northbound at the SR 60 bridge and US 27 southbound at Central Avenue will be closed from 11 p.m. Friday, January 14, 2022 until 5 a.m. Monday, January 17, 2022.
The Florida Department of Transportation’s contractor will close the road to set beams for the new SR 60 bridge.
Detours will be in place for local traffic and commercial truck traffic. Signage will direct motorists to the detours, which are shown below. Law Enforcement will be on site to assist motorists. Please allow extra travel time and use caution in the construction zones.
Winter Haven, Florida – The Winter Haven Police Department has arrested and charge Indya Lanae Pendleton (DOB: 08/13/2001) with Robbery, Kidnapping and Attempted Murder. According to reports the arrest stems from a drug deal gone bad on January 5th in the Walmart plaza off Cypress Gardens Blvd. According to reports Pendleton and another man allegedly conspired to rob a local drug dealer of $600 worth of Marijuana. The other man, Ray Antonio Davis Jr (DOB: 02/05/2002 who is still hospitalized is also facing charges.
The following is a long excerpt from the Winter Haven Police affidavit (It should be noted that this is an unedited report of facts by the Winter Haven Police Department. 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 hope readers appreciate being able to read the information and come to their own understanding and conclusions). *Due to Marsys Law the Drug Dealer/Victims name has be redacted. He is not faces charges currently :
On 01/05/2022 at approximately 1727 hours, Winter Haven Police Department (WHPD) officers responded to Winter Haven Hospital, located at 200 Avenue F NE, in Winter Haven, Polk County, Florida in response to a person shot complaint.
Upon arrival to the hospital, officers made contact with Ray Antonio Davis Jr (b/m, dob: 02/05/2002) and a sworn recorded interview was conducted. During the interview, Davis Jr informed officers he was a passenger in a vehicle driven by Indya Lanae Pendleton (b/f, dob: 08/13/2001) and they were driving around Winter Haven when a vehicle pulled up on the passenger side of their vehicle. Davis Jr advised the occupants of the other vehicle began shooting towards him. Davis Jr said he attempted to move out of the way, but was unsuccessful. Davis Jr told officers he instructed Pendleton to drive him to the hospital for medical treatment.
While officers were investigating the call for service at the hospital with Davis Jr, a 9-1-1 call came into Polk County Sheriffs Office (PCSO) Dispatch reporting a shooting at the Walmart, located at 355 Cypress Gardens Blvd SE, in Winter Haven, Polk County, Florida The caller advised she witnessed a shooting at 3rd St SE and Post Avenue SE in the area of the Walmart listed. The caller reported there were two vehicles and one person jumped out oftheir vehicle and shot at another person.
As officers were being dispatched to this additional location, and possible scene of the initial shooting, another 91-1 call was received by PCSO Dispatch regarding the shooting. The additional caller identified himself as REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim) later identified as REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim) informed dispatchers he believed he shot and killed someone in the area of the Walmart plaza near the Which Wich restaurant, located at 303 Cypress Gardens Blvd SE, in Winter Haven, Polk County, Florida. REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim) advised someone tried to rob him by putting a gun to his head and he believed he killed the suspect by shooting him a lot. REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim) stated the suspect had a gun to his head and was in the back seat and he pulled his own weapon to shoot the suspect. Dispatchers were able to instruct REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim) to return to the scene and make contact with officers.
At approximately 1749 hours, I was called-out by supervision to respond and assist WHPD Patrol with the investigation at 3rd St SE and Post Avenue SE.
Upon my arrival, I made contact with REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim). REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim) provided me with a sworn recorded interview. During the interview, REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim) informed me he was contacted by an acquaintance of his named “Indya” who wanted to purchase some “green” from him. The term “green” is slang for Cannabis. REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim) said it was agreed he would meet Indya in the parking lot of the Which Wich restaurant to conduct the transaction. REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim) stated he was going to sell Indya a quarter of a pound of Cannabis for $600. REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim) said when he arrived he joined Indya in her vehicle, which was parked on the south side parking lot for the Which Wich restaurant. During the meeting with Indya, REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim) stated another subject, walked to the vehicle and entered the rear passenger side to sit behind REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim). REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim) described the subject as a black male, approximately 5’10” tall, skinny build, with small four (4″) inch twists in his hair. The subject was wearing a black hooded sweat shirt. While talking with Indya about the payment for theCannabis, REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim) said the black male subject stated, “I got you,” and pointed a gun at REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim)’s head. REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim) said he attempted to exit the vehicle, but the black male subject grabbed his neck with a free hand and pulled him back into REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim)’s seat with the gun still pointed at REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim)’s head. REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim) said the black male stated “Fuck that,we’re taking you with us,” and told Indya to drive out of the parking lot while the black male subject held REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim) forcefully in his seat.
REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim) advised he was afraid for his life at that point, did not give the black male permission to touch or keep him in the vehicle, and was prevented from exiting the car as Indya drove with him taking him against his will with them. REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim) stated he was fearful he would be shot or killed because the black male still had the handgun pointed at his head while REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim) was being prevented from getting out of the car. REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim) then armed himself with his own handgun, pointed the weapon back at the male and began shooting towards the male. REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim) said near the intersection of 3rd St SE and Post Avenue SE, Indya stopped the vehicle and he was able to exit the car when the black male let go of REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim). REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim) stated after he exited the vehicle, he believed he observed Indya exit the driver’s side of the vehicle, point a handgun at him, and begin shooting in his direction. REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim) said he then ran to his car and saw Indya drive northbound on 3rd St SE after re-entering the car. REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim) attempted to give chase to follow the vehicle driven by Indya, but he lost visual of the car in traffic. REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim) stated he called 9-1-1 to report the incident, telling dispatch that he believed he killed the black male after shooting him a lot.
REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim) informed officers his handgun, a Glock model 22, .40 caliber, handgun, serial # BKKY654, was in his vehicle’s glovebox, with the magazine removed from the handgun. REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim) vehicle was a black, 2017, 4 door car, bearing REDACTED. REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim) described Indya’s vehicle as a black, unknown year Nissan Sentra, 4 door car. REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim) stated when he exited the vehicle; he left behind his black pistol holster, athletic slides, blue iPhone with a clear case, navy blue and black backpack, and Cannabis which was contained in a tied-off sandwich bag. REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim) added that he ran back to his vehicle in sock feet. An area search of the scene at 3rd St SE and Post Avenue SE yielded the recovery of a spent projectile found on the pavement near the intersection. The item was collected by PCSO Crime Scene Investigators under related PCSO case number PK22-968.
Detectives were able to track the last know area of REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim) cellphone through the LIFE360 application and learned the cellphone was showing near an address of REDACTED, in Winter Haven, Polk County, Florida. Detectives responded to the area of REDACTED and located a black, 2018 Nissan Sentra, 4 door car, bearing 2022 Florida tag # REDACTED, parked on a grassy area near the sidewalk of REDACTED. Detectives observed an exit bullet hole on the roof oven the passenger side of the vehicle, possible blood in plain view on the back passenger seat, and slides that matched the REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim) description in the front seat. The vehicle is registered to Davis Jr’s mother, REDACTED. Due to the gunfire damage and presence of blood in the vehicle, the Nissan vehicle was impounded for evidentiary purposes and transported to the WHPD station’s evidence processing bay, located at 125 N Lake Silver Drive NW, in Winter Haven, Polk County, Florida.
Due to the extent of his injuries, Davis Jr was transported from Winter Haven Hospital to the Lakeland Regional Health Hospital, located at 2815 Lakeland Hills Blvd, in Lakeland, Polk County, Florida. Davis Jr underwent surgeries and was intubated and placed in an induced coma during said medical procedures.
On 01/06/2022 at approximately 1140 hours, was able to meet with and conduct a non-custodial sworn recorded interview with Pendleton at her mother’s residence of REDACTED, in Lake Wales, Polk County, Florida. Pendleton confirmed she understood she did not have to provide an interview and was not being detained, but agreed to talk with detectives about the incident from the day prior in the Which Wich restaurant parking lot.
During her interview, Pendleton stated she did go to the Which Wich parking lot with Davis Jr to meet a white boy for the purpose of conducting a narcotics exchange involving an “eighth of weed” or Cannabis. Pendleton said she didn’t know the white boy’s name. Pendleton was in the driver’s seat of the vehicle she and Davis Jr were in. Pendleton confirmed the vehicle was Davis Jr’s mother’s vehicle. Pendleton said Davis Jr went into the Which Wich restaurant to use the restroom when the white boy located her in the parking lot and entered the front passenger seat of her vehicle.
Pendleton said Davis Jr returned and entered the rear passenger seat of the vehicle and she noticed the white boy’s face turn red as if he was upset at Davis Jr. Pendleton said the white boy asked how they were going to pay for it, by using an app or cash. Pendleton stated Davis Jr said he could pay for it and went to reach for some cash in his pocket when the white boy produced a gun and began shooting back towards Davis Jr, still seated in the rear of the car. Pendleton stated she “got blind to everything” at that point. Pendleton said she recalled jumping out of the car and seeing the white boy looking at her and pointing the gun at her. Pendleton stated she looked back at Davis Jr and saw blood everywhere, so she rushed Davis Jr to the hospital. Pendleton said when they reached the Winter Haven Hospital, Davis Jr told her to drop him off, go drop of the car near his home and don’t talk with anyone about the incident. Pendleton said Davis Jr didn’t want his parents to know about the shooting. Pendleton said, “That’s what I did.” In review, Pendleton told me the white boy got out of the vehicle near Which Wich and she noticed Davis Jr had been shot when she drove to the stop sign at 3rd St SE and Post Avenue SE. A search warrant (SAO SW #22-19) was authored by WHPD detectives for the seized 2018 Nissan Sentra, VIN # REDACTED. At the execution of the search warrant, detectives recovered the following items described by REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim) as being left by him in the vehicle at the time of the shooting:
a black holster for the Glock model 22 handgun belonging to REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim).
a black and blue back pack.
a pair of black and white Nike brand slides/shoes. The search process of the Nissan Sentra under the search warrant also revealed the following items:
apparent blood in the rear passenger seat portion of the vehicle.
spent ammunition casings (multiple).
apparent ammunition jacketing (multiple).
a Ruger model EC9s, 9mm handgun, serial #45613252 (with a “stove-piped spent 9mm casing in the ejection port.)
Video footage collected from area businesses further supported REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim) statement that the black Nissan Sentra travelled along the back alley way behind the Which Wich restaurant, northbound to the intersection of 3rd St SE and Post Avenue SE, where REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim) could be seen exiting the vehicle at this location and fleeing back southbound on foot away from the Nissan Sentra. Also captured was Pendleton exiting the driver’s side door of the black Nissan Sentra, turning in the direction of REDACTED(Drug Dealer/Victim), then re-entering the Nissan Sentra to drive away from the area northbound on 3rd St SE from Post Avenue SE. Based on the totality of the circumstances listed above, the following charges are being filed against Pendleton:
Winter Haven Public Safety and The City of Winter Haven is proud to announce the promotion of Fire Marshal Joseph “Sonny” Emery, Jr. to Chief of the Winter Haven Fire Department effective January 10, 2022.
Chief Emery started his career in the fire services with the City of Winter Haven in September of 1998. He was promoted to Firefighter III in 2007 and moved to Fire Inspector position in 2012. Chief Emery was selected as the Interim Fire Marshal in November 2016 and was appointed the position in August of 2017. Chief Emery has served as the Officer in Charge at the Fire Department since June of 2021.
Chief Emery is dual certified holding Fire Standards as well as Police Standards.
“During his time of Officer in Charge, Sonny has demonstrated exemplary leadership skills,” said Public Safety Director Charlie Bird. “He has shown firm leadership while engaging with the members to keep them motivated as they continue to carry out the mission of the department.”
“I am pleased to join Public Safety Director Bird in announcing that Sonny Emery will be our next Fire Chief for the City of Winter Haven,” said Winter Haven City Manager Mike Herr. “Additionally, I believe our Fire Department will remain even stronger when leadership appointments are promotions from inside the department. Sonny is a very ethical leader and will serve as a meaningful example of how to conduct the business of fire suppression and fire prevention services.”
Loughman, Florida – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed they are investigating a shooting which took place Sunday evening in the North East corner of Polk County. According to the PCSO public information officer the shooting was domestic in nature. The PIO advised it appears the person shot was the aggressor.
The Polk County Fire Rescue set up a landing zone at the new Publix parking lot at the intersection of Ronald Reagan and Hwy 17/92 around 9:30pm.
The sheriff’s office advised no additional information is available at this time and the incident is still under investigation. No current danger to the public.
Lake Wales High School Sophomore Wins State Swimming Championship
by James Coulter
Mary Leigh Hardman, 16, has been swimming ever since she could first remember. Her mother, an Olympic-calibercompetitive swimmer, inspired her to go for the gold. Now this 16-year-old sophomore from Lake Wales High School has won the state championship for two consecutive years.
Mary Leigh returned home after winning first place at the state swimming championship at the Sail Fish Water Park in Stuart, FL. She had been participating in the championship for the past two years. Her freshmen year, she won both the 50 Freestyle and 100 Freestyle. This year, she won the 50 by .01 second but lost the 100 by .1 second.
“I had pretty high expectations, and that was that,” she said. “It went pretty well.”
Mary Leigh first learned to swim at age five and has been competing year-round ever since. She was inspired by her mother, Molly Hardman, who won the state championship her senior year in 1988, swam at Clemson University and the University of Florida, and even participated in the 1988 and 1992 Olympic trials.
“She got me interested at a young age,” Mary Leigh said. “Ever since I started swimming, I took it seriously. When you are a kid, you [are not] necessarily taking things very seriously in general. But I see improvement around 11 or 12. At that point, I just really saw a lot of improvement in my swimming.”
Her mother, Molly, owes her success to striking a balance between school and swimming. Mary Leigh works hard at what she does. While she may not appear so in her everyday demeanor, she remains competitive with her nose to the grind; and even when she loses, she remains gracious about her losses and gracious for the success of others, Mary said.
“You will be the most successful happy athlete if you strike the balance and so she does and it is so fun to see her do so well,” Molly said. “She knows how to, when it is important, she knows how to step up onto the block and rise to the occasion. She is a strong competitor. You would never know talking to her, because that is not the demeanor that she lives and it is not her personality, but when she gets on the block, it is all her business.”
Aside from her school’s swim team, she is a club swimmer who attends a separate swim club. Practicing year-round allows her to maintain her athletic prowess, which peaks around springtime and especially around the time of the annual state championship.
She owes her success to her fellow teammates and her school and club coaches. The support and encouragement she receives from them inspires her to keep moving forward and to improve her game. Her school has especially proven supportive in her athletic endeavors.
“I have been working and toiling with my high school team for a few months, trying to work myself up to that season,” she said. ” They are phenomenal. Everyone is supporting me in everything. My high school is very supportive of my accomplishments. Every time I would win something or do well, they would announce it on the announcements. So, I think that is very nice and encouraging of them.”
Her mother has high expectations of her moving forward. Mary Leigh already had surprising success with her competition last year, and that surprise motivated her to keep up her good work in this year’s event and in future endeavors.
“I would say having the experience of her winning her freshman year, and being completely surprised she did that, she had experience going into this year’s state meet and what it takes to win again, so I will attribute it to her work ethic and competitive nature, just really wanting to do her best,” Molly said.
Mary Leigh expects to continue competing in the state swimming championship well through high school. She expects to continue swimming in college, though she remains undecided at this moment what her college plans will be. Until then, she plans on keeping her nose to the water and striving to go for the gold.
“Whatever happens will happen,” she said. “I will try my best and no matter what if I try my hardest then that is the best I can do. I love to win again, but it is always nice to give someone else a chance to see what happens. It would be great to win it again.”
Auburndale Police Department Investigating Fatal Crash Involving a Child Pedestrian
At approximately 6:24 a.m. on Wednesday,
January 5, 2022, the Auburndale Police Department began an investigation of a
vehicle vs. pedestrian crash that occurred within the intersection of U.S.
Highway 92 and Havendale Blvd. The crash resulted in the death of a
six-year-old child.
The preliminary investigation
has determined that the child was in the median of Havendale Blvd. where it
intersects with U.S. 92 and ran north from the median attempting to cross U.S.
92, and was struck by the right front bumper and headlight area of a Ford F150
pick-up truck that was traveling eastbound in the outside lane. The child
suffered immediate fatal injuries.
The driver was unaware that he
had struck a pedestrian and continued to the area of Lake Alfred where another
driver alerted him that he had struck a person. He immediately returned to the
scene and was fully cooperative with the investigation. There were no
indications he was impaired.
At the time of the crash, it
was still dark, and the intersection is illuminated by street lighting. An Auburndale
police officer was on-scene immediately. While the investigation was underway,
the child’s father arrived at the scene and was notified. The child was a
student at Auburndale Central Elementary and the Polk County School Board and
the elementary school administrators have been notified of the student’s death.
We are still investigating to
determine why the child was alone in that location at that time of the morning
and this investigation is still active.
Updates will
be provided as they become available.
The next PCSO Concealed Weapons Permit Course is scheduled for Saturday, January 22, 2022, from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, and if the morning classes fill up, a second class will be offered from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. each day.
This is the class required by the FL Dept of Agriculture as part of an application to obtain a concealed weapons permit.
YOU MUST CALL 863-298-6242, during normal business hours (Mon-Fri, 8-5) to reserve your seat. When you call, you will be given further instruction about where to go for the training.*
Cost of the class is $45; proceeds go to Polk Sheriff’s Charities, Inc., and the cost is non-refundable.
Students shall not wear loose hanging clothing and shall wear close-toed shoes.
Each student will be required to provide the following:
1- A modern manufacture firearm* capable of using modern ammunition.
2- 50 rounds of clean modern manufacture ammunition.
3- Modern manufacture protective eye-wear designed for a shooting environment.
4- Modern manufacture hearing protection designed for a shooting environment.
5- Adequate sun protection. (i.e. hat, long-sleeved shirt, sunscreen)
6- Adequate hydration for extended outdoor activity.
The class will start on time. Students arriving late will be asked to reschedule for a later class.
Any questions about the CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION, please call Sergeant Hersey or Sergeant Russo at the PCSO Training Section at 863-534-7200, during normal office hours.
NEXT CLASS – January 22, 2022 – CALL 863-298-6242 to reserve your spot!
*we will have handguns available for the hands-on portion of the course, but we prefer you bring your own if possible.
Please visit our event calendar on our website for all dates of all classes: http://www.polksheriff.org/events
