Bartow Police Detectives arrested Donnie K. Worley
(suspect) of Bartow, WM 7/13/50, for Sexual Battery on a victim less than 12
years of age and Lewd Molestation of a victim less than 12 years of age.
On 11/12/2020, Bartow Officers were notified by the parents
of a six (6) year old child that she was being sexually abused by the
suspect. During the course of the
investigation, Detectives obtained probable cause to believe the suspect
committed the above listed crimes. The
suspect was arrested by BPD Detectives and booked in at the County Jail.
“This suspect is the worst of the worst. Those who commit heinous crimes upon our
children need to sit in jail and not walk freely in public as predators. He is right where he needs to be, in the
County Jail” said Interim Chief Bryan Dorman.
Detectives believe this was an isolated incident and do
not believe there are any other victims.
This incident is domestic related.
Lakeland Gun Show Draws In Crowds After Nearly A Year
by James Coulter
Jack Shubert has been collecting guns ever since he was 18 years old. He buys and sells old guns and ammo. He collects plenty of antique guns. Some are more than 100-years-old.
Shubert had been attending the Lakeland Gun Show ever since it started nearly 50 years ago. His love of guns drew him to become a member of the Lakeland Gun Club. He has even served as its president four times.
He loves the club for its camaraderie among local gun owners. He especially appreciates its many education programs, including a program for young children.
The show hosted last Saturday was hosted as an “experiment” to see if anyone would come and support them even amidst these uncertain times. The attendance more than exceeded their expectations.
Shubert loves being able to attend the show. It allows gun owners and enthusiasts like himself to buy and sell guns old and new, as well as ammo, knives, and targets.
“You can even bring your wife,” he said. “Your wife may be interested because there might be a patch of jewelry on the table.”
The Lakeland Gun Club has existed since 1968. Since then, it has hosted its main event, the Lakeland Gun Show. The event allows gun enthusiasts from across Polk County and further to buy and sell guns, ammo, knives, and other gun-related paraphernalia.
The show is hosted at least three times per year in January, May, and November. However, due to the COVID-19 crisis, only the January show was hosted. Both the May and September shows were canceled.
The one-day show last Saturday was hosted as a way to help finance the Lakeland Gun Club following a nearly year-long hiatus, explained Josh Bolger, Lakeland Gun Show Chairman.
“This show was done as a means to recoup, refund the club through the gun show,” Bolger said. “We provide a venue for the vendors and sell tables to the vendor and tickets to the attendees as a means to fund the gun show.”
Since its inception more than 50 years ago, the show has remained successful due to the overall variety of vendors, Bolger explained. Gun enthusiasts love to arrive from across the county to see the different kinds of guns, collectibles, and paraphernalia.
“Some people come to spectate and see what is here and browse and look around,” he said. “Other people come here for specific reasons to buy and sell. But most people come for the variety.”
While many vendors sold gun and gun-related accessories, some vendors sold items that gun owners would appreciate. Mitchell Stockwell, a young college lad, was selling beef jerky from his family’s business.
Stockwell and his father are big gun enthusiasts. His father, who lives up north, is an avid hunter, and they are both interested in gun shows like the one hosted in Lakeland. So they both decided to sell their jerky there.
The choice to sell at the gun show proved a success. Stockwell sold plenty of jerky that afternoon. So being able to attend such shows allowed him the opportunity to expand their market and learn more about their potential customer base.
“People are nice, and they are interested in eating beef jerky,” he said. “I enjoy being here selling beef jerky and selling people who enjoy eating beef jerky and also love guns.”
The Lakeland Gun Show will be hosting another event in January. To learn more, visit their website at: http://lakelandgunshow.com/
Today, Sheriff Judd announced that 18-year-old Elijah Stansell is being charged with first degree murder in the death of 52-year-old Suzette Penton of Polk City. He has been in the Polk County Jail since November 9th for attempted felony murder, 3 counts contributing to the delinquency of a minor, burglary with assault, and lewd & lascivious battery on a minor. He was being held on no bond for the attempted felony murder charge, which is now being upgraded to first degree murder.
Elijah, driving a church van belonging to his father’s
church, intentionally ran over and critically injured Ms. Penton on November 9,
2020. The van had 3 other teens inside – they have all been charged as adults,
with attempted felony murder and burglary with assault.
Ms. Penton succumbed to her injuries on November 25,
2020.
On November 30, 2020 the Lake Wales Police Department learned of a phone scam we want the community to be aware of and not fall victim to. The scammer is identifying himself as Lieutenant Griffin Crosby from the Lake Wales Police Department and has spoofed the police department’s phone number, 1-863-678-4223, to show up on your caller ID. The scammer is telling people things like you have missed a court date, you have a subpoena issue, or you have past due fines. The scammer then asks for personal information or how you can make a payment for the fictitious issue. Do not fall for this scam, do not provide personal or payment information over the phone or internet unless you are certain you know who you are talking to.
Like many other scammers, the caller tries to be convincing, sounds official, and uses fear to get you to make a hasty decision. Law Enforcement will not contact you in the manner these scammers are using. If anyone has fallen victim to this scam or if you have questions related to this scam please call the Lake Wales Police Department at (863) 678-4223.
Lakeland, Florida – On Friday, November 27, 2020, the PCSO Traffic Unit investigated a motorcycle fatality on U.S. Hwy 98 North at Gib-Galloway Road in Lakeland.
Around 12:40 p.m., the driver of a 2006 black and gold Harley-Davidson motorcycle, 67-year-old Benjamin Harling of Lakeland, ran through the red light at the intersection as he was heading south on U.S. Hwy 98. At the same time, a 2018 black Ford F-150 truck, being driven by 71-year-old Robert Rosencranse of Lakeland, was turning left from northbound U.S. 98 onto westbound Gib-Galloway Road, with a green turn arrow. The motorcycle struck the truck on its passenger side, and Harling suffered severe head trauma. He was transported to LRHMC, where he later succumbed to his injuries. He was not wearing a helmet.
Neither Rosencranse nor his passenger, 71-year-old Beverly Linkous of Lakeland, was injured. The investigation is ongoing, but no charges are pending.
Winter Haven, Florida – According to the Florida Highway Patrol a sedan was traveling southbound on SR-544, North of Avenue Y NE. A SUV was traveling northbound on SR-544 around 1:30am this morning. The sedan crossed the centerline of the two lane roadway and collided nearly head-on with the SUV. Post-impact, the two vehicles rotated to final rest on the highway. The 70 yr old driver of the SUV suffered fatal injuries at the scene of the crash.
Alcohol impairment is suspected on the part of the sedan driver. The drivers identity was not released, but he is a 27 yr old and from Winter Haven. The sedan driver also had two young children ages 5 & 8. The were listed as critically injured and seriously injured.
Lakeland Police Detectives are investigating a shooting that took place during the early morning hours on Friday, November 27, 2020. According to investigators, two males entered a residence located in the 500 block of Crescent Drive at approximately 4:00 a.m. and shot an adult 19-year-old male. The victim was transported to Lakeland Regional Health, and at last update was in stable condition. It is believed that the suspects fled the residence in a white Ford Mustang, described as having a loud exhaust.
This is an active and open investigation, and updates will be provided as additional information becomes available for release. No other details will be released at this time to protect the integrity of the investigation.
Anyone with information related to the case is encouraged to contact Detective Laura Dunn at 863.834.6974 or [email protected]. To remain anonymous, contact Heartland Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-226 TIPS (8477), visit www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com and click on “Submit A Tip,” or download the free “P3tips” app on a smartphone or tablet.
Downtown Winter
Haven Lights Up For Holidays With Starlight Nights
by James Coulter
It’s beginning to
look a lot like Christmas everywhere you go. This holiday sentiment is
certainly true for Downtown Winter Haven. The holiday lights are up and the downtown
businesses are open late for its first annual Starlight Nights.
For the next six
weeks, residents and guests can either take a holiday stroll or drive through a
Winter Wonderland, as countless lights, holiday displays, and Christmas trees
have been set up and lit up for the holiday season.
Every evening from
5:30pm to 10pm, Downtown Winter Haven will be alive with holiday lights with
local eateries, bars, and shops open late. When you’re done admiring the
lights, feel free to step inside one of the many shops or eateries.
Take a peek at the
many Christmas window displays before stepping in for some evening holiday
shopping or a bite to eat. Many bars and eateries will be hosting specials.
Dozens of local
businesses are currently partaking in a holiday window display contest. On the
week of Dec. 7, these displays will be judged by mystery judges to determine
which display is the most festive. The first-place winner has a chance to win
$1,000.
Various
holiday-themed events are also planned at the Ritz Theater. A special Elvis
Tribute Show will be hosted on Dec. 3 and 4 at 8pm. Jolly Old Saint Nick will
also be dropping by for pictures on Dec. 5 at 6pm.
Starlight Nights
was conceived to help promote the holiday spirit in Downtown Winter Haven. Due to
the COVID-19 crisis, many large-scale events such as the annual holiday tree
lighting ceremony had to be canceled. Main Street Winter Haven wanted to create
something to help draw people out of their homes and downtown this season,
hence Starlight Nights was created, explained Bailey McDaniel, Assistant
Director at Main Street Winter Haven.
“Starlight
Nights was born out of a need for holiday joy this year,” McDaniel said.
“I think everyone can use something to be excited this year.”
The holiday lights
were officially lit on Nov. 25, the evening before Thanksgiving. A test run was
hosted earlier that morning to ensure that everything worked, McDaniel said.
“The only
challenges we worked through were getting everything to get on at the same time
and to make sure we were all doing this in a pandemic friendly way,” she
said. “I think people will be cautious these couple of nights. Tonight
[Nov. 25]…being one of the most foot traffic-heavy downtown, especially for
our bars and eateries, I think we will be getting a good number of people
downtown, and I think it will pick up from there.”
Vaughn McAshan,
Vice President of Citizens Bank and Trust, and a member of the Main Street
Board of Directors, like everyone else on the board, wanted to see something
done for the holiday season to bring people together downtown, especially to
help lift their spirits during these uncertain times.
Setting up the
holiday lights and displays required countless hours from dozens, if not
hundreds, of volunteers within the past few weeks. Last Sunday, many high
school students from the Interact Club, Key Club, and Boys Club, gathered
together to help decorate the downtown area, McAshan said.
“Main Street
got together and we decided we really would like to do something to bring the
community together at Christmas time and Starlight Nights idea was born,”
he said. “It is exciting to see all the lights come on. We have been
holding our breath.”
Hopefully, the
bright holiday lights, coupled with the businesses remaining open late during
the holiday season, will draw many curious onlookers downtown. McAshan and the
others are hoping that word of mouth will help spur interest in locals taking a
holiday stroll or drive downtown and frequenting the local businesses there.
“I think
people are ready for something like this where they can celebrate together safely
and enjoy downtown,” he said. “It will be an attractive part of
downtown and bring a lot of businesses to the downtown area and bring the
community all together in this challenging time.”
For more
information about Starlight Nights, visit the WH Main Street website at: https://www.mainstreetwh.com/event/starlight-nights-downtown,
or their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/events/425279485101217/
by Kevin Kieft, President/CEO of the Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council
From our family here at the Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce to yours, we wish everyone a happy and bountiful Thanksgiving! We know during these uncertain times it feels as though there isn’t much to be thankful for, but like every other optimist, we choose to see our gravy bowl as half-full rather than empty. This holiday is the perfect time to allow us the opportunity to count our blessings and give thanks for everything in the city that we at the Chamber are thankful for this year.
First, we are thankful for the City of Lake Wales. Without the City and their exemplary work, we wouldn’t be able to operate as seamlessly as we do or have the plethora of wonderful amenities available to all of us. We are thankful for the opportunity to partner and work with them on behalf of the Economic Development Council to help generate economic development. We are thankful for their trust in us to do this important work on behalf of the city.
On that related note, we are thankful for the economic development created this year. These uncertain times may have thrown a monkey wrench into the economic development world, especially with this still-lingering COVID-19 crisis; but despite these obstacles, the local economy still managed to continue the upward trend.
I am especially thankful to see all targeted industrial buildings that once lay vacant in years past now occupied with new businesses moving into town and employing local citizens and neighbors. The EDC fulfilled its obligation to ensure that existing industrial spaces were filled with new businesses like GrowHealthy, The Fence Outlet, Central Florida Plywood, Pamlico Air, Alsim, and Soval. Supporting and growing business is our main goal and objective and whenever we reach or surpass these targets, we take pride and pleasure in knowing that our desired impacts have been reached.
We are thankful for our new City Manager, James Slaton. We know that he will continue to deliver excellence for the city. We are also thankful to our partner, Lake Wales Main Street Inc. for developing our downtown area. Currently, underway is the “Lake Wales Connected” plan to renovate downtown. We also appreciate the work of the city leadership team and departments.
Finally, we are thankful for all of our chamber members and sponsors who help make these changes possible. We couldn’t do what we do without our President’s Circle members and Economic Development partner investors, all those who support us at the highest level and sit on our boards and committees; we could not do it without them. Economic development and chamber work is a citywide effort to make positive progress. It takes us all working together to continue to see the city moving ahead.
Despite all the challenges this year, we are still a strong community, and we are poised for growth next year, including the addition of residential developments currently underway. We’ve come this far, and we all agree that it has been a challenge, but we have thrived together as a
chamber and a community. Despite these unchartered times, we are still moving forward with our plans and 2021 is a new year.
On behalf of the EDC and Chamber of Commerce, we wish you a safe and happy Thanksgiving.
And the hits just keep on coming!
The guy in the video goes to Walmart (355 Cypress Gardens Blvd) on Nov. 21, 2020 and selects a few items, scans and bags them up. He then uses what appears to be a debit card incorrectly. Puts it in the reader one time, then another and then grabs the bag and leaves without the transaction going through. He swiftly left on a black motorcycle with another subject.
Recognize him? Call Detective Cobb at 863-291-5858.
