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Central Florida Hurricane Expo Hosted At Visitor Information Center

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Central Florida Hurricane Expo Hosted At Visitor Information Center

Central Florida Hurricane Expo Hosted At Visitor Information Center

by James Coulter

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Even amidst the COVID-19 crisis, local residents were able to learn about preparing for the upcoming hurricane season during the Central Florida Hurricane Expo 2020 on Saturday.

Hosted at the Central Florida’s Visitor Information Center in Davenport, the expo provided visitors with information about hurricane preparedness.

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Several vendors from the Polk County Emergency Management (PCEM) and other local services and businesses offered hurricane shelter maps, hurricane preparation brochures and booklets, and other free items and samples for various products. The first 300 families to arrive that day were eligible to receive a free case of water (limited to one case per family).

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The turnout for the event proved especially busy earlier in the morning, and safety precautions and measures were taken to ensure that visitors remained safe through social distancing and personal hygiene.

“It has certainly met our expectations,” said Jerri Kaplan, PCEM Planner. “It exceeded our expectations of [the] people we reached today.”

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Kaplan served as a vendor for PCEM, offering maps and brochures about local hurricane shelters, especially for people with special needs and pets. They also offered information about documenting and insuring property from storm damage, and about services such as Alert Polk, the county’s free public safety notification system.

“Hurricanes are our major priority for PCEM,” she said. “We are preparing the county for disasters and events that can happen, and so with it being a hurricane expo, we thought it was important to be here to share information with the community.”

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Hurricane season in Florida starts in August and runs through October. This year’s forecast predicts an “above average” hurricane season that currently sits “above the 30-year average”, according to data provided through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), as reported by NBC Miami.

“They are expecting a more active hurricane season this year than what we had the last couple of years,” Kaplan said.

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Other vendors that day promoted local products and services. One such product included Real Time Pain Relief, an Oklahoma-based distributor of skin conditioners, hand sanitizers, and other personal hygiene products.

Many of these products, especially hand sanitizers, are being provided for businesses, schools, churches, and small businesses opening back up, as these products are essential to help protect against COVID-19, explained Reggie, a Pain Relief representative.

“We are offing to help America get back to work with hand sanitizer,” he said. “[We are] getting the word out that we are here and helping America open up for business and to open up safely.”

21 Yr Old Man Killed In Crash On Ewell Rd In Lakeland

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21 Yr Old Man Killed In Crash On Ewell Rd In Lakeland

Polk County Sheriff’s Office Press Release

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Unit responded to a single-vehicle crash in the early morning hours of Friday, July 24, 2020, in Lakeland. 21 year-old Carson James Nance of Lakeland was the only person involved in the crash on Ewell Road and Busy Bee Lane. The crash was reported at about 1:21 am.

When deputies and Polk County Fire Rescue arrived on scene, Nance was entrapped and deceased inside the 2001 black Mazda pick-up truck. He had suffered fatal head trauma and died at the scene.

According to the preliminary investigation, Nance was travelling east on Ewell Road, when his vehicle drifted off the shoulder of the road and into a drainage ditch. The Mazda then reentered the road, travelling northeast across both lanes of Ewell Road, where it entered the north shoulder of the road and rolled over at least once before coming to a stop on the driver’s side. Nance was not wearing a seatbelt prior to the crash.

The road was closed for about three hours during the investigation, which remains open.

Lakeland Man Killed In Lake Wales Crash Thursday Night

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Lakeland Man Killed In Lake Wales Crash Thursday Night

Polk County Sheriff’s Office Press Release

On Thursday, July 23, 2020, at about 8:49 pm, the Emergency Communications Center (ECC) received a 911 call regarding a two-vehicle crash in front of the Enchanted Mobile Home Park located at 5137 Scenic Highway in Lake Wales. The crash killed 57 year-old Thomas Robert Mason of Lakeland.

Mason was transported to the Lake Wales Medical Center, but died from his injuries. Mason was the driver of a 2013 black, Nissan Rogue.

The second vehicle involved was a 2000 red, Ford F150 pick-up truck driven by 23 year-old Ignacio Ubieta.

According to the preliminary investigation, Ubieta was stopped northbound behind a vehicle which was turning into the Enchanted Mobile Home Park, when Mason’s Nissan struck the rear of the Ford F150. The two vehicles continued northwest for approximately 70 feet before coming to a stop on the west shoulder of Scenic Highway.

Ubieta was wearing a seatbelt prior to the crash. Mason was not wearing a seatbelt prior to the crash.

The road was closed for about three hours during the investigation, which remains open.

Missing Highlands County 5 Yr Old Body Found In Water Of Lake Lelia

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Missing Highlands County 5 Yr Old Body Found In Water Of Lake Lelia

Highlands County, Florida – We have some tragic news. The body of 5-year-old Chance Peterkin was located in the water of Lake Lelia.

Sheriff Paul Blackman, who had been on a boat searching for several hours, located Chance in the water around 12:20 a.m., ending an extensive search of the area in and around the lake.

The search involved deputies on foot and ATVs and multiple K-9s scouring the heavily wooded area around the lake. Multiple boats from the HCSO and the FWC searched both Lake Lelia and Lake Glenada.

A FLIR-equipped drone and a Polk County Sheriff’s Office helicopter also conducted aerial searches, both of which failed to locate a heat signature during the search.
Chance and his mother, 29-year-old Philletta Moransit were reported missing around 6 p.m. Thursday evening after having not been seen since around 9 a.m., when they left a home on Purcell Street on foot.

Moransit was located shortly before 8 p.m. on the campus of South Florida State College, but was uncooperative with the investigation.
Deputies located some of her clothing near the water, which focused the search area on the eastern side of the lake.

The investigation is continuing and charges on Moransit are pending.

Winter Haven Police Department Advises Lucerne Park Rd Completely Shutdown

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Winter Haven Police Department Advises Lucerne Park Rd Completely Shutdown

Lucerne Park Rd. is completely shut down due to a crash. A semi truck has overturned at Wildflower Dr.


Drivers who utilize Lucerne Park Rd from Hwy 27 into Winter Haven need to take alternate routes until further notice.


There are no specific details on the crash at this time.

16 Yr Old Winter Garden Teen Charged With DUI In Polk Hit & Run Crash – Dragging One Victim Female Victim 450 Feet

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16 Yr Old Winter Garden Teen Charged With DUI In Polk Hit & Run Crash – Dragging One Victim Female Victim 450 Feet

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a hit and run crash that occurred in the Loughman area of Davenport Wednesday night, which injured four 16-year-olds. The driver, who is also 16-years-old, was arrested after he crashed his car approximately eight miles away, and tried to flee on foot.

Deputies responded to the Cypress Pointe neighborhood off of Old Lake Wilson Road at about 9:37 pm, initially due to a loud house party at 1032 Cypress Pointe Boulevard. When they arrived, teenagers began to quickly disperse.

According to the preliminary investigation, the four victims were standing at the edge of the driveway of 1126 Cypress Pointe Boulevard, when Ryan Colom of Winter Garden, driving a black 2020 Kia Stinger, struck them with the car.

Three of the victims suffered non-life-threatening injuries, but a fourth victim was dragged under Colom’s car as it continued driving. The Kia struck a parked Jeep Cherokee and travelled across driveways and lawns before the female victim was dislodged from the Kia. It is estimated that the girl was dragged about 450-feet.

Colom fled the area, but crashed his car about eight miles away on Deen Still Road, near the intersection of Old Deen Still Road. With the car inoperable, Colom fled on foot, and was located by deputies in the parking lot of the Amazon Distribution Center on Deen Still Road.

The female victim who was dragged was flown to Arnold Palmer Hospital in Orlando in critical condition with internal injuries, multiple fractures, and losses of skin and muscle.

The suspect and the four victims were all from Orange County.

Deputies noted that Colom exhibited signs of impairment and had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath. During a breath test provided by the suspect, he blew a .121 on two samples (.08 is the legal limit).

“Detectives are still working to determine who was responsible for renting the vacation home, and who invited all of the teens – further charges are possible related to that portion of the investigation. This is one of those events that parents always fear…a mix of unsupervised teens, a house party, alcohol, and a horrific result.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff.

Ryan Colom was charged with the following felonies and misdemeanors: DUI, DUI with Property Damage (2 counts), DUI with Bodily Injury (3 Counts), DUI with Serious Bodily Injury, Leaving the Scene of a Crash with Serious Bodily Injury, Leaving the Scene of a Crash with Bodily Injury (3 counts), Leaving the Scene of a Crash with Property Damage (2 Counts). Information about juveniles charged with felonies is public record, per FSS 119.
Colom was transported to the Juvenile Assessment Center in Bartow.

The investigation is ongoing, and more charges are possible in this case.

Pair Charged In Bartow Attempted Murder Case

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Pair Charged In Bartow Attempted Murder Case

On Friday, July 10, 2020 at 11:03 pm, members of the Bartow Police Department responded to the area of Indica Court and Parker Street in reference to a subject who had been shot.

At approximately 10:56 pm, the victim was at the Circle K Store located on West Main Street. The victim was inside the store shopping as the both suspects arrived outside in a vehicle. The female suspect, Cheyanne Prentice (age 24), entered the store. The male suspect, Elvin Brea (age 25) exited the passenger side of the vehicle and approached the window. He is observed on video motioning to Prentice to exit the store. Prentice did exit the store and returned to her vehicle, leaving the victim inside the store.

A short time later, the victim exited the store and left on his bicycle. As the victim began travelling south bound on Floral Avenue, the suspects left the parking lot, following the victim. Once on South Floral Avenue, Prentice, who was driving the vehicle, swerved toward the victim, in an apparent attempt to strike the victim. The victim swerved and sped west on Parker Street.
The suspects followed the victim west on Parker Street, and approached the victim at a high rate of speed, stopping beside the victim as Brea extended his arm out of the vehicle and shot the victim, striking him in the torso. The suspects fled the area.

The victim was transported to Lakeland Regional Medical Center with serious but non-life threatening injuries.

Both suspects were located and arrested on 07/22/20 and were charged with Attempted Murder (1st Degree). Prentice faces an additional charge of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, and Brea faces an additional charge of Discharging a Firearm from a Vehicle.

Flipping Door Handles and Stealing Cars

Staff Reporter
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Flipping Door Handles and Stealing Cars

Release by Winter Haven Police Department

Flipping Door Handles and Stealing Cars
On 7-12-2020 at approximately 1:53 a.m., the two subjects seen in this video were going driveway to driveway along Woodpointe Dr. flipping door handles until they located a vehicle that was unlocked. Inside of the vehicle were the keys to the vehicle and the garage door opener. The subjects used the opener to gain entry into the garage where another vehicle was located with keys. Both vehicles were stolen.
Ultimately, they were recovered in the area of Whispering Trails and returned to the owners.
“We implore citizens to lock vehicles and never leave keys inside,” said Public Safety Director Charlie Bird. “Couple that with a garage door opener and the potential for entry into a home greatly increases which could lead to more dangerous crimes.”
Anyone who recognizes either of these subjects, backpacks or clothing they are wearing is asked to call Det. Lozado at 863-401-2256. 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.

Polk Deputies Searching For Hit & Run Driver Who Left Three People Hospitalized

Staff Reporter
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Polk Deputies Searching For Hit & Run Driver Who Left Three People Hospitalized

In reference to your inquiries, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a hit & run crash in a gated community in the Loughman area. The crash was reported Wednesday night, July 22, 2020, at about 9:51 pm.

Three pedestrians were struck by a vehicle. The victims were transported to the hospital for their injuries and their conditions are unknown at this time.

The vehicle fled the scene, and deputies are currently working to get details of the driver and the vehicle from witnesses.

The crash occurred in the Cypress Point subdivision, just off of Old Lake Wilson Road.

Off-Duty Auburndale Police Officer Arrested For Aggravated Battery While In Florida Keys

Staff Reporter
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Off-Duty Auburndale Police Officer Arrested For Aggravated Battery While In Florida Keys

Auburndale Police Department Press Release

Off-Duty Auburndale Police Officer Arrested in Islamorada
At about 1:00 a.m. this morning, an off-duty Auburndale Police officer was arrested by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office for aggravated battery (domestic) and false imprisonment (domestic).

Dane A. Henwood was booked-in at their jail facility following his arrest. Mr. Henwood has been employed in Auburndale since June, 2019.

An official with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office notified the Auburndale Police Department of the arrest this morning. In compliance with the department’s written directive system, Mr. Henwood was summarily relieved from duty pending the completion of an administrative investigation of the incident.


Due to Florida law, we are unable to provide any further details at this time.

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