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Winter Haven Man Charged In Horrific Double Homicide At Winter Haven Motel

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Winter Haven Man Charged In Horrific Double Homicide At Winter Haven Motel

Winter Haven Police have charged 38 year-old Beloni Petitfrere a Winter Haven man in the double homicide at the Rose Motel on October 13. Petitfrere has been in the Polk County Jail on charges unrelated to the homicide.


On November 5, 2020, results returned from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement laboratory confirmed Petitfrere’s DNA was present in evidence collected.
Through numerous interviews with people who know Petitfrere and who had contact with him in the days before and right after the homicide, investigators were able to piece together additional information pointing to him as the suspect.


“Our detectives worked day and night following this horrific crime investigating every lead possible and with the DNA results, we at least have closure for the families,” said Public Safety Director and Police Chief Charlie Bird. “It certainly will not bring their loved ones back nor will it be a time for celebration, but at least they have peace knowing that the monster is where he needs to be.”
Today, Petitfrere was charged with two counts of First Degree Murder, Armed Burglary and Tampering with Evidence.

Polk County Firefighter Arrested for Stealing Pokémon Cards

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Polk County Firefighter Arrested for Stealing Pokémon Cards

Polk County Firefighter Arrested for Stealing Pokémon Cards


HAINES CITY, FL – A Polk County firefighter was arrested Thursday night for stealing about $165 worth of Pokémon cards.


Joel C.V. Strickland, 30, was arrested for petit theft and transported to the Polk County Jail after he was seen switching barcodes on cards before 6:30 p.m. at Walmart, located at
36205 U.S. 27. Walmart’s Loss Prevention office contacted police after observing Strickland attempting to defraud the retailer.


Strickland was seen by store staff switching barcodes from lower-priced cards to the higher-priced Pokémon cards. Strickland then attempted to pay the lower prices at a self checkout register.


On his way out of the store, he was confronted by Loss Prevention, who then called police.


Strickland told officers that he planned to “flip” the cards to make extra money because he was struggling financially.


“Help is a phone call away,” Chief Jim Elensky said. “If you are struggling, there are a myriad of resources available. As public safety employees, we are expected to conduct
ourselves in a manner worthy of the respect our communities show us.”

Man Wanted for Occupied Burglary of a Vehicle, Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card, Grand Theft, and Criminal Use of Personal Identification

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Man Wanted for Occupied Burglary of a Vehicle, Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card, Grand Theft, and Criminal Use of Personal Identification

Release by Polk County Sheriff’s Office:
Wyatt Daniel Jordan, 19, hailing from the Haven of Winter, is wanted. No, not in that way. He’s wanted by the Sheriff’s Office.

He’s our #WarrantOfTheDay.

On October 22nd, after going out for dinner, drinks, and partaking in a bit of the wacky weed, Wyatt drove his friend (who is also the victim of this sordid tale) to a home in the Haven of Winter. The victim was asleep in the passenger seat. The victim told detectives the she was a hard sleeper and tired from the recreational activities of the evening.

Wyatt, being the nice guy that he is, rolled down the car window and climbed out of it, quietly, so as to not wake the sleeping victim with the noise of the car door closing. Maybe one reason for the quiet escape was because he liberated the victim’s cell phone and debit card. And by liberated we mean stole.

The victim woke up around midnight and noticed the items and Wyatt were missing. Hmm. So she went to Wyatt’s house to ask him about it. She also decided to check her bank account (smart lady) and lo and behold, there were numerous unauthorized charges which totally wiped out her bank account. She told Wyatt she was going to call the police, but Wyatt told her to wait another day, which she did. The time expired and she called us. The victim told detectives that she believed Wyatt knows her debit card pin number, but that he did not have permission to sneak out and run up a tab.

Recently, detectives obtained video from the WaWa store located at 1490 3rd St SW, Winter Haven, showing, and confirming, our thieving culprit using the stolen debit card at the ATM inside the store. He was wearing blue athletic shorts – no shoes/socks or shirt. Wyatt also had his hair in a bun on the top of his head and a tattoo on his left shoulder with the word “STONER.” We don’t think that related to his stone masonry.

Wyatt is now a wanted man with charges of occupied burglary of a vehicle, fraudulent use of a credit card, grand theft, and criminal use of personal identification.

If you have any information about Wyatt Daniel Jordan’s whereabouts, please call the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at 863-298-6200, or if you’d like to remain anonymous, you can call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477). Anonymity is guaranteed!

Southeastern University Celebrates 85th Anniversary With Opening Of Welcome Center

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Southeastern University Celebrates 85th Anniversary With Opening Of Welcome Center

Southeastern University Celebrates 85th Anniversary WithOpening Of Welcome Center

by James Coulter

Dean Johnson was an esteemed member of Southeastern University (SEU). He coached for 40 years at the private Christian college. Not only was he a legendary soccer coach, he was also inducted into the Hall of Fame of Coaches in Florida.

Dr. Bethany Thomas, his daughter and the Vice President of Student Development, remembers always seeing him every morning in his personal corner of the house studying scripture. His influence allowed her and her brother to grow their love for the Christian faith and lead them to becoming SEU staff members.

When Johnson passed away two years ago, Dr. Thomas remembered seeing many of the people he helped through his life attending his funeral. She was touched by just how many people her father had touched through his life, and she was only sorry that he was not alive to see them all there, she said.

“I wished that day would never end,” she said. “For me, hearing the story after story, I love hearing people talk about my father. I was grateful to be raised by a man who believed in me, who believed in family, and who believed in raising the next generation. I pray for decades to come, the memory of his life and legacy will live on forever.”

Johnson’s memory and legacy will live on through an eternal flame set outside the new SEU Welcome Center. The flame was lit by college representatives during the dedication ceremony for the new facility on Wednesday.

The 27,000-square-foot Welcome Center, set between Addison Hall and Lake Bonny, now serves as the “front door” to the university for prospective students and guests alike. Upon passing by the torch and entering through the doors, they will be able to learn more about SEU and its rich history and legacy.

“Once inside the Welcome Center, guests will be greeted by a 12-foot LED wall and interactive displays that will share the SEU Experience with visitors,” its website states. “Administrative offices will be housed on the second floor. The third floor will feature a banquet and catering facility that will be able to serve up to 400 guests.”

The Welcome Center was officially dedicated during the “Lighting of the Torch” ceremony on Wednesday evening. The date of the event proved especially significant, as it also marked the 85th anniversary of the university.

On Nov. 4, 1935, SEU first opened its doors in New Brockton, Alabama as the Shield of Faith Institute. The university later relocated to Lakeland in 1946. Since then, the school has experienced significant and extensive growth.

10 years ago, SEU had 2,400 students; this year, they have 9,546 students enrolled. Since 2010, the university seen unprecedented growth in unrestricted education. This semester sees 175 extension campuses around the nation, with students nationwide “studying in their communities God’s call for their life,” said SEU President Kent Ingle.

The eternal flame outside the welcome center not only serves as a monument to the life and legacy of Dean Johnson, but will also represent the burning spirit of the university and its commitment to spreading the Christian faith, Ingle explained.

“This facility represents the culmination of an era of incredible God-ordained guidance, leadership, and growth that He has placed within our lives,” he said. “[It will fuel] a desire to fulfill a destiny of this university, to come alongside students, to help them to discover to develop their divine design. This building will allow that gateway for our students, the entrance to the first steps to a journey of a lifetime. A journey of discovering divine destiny.”

SEU prides itself in raising up the next generation of Christian leaders to fulfill Christ’s commandment to “go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” To help them develop a love for the communities they will serve upon graduating, the college inspires them to serve the local Lakeland community.

“We teach them to love Lakeland,” Ingle said. “Because if they learn to love Lakeland and to serve Lakeland and to be part of this great community no matter where God takes them across the globe, they will love those communities and they will serve those communities.”

State Of Michigan Website Adding To Confusion Of Presidential Election Results

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State Of Michigan Website Adding To Confusion Of Presidential Election Results

*Editors Note: The following is factual information that readers can view for themselves. This is not an attempt to say the voting is tainted in Michigan. It is simply an observation that creates controversy.

As of 11:45pm eastern standard time the State of Michigan Secretary of State website shows 81 of 83 precincts reporting and President Donald J. Trump leading in Michigan.

Approximately 6 hours ago news outlets called Michigan for Joe Biden. This was supposedly with 99% of votes counted and in.

The State of Michigan Secretary of State website link is here: https://mielections.us/election/results/2020GEN_CENR.html. This website is clearly being updated on a regular basis.

This is another example of a situation that seems to clearly show a forced narrative. The results may clearly go in Joe Biden favor. Unfortunately a large portion of the country is distrusting the media. This does not appear to give any confidence to them that the media is being fair & un-biased.

Local Filmmaker Filming Sequel To Comedy “Tyrone Da Drug Dealer”

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Local Filmmaker Filming Sequel To Comedy “Tyrone Da Drug Dealer”

Local Filmmaker Filming Sequel To Comedy “Tyrone Da Drug Dealer”

by James Coulter

After spending 17 years in prison, Tyrone the Drug Dealer is determined to turn his life around for the better. Little did he know that the enemies he made before being placed behind bars are still around and nastier than ever. They want the money he owes them, and they’re willing to turn his life upside down to get it from him. Will Tyrone set his life straight? Or will it be destroyed by the people who hate him?

“Tyrone Da Drug Dealer” was the first full-length movie directed and filmed by Eddie Bower, a local rap artist from Lake Wales. Bower had used his filmmaking skills to create music videos for his songs like “Fritos Lays”, and he’s since utilized them to make his own movie.

“Tyrone” was uploaded to YouTube on July 4, 2020, and has since received more than 94 thousand views and one thousand likes. Bower is currently filming the sequel, “Tyrone Da Kingpin”, which is set to be uploaded on YouTube on Jan. 1, 2021.

Bower was inspired by the 1995 stoner comedy “Friday” and the 1996 film “Don’t Be A Menace.” His movie and its comedic flavor were likewise inspired by the comedic performances of such black actors as Martin Lawrence, Eddie Murphy, and the Wayne Brothers.

On the side, Bower has been working on a music video for his music album “Kingpin Status.” The music video will be simultaneously released on Jan. 1 alongside his newest movie. The song, “NASA”, which was recently recorded, tells about Bower’s ambitions of reaching high for his dreams and the many people who inspired him, including his own family.

Bower has always been a big dreamer. He dreamed of becoming a rap star ever since he was young. Now, at age 32, he’s living out his dream of being a rapper, music video star, and now film director. Many people may have “highly underestimated” his recent rise to fame, but just like in his song, “Highly Underestimated”, he now happily raps about his rise to the top after living life at the bottom.

He expresses his desire in many of his songs. In the song “Private Island”, one of the songs on his mixtape “Beanie Baby”, he sings about a man who lives out his wildest dreams on a private island surrounded by plenty of beautiful ladies.

Bower has spent the past nine months filming his newest movie. Getting the people and the money together to film the movie, especially during these uncertain times, has proven to be the greatest challenge. However, once his staff is together, watching the chemistry and camraderie among them proves to be the greatest reward.

“The best thing I like about making this movie is the laughter, the fun on set, the chemistry of the other characters, the actors and actresses, the chemistry I have with my camera men and everybody else,” Bower said.

His first movie received thousands of views and likes on YouTube. Considering the movie was created from scratch by him and his uncle, receiving such publicity remains to be a real motivator for him, especially since he’s one of the first people from Polk County to direct such a movie.

He has high hopes that his next film will be a success, and he owes it all to the people who helped him along the way. Without them, he would not have risen to such great heights and shined as brightly as he does now through his career.

“The people who lifted the movie up…It would be nothing without the people. The sense comes from the people of Lake Wales, of Polk County, and the people all over the world watching it,” Bower said.

“Tyrone Da Drug Dealer” is available to watch on YouTube at:https://youtu.be/k9LkWvbKK0Y

For more information about “Tyrone Da Kingpin”, visit Bower’s Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/eddie.bower

Lakeland Man Arrested For Attempted Second-Degree Murder And Other Charges

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Lakeland Man Arrested For Attempted Second-Degree Murder And Other Charges

On November 3, 2020, PCSO deputies arrested 48-year-old Clyde Burton Davis, Jr., for attempted second-degree murder and other charges after a shooting that occurred on Monday, November 2nd, during which an adult male victim was critically injured.

According to the affidavit, PCSO deputies and Polk County Fire Rescue responded to Davis’ home on Edith Avenue in Lakeland around 2:00 p.m., and located the victim laying on the ground with a gunshot wound to his chest. The initial information reported to deputies was that the shooting was “accidental”. Eventually the victim and witnesses told deputies that Davis and the suspect had gotten into an altercation, which led to the shooting. They positively identified Davis as the suspect, and confirmed he had fled the scene prior to the deputies’ arrival. Detectives obtained warrants for Davis’ arrest.

A search of Davis’ home revealed narcotics, including meth and heroin; paraphernalia, including digital scales, baggies, syringes, a meth pipe, and a straw; and shotgun shells. Davis’ wife Loretta (DOB 1/18/77) was arrested for possession of meth and paraphernalia, possession of heroin, and maintaining a residence for drug use.

Detectives followed up on several leads and learned Davis went to the home of some acquaintances, where he left the weapon – a sawed-off shotgun – and then took a Hyundai, telling the acquaintances he was “borrowing it” and would be back. They cooperated fully with detectives during the investigation.

Around 8:00 p.m. on November 3, 2020, PCSO received a 911 call from a couple in Lakeland who reported a man sleeping in a car in their driveway. They recognized the man as Clyde Davis. When deputies arrived, they located Davis and the stolen Hyundai. He was taken into custody without incident.

The victim remains in critical condition in the hospital.

Davis was booked into the Polk County Jail on the following charges:

• Attempted second degree murder (F1)

• Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (F2)

• Tampering with evidence (F3)

• Possession of a short-barreled shotgun (F2)

• Possession of ammunition by a convicted felon (F1)

• Grand theft of a motor vehicle (F3)

• Burglary of a conveyance (F3)

Davis’ criminal history dates back to 1990 (when he turned 18) and includes 37 felonies and 17 misdemeanors, and he’s been to state prison 6 times.

FL charges: armed robbery, grand theft of motor vehicle, grand theft of a firearm, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, petit theft, resisting arrest, giving false info to LEO, forgery, drug possession, VOP, FTA.

TN charges: aggravated assault, carrying concealed weapon, escape, smuggling contraband into detention facility, theft, trespassing, drug possession, possession of burglary tools.

GA charges: burglary, theft, giving false info to LEO, DWLSR, battery. “Yet again we’re investigating another dangerous shooting related to illegal drug use. The victim is critically injured and may not survive, all because he went to the home of a known drug dealer and violent convicted felon to purchase and/or use drugs. Our message about drugs being dangerous could not be any clearer.”  – Grady Judd, Sheriff 

Lake Wales Police Department is Working a Death Investigation

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Lake Wales Police Department is Working a Death Investigation

Lake Wales Police Department is Working a Death Investigation

On November 4, 2020 at 7:00am the Lake Wales Police Department was dispatched to assist with a medical call at 122 E Park Ave, Team Natural Nutrition.

At approximately 3:00pm detectives with the Lake Wales Police Department and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Unit cleared the scene of the investigation. The decedent was identified as Darwin Manzueta, a 41 year old Lake Wales resident, who is the owner of Team Natural Nutrition. No signs of foul play were discovered and there is no concern for the safety of the community.

This is still an active investigation and anyone who has information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective David Arana at (863) 678-4223 extension 269 or Heartland Crime Stoppers at (800) 226-8477.

  

Key Election State Michigan is now Leaning Biden

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Key Election State Michigan is now Leaning Biden

In the bid for President Trump to win reelection it has been stated that Trump must win Michigan, Florida, and Pennsylvania. Michigan is one of 3 key states that Trump must win to earn 4 more years in office.

Last night Trumpers were celebrating their victories as it appeared Trump would win Michigan. This morning it appears the tides have started to turn and Michigan is now leaning toward Biden as over 90% of the votes have now been counted.

If Biden pulls off a win in Michigan he will have secured his Bid for President.

Unfortunately there are still a lot of questions around when key states like Michigan and Pennsylvania will certify their results and make final reports to election officials.

While we are all anxious to hear the results we must wait for final tallies to be calculated before celebrating ANY victories.

Florida Essential Workers Win $15 per Hour Minimum Wage Vote.

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Florida Essential Workers Win $15 per Hour Minimum Wage Vote.

Florida has become the 8th state to approve a higher minimum wage for its residents. Over 60% of Florida voters approved to increase Florida’s minimum wage from $8.56 to $15 per hour by 2026. Tipped employees will see their minimum rate increase to $11.98.

Many small business owners have taken to social media stating that this increase could have a negative impact on their business. Small business owners have shared that they struggle to compete with large corporations and often times take much smaller profit margins in order to compete in the free market. Many feel increasing the minimum wage will do one of two things.

Labor costs can account for as much as 70% of total business costs. This includes employee wages, benefits, payroll or other related taxes. Small businesses will see an increase of approximately 50% to their overall bottom line labor costs between now and 2026.

Consumers will see an inflation of prices which will be passed on to the consumer. Small business owners share that this squeeze could be the final nail in the coffin as they attempt to stay competitive in a market that’s being squeeze by large corporate conglomerates.

Many economists have stated that increasing the minimum wage will not create a significant increase in inflation. This makes me wonder. Is this because large corporations can absorb the costs short term in order to squeeze out small business to reduce market competitors? I’d be interested to hear your thoughts and concerns. Both from a small business standpoint and an employee standpoint.  

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