A damaged stormwater inlet at the intersection of Longleaf and Live Oak Boulevard will be fixed now that the City of Lake Wales has approved expending $28,450 on repairs.
At their meeting on Tues. Feb. 18, 2025, Lake Wales City Commissioners voted unanimously to approve their consent agenda. One item pertained to proposed repairs to a storm inlet at a local intersection.
Located at the intersection of Longleaf and Live Oak Boulevard, the stormwater inlet has received sufficient damage as to affect the roadway upon which it is built.
“The roadway…has begun to sink due to a compromised stormwater inlet and a cracked underground storm pipe,” the city agenda memo stated. “The damaged infrastructure is allowing groundwater intrusion, undermining the integrity of the road and posing a growing safety concern.”
Furthermore, as the memo states, “If left unaddressed, the continued deterioration of the pipe will exacerbate roadway instability, increase repair costs, and present a significant public safety hazard.”
As such, the city was recommended to expend $28,450 to have Odom Contracting perform the repairs. The funds for these repairs will be allocated within the city’s Maintenance & Repairs (M&R) Stormwater Repairs budget.
Odom was chosen for the job as it has “provided the most cost-effective and timely solution, ensuring the structural integrity of the roadway and stormwater system is restored efficiently.”
Winter Haven, Fla. (February 24, 2025) – The Florida Sheriffs Association (FSA) is pleased to announce that every county jail throughout the state has signed a written agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to ensure compliance with 287(g) program requirements. This milestone underscores Florida’s commitment to public safety and the rule of law, positioning local law enforcement to play a key role in addressing illegal immigration at the community level.
As part of this effort, every county is working with ICE to ensure there are ICE deputized sheriffs’ deputies and correctional officers in all 67 county jails. This process includes a required background screening along with dedicated and specific training. This will allow deputies and officers to begin serving warrants.
The State Immigration Enforcement Council that was recently formed last week includes four sheriffs. This Council has been formed to coordinate with the State Board of Immigration Enforcement and provide guidance and strategic support to local law enforcement agencies. The Council will also collaborate with ICE on training opportunities, 287(g) program participation, and recommendations for expanding detention capacity to house criminal aliens awaiting deportation. These four sheriffs are on the Council: FSA President and Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell, Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, and Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.
Hear from each of the Sheriffs serving on the Council:
FSA President and Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell:
“Throughout my career, I’ve witnessed just how crucial strength in numbers and strong cooperation among law enforcement can be in keeping our communities safe. I’m proud to stand here with my fellow sheriffs to announce that every county jail in our state has partnered with ICE to fulfill the requirements of the 287(g) program. As a member of the State Immigration Enforcement Council, I’m honored to work alongside these law enforcement leaders to ensure that Florida’s immigration laws are upheld and that our streets remain protected.”
Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters:
“Illegal immigration has wide-ranging consequences, including a troubling surge of dangerous drugs into our state. In 2024, our officers in Jacksonville seized over 20 kilograms of fentanyl—enough to affect nearly 10 million people—and responded to 1,631 fentanyl-related deaths over the past four years. We remain committed to partnering with President Trump’s administration and our federal counterparts to secure our borders, protect Floridians, and establish a framework for the rest of the nation to follow.”
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri:
“By training both new and experienced deputies and correctional officers to uphold federal immigration laws, as well as expanding our detention capacity, we will be able to enhance the safety of our communities. Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, we have seen that ICE has a renewed commitment to immigration enforcement, and we stand ready to assist. Having law enforcement at the table to be part of these critical discussions is valuable when it comes to implementing Senate Bill 2C effectively, and fortunately, we live in a state where that is recognized.”
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd:
“The State Immigration Enforcement Council will bring together local law enforcement and ensure that we’re prepared to work hand-in-hand with federal partners in one of the nation’s most significant efforts to address illegal immigration. By uniting our voices and sharing our resources, Florida continues to lead from the front in safeguarding our communities and prioritizing public safety.”
On February 13, 2025, Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 2C into law, providing significant resources that empower local agencies to support the federal government in arresting, detaining, and beginning the deportation process for criminal illegal aliens. Through the work of the State Immigration Enforcement Council, Florida law enforcement stands ready to use these new tools to bolster public safety, ensure a more secure border, and uphold Florida’s commitment to law and order.
LAKELAND, FL (February 24, 2025) – On February 24, 2025, Officer Huascar Evangelista Vargas resigned from his position after being arrested for a retail petit theft which occurred on Wednesday, February 19, 2025. Had Vargas not resigned, he would have been terminated.
On February 19, 2025, shortly before 6:00 p.m., the Winter Haven Police Department was called to a shoplifting incident at Walmart, 7450 Cypress Gardens Boulevard Southeast. Vargas was observed by a Walmart Asset Protection employee failing to scan items while utilizing a self-checkout register. He was also observed scanning a lower priced produce item for a more expensive one. Vargas was found to have paid for a total of $83.80 worth of merchandise, but did not pay for $124.50 in food and household items. He was arrested for misdemeanor shoplifting and transported to the Polk County Jail. Vargas (age 27) was sworn in by the Lakeland Police Department on November 1, 2024, and was most recently in the field training program.
UPDATE 2/25/25: Polk County Sheriff’s Office Offers Additional Details on the Arrests of Two Juveniles Charged with 1st Degree Murder; Names the Second Suspect:
Sheriff Grady Judd held a secondary press conference on Tuesday morning, Thursday, February 25, 2025, to offer additional information with regard to the investigation of two juveniles, charged with the first-degree murder of a 22-year-old man from Eagle Lake in a drug-related situation. The victim’s name has been released as Juan German-Garo, Jr., 22.
The second suspect, who has been referred to until now as a 16-year-old, is Charles Andrew Jackson III, a student at Lake Wales High School.
He is said to be the individual who went online, and using an unnamed app, and requested to purchase $400 worth of marijuana from the 22-year-old victim he allegedly later shot.
According to Sheriff Judd, the investigation shows that the victim is said to have travelled from his home in Eagle Lake to Frostproof to meet Jackson and his partner, 15-year-old Tyjhae Allen. Allen was arrested yesterday. After a 3-4 minute conversation, Jackson allegedly pulls a Draco AK-47 out of a book bag owned by Allen and shoots the victim 3 times. The victim is mortally wounded, and his vehicle rolls about a half a block down the road and comes to a stop. Two large bags of marijuana were found in the victim’s vehicle, according to a statement released by PCSO.
During the press conference, Sheriff Judd says that 911 was called, but does not elaborate on who made the call.
Both “Tyjhae and Charles flee,” says Judd. “Then Tyjhae says…my book bag is still in the middle of the road…so he runs back to get his book bag. He runs home. Charles disappears.”
It is suspected by investigators that, as Jackson fled, he called his father, Charles Jackson Jr., 37, who resides in Avon Park, to pick him up.
On Monday, February, 24, 2025, representatives of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office go to Avon Park to make contact with Jackson Jr., in search of his son. While officers are present, Jackson Jr., who himself has a criminal record, allegedly texted his son and encourages him to flee, while immediately deleting the texts. Jackson Jr. was arrested as a result.
As it turned out, Jackson III allegedly decided to attend classes on Monday at Lake Wales High School, where he is a student.
“He showed up for school. Did you hear what I said?” says Sheriff Judd during the press conference. “Monday morning he showed up for school at Lake Wales High School like nothing had happened. And he just murdered a guy by shooting him three times…”
PCSO PIO Meghan Petty has confirmed that Jackson III, after fleeing from Lake Wales High School, turn himself in to the south substation of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at around 3 PM yesterday. It is not clear if he was alone or with his mother.
Lake Wales High School was placed on heightened security for a period of time on Monday afternoon.
Tyjhae Allen is charged with first degree murder, attempted armed robbery, tampering with evidence, and giving false information to a law enforcement officer. He was arrested for criminal mischief to a vehicle in 2021.
Charles Jackson III is charged with first degree murder, attempted armed robbery, and tampering with evidence. He was arrested in 2022 for juvenile in possession of a weapon.
Charles Jackson Jr. was arrested for tampering with evidence [for deleting the text messages between him and his son], and accessory to first degree murder. His criminal history includes 25 previous felonies and 14 previous misdemeanors, and he has been to state prison two times based on convictions for battery on the elderly, simple battery, fleeing to elude law enforcement, and grand theft.
The gun used to murder German-Garo Jr. has not yet been located. It is a Draco pistol, which looks similar to an AK-47 without the stock [see example photo]. Anyone with information about the location of the firearm is asked to call Heartland Crime Stoppers 1-888-400-TIPS (8477). There is a $5,000 reward for information leading to the location of this weapon, and callers remain completely anonymous.
The investigation is ongoing.
Original story: The Polk County Sheriff’s Office held a press conference this afternoon, Monday, February 24, 2025, revealing that one suspect in last night’s homicide in Frostproof has been arrested.
Sheriff Grady Judd says 15-year-old Tyjhae Allen will be charged with 1st degree murder, tampering with evidence, and attempted robbery.
Since this afternoon’s press conference, PCSO has advised the media that they have also apprehended and arrested the second suspect, a 16-year-old, whose name has not yet been released. The circumstances around the 16-year-old’s arrest have not been made public at the time of publication.
There were two known suspects involved in the murder of a 22-year-old in Frostproof on Sunday evening February 23, 2025.
The press conference began with the following statement from Sheriff Judd:
“We had a very tragic event that shouldn’t have happened yesterday afternoon at about 5 PM in Frostproof, Florida. A 22-year-old kid was shot and killed. Now, I want to preface this by saying this 22-year-old kid was selling marijuana. That’s right, I hear it over and over; ‘Oh, it’s just a low-level, non-violent crime, marijuana.’ Well, tell our victim’s mother that, who lost her 22-year-old child yesterday.
“And here’s what occurred:
“As we know now, a 15- and a 16-year old suspect went on an app and ordered up some marijuana. When our victim arrived at about 5:00 p.m. yesterday afternoon in this Frostproof neighborhood, as he’s pulling down the road, he’s stopped by a 15- and a 16-year-old. They have some conversation for, as it’s described to us, for 2 or 3 minutes, when one of our suspects pulls out a firearm and begins to shoot our 22-year-old victim, who then tries to return fire.
“His car drifts down about a half a block where it runs into the edge of the road and stops and that’s where we find our 22-year-old, with a clutched…with marijuana in his hand; a baggie of marijuana in his hand, and he’s deceased.
“Tyjhae Allen is 15 years of age. He’s one of the two suspects. He’s in custody. This occurred in his neighborhood; and in fact, he stopped our drug-selling victim in front of his house.”
Sheriff Judd states in the press conference that the suspects did not have any money to purchase marijuana at the time of the confrontation.
At 3:30 this afternoon, PCSO advised that both suspects were in custody, and that more information about the second suspect would be released at a later time.
Sheriff Judd says his office will request that the state attorney’s office try them both as adults.
As for the victim, Sheriff Judd says that, even at 22, he was still a “kid.”
“He shouldn’t have been selling dope, but he certainly shouldn’t have died because he was. And he did. He was murdered. In the street. In this nice quiet neighborhood.”
Patricia Salary continues to make a lasting impact on Winter Haven through her dedication to education, community service, and mentorship.
Patricia Salary, a proud native of Winter Haven’s Florence Villa Community, has spent her life dedicated to education, service, and her community.
As a member of the last graduating class of Jewett High School in 1969, where she was crowned Miss Jewett High, Patricia’s journey has been marked by academic achievement, family devotion, and a commitment to improving the lives of others.
After earning her Associate in Arts degree from Polk Junior College, Patricia continued her education at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Sociology/Social Work and a Master of Education in Guidance and Counseling. She furthered her studies at the University of South Florida and Florida Atlantic University, demonstrating her lifelong commitment to learning.
Patricia’s 41-year career in education included roles as a School Social Worker and a College and High School Guidance Counselor in institutions such as Polk Community College, Haines City, Lake Region, Bartow, and Sumerlin Academy. She retired with a legacy of compassion and dedication, having touched countless lives throughout her career. Her exemplary work has earned her prestigious awards, including the USF Upward Bound Award, the Virginia Snively Award- “She Knows Where She’s Going,” the FAMU Distinguished Alumni Award, and the Church Women United Valiant Woman Award.
Outside of her professional achievements, Patricia remains an active volunteer with several community organizations, including the Jewett High School Alumni Association, Florence Villa Community Association, and the Winter Haven City MLK Planning Committee. She is also a proud life member of the FAMU National Alumni Association and serves with the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and the Florence Villa Community Development Corporation. Patricia’s deep connection to her community and church exemplifies her guiding principle: “If I can help somebody, then my living will not be in vain.”
As a devoted wife of 48 years to Rev. Arthur J. Salary, mother, grandmother, and godmother, Patricia Salary’s enduring contributions to Winter Haven, particularly in the areas of education, community development, and mentorship, have left an indelible mark on her city and beyond. Her lifelong dedication to service continues to inspire and uplift all who know her.
HAINES CITY, FL–On Saturday, February 22, 2025, at approximately 9:09 PM, Haines City Police Officers were dispatched to a hit-and-run in the area of U.S. Highway 27 and Bates Road, within the city limits of Haines City.
The victim was traveling westbound on Bates Road in her BMW when a male, later identified as 50-year-old Joshua Scott Johnson, driving a U-Haul box truck, hit her vehicle, then began accelerating and pushing the vehicle forward. Johnson then put the U-Haul in reverse and fled eastbound on Bates Road.
Haines City Police Officer Sean Bruner responded to the area of Bates Road near 10th Street North and observed the U- Haul attempt to bypass other vehicles by driving into the grass median. When Officer Bruner activated his emergency lights and sirens in an attempt to conduct a traffic stop, Johnson accelerated towards 10th Street North at a high rate of speed with a total disregard for the safety of other drivers in the area.
Officer Bruner initiated a short vehicle pursuit after Johnson into the Oakland Community and requested assistance from additional nearby units and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit. While at the intersection of 10th Street North and Avenue N, Johnson deliberately rammed Officer Bruner’s marked patrol vehicle, ultimately disabling and forcing the vehicle off the roadway into a private driveway. After intentionally striking Officer Bruner’s patrol vehicle, Johnson continued to flee southbound on 10th Street North until he crashed at the intersection of 12th Street North and Avenue N. Johnson then exited the vehicle and fled on foot, ultimately escaping law enforcement.
Johnson’s black wallet containing identification and bank cards with his name, in addition to a glass pipe with a white residue, was located inside the U-Haul truck. Additionally, the victim in the initial hit-and-run captured a photo of Johnson after he struck her vehicle.
Johnson is now wanted on three counts of Hit and Run, Aggravated Battery on LEO, Driving While License Suspended Revoked, Fleeing and Eluding, Possession of Methamphetamine, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Anyone with knowledge of Johnson’s whereabouts is encouraged to contact the Haines City Police Department at 863- 421-3636 or submit an anonymous tip to Heartland Crime Stoppers at 888-400-8477 or heartlandcrimestoppers.com. Our Mission “To safeguard the lives and property of the people we serve, to reduce the incidence and fear of crime, and
HAINES CITY, FL– On Sunday, February 23, 2025, at approximately 9:51 PM, the Haines City Police Department was contacted by personnel at AdventHealth Heart of Florida Hospital reporting a patient who arrived at the hospital with a gunshot wound.
Through further investigation, Haines City officers determined the shooting took place in the area of Avenue I and 13th Street North, within the Oakland community.
The victim, a 22-year-old Black male, was transported to another local hospital for further medical care, where he remains in critical but stable condition. At this time, it is believed this was an isolated incident and there is no immediate threat to the public.
Haines City Police Department Detectives are actively investigating this incident and urge anyone who may have witnessed or has information about the incident to contact the police department at 863-421-3636 or submit an anonymous tip to Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-888-400-8477 or online at www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com.
This is an ongoing investigation. An update will be provided if more information becomes available.
On January 31st of 2025 the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Vice Unit began conducting undercover operations at Queen Spa & Massage (WH), Enjoy Spa (WH), Helping Hands Massage (HC) and the 192 Health Spa (Clermont – That is the city listed for the address, but it is still in Polk County). Per the arrest affidavits this undercover operation was in response to numerous anonymous complaints the Vice unit received regarding massage employees at this business performing lewd acts on random customers in exchange for extra money and larger tips from male customers.
In most of the cases the UC (under cover officer) went in and posed as a customer. Most visits started with the UC paying between $60-$80 for an hour massage. As the massage starts the UC is typically lying face down with nothing but a towel over them. As the massage starts the accused woman communicate to the men they are messaging that for extra money they can get extra service. One suspect used hand gestures to imitate a masturbation by hand or oral sex. Others allegedly offered vaginal sex, but not without a condom.
The following are some of the charges the suspects are facing:
480.047.1B OPERATE MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENT WO LIC
480.047.1A UNLICENSED MASSAGE THERAPY
796.07.2E OFFERING TO COMMIT PROSTITUTION
480.0475.3 (1 cnts) USE PERMIT MASSAGE BUSINESS FOR SLEEP 1ST OFF
480.0485 SEX MISCONDUCT IN PRACTICE MASSAGE THERAPY
These suspects were all arrested and charged through the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Editors Note: We noticed several of these woman are living and sleeping at the business, which is illegal. We wondered if the PCSO works with ICE on these cases. According to the public information office the PCSO sends a list of arrestees to ICE (Immigration & Customs Enforcement – this has been their policy for years. ICE then reviews the list and if they determine anyone on that list is in the country illegally, they may tell them to place a hold on that inmate so that they can come get that person for deportation.
A rollover crash on Cypress Gardens Blvd. through the S Curves in front of Life Care Center has closed one lane of eastbound traffic on Cypress Gardens Blvd.
Drivers will see significant delays until the vehicle is removed.
Non-life threatening injuries.
The driver was transported to Winter Haven Hospital as a precaution.
Plan for some delays on Hwy. 60 eastbound today between 1st and 2nd streets in Lake Wales today.
Crews are working on the business entrances near Locorito and Brake Burger. The right eastbound lane must merge to the left in this area to get past the construction. The merge begins in front of Publix.
Please drive with caution on Hwy. 60 as trucks work in the area today, or find an alternate route.
