On Friday, June 4, 2021 at approximately 9:34 PM, Lake Wales Police Department responded to 426 Domaris Avenue regarding a shooting.
Upon arrival, officers learned an armed robbery had just occurred at 414 Domaris Avenue. Officers found the victim, a 36 year old Lake Wales resident, at 422 Domaris Avenue with multiple gunshot wounds. The suspect(s) are possibly two black males who fled the scene on foot before law enforcement arrival. These suspects are still at large and remain unidentified at this time. We are requesting help from the community in solving this crime.
The victim is in critical condition after being transported to the hospital. We encourage anyone with information regarding this shooting or the suspect(s) identification to call Detective Klingler at the Lake Wales Police Department at 863-678-4223 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477).
Despite Raining Cats and Dogs, Bark in the Park Huge Success
by James Coulter
Despite it raining cats and dogs, Downtown Winter Haven went to the dogs Friday evening during the Annual Bark in the Park.
Hosted by Main Street Winter Haven, the annual outdoor pet event allowed local dog owners and their furry four-footed friends and opportunity to spend quality time in Downtown Winter Haven. Several dozen vendors were set up in Central Park, showcasing wares and services from local pet-centric businesses and organizations from Love Doggo Treats to SPCA Florida.
Pet owners could allow their dogs to run around and play within a designated dog play area. They could also participate in various activities, from watching a K9 unit demonstration from local law enforcement to even a pet yoga demonstration by Inside Out Yoga.
Normally, the event hosts its annual wiener dog race; however, due to inclement weather, this year’s race was canceled. The afternoon received a heavy downpour of rain. Nevertheless, this year’s turnout, especially in light of last year’s pandemic, proved exceptional, explained Brenda McDaniel, Executive Director of Main Street Winter Haven.
At least 700 people attended this year’s event, she said. With the total number of visitors and their pets, along with the number of participating vendors, this year’s event proved to have the highest turnout yet.
“We had the most highly attended Bark in the Park we ever had,” McDaniel said. “We can tell people enjoy coming out to events like this, so we can keep having them.”
Aside from enjoying the day with their pets, attendees could also adopt a pet of their own from the Humane Society. They appeared at the event with their adoptable pet trailer to adopt out some of their shelter pets from their no-kill shelter.
Of the eight dogs they brought out that day, four to five were adopted out by the end of the event. They also promoted their upcoming fundraiser event, Pawtastic Splash Bash, to be hosted on June 13.
Even though the rain put a hamper on the overall event, their adoptions proved exceptional, explained Beth Koon Spiwak, Humane Society President. “The turnout was phenomenal,” she said. As to why the event was so great: “It’s bark in the park. It’s exactly what we do to help our dogs find forever homes. It is a loving event.”
Burns Benefit Brings Local Together To Support Local Musician’s Wife
by James Coulter
Joey Foley has been living and performing in Polk County for nearly 40 years. He has performed alongside his good friend and fellow musician, Don Burns. So when he learned that Don’s wife was diagnosed with cancer, he helped organize a musical fundraiser to support her and her family during their time of need.
Last Saturday, several dozen local bands performed live music at Burns Benefit, hosted at Tanner’s Lakeside in Winter Haven to help raise proceeds for a local cancer patient. Barbecue dinner platters were sold for $10, and raffles were offered for prizes donated by local businesses and organizations.
Proceeds from the benefit went towards the medical expenses and other immediate needs of Diane, wife of local musician, Don Burns. Diane was recently diagnosed with cancer. Overall, the turnout proved to be phenomenal, and showed how much the local community was willing to support someone in their time of need, Foley said.
“We are happy with the way things have turned out,” he said. “It has been busy since the moment we have got started, and the crowd is only growing, and we are only halfway through the event today. So it is turning out to be very successful and exceeding what we figured would happen.”
Foley helped organize the event with Melanie Culpepper Brown, a local salon owner and philanthropist who assists with many fundraisers. Brown has always been a “mover and shaker” in the community, so she was the prime choice to help organize the event.
“We all come together when someone is in need,” he said. “I am just proud to be here. I am blessed to be here. It is not always about taking, it is about giving. We have all been through things in life, and we all had help, and it is good to go back into the community and help others.”
Burns Benefit was hosted at Tanner’s Lakeside, which has hosted many fundraisers organized by Melanie Brown Culpepper, including her upcoming “Fishing For A Heart” tournament on June 12. She had been a longtime friend of Foley, who has helped her with many events. So it was only fitting that she helped him and his friend.
“Joey has always had me, and I have had him, we help each other in this town, because that is what it is about: it is helping and supporting each other,” she said. “I don’t even know [Diane], and I am here today. I am here to support them because they were there to support me and that is what it is all about.”
Judy and Jim Taylor also assisted with the event that day. Both are good friends of Brown and Foley. Both had assisted with a similar fundraiser for their grandson, Xander, who passed away three years ago from cancer. Their event, which was also hosted by Melanie, was hosted several days after he passed out of loving memory for him.
Even in the light of her grandson’s passing, Judy was proud to know that the community stood by her in her time of need, so she was more than willing to help another member in the community going through similar tough times.
“Polk County really comes together in a crisis,” she said. “Polk County is just awesome. That is why we are #1 in the nation. People are moving here because they hear about us. They hear about what the community does to help other people in their community. I just love Polk County.”
Polk County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Lake Wales city commissioner Kristen Fitzgerald on Thursday, June 3, 2021, and charged her with one count interference with child custody (F-3) and one count aggravated assault with a deadly weapon (F-3), after removing an 11-year-old child from his home without permission, and threatening him with a firearm. She remains in the Polk County Jail on no bond.
We have included the entire redacted arrest affidavit below.
“We don’t expect this kind of behavior from anyone, but especially someone in public office. She should be held to a higher standard and should be setting the proper example – instead, she displayed what not to do as a human being. Her conduct, threatening a child with a gun, is horrendous.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
Check this out – how bold. The female in this video visited Walmart (7450 Cypress Gardens Blvd.) on June 1, 2021 around 4 p.m. She goes around and selects a lot… A LOT of merchandise. Fills that buggy up! To the tune of $1578.55. She then finds her way through the Tire Center and to an area where employees go outside for breaks. She swiftly walks past the trucks and through the parking lot. Evidently she got spooked because just before she gets to the car, she ditches the buggy. Hey, that doesn’t give you a pass! The intent was there to take the merchandise. She was seen entering a red Cadillac and leaving the property. If you recognize her, please call Det. Al-Shaair at 863-837-9779. Callers wishing to remain anonymous should call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477). Callers are guaranteed anonymity and could be eligible for a CASH reward.
On Wednesday, June 2, 2021, PCSO detectives arrested 22-year-old Pierce Drahorad of Gibson Oaks Drive in Lakeland, and charged him with:
Attempted first degree murder (FL)
3 counts aggravated assault with a deadly weapon (F3)
Aggravated assault on a person over 65 years of age (F2)
Discharging a firearm from a vehicle (F2)
Improper use or display of a firearm (F2)
Tampering with evidence (F3)
Reckless driving (M2)
The investigation began during the late evening hours of June 1, 2021, when PCSO received a 911 call from a female victim who reported that a man driving an orange Dodge Challenger had just shot one of her family members in the face, and was following her as she fled the scene with an elderly family member, a teen, and a child in her car. The victim reported that the driver of the orange car pointed a handgun with a laser at her while also trying to run her off the road. Deputies met the victim at a safe location, and sent out a BOLO (be on the lookout) description of the suspect vehicle. The victim who was shot was treated at the original scene of the shooting with a non-life-threatening wound to his face – the injury appeared as if he had been grazed by the projectile.
Shortly after arriving in the area, deputies spotted an orange Dodge Challenger that matched the vehicle description, and conducted a traffic stop. They identified the driver and sole occupant as Drahorad. Drahorad admitted to owning a Glock 26 with a laser site, but denied shooting anyone with it or chasing after the other victims. He told deputies he gave the gun to a friend of his that evening – deputies responded to the friend’s residence, and retrieved the firearm. Drahorad was positively identified by all of the victims. His vehicle was towed and the car and firearm are being processed at this time. Drahorad told deputies that he pointed the laser from the gun at the male victim while the victim was standing in his own driveway because he believed the victim stole Drahorad’s dog. He denied pointing the firearm, or shooting it.
“This was an extremely dangerous situation that very well could have resulted in several deaths. Clearly this suspect has anger issues, and should not have access to firearms. We’re glad the victims were able to get away from him and that our deputies were able to apprehend him so swiftly.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
Drahorad remains in the Polk County Jail on no bond for the attempted murder and aggravated assault charges.
Flipping Handles on Rose Blvd. The video is far away and unclear, but maybe someone has information on these two. On May 31, 2021, just after midnight, this pair is seen on a home surveillance system pulling on door handles in the 2100 block of Rose Blvd. Entry was made into two vehicles where items were taken. Anyone with information on this case should call Det. Al-Shaair at 863-292-7921. Callers wishing to remain anonymous can call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477). Callers are guaranteed anonymity and could be eligible for a CASH reward.
Pictures are grainy, but hopefully someone will recognize these two.
On May 12, the two pictured below worked in tandem to take merchandise from Staples totaling $571.
They left in a Dodge Magnum with a GA tag, possibly a rental car. The tag did not come back to a vehicle from the rental company.
The subjects are both white males, one 5’10 – 6’02 wearing a black cowboy hat, blue bandanna mask, green shirt, blue jeans and boots. The second is 5’8 – 6′ wearing a gray head wrap, dark sunglasses, black t-shirt, black shorts and black shoes.
Anyone with information on the identities of either of these two men is asked to call Det. Al-Shaair at 863-292-7921.
Haines City Honors Local Veterans With Memorial Day Ceremony
by James Coulter
In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson designated May 31 as Memorial Day, a time when Americans would recognize the sacrifices made by armed service members. More than ten years later, Jake Polumbo, Jr., Retired Major General U.S. Air Force, joined the U.S. Air Force. Through his service, he learned to honor the servicemen and women who passed before him.
“I realized every day that I was on duty that I was standing next to people to my left and my right who would not come home, and that is something we have to remember,” Polumbo said. “They are protecting our values and freedoms around the world, every day, and every night, we should never forget those young men and women who served.”
Polumbo himself had the distinction of being a decorated command pilot who, according to his profile on the Two Blue Aces website, “logged over three thousand flying hours in all models of the F-16 and holds the distinction as the first and only U.S. Air Force general officer to fly the U-2S in combat.”
Polumbo proudly served his country. He was willing to lay his life on the line to support and protect it. Though he managed to live to be honorably discharged and continue his life as a civilian, he still remembers the brave men and women who were not as fortunate. Their memory, he insists, must live on through all of us.
“Our casualties and our number of lost Americans keep coming down but that does not mean we ever stop remembering,” he said. “If we lose one American citizen in a war overseas, we remember them. We remember that person and we remember their families. Our military is stronger, we expect to win, but we are going to take loses.”
Pulumbo served as the main speaker during the Memorial Day Ceremony hosted in Haines City on Monday. Several dozen city residents and staff congregated in Railroad Park that morning to pay respects for fallen armed service men and women.
The ceremony opened with an invocation by Chris Gillian of Oak Hill Baptist Church. Ridge Community High School JROTC members offered the presentation of colors, and the National Anthem and Pledge of Allegiance were recited by local resident Jason Green.
Mayor Morris West offered several remarks relating his 22 years of service in law enforcement to the spirit of Memorial Day. Just as military personnel witnessed their colleagues pass away in service of their country, so, too, did he witness his colleagues in law enforcement pass away in service of their communities. Their memories and sacrifices deserved to be honored as well as those of armed service members, he said.
“Today is the day that we can remember our comrades as we went to combat. Some saw your combats beside you get blown away by enemy fire. Let us memorialize them,” he said. “I encourage each and every one of you all to go out, memorialize, and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Go out and memorialize.”
The ceremony concluded with the placing of the wreath by Ride Community High School JROTC, accompanied by a rendition of “Amazing Grace” performed by Benjamin Pugh and “Taps” performed by Kim Lenaway. Light refreshments were served in the lobby of the public library.
Several Dozen Boats Attend Old Man Frank’s Regatta
by James Coulter
Several dozen boaters set sail to Old Man Frank’s on Sunday to enjoy the serene waters of the Winter Haven Chain of Lakes over Memorial Day Weekend.
More than a dozen boats congregated near the docks of Old Man Frank’s on the waters of Lake Howard on Sunday afternoon, allowing their passengers the opportunity to listen to live music, frolic and swim in the water, and enjoy the overall camraderie on Memorial Day Weekend.
Boaters proudly displayed their patriotic colors with the American Flag and other political flags flying from their vessel. Several dozen bar patrons enjoyed the overall atmosphere while sitting on the patio, along the docks, and upon the shore.
Old Man Frank’s hosted several regatta events previously for holidays such as Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. This year proved to be an exceptional turnout, especially since their last regatta was hosted on Memorial Day 2019 prior to COVID-19, explained assistant manager Stephanie Willamson.
“It has been an amazing turnout,” she said. “It great to see people out celebrating this year as opposed to last year being under lockdown.”
Due to the ongoing pandemic, they were unable to host their regattas last year, Williamson said. So after a nearly yearlong absence, people we willing to come out in droves to finally be able to celebrate and have fun on the water.
“We have a better turnout this year than we had then,” she said. “So I think people are just so tired of being cooped up in their houses and they can get out and the weather is awesome today.”
