The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Unit is investigating a traffic crash that occurred around 3:25 p.m. on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, at the railroad crossing located at the Kathleen Tire Shop, 5310 Kathleen Road, in north Lakeland.
According to the investigation so far, 36-year-old Abel Arocho of Kissimmee was driving a 2006 black Ford F-150 south on Kathleen Road when he turned right to go to the tire shop, across the private RR crossing that runs west of the roadway. There are no crossing arms at the crossing, but there is a stop sign and a sign regarding the RR crossing itself. For unknown reasons, Arocho did not stop but proceeded across the tracks as a CSX cargo freight train with two occupants (the engineer and the conductor) and 110 empty cars was heading northbound on the tracks at approximately 55 MPH. The freight train struck the pickup truck along the driver’s side, propelling the truck northwest and ripping open the driver’s door. Arocho was ejected onto a grassy area and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The train was traveling from Orlando to Jacksonville. After coming to a stop, the train blocked four RR crossings from Deeson Road south to Strickland Road, for approximately 2.5 hours.
Crews will be making a repair to the water service in front of 632 Avenue O SW on Thursday, Aug. 29th between the hours of 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM. This will cause a complete closure to this road until the repair is completed.
If you have any questions, please contact Mike Foster at (863) 291-5853.
When you love your community and a life of service as much as Troy Schulze does, saying the word “retirement” seems difficult. But this coming Friday, August 30, he will do just that, for the last time.
Schulze has served the City of Lake Wales for 30 years. He retired from LWPD in May of 2021, but ultimately came back to continue to serve through a period of transition in the department.
Now that he’s retiring from LWPD for good, Schulze is making sure how important this community is to him. A post on social media this week conveys a message of gratitude:
“It has been a blessing and an honor to serve the City of Lake Wales for 30 years! I am thankful for every prayer you prayed for us, every word of encouragement you spoke over us, the relationships that we developed and the laughs that we have had! As most of you know I retired (at least I thought I had) from the Lake Wales Police Department in May 2021 and began a new career.
“In August 2023, I returned to the police department to assist with some transitions. We have accomplished our goals so now it is time for me to retire, again. This is my last week with the Lake Wales Police Department as a full time officer. The Lake Wales Police Department and the residents of Lake Wales hold a very special place in my heart!
“Lastly, as any first responder knows, we could not do what we do without the grace of God and a supportive family! I am thankful for God’s faithfulness and the amazing family He has given me!”
When I asked the outgoing deputy chief what message she would most likely to convey to the residents of Lake Wales, he had this response:
“To the community, thank you for everything! It has been an honor to serve you and my family has always felt your support!”
To celebrate his retirement and commitment to Lake Wales, a community social is planned for Saturday, September 14, 2024 from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM at New Hope Baptist Church, located at 113 W. Central Ave. in Lake Wales. Everyone in the community is welcome to drop by and share their best wishes. Light refreshments will be served.
No word yet on a replacement for Schulze; It seems that those will be tough shoes to fill.
LAKELAND, FL (August 28, 2024) – On Tuesday, August 27, 2024, at approximately 5:00 p.m., two Lakeland Police Detectives were conducting surveillance in the 1800 block of Plateau Village Drive and parked in their unmarked police vehicle when they were approached by one of the suspects in this case, Arthur Jared Williams (age 18). Williams was not the intended target of their surveillance. Williams was also present with Abdul Milik Littles (age 22) and Littles’ vehicle, a red Nissan Maxima.
The detectives were wearing shirts clearly and prominently marked with police insignias, along with badges, duty weapons and other police equipment. Williams walked up to the police vehicle, looked inside and asked the detectives if they had some marijuana. Realizing their surveillance was compromised, the detectives took a photograph of Williams and Littles, then left the area.
The two detectives were later patrolling in the 1100 block of Atlantic Avenue around 5:45 p.m. where they saw the same red Nissan Maxima in the roadway. Standing next to the vehicle was Williams and Littles. As the detectives drove past them, Williams pointed his fingers at the detectives, simulating the firing of a gun.
After passing them, one of the detectives looked in his rear-view mirror to see Williams holding a handgun. Williams then started shooting directly at the detective’s vehicle. The police vehicle was struck 5 times. Video surveillance from the area was obtained which showed Williams firing his handgun 15 times. The two suspects fled the area in the Maxima.
With the valuable assistance of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and an intense search for the suspects immediately began.
In the early morning hours around 1:25 a.m., Williams and Littles were located at a residence in Tampa. The two called for an Uber to pick them up in an attempt to distance themselves from the vehicle. After they left the residence in the Uber, a traffic stop was performed and the two were taken into custody. The Uber driver was extremely cooperative and it was learned the two were headed back to an address on Plateau Avenue in Lakeland.
Williams was arrested for two counts of Attempted Murder of a Law Enforcement Officer in the 2ndDegree (with a firearm) and two counts of Shooting Into an Occupied Vehicle. Littles was arrested on unrelated charges by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. However, Littles remains a suspect in this case and charges may be forthcoming. Both were transported to the Hillsborough County Jail.
Through facts learned during investigation, Williams clearly knew the detectives he was shooting at were law enforcement officers.
This investigation remains open and active.
All the members of the Lakeland Police Department wish to express their appreciation to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigations for their cooperation and resources given to assist our agency after this horrific assault on our detectives, and bring the suspects responsible to justice.
At approximately 8:46 this morning, Polk County Fire Rescue reported a call regarding a traffic collision at US Highway 27 N. and Pedalers Pond Blvd., just north of Home Depot.
Photo by Maria Iannucci
Three cars appear to have been involved in the crash. Moderate damage is reported. The two left northbound lanes are blocked at this time with first responders and debris from the crash.
Polk County Fire Rescue Public Information Officer on call reports that no one was transported with injuries. Please continue to avoid this area as the scene is processed and cleared.
The North Central Landfill and the Transfer Station will be closed on Monday, Sept. 2, for Labor Day. They will re-open Tuesday, Sept. 3.
In observation of the Labor Day holiday, residential collection services scheduled for Monday, Sept. 2, will take place on Tuesday. Tuesday services will take place on Wednesday, and so on. Friday services will take place on Saturday. A one-day delay will occur for each day of the week following the holiday.
“We are investigating a vehicle crash at the RR tracks near the Kathleen Tire Shop on Kathleen Road in north #Lakeland involving an empty cargo train and a pickup truck.
There is one confirmed fatality, which is the driver of the pickup truck. The cargo train was not hauling any cargo. We do not believe there were any other occupants of the pickup truck.
The crash occurred around 3:25 p.m. this afternoon on the tracks that run parallel to Kathleen Road, between Deeson and Spivey Roads. Drivers are urged to avoid the area until further notice.”
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Initial report:
On the afternoon of August 27, 2024, several units were dispatched to 5310 Kathleen Road in Lakeland just before 3:30 p.m. regarding a call for a railroad/train emergency incident.
It was reported that a train hit a black pickup truck.
Preliminary details from Polk County Sheriff’s Office:
“We are investigating a vehicle crash at the RR tracks near the Kathleen Tire Shop on Kathleen Road in north Lakeland involving an empty cargo train and a pickup truck. There are significant injuries to the occupants of the truck. Please avoid the area and use alternate routes until further notice.”
We will update this article as more information is released.
On the afternoon of August 27, 2024, several units were dispatched to 5310 Kathleen Road in Lakeland just before 3:30 p.m. regarding a call for a railroad/train emergency incident.
It was reported that a train hit a black pickup truck.
Preliminary details from Polk County Sheriff’s Office:
“We are investigating a vehicle crash at the RR tracks near the Kathleen Tire Shop on Kathleen Road in north Lakeland involving an empty cargo train and a pickup truck. There are significant injuries to the occupants of the truck. Please avoid the area and use alternate routes until further notice.”
We will update this article as more information is released.
Judith Smith-Holland Loving Military Wife, and Mother dies at 82 February 17, 1942 — August 21, 2024
Judith (Judy) Smith-Holland, age 82 of Winter Haven, Florida, passed away at Winter Haven Hospital on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, while fighting her ongoing battle with heart disease which finally took her life.
She was born in Pensacola, Florida, a daughter of the late Fred W. and Vivian Smith. Judy grew up in Pensacola, and was educated in Pensacola schools, graduated from Pensacola High School, class of 1959. On September 1, 1961 , she married Richard A. Holland, an E-6 in the United States Navy stationed at Whiting Field in Milton, Florida. Together they raised a family as devoted servants of our country, continually moving throughout their military life. They thrived in places like Lemoore, California; Oahu, Hawaii; Naples, Italy; and Jacksonville, Florida, with a final move to Winter Haven, Florida where they remained an integral part of a wonderful neighborhood and community. Judy’s heart was most devoted to family, and a lifetime of being a military wife where she spent hours volunteering with support for US servicemen and POW’s and MIA’s as well as their families and loved ones. When her husband and others’ spouses were out to sea for six months or more, Judy would help with creating Christmas videos to send to those men and women serving on US ships. These videos provided morale and hope to those at sea over the holidays. Judy helped with other volunteer projects while lovingly parenting two small children, many times alone, throughout her husband’s military career of 23 years. She was an avid supporter of all her children’s activities and sporting events as they were growing up and that same support continued in recent years with her grandchildren as well. Judy was a loving, devoted and hardworking wife, mother and grandmother who will be dearly missed.
She leaves behind: her husband of 63 years, Richard A. Holland; her son — Richard (Rick) Holland and wife Nicole formerly of Winter Haven, FL; daughter, Cynthia Holland-Gonya and husband, Peter of Newbury, NH; grandchildren — Chandler Holland and wife Grace, Lauren Lengel and husband Matt, Seth and Nicole Gonya; and one great granddaughter, Everly Lengel. She is also survived by sister in law, Lida Holland-Rich and brother in law, George Holland, as well as many nieces and nephews. Judy was preceded in death by her father, Fred W. Smith; mother, Vivian Smith; and her sister, Carol Miller.
A funeral service will be held Wednesday August, 28, 10 am at the First Church of the Nazarene, 560 3rd Street SW, Winter Haven, FL with 9 am visitation for family. A private, family burial service at Florida National Cemetery, 6502 SW 102nd Avenue, Bushnell, FL, will be held on a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to Tunnel To Towers Foundation t2t.org (http://t2t.org/)
There was a reported structure fire in the Bentley Oaks Community just after 11 a.m. this morning, August 27, 2024.
Enroute, units were advised that there was smell of smoke in the house, but no active fire seen.
Firefighters performed a search of the house and attic area and determined that the motor in the A/C unit was the problem. Firefighters ventilated the structure with an exhaust fan to clear out the limited smoke found, checked the entire house and attic area, and turned off power to the A/C unit. The homeowner was advised to contact their A/C company.
Polk County Fire Rescue assisted Auburndale Fire. No injuries occurred.
