On January 7, 2025, Haines City Police Officer Sean Bruner was patrolling his assigned beat, when a concerned citizen called in on 911, regarding an unresponsive driver in the area of Davenport Blvd. When Officer Bruner arrived, he observed the driver, Miguel Anguel Rodriguez, unresponsive behind the wheel with his foot on the brake, the car in gear, and the engine running.
Concerned for the safety of the driver and other motorists, Officer Bruner positioned his patrol car in front of Rodriguez’s vehicle, to prevent it from lunging forward into traffic. Officer Bruner then attempted to wake Rodriguez, but was unsuccessful. Officer Bruner then had to force entry into the passenger-side window, so he could put the vehicle in park, and remove the keys from the ignition. Once inside the vehicle, Officer Bruner observed Rodriguez briefly open his eyes and enter in and out of consciousness, unaware of the events unfolding. Officer Bruner also observed 12 opened and consumed bottles of wine inside the vehicle.
Emergency medical personnel responded to the scene and transported Rodriguez to the hospital, where tests confirmed dangerously high levels of alcohol in his system.
“This incident underscores the serious dangers of driving under the influence. We are grateful for the citizen who contacted law enforcement and that no one was injured. We will continue to work tirelessly to keep our roads safe from impaired drivers and will hold Mr. Rodriguez accountable for his actions.” – Police Chief Greg Goreck
Miguel Anguel Rodriguez was charged with one count of DUI, indicating a Blood Alcohol Content of .523. The legal presumption of impairment in the State of Florida is a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of .08 or higher. Rodriguez does not
have any prior DUI arrests, but does has a history of miscellaneous traffic citations. Chief Goreck stated that he has almost 30 years in law enforcement, over ten of those exclusively dedicated to Traffic Homicide and DUI investigations, and that Rodriguez’s BAC was the highest level he remembers seeing, where the driver was still alive.
Dale Alston, 63, passed away on January 6, 2025. Dale was born and raised in New York City and worked as a Postal Worker, thereafter, moved to Florida in 2016 and worked at Mohawk/Daltile as a Maintenance Worker/Material Handler. Dale had a zest for life, he loved being a powerlifter, he had a black belt in Kungfu, he was a snazzy dresser, he loved seafood and was a kindhearted and generous person.
Dale was preceded in death by his son, Isaiah. Dale is survived by his loving wife, Arleen Alston and 4 daughters, April, Shaquanna, Faith and Joy, he also leaves behind several grandchildren, Shacorey, Joshua, Ava, Cherish, Josiah and Jaell. Along with his brothers and sisters, Robert, Gregory, Lisa and Leslie. Dale also left a whole host of family and friends that loved him so much in New York City and Florida.
Winter Haven Police are on scene of a shooting along Ave. H NW in Winter Haven.
At approximately 4:37 pm, a 9-1-1 call was received that a male was in an altercation with a male friend leading to the shooting. The male who fired the weapon remained on scene for investigators to interview. As a result of the incident, one apartment in the area received damage from gunshots, however nobody in the residence was injured.
The gunshot victim was taken to Winter Haven Health by Polk County Emergency Medical Services.
This event is currently in the early stages of investigation and this is all of the information available at this time. Additional information will be released tomorrow morning regarding the incident as it becomes available.
On Saturday, January 11, 2025, Polk County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 22-year-old Emerick Priddy of West Palm Beach, FL, after he groomed a 14-year-old Polk County girl online then traveled here to engage in sexual activity with her.
Deputies spotted the suspect’s Honda Civic parked in a parking lot just before 3:00 a.m. that morning. They found Priddy in the backseat with the victim. Both were in various stages of undress.
Priddy told deputies that he was 17 years old, but when they ran his driver’s license in the system, they learned he is actually 22 years old.
The investigation revealed that Priddy met the victim on Snapchat, and convinced her to sneak out of her home in the middle of the night and meet him. He then drove from his residence in West Palm Beach to her home in Polk County, where the victim climbed out of a bedroom window and got in Priddy’s vehicle. Priddy then drove her to the park, where they got into the backseat and engaged in sex. He told the victim when he met her online that he was 17 years old. She told him that she was 14 years old to which he replied, “its prolly a one time thing” and “I aint worried.”
Priddy was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with:
Traveling to meet a minor for sex (F2)
Lewd battery (F2)
Transmission of material harmful to a minor (F3)
Interference with child custody (F3)
Use of a two-way communication device in a felony (F2)
“Emerick Priddy picked the wrong county to come to and sexually batter a child. He’s now facing five felonies and hopefully will be registered as a sexual offender for the rest of his life.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
Winter Haven – The City of Winter Haven will be hosting its 10th annual Florida Arbor Day Tree Giveaway in South Central Park on Saturday, January 18th, 2025 from 11 am – 3 pm. This event will offer residents a free 3-gallon sized tree once they have attended three short educational demonstrations on how to properly plant, prune, and select the correct species for their space. 150 free trees will be available.
The species offered this year will be Seagrape (Coccoloba uvifera) – a tropical looking tree that thrives away from the beach, and can be pruned into many different growth patterns, often becoming a beautiful shade tree. Red Maples (Acer rubrum) will also be available which offer a rare glimpse of fall color in our area and grow into a large shade tree. Finally, Bald Cypress trees (Taxodium distichum) will be available – these adaptable trees while being an iconic wetland tree of our area can thrive in drier, urban soils as well and make a beautiful addition to any landscape – offering shade in the summer, and losing their leaves in Winter to allow for sun.
A road closure, but for something fun and amazing.
Road closures are scheduled for Saturday, January 11, 2025, to accommodate the Saturday Market.
Ave A NW (between 4th St NW & 5th St NW) will be closed from approximately 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Please plan your travel routes accordingly and drive safely!
Cassandra Helms Lumsden, age 76, entered into rest on December 25, 2024. She was born on March 31, 1948. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend.
After graduating from A.L. Brown High School, Cassandra worked for many years at Cannon Mills and Terry Products. Alongside her husband Sam, she served as a house parent at the Church of God Children’s Home, where she cared for many children with love and compassion.
Her greatest joy in life was her family, especially her grandchildren, whom she cherished more than anything. Cassandra was a talented artist and in her younger years, she enjoyed water skiing.
Cassandra is survived by her loving children, Tracy Scott Johnson (Laura) and Michelle Leach (Rigo), as well as one sister Brenda Helms Dry, grandchildren Tyler Leach (Elise), Caleb Leach (Carol), Anthony Johnson (Larissa), Jarrod Johnson, Elijah Johnson, and Timothy Johnson, two great grandsons, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Sam Lumsden, parents Dorothy Wilhelm Helms and Herbert Max Helms, as well as one brother Terry Helms.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Cassandra’s memory may be made to the Church of God Children’s Home of North Carolina.
She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing her. Her legacy of love, kindness, and creativity will live on in the hearts of those she leaves behind.
The City of Winter Haven invites bids for a 15’x15′ rolling cemetery tent with a durable forest green soft top, heavy-gauge galvanized steel frame, and 14″ wheels.
The Florida Highway Patrol released the arrest report from the police chase on January 9, 2025 that ended in a multi-vehicle crash.
“On January 9th 2025 at approximately 2:49 PM, I, Trooper A. Jones with the Florida Highway Patrol was traveling eastbound on Memorial Blvd in my fully marked patrol car. I observed a Black Camaro traveling at a high rate of speed westbound on Memorial Blvd. The vehicle also matched the description of a vehicle that recently fled from Auburndale Police Department. I also had prior knowledge of this vehicle swapping the plates with multiple Florida and Georgia plates prior to spotting the vehicle. I made a U-turn on the vehicle bearing a Georgia plate RHN1122 which returned to a BMW and began to overtake the vehicle.
Observing the vehicle travel at a high rate of speed in and out of traffic. As I approached the vehicle, the driver (later identified Jaaziel E Calero Nuez) put on his left indicator and attempted to turn into a business. As I got directly behind the vehicle, I activated my emergency lights and siren to conduct a traffic stop. The vehicle changed lanes back into the travel lanes and began to flee accelerating at an extremely high rate of speed.
I advised Tampa Bay Regional Communications Center (TBRCC) that I was in pursuit. I provided locations, speeds, and traffic conditions throughout the pursuit. The vehicle made multiple turns to further elude from law enforcement throughout the pursuit. Once the vehicle made a left onto George Jenkins Blvd from Florida Ave. Trooper H. Saunders and Trooper M. Soto joined the pursuit.
As the vehicle approached the Intersection with Kathleen Road, the vehicle ran the red light and collided with an SUV and a Sedan which disabled the fleeing vehicle ending the pursuit.
All Troopers exited our patrol cars and approached the vehicle. Trooper Saunders observed Mr. Nuez reaching onto the passenger floorboard prompting Trooper Saunders to deploy his ASP baton on the driver window. It was later found that a firearm was on the floorboard underneath a green backpack. Trooper Saunders grabbed Mr. Nuez and pulled him out of the vehicle and escorted him onto the ground. Mr. Nuez than began to actively resist by teasing up and holding one of his arms under his body. Mr. Nuez was then tased by Officer Spoto with the Lakeland Police Department who arrived on scene just after the collision. Mr. Nuez was finally placed under arrest at 2:57 PM.
Trooper Saunders pulled a stack of cash out of Mr. Nuez pocket during the search of his person.
The collision by the Camaro and the SUV caused significant injuries to the driver and passenger of the SUV. Both occupants of the SUV entrapped and unable to exit the vehicle until the driver door was ripped open by the Polk County Fire Department and their tools. Both occupants were transported to the hospital with injuries.
A probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted on the black Camaro. On the vehicles floorboard was a green backpack which contained 49.4 grams of raw marijuana inside a clear plastic bag. A scale with marijuana residue on it. 2 Glock magazines with ammunition and a Mico Drako magazine with .762 caliber ammunition. Underneath the bag on the floorboard was a Micro Drako with no magazine inside of it. It should be noted that the location of which the firearm was located was the exact location that Mr. Nuez was reaching. Also located in the vehicle inside the cup holder was a programmable key which was able to start the Camaro but was not a Chevy key fob. On the rear seat a Professional Key Programmer was found which matched the brand of the key fob.
Inside the driver door a screwdriver was found. These tools are all used to commit burglaries and steal vehicles. A Florida plate BV18WW was found in the trunk of the vehicle, which returned stolen and confirmed by TBRCC.
Though my training and experience I believe the tightly sealed packaging of raw marijuana over 20 grams, coupled with a scale and cash demonstrates intent to sale and deliver. The VIN was provided to TBRCC for the black Camaro and it was confirmed Stolen out of Miami PD. A DAVID check of Mr. Nuez’s Driver’s License shows he has 5 prior convictions and is currently Driving while license suspended/Revoked.
Mr. Nuez was transported to Lakeland Regional Hospital and was remotely booked into the Polk County Jail.”
