As grocery prices continue to climb, many families find it difficult to afford healthy foods, particularly fresh fruits and vegetables. That challenge inspired the creation of a new community garden in Winter Haven’s Florence Villa neighborhood.
Established by the nonprofit organization Roots of Florence Villa, the garden is designed to provide residents, especially those in low-income households, with greater access to fresh, nutritious produce. Organizers hope the project will not only address food insecurity but also strengthen neighborhood connections and community pride.
The garden operates as a “grow and give” initiative, encouraging residents to help cultivate fruits and vegetables while allowing them to harvest the produce they need. In addition to the garden, the site features a “little free pantry” stocked with non-perishable food items. Accessible 24 hours a day, the pantry encourages residents to “take what you need, share what you can.”
Founded by Marissa Fenton, Roots of Florence Villa focuses on improving food access, promoting food justice, and supporting healthier lifestyles throughout the community and surrounding areas.
“Our goal is to create more than a garden,” Fenton said. “We are building a space that brings people together, encourages healthier lifestyles, and empowers residents through access to fresh food and community education.”
Rather than simply providing food, the initiative encourages residents to take an active role in helping their neighbors. Volunteers work together to plant, maintain, and harvest crops, creating a shared effort that benefits the entire community.
“We believe this initiative represents the power of neighbors, local businesses, community leaders, and supporters coming together to invest in the health and well-being of their community,” Fenton said.
Organizers also hope the garden will improve overall health by making fresh produce more readily available. Providing greater access to nutritious food can have benefits beyond physical health, Fenton explained.
“Nutrition is one of the foundations of overall health,” Fenton said. “The foods we eat play an important role in helping prevent chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and obesity…Community members will feel supported, connected, and reminded that their health matters.”
Development of the garden began in August. Volunteers prepared the land by tilling the soil and installing the first section of fencing. With the initial phase of planting now underway, organizers expect the first harvest next spring.
While community support has been encouraging, organizers say their biggest challenge is spreading awareness about the project. Residents have already volunteered their time, and Winter Haven Mayor Brian Yates has voiced support for the effort. However, additional volunteers, sponsors, and donations are still needed to help the garden reach its full potential.
“Our goal is to make healthy food more accessible and to show residents that their community is worth investing in,” Fenton said.
Those interested in volunteering or supporting the initiative can learn more through the Roots of Florence Villa Facebook and Instagram pages.
HAINES CITY, FLORIDA — The arrest of a Haines City police officer for allegedly driving under the influence in a marked patrol vehicle has brought attention to more than the conduct of one officer. Records and written responses obtained by the Daily Ridge raise broader questions about hiring decisions, the handling of citizen complaints, compliance with departmental policies and accountability within the leadership of the Haines City Police Department.
The circumstances involve an officer who was initially passed over for employment, then hired following changes in police leadership; a citizen complaint involving an unauthorized trip to Jacksonville that never received the administrative review required by department policy; and a deputy police chief who was notified of the complaint but failed to ensure the matter was properly addressed.
The department has acknowledged that its established procedures were not followed.
Yet its explanation of how that failure was subsequently addressed describes a meeting with the deputy chief and the establishment of additional safeguards. The department did not identify any reprimand, suspension or other punitive disciplinary action against him in its written response.
In a separate incident, Haines City Police acknowledged receiving a citizen complaint about another marked patrol vehicle reportedly traveling on Interstate 4 at approximately 95 mph. The department identified the assigned officer and provided counseling but stated it had no documentation confirming the vehicle was on the interstate.
Taken together, the incidents raise questions about how thoroughly complaints are examined, when administrative reviews are required and whether accountability is applied consistently to patrol officers and the supervisors responsible for overseeing them.
The Daily Ridge’s examination also revealed that the department initially denied having knowledge of the Jacksonville incident, despite records showing that the complaint had been received and addressed at the supervisory level nearly two months before the officer’s DUI arrest.
The available evidence does not establish that these incidents resulted from intentional misconduct by department leadership or that every complaint was improperly handled. It does, however, document one admitted procedural failure and several decisions that warrant examination of the department’s supervisory practices.
An Officer Initially Passed Over for Employment
Joseph Jabar Everett was hired by the Haines City Police Department in July 2026, approximately eleven months after he had been interviewed for a position and not selected.
According to information provided by HCPD, Everett interviewed with the department on August 22, 2025. Although officials indicated that he performed well during the interview, he was not considered the most qualified candidate.
The department acknowledged that Everett’s previous DUI arrest while employed by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office was a factor in that earlier hiring decision.
Everett had been arrested in 2024 while working for PCSO. He subsequently left the Sheriff’s Office, and the criminal charges were dropped. He was not convicted in that case.
By the time Everett was hired in July 2026, significant changes had occurred within Haines City government and the police department.
Former Police Chief Jay Hopwood retired at the end of January 2026. Isaac Jackson subsequently assumed leadership of the department.
Edwin Moran was appointed deputy police chief in March 2026.
Former City Manager Jim Elensky also retired, with his retirement effective May 1, 2026. Loyd Stewart served as interim city manager during the transition, and Joe Halman’s appointment as permanent city manager was announced in July.
According to HCPD, Everett applied to the department three times before ultimately being hired.
The department confirmed that Jackson recommended Everett for employment and that the recommendation received the required approvals through city leadership.
Officials also confirmed that those involved in the hiring decision were aware of Everett’s previous application and rejection.
But another detail involving the hiring process raises an important question.
Everett listed newly appointed Deputy Chief Edwin Moran as a referral on his employment application.
Moran and Everett had previously worked together at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, and Moran had supervised Everett during their time there.
Moran brought approximately 30 years of law enforcement experience to Haines City. His previous responsibilities at PCSO included serving as a lieutenant involved in training and mentoring newly promoted supervisors.
Despite that professional relationship and Moran being listed as a referral, HCPD stated that Everett’s referral was never discussed with Moran.
That acknowledgment is noteworthy.
The department had a newly appointed deputy chief who previously supervised the applicant at another law enforcement agency. The applicant identified that deputy chief as a referral. The applicant also had a prior DUI arrest that the department acknowledged had been considered during an earlier unsuccessful hiring decision.
Yet, according to HCPD’s response, the referral was not discussed with Moran.
The department has not established that Moran improperly influenced Everett’s hiring. Nor does the fact that Everett was previously rejected mean he was ineligible for future employment.
However, the circumstances raise questions about the depth of the department’s hiring review and why officials did not discuss the applicant with a senior command officer who had firsthand professional experience supervising him.
The issue is particularly relevant because Moran would later become involved in another decision concerning Everett, this time involving the officer’s unauthorized use of a department vehicle.
The Jacksonville Complaint and an Admitted Failure to Follow Policy
On August 16, 2026, approximately one month after Everett joined the department, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office forwarded a citizen complaint to Haines City Police Lieutenant LaTorian Turner.
The complaint concerned HCPD Unit 260, a marked police vehicle reportedly observed traveling northbound on Interstate 95 between St. Augustine and Jacksonville.
According to the complaint, the caller observed the vehicle near mile marker 337 and alleged that it was repeatedly swerving out of its travel lane.
The complaint did not allege that the vehicle was speeding.
Turner subsequently contacted Everett regarding the allegations.
Everett acknowledged operating the department vehicle but denied the allegation that he had been swerving.
The alleged erratic driving was not substantiated.
However, HCPD confirmed that Everett had taken the marked police vehicle to Jacksonville without authorization.
The distinction is important. While the citizen’s allegation about Everett’s driving was not established, the unauthorized travel was acknowledged.
Department General Order 84.4 governs the assignment and use of department vehicles, including restrictions on unauthorized personal travel.
On August 20, Turner issued Everett a documented verbal counseling notice concerning the unauthorized use of the vehicle.
Everett signed the document.
The counseling notice specifically described the action as nonpunitive and intended to reinforce departmental expectations.
There was no unpaid suspension or other punitive discipline identified in that document.
More importantly, the department has since acknowledged that the complaint was not processed according to its established administrative procedures.
Under HCPD General Order 52.1, administrative complaints and supporting documentation are to be forwarded to the Captain of Operations for review.
That review determines whether the matter can be disposed of administratively, requires an administrative inquiry or warrants a formal administrative investigation.
The policy does not automatically require a full internal affairs investigation in every case. It does, however, establish a review process that must be followed before the appropriate disposition is determined.
In Everett’s case, HCPD acknowledged that the required process never occurred.
The department stated:
“The incident was handled at the supervisory level rather than being referred for the administrative review required by General Orders. That was a failure to follow the established process.”
The department also confirmed that Turner had notified Deputy Chief Moran of the complaint.
According to HCPD, Moran instructed Turner to document the incident for appropriate action.
The department did not establish that Moran specifically instructed Turner to issue nonpunitive counseling or directed him to close the matter without further review.
However, when asked whether Turner had consulted command staff before issuing the counseling, the department answered no.
When asked whether Turner was authorized to resolve the matter without referring it for the required administrative review, the department also answered no.
Those responses establish that Turner did take action on the complaint, but the required process was not completed.
They also establish that the deputy chief had been made aware of the incident.
Deputy Chief Moran’s Role and the Question of Accountability
The involvement of Deputy Chief Moran is particularly significant because of his position within the department and his extensive experience supervising and training law enforcement personnel.
Deputy Chief Moran
HCPD confirmed that Moran was notified of the complaint involving Everett and that he instructed Turner to document the incident.
Yet the matter was never forwarded through the required administrative review process.
In explaining the failure, the department stated:
“Unfortunately, the Deputy Chief did not create a follow up reminder on the matter.”
That explanation raises a question about the responsibilities of senior command staff when they become aware of complaints involving potential policy violations.
Moran was not a newly hired patrol officer unfamiliar with supervisory responsibilities. He was the department’s deputy chief, with decades of law enforcement experience and a professional background that included training supervisors.
The department has acknowledged that a required administrative process was not followed after the complaint reached him.
Following Everett’s October arrest, the department reported that Chief Jackson became aware of the circumstances surrounding the Jacksonville incident the following day.
The department’s explanation described Jackson meeting with Moran to establish additional safeguards intended to ensure that similar incidents are properly addressed in the future.
However, the written response provided to the Daily Ridge did not identify any punitive disciplinary action against Moran in connection with the failure.
No suspension, written reprimand or other disciplinary penalty involving Moran was disclosed in that response.
That does not establish that no additional action occurred. It establishes that the department’s explanation identified a corrective meeting and additional safeguards without identifying punitive discipline.
The distinction matters because the department acknowledged that its own procedures were not followed.
It also raises the question of whether the response to a failure involving senior command staff is evaluated under the same accountability standards applied to officers who violate department policy.
The Daily Ridge previously obtained records involving a separate administrative investigation of Jackson before he became police chief.
That investigation involved Jackson’s unauthorized use of an unmarked department vehicle outside Polk County, in Highlands County.
The allegation was sustained, and Jackson received an eight-hour suspension without pay.
The circumstances of Jackson’s earlier case and Everett’s unauthorized Jacksonville trip were not identical. However, the records demonstrate that a formal administrative process and punitive discipline have been used in connection with unauthorized vehicle use.
HCPD indicated that Jackson’s previous case and other disciplinary precedents were not considered when Everett’s Jacksonville complaint was handled.
In Everett’s case, the administrative review required to evaluate the complaint and determine an appropriate disposition never occurred.
For Moran, the department’s disclosed response to the failure involved additional safeguards rather than any identified punitive disciplinary action.
These distinctions do not establish that any particular disciplinary penalty was required. They do raise questions about how the department determines when counseling is sufficient, when formal review is necessary and how supervisors are held accountable for ensuring that policies are followed.
A Second Citizen Complaint Involving HCPD Unit 223
The Daily Ridge also examined a separate citizen complaint involving another Haines City Police Department vehicle.
On August 30, 2026, at approximately 6:25 a.m., a citizen reported observing HCPD Unit 223 traveling eastbound on Interstate 4 at what the citizen estimated to be approximately 95 mph.
The alleged speed has not been independently verified.
The citizen subsequently filed a public records request seeking information about the vehicle’s assignment, location, speed and operation. Despite repeated inquiries, the citizen reported that the matter remained unresolved. It was not until the Daily Ridge became involved that HCPD provided the written responses detailed in this article.
HCPD Public Information Officer Brooke Hart confirmed that Unit 223 was assigned to Officer Daniel Laguerre.
Hart also confirmed that Laguerre worked a shift beginning at 5:45 p.m. on August 29 and ending at 6 a.m. on August 30.
That places the reported sighting on Interstate 4 approximately 25 minutes after the officer’s scheduled shift ended.
However, Hart stated:
“We have no documentation or record confirming that the officer was traveling on Interstate 4.”
When asked whether a complaint, review or inquiry had been conducted, Hart responded:
“A complaint was received, and a review was conducted to identify the officer to whom the vehicle was assigned at the time of the reported incident.”
The response did not establish whether the department examined GPS information, vehicle tracking data, toll records or other available evidence to determine whether Unit 223 was traveling on Interstate 4.
It also did not disclose whether Laguerre acknowledged or denied traveling on the interstate or operating the vehicle at approximately 95 mph.
Despite being unable to confirm the reported travel, HCPD acknowledged that the officer received counseling.
Hart stated:
“The officer was contacted and made aware of the allegations. During that discussion, he received counseling and was reminded of the responsibilities associated with his position, including the proper use, care, and handling of department-issued equipment.”
The department did not identify any punitive disciplinary action or establish that Laguerre violated department policy.
The concern is not whether the citizen’s allegation should automatically have resulted in discipline. Rather, it is whether the department conducted a sufficient review to determine whether the allegation was supported by available evidence.
When considered alongside the Everett incident and the department’s acknowledged failure to follow administrative procedures, the separate Unit 223 complaint raises additional questions about the consistency and thoroughness of Haines City Police Department’s supervisory oversight.
The October DUI Arrest and the Department’s Initial Response
On October 17, 2026, Everett was arrested by the Orlando Police Department on allegations of DUI and reckless driving.
At the time, Everett was off duty and operating an assigned marked Haines City Police Department vehicle.
HCPD confirmed that Everett lived in Orlando and was authorized to commute between his residence and work in the department vehicle. Officials stated that they did not know why he was in the specific location where the arrest occurred.
Everett was terminated following the arrest.
The criminal allegations remain separate from the department’s administrative findings, and Everett is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The arrest occurred approximately two months after the Jacksonville complaint and counseling.
There is no evidence establishing that a different administrative response in August would have prevented the October incident.
However, the timing underscores the significance of the review that did not occur.
Had the department followed its established procedures, the Jacksonville incident would have been evaluated through the required administrative process. That process could have resulted in a different disposition, including disciplinary action, depending on the findings.
Whether any such action would have affected Everett’s subsequent conduct cannot be determined.
The October arrest also exposed another issue involving the department’s handling of information.
When the Daily Ridge initially questioned HCPD about Everett’s reported Jacksonville trip, the department responded:
“We have no knowledge of former officer Everett driving his Haines City agency-issued vehicle to Jacksonville. If he did without approval, he would have been disciplined accordingly.”
That statement conflicted with records subsequently provided by the department.
The complaint had been forwarded to Turner in August. Everett had been questioned. His unauthorized travel had been confirmed, and a counseling notice had been issued.
The department also acknowledged that Moran had been notified.
Following additional questions from the Daily Ridge, HCPD confirmed the earlier incident and acknowledged the failure to follow its administrative review procedures.
Officials subsequently explained that Chief Jackson had not been aware of the Jacksonville incident at the time of Everett’s October arrest.
That explanation distinguishes Jackson’s personal knowledge from information already documented and known to other members of the department.
It does not resolve why the department initially represented the Jacksonville incident as unknown when its own records established otherwise.
Questions That Extend Beyond One Officer
The circumstances examined by the Daily Ridge involve different employees, different allegations and different levels of responsibility.
Everett’s unauthorized Jacksonville trip was confirmed. The department acknowledged that the complaint was not processed according to required procedures.
Moran was notified of that complaint, and the department attributed part of the failure to his lack of a follow-up reminder. Its subsequent explanation described additional safeguards but did not identify punitive discipline against him.
In the separate Unit 223 matter, HCPD confirmed that it received a complaint involving Laguerre and provided counseling, but its response did not establish whether the alleged travel or speeding occurred.
Those facts do not prove that department leadership intentionally disregarded complaints or improperly protected employees. They also do not establish that all three matters should have resulted in the same disciplinary action.
They do, however, reveal recurring questions about how complaints are reviewed, how supervisory decisions are documented and what accountability follows when established procedures are not followed.
The hiring of Everett adds another dimension to those questions.
The department knew of his previous arrest and unsuccessful application. It had a deputy chief who had previously supervised him and whom Everett listed as a referral. Yet officials stated that the referral was not discussed with Moran.
After Everett was hired, Moran was notified of a complaint involving unauthorized use of a department vehicle. The required administrative review did not occur.
When the failure became known following Everett’s arrest, the department described a meeting and additional safeguards, without identifying punitive discipline against the deputy chief.
Meanwhile, a separate citizen complaint involving another department vehicle resulted in counseling, with the department providing limited information about how the underlying allegations were evaluated.
The issue is not whether every complaint against a police officer should result in punishment. Allegations must be examined fairly, and discipline should be based on established facts and applicable policies.
The issue is whether the department consistently follows the processes designed to ensure that complaints receive appropriate review, that decisions are properly documented and that supervisors are accountable for their responsibilities.
Everett’s October DUI arrest brought these questions into public view. But the records obtained by the Daily Ridge indicate that the questions extend well beyond the conduct of one officer.
They reach into hiring decisions, supervisory oversight, administrative procedures and the responsibilities of senior police leadership.
Ultimately, the most significant question may not be whether Everett should have received more severe discipline for his unauthorized trip to Jacksonville.
It is whether the Haines City Police Department’s systems of supervision and accountability are functioning as intended, and whether the same expectations for following established procedures apply at every level of the department.
A 71-year-old Lakeland man was killed Monday morning, November 2, 2026 during a three-vehicle crash about ten miles south of Mulberry.
Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched at around 6:10 am to the scene at 9995 State Road 37, near County Road 630 in Bradley Junction.
Upon the arrival of first responders, the Lakeland man was found deceased in his 2006 Ford Focus.
A 29-year-old man from Wimauma was injured and still in his 2018 Toyota Highlander. He was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
A third man, the driver of a 2010 Honda Accord, abandoned his vehicle and ran away from the scene.
According to the preliminary investigation, the Toyota had been traveling north on SR 37 prior to the crash. The Ford was traveling south; the Honda was behind the Ford, also southbound.
It is believed the driver of the Toyota lost control due to the weather and the wet roadway. The Toyota crossed into the southbound lanes and collided with the victim’s Ford Focus. The Toyota and the Honda also collided.
The driver of the Honda was found and arrested. He was identified as 26-year-old Grevil Said Cerrato of Honduras.
Cerrato told Traffic Homicide detectives that he left the scene because he was scared due to the fact that he had no driver’s license and he is in the United States illegally.
Grevil Cerrato was booked-in at the Sheriff’s Processing Center on charges for Leaving the Scene of a Crash Involving Death (F1) and Driving without a Valid License (M1). A Hold for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has also been placed on Cerrato.
State Road 37 was closed for about five hours, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Five children were taken to the hospital for evaluation after a crash involving a Citrus Connection bus and a small sedan sent the car through the front of a Winter Haven daycare.
According to Winter Haven Police Department Public Information Officer Jamie Brown, police and firefighters responded to the crash on Havendale Boulevard at approximately 11:13 a.m.
The crash caused the sedan to leave the roadway and crash through the front of the daycare at 1588 Havendale Boulevard.
All occupants inside the daycare were accounted for. Five children were taken to the hospital to be evaluated for possible minor injuries, Brown said.
The sedan’s driver was also transported by ambulance with non-life-threatening injuries.
During the weeks leading up to, and on, October 31, 2026, Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Florida Department of Corrections probation officers conducted a Halloween sexual offender/predator compliance initiative and probation checks. The operation was aimed at ensuring compliance with Florida’s registration laws for convicted sex offenders and sex predators (FSS 775.21 & FSS 943.0435) within Polk County* and probationers complying with their regulations.
There are 1,448 total registrants in Polk County: 1,278 sexual offenders, 152 sexual predators, and 18 juvenile sex offenders. These offenders and predators are checked every quarter by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office to ensure they are in compliance with Florida’s sexual offender/predator registration laws. The state requires checks at least once a year.
During the weeks leading up to Halloween, 24offenders and 1 predators were arrested.
Sexual offenders/predators on probation are supervised by the Department of Corrections, and their probation stipulates they are prohibited from engaging in Halloween activities such as having contact with children, distributing candy/treats, or having Halloween decorations. On Halloween, detectives and probation officers confirmed the compliance of 300 offenders and predators, and made 126 searches.
“We hope everyone had a very safe Halloween, made even safer due to the hard work of our deputies and probation officers ensuring that these sex offenders and predators are complying with their court-mandated registrations and requirements. We do not tolerate any violation of sex offender registration laws or probation requirements.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
Those arrested, in alphabetical order, are:
Arnulfo Morales (8/24/1957) – Sexual predator arrested for violation of probation when he failed to carry his electronic monitoring device while outside his home. Morales is a registered sexual predator based on a 2015 conviction for sexual battery/coercing a child.
Carlton Polite (1/19/1984) – Sexual offender arrested violation of probation for failure to comply with orders given by his probation officer. Polite is a registered sex offender based on a 2002 conviction for lewd or lascivious battery on a victim 12-15 years old.
Charles Bailey (1/18/1963) – Sexual offender arrested for failure to comply with sexual predator registration laws for failing to register during his required month. Bailey is a registered sex offender based on a 1998 conviction for aggravated sex abuse.
David Scheib (2/19/1970) – Sexual offender arrested for 134 counts possession of child pornography after a search of his cloud-based accounts.Scheib is a registered sex offender based on a 2013 conviction for possession of child pornography.
Derricko Williams (9/23/1976) – Sexual offender arrested for 12 counts failure to comply with sexual offender registration laws for failing to register a vehicle he owned within 48 hours. Williams is a registered sex offender based on a 2001 conviction for lewd/lascivious battery of a child under 16.
Dylan Garcia (10/24/1985) – Sexual offender arrested for failing to charge his electronic monitoring device as directed, violating his pre-trail release conditions. Garcia is a registered sex offender based on a 2015 federal conviction for use of communication/interstate commerce to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity.
Giram Lebron (4/18/1984) – Sexual offender arrested for violation of probation. Lebron is a registered sex offender based on a 2026 conviction for digital voyeurism by suspect over 24 on a victim under 16.
Jakob Campbell (2/6/2003) – Sexual offender arrested for violation of probation after he was found in possession of an electronic device with internet access. Campbell was convicted in 2024 for sexual exploitation of a child.
James Fullwood (7/19/1990) – Sexual offender arrested for petit theft, which violated his probation.Fullwood is a registered sex offender based on a 2011 conviction for lewd/lascivious sexual battery on a victim between 12-15 years old.
John Burgess (7/8/1976) – Sexual offender arrested for failure to comply with sex offender registration laws after he failed to register during his required month. Burgess was convicted in 2001 for lewd assault/sexual battery on a victim under 16.
John Fleming, Jr. (10/11/1983) – Sexual offender arrested for violation of probation after he failed to register three email addresses. Fleming was convicted in 2003 for lewd/lascivious battery on a victim between 12-15.
Jonathan Ortiz (9/23/1991) – Sexual offender arrested for domestic violence, which violated his probation. Ortiz was convicted in 2018 for traveling to meet a minor for sex.
Marino Lopez (11/11/1986) – Sexual offender arrested for violation of probation due to having multiple unregistered internet identifiers.Lopez is a registered sex offender based on a 2026 conviction for use of a computer to have sex with a minor.
Matthew Thompson (1/27/1981) – Sexual offender arrested for violation of probation after having contact with a minor without permission from his probation officer or the court.Thompson is a registered sex offender based on a 2013 conviction unlawful sexual activity with certain minors 16-17 years old.
Rameir Jones, Jr. (11/15/2002) –Sexual offender arrested for violation of probation due to his possession of an unregistered cell phone.Jones was convicted in 2024 for sending harmful material to a minor.
Raymond Holcomb (6/24/1979) – Sexual offender arrested for failing to register during his required month.Holcomb was convicted in 2012 for sexual battery.
Robin Scott (6/7/1964) – Sexual offender arrested for failing to register during his required month.Scott was convicted in 1998 for sexual battery by an adult on a victim under 12.
Ron Copeland (9/15/1961) – Sexual offender arrested for failing to update his address within 48 hours of establishing a new permanent residence.Copeland is a registered sex offender based on a 1998 conviction of lewd/lascivious battery on a child under 16.
Ronnie Ross (11/22/1979) – Sexual offender arrested for failing to register a vehicle within 48 hours. Ross is a registered sex offender due to a 2007 conviction of lewd/lascivious battery on a child between 12-15.
Russell Harwell (3/16/1988) – Sexual offender arrested for violation of probation after testing positive for alcohol. Harwell was convicted in 2016 for lewd/lascivious molestation of a child between 12-15.
Sean Mcilwain (5/12/1988) – Sexual offender arrested for violation of sex offender registration laws for failing to register during his required month.Mcilwain was convicted in 2014 for possession of child pornography.
Todd Hunsicker (10/16/1965) – Sexual offender arrested for violation of sex offender registration laws for failing to register during his required month. Hunsicker was convicted in 2002 for risk of injury to a minor.
Toshiba Sanders (11/20/1975) – Sexual offender arrested for violation of probation after failing to maintain his driving log. Sanders was convicted in 2014 for lewd/lascivious sexual battery on a victim between 12-15.
Ventrell Martin (2/5/1983) – Sexual offender arrested on warrants for absconding from registration and battery on a LEO. He is a registered sex offender based on a 2007 conviction for lewd/lascivious sexual battery on a victim between 12-15.
Vicente Reyes (9/11/1993) – Sexual offender arrested for violation of probation for possessing a cell phone with internet access. He is a registered sex offender based on a 2011 conviction for lewd/lascivious sexual battery on a victim between 12-15.
*Convicted sex offenders and sex predators are required by Florida law to register and maintain updated information regarding the following identifying information: name; social security number; age; race; sex; date of birth; height; weight; tattoos or other identifying marks; hair and eye color; photograph; address of legal residence (or temporary residence); electronic mail addresses; Internet identifiers and each Internet identifier’s corresponding website homepage or application software name; home telephone numbers and cellular telephone numbers; employment information; driver’s license or Florida ID information; the make, model, color, vehicle identification number (VIN), and license tag number of all vehicles owned. The law specifies time frames during which notifications of any changes to the above information must be made.
There’s been much discussion about Amendment 3, which proposes an increase in the homestead exemption, and a lower cap on increases for non-homestead property assessments.
As part of our series regarding the upcoming vote on Amendment 3, I recently reached out to and sat down with Lake Wales City Manager James Slaton to discuss what the outcome of the vote could mean for local citizens.
Lake Wales City Manager, James Slaton
What should local voters consider when voting for or against Amendment 3?
Firstly, Slaton wants every citizen to have a good understanding of their tax bill.
“Hopefully, they understand their tax bills. I’ve talked to several citizens about this very issue that did not understand what they’re actually paying and to whom they’re paying it on their tax bills.”
Recently, a resident attended a commission meeting to “complain about their tax bill, not understanding that the city only collects around 1/3 of the taxes on their tax bill, and the rest goes to other taxing authorities, whether it be to entities like the county or the school board.”
“Understanding your tax bill, particularly county residents (who live outside the city limits), is extremely important, because you see all of those non-ad valorem special assessments that you pay each year with your property taxes that aren’t property taxes. So you’re paying for a fire assessment, an expensive one at the county; you’re paying for the recreation MSTU’s (Municipal Services Taxing Unit) and other non-ad valorem special assessments.
“My concern for people is that…to make up for the loss of ad valorem property taxes, those non-ad valorem special assessments are going to increase. Government has to continue to operate. We’re like every other business. I’m afraid that there are a lot of voters in the state of Florida that are going to end up paying more at the end of the year than what they’re currently paying. And a big part of that is that I fear people don’t realize that the Save Our Homes Act has been in place since 1992. This act limits the increase in assessed value on every homesteaded property to only 3% annually or CPI whichever is lower. So the end result, if you’ve been in your home for a while, people are already paying very little in property taxes.
“In most cases, even though the market values have gone up, most of the assessed values have not. So I’m just afraid that there’s going to be a lot of people that are going to pay more at the end of the year and they are going to feel misled by their legislature.
“I also want people to know that the state legislators, including the Polk legislative delegation, did no research. They did not talk to any of the communities that they represent, they didn’t talk to the cities, they did no research, they did no financial impact analysis on what eliminating the property taxes would actually do. In my view, that is irresponsible governance. You can’t make decisions like this with such far reaching impacts without doing your homework. And that’s exactly what they did.“
Do you know what the financial impact will be for the citizens in the City Of Lake Wales if Amendment 3 passes?
According to Slaton, the City collects approximately $12 million in property taxes each year.
“$5 million of that goes to our CRA; half of that is County money anyway, so it’s not even used by the city. So we only collect approximately $7 million a year in property tax revenue to pay for all of our city services. They already don’t cover our city services by a wide margin.”
“People think and have been told that this bill is going to protect public safety, and that is absolutely not true. Our public safety costs for just this fiscal year, for fire and police, is $20 million. (Since we) collect $7 million in property tax revenue, we are running a $13 million a year deficit for public safety already today.
“Once the homestead exemption reaches its full potential after the second year, it’s going to wipe out about half of our usable property taxes, which will be about $3.5 million of the $7 million that we collect.”
While public safety accounts for part of the budget number, other services could be directly impacted.
“Other city departments include fleet management, information technology, human resources, payroll, and accounts payable. Many support departments support the entire city.”
“The point is, there’s very little property tax money to go around as it is.”
Slaton wants people to understand how the system currently works and how it could work in the future if the amendment passes.
“We’re able to pay for all of our city operations, and general government operations, because of the fees and assessments and intergovernmental revenue and other revenue streams. Property taxes don’t fund everything, but we need to use every bit of them, But they are already insufficient to cover our services. There will be impacts. And if we’re going to continue to operate at the levels that we are operating at today, that money has to come from somewhere.”
Slaton says the State of Florida has the means to preserve local government funding, but hasn’t taken action to do so.
“All this bill really does is cut revenue for local government. Meanwhile, the state budget has grown $30 billion over the last eight years, and you don’t hear the state voluntarily writing checks or giving money back to the citizens or lowering any of their fees or costs.”
“Something that particularly bothers me is the high cost of insurance, whether it be homeowners insurance, auto insurance, or anything else, and the legislature is not doing anything about that. As a matter of fact, the state is making money off of it. There is an insurance premium tax in the state of Florida that is assessed against every insurance policy written in the state. It is a percentage-based tax that the insurance companies pay per policy, and it increases the rates. And because it is percentage-based, the higher the insurance rates, the more money the state collects.”
Slaton says it’s concerning that the state is pointing the finger at local governments and really trying to defund the critical services that the people need every single day.
What might the average citizen in the city see change as a result if Amendment 3 passes? what might they expect to see change?
“There are important policy decisions that will have to be faced, And decisions will have to be made. If there is less money coming in, there has to be less money going out. So we’re either going to have to account for that money, in other ways, or we have to reduce services. That’s it. It’s that simple.”
Slaton says, “If the city loses about 50% of its ad valorem property taxes, it’s about $3.5 million. Same goes for the CRA. CRA is up to about $5.2 million; we’ll lose about half of that as well. So we will keep moving forward on a lot of the redevelopment projects, but it makes that Walesbilt redevelopment a lot more challenging if we’ve lost our revenue stream.”
The city manager adds that current fire assessments only pays for a fraction of the cost of operating the fire department.
What are other potential sources of revenue if we lose property taxes as a source?
“Well, there are two things. There is the option of further increasing the mileage rate. And there are other special assessments that can be increased.
“The money has to come from somewhere. Just shutting down government services is certainly an option; I think it’s shortsighted. You want high-quality service to build a desirable community that people want to live in.
“The money we spend is really an investment. We invest that money into the community, so we create a high-quality of life. Once we create that high-quality of life, then you create the desirability to live in the community. When you have that desirability, people’s property values go up, and understandably, they then have to pay more taxes, but their home is worth more.
“We don’t collect the property taxes that people think we do. If we lose it, it’s going to create a gaping hole that we either have to make up with other revenue streams, or we’re going to cut services. I’m telling you, cutting $3.5 million dollars of our city services pretty much wipes out just about everything the city does except public safety.”
Ultimately, Slaton says that the city is prepared to continue to serve the citizens of the City Of Lake Wales regardless of the outcome of the vote.
Lake Wales School Zone Speed Violations Halved Due to Speed Detection System, Data Shows
by James Coulter
Traffic cameras and speeding tickets may be unpopular with drivers, but stricter enforcement has led to a 50 percent reduction in speeding violations in Lake Wales school zones. That was the main takeaway from the annual report on the city’s School Zone Speed Detection System.
At their regular meeting on Tues., Oct. 20, 2026, Lake Wales city commissioners were given a presentation on the mandatory annual data for school zone speed enforcement during the previous school year, as presented by Lt. Andrew Brown of the Lake Wales Police Department.
From March through June, the city’s school zones recorded 8,662 violations issued to drivers traveling more than 10 mph above the posted speed limit. Of those citations, 5,818 were paid, and 28 were contested.
The citations generated $515,613.96 in revenue. After required disbursements, the city received $228,561.30, while $126,871.21 went to the State of Florida, $66,193.68 to the Polk County School District, and $27,580.70 to support school crossing guards.
City commissioners approved the School Zone Speed Detection System in 2024 to reduce speeding around local schools. Cameras enforce speed limits near Hillcrest Elementary, Lake Wales High School, and McLaughlin Academy of Excellence. Drivers caught traveling more than 10 MPH over the posted limit receive a $100 citation, which Lake Wales police officers review before it is issued.
Brown emphasized that the program’s purpose is to improve safety rather than generate revenue. While some drivers have accumulated multiple violations, officers have contacted repeat offenders directly in an effort to change their behavior.
“The whole purpose of this program is not the numbers or the money; we would rather just see behavior change,” Brown said. “We have individuals that decide to go through it 20 times, and they do it every day. We could allow them to rack up more fines, but we actually do go to their homes and knock on their door and tell them the problem.”
Brown said the program has already helped reduce speeding violations by 50 percent. He added that communities with similar systems often see reductions of up to 80 percent.
Despite the improvement, dangerous incidents still occur. Brown said that his assistant frequently reviews videos showing reckless driving in school zones, including one in which a vehicle traveling 60 MPH narrowly missed a mother and child crossing the road.
Commissioner Carol Gillespie asked whether certain school zones generated more violations than others, noting concerns about Burns Avenue, where school zone markings can be difficult to notice.
Brown responded that the Hillcrest school zone, which serves Spook Hill Elementary, Victory Ridge Academy and Hillcrest High School, records the highest number of violations because of its road design.
“It is built like a racetrack with five lanes and wide open, and people do not slow down,” he said. “As a patrol cop, that is where I liked to sit. I would get the craziest speeds up to 90 to 100 MPH.”
Commissioner Keith Thompson also asked about discrepancies between citations issued and citations paid. Brown said that the figures fluctuate regularly because drivers are given time to pay citations, and the data is continuously updated.
“I pull the data, and then an hour later I pull the data; those citations are going to change,” he said. “It is constantly changing.”
Polk County Parks & Rec – Gather the family for Harvest Festi-Fall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7 at East Central Park, located at 11 Lake Trask Road, Dundee.
Enjoy a Tiny Tot Farm, artisan market, pumpkin patch, games, food vendors, contests and prizes, plus live music by Oakleaf!
A multi-vehicle crash reportedly left one person dead and another injured Monday morning, November 2, on State Road 37 near Bethlehem Road in Bradley Junction.
Preliminary information indicates emergency crews responded shortly after 6 a.m. and encountered three to four heavily damaged vehicles blocking the roadway.
According to those preliminary reports, one person was reportedly deceased at the scene, and another person was trapped inside a vehicle. Firefighters reportedly used extrication equipment to free the trapped patient.
An helicopter was reportedly requested but could not respond due to weather conditions. One patient was transported by ground ambulance for medical treatment. The extent of that person’s injuries was not available in the information provided.
There are also unconfirmed reports that a driver involved in the crash fled on foot into a nearby wooded area, prompting a law enforcement search.
State Road 37 is reportedly closed in both directions during the emergency response. Motorists should avoid the area and use alternate routes while crews work.
The circumstances leading to the crash remain unclear. This preliminary details may change as official information becomes available.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office responded to a three-vehicle crash in Bradley Junction Friday night, October 30, 2026 that resulted in the death of one of the drivers.
Deputies were dispatched at around 8:41 pm, to the crash on State Road 37 at Main Avenue, along with Polk County Fire Rescue.
Upon arrival of first responders, a 69-year-old Mulberry woman was found with life threatening injuries; she was transported to a local hospital but passed away shortly after arrival.
The victim had been the driver of a silver 2018 Chrysler 300.
Also involved in the crash were a 35-year-old Wimauma man who was driving a 2007 Kenworth semi-truck, and a 25-year-old Northborough, Massachusetts man who was driving a black 2013 Chrysler 200.
The truck driver was treated at the scene, and the Massachusetts driver was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
According to the preliminary investigation, the Chrysler 300 was traveling north on SR 37, and for unknown reasons it crossed the center line and collided with the driver-side wheels of the southbound semi-truck. The Chrysler 300 went out of control and then struck the southbound Chrysler 200 head-on.
State Road 37 was closed for approximately three hours.
