Drunk Driver Hits 6-Year-Old Getting Off School Bus in Haines City
Robert Reedy, 67 years old (DOB 08/03/1958) was arrested by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office last week on April 17 after hitting a child at a school bus stop. At 4:15 pm he was reportedly drunk and passed a school bus on the right-hand side, driving through the grass when he hit a 6-year-old child who was getting off of the bus. The boy was taken to the hospital where he was treated and later released.
Reedy’s breathalyzer was 0.16, which is double the legal limit. Reedy was charged with DUI DAMAGE PROPERTY OR PERSON OF ANOTHER
“Drinking like that is problem. Drinking like that passing a stopped school bus, hitting a 6-year-old. Robert, you need to go to prison.” -Sheriff Grady Judd
Robert Reedy, 67 years old (DOB 08/03/1958) arrested
Earle C. (Sonny) Tingley of Winter Haven, Florida passed away on April 13, 2024, with his family by his side. He was 76 years old.
Sonny was born in Lake Providence, Louisiana on April 15, 1947. He and his family moved to Houston, Texas in 1961 where he graduated from Spring Branch High School. Sonny enlisted in the Air Force in 1967. He served as a Staff Sergeant and was trained as a linguist in Intelligence translating Romanian in Istanbul, Turkey. He left the service in 1971 and attended Texas A&M University where his father was an alumna.
Sonny began his career in Houston, Texas at Prudential where he did computer programming. He then worked as an independent computer consultant. American General, Brown and Root, Maryland Club Coffee, Texas Commerce Bank and Coca Cola were among his clients.
While in Houston he met and married Edith Morley. Their son, Stephen Andrew was born in 1984 and their daughter Jennifer Elizabeth in 1987. Most extended family lived nearby, and they enjoyed many holiday celebrations and vacations together. Sonny was an avid outdoorsman and trips to Galveston, Love Lady, Uvalde and Foxfire usually centered around hunting or fishing. He also joined Hearthstone Country Club and played golf in his spare time.
ln 1997 Sonny accepted an offer from Cutrale Citrus in Auburndale, Florida as Director of Information Services and the family moved to Winter Haven, Florida. After studying and earning the licenses required to be a financial advisor he worked for A.G Edwards & Sons which later became Wells Fargo from where he retired in 2018.
After moving to Winter Haven, Sonny joined the Lake Region Yacht and Country Club where he developed his golf game and made many long-term friendships. Sony served as Commodore in 2004.
Since retiring, he has pursued his passions of golf, hunting and fishing. He also loved spending time with` his four grandchildren and encouraging their love for the outdoors by taking them fishing, hunting and camping.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Mercille Clement Tingley and Lawrence H. Tingley, his sister Beverly, brother Walter and sister Bettye.
He is survived by his wife, Edith Tingley, his son, Stephen Tingley and daughter, Jennifer Ginther, his grandchildren, Brodie, Evelyn, William and Margot, and his sisters, Robin and Sheryl.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Country Club of Winter Haven on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 at 11:30 am.
He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.
In lieu of flowers please make memorial donations in his name to the Moffitt Cancer Center.
On April 18th, the PCSO began investigating six car burglaries and a motor vehicle theft in the Whisper Lake neighborhood (off of Coleman Road area) in Winter Haven.
At about the same time, Winter Haven Police Department began investigating car burglaries within the Wallace Manor neighborhood, just off of King Road.
Based on proximity and images of the suspects, all of the burglaries appear to be related.
Anyone having information that could help in these investigations is asked to contact Detective London at (863) 297-1100 or [email protected].
If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Heartland Crime Stoppers in one of four ways:
CALL 1-888-400 TIPS (8477)
DIAL **TIPS from your cell phone
VISIT www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com and click on “Submit A Tip,”
DOWNLOAD the free “P3tips” app on your smartphone or tablet.
Winter Haven Area Transit Ridership Rebounds Significantly after the COVID-19 Pandemic
By James Coulter
Even with the local bus service experiencing a significant rebound in ridership following the COVID-19 pandemic, Winter Haven Area Transit (WHAT) will not be seeking any additional funding from the City of Winter Haven for this fiscal year.
The Lakeland Area Mass Transit District, which operates as Citrus Connection, the entity responsible for public transportation in Polk County, is only requesting $293,824 from the City of Winter Haven for this fiscal year, which is the same amount of money they requested last year.
“We have always asked for more money, but this year we are pleased to announce we are not asking for any more dollars,” said Tom Phillips, Citrus Connection General Manager. “We are asking for no contract increase in this fiscal year, so the total contribution amount is $293,824.46, the same allocation as of last year, and it funds all the services [in Winter Haven].”
Within the past year, WHAT has provided approximately 328,000 boardings in the area. The transit service has experienced a significant rebound in ridership following the COVID-19 pandemic. The county had lost 40 percent of its Winter Haven ridership during the pandemic, which was common, as overall transit ridership was down 70 percent during that time.
Currently, the Citrus Connection provides nine routes in the Winter Haven area through WHAT. The service has experienced 328,833 boardings at bus stops in Winter Haven. Their most popular route is Route 30 servicing LEGOLAND at approximately 83,000 boardings.
Approximately 87 percent of the people in the Winter Haven area who use transit do not have access to a personal use vehicle. This rate is the highest in the country, Phillips stated. Work is the number one reason for this ridership, as nearly 56 percent of WHAT rides are for employment.
WHAT’s overall success is partly due to Winter Haven being the only city in Polk County offering transit service seven days a week. This daily service is due in part to the private-public partnership among Citrus Connection, the City of Winter Haven, and Merlin Entertainment, which owns and operates LEGOLAND Florida Resort.
LEGOLAND Florida Resort had requested a seven-day-a-week transit service to help facilitate their employees, as many were unable to work on Sunday due to buses previously not running on that day, Phillips explained.
“We had received a phone call from the general manager, who said we have a problem,” Phillips explained. “[They] cannot meet the three o’clock check-in time for our hotel guests because the staff who make up the rooms cannot come in because the bus service does not run on Sunday.”
“So, you are the only community with seven-day-a-week service,” he continued. “Not only does it move Legoland Model Citizen Employees to and from their work, but anyone who lives and works or plays in the corridor including the elderly and disabled benefit from that seven-day-a-week transit service.”
WHAT also provides Transportation Disadvantaged, a service that allows residents living at or below the federal poverty line and who reside along the fixed bus routes to ride their transit services for free.
Currently, Citrus Connection is considering providing microtransit options through the Winter Haven CRA. They will present their proposal, along with findings about potential development patterns in the area, later this summer.
The Can Do Team – Cheryl Brewer has a property available for sale in Winter Haven! Details:
2 bed 2 bath
$135,000
55+ community located close to all central Florida attractions between Tampa and Orlando. HOA dues are only $34 a month which includes Community heated pool, clubhouse, RV lot and shuffleboard court. 2 Bedrooms 2 bathroom, with large, enclosed Florida Room with sliding glass windows 3 sides. All appliances stay, wash & dryer. Large car carport, 10 x 10 utility shed. You own your own lot. Home is vacant ready for new owner.
Contact Cheryl Brewer at The Can Do Team today! 863-224-0045
The Florida Department of Transportation is contributing $3.3 million to Phase 1 of Polk County’s Thompson Nursery Road Extension project. Phase 1 of the Winter Haven road-widening project includes a proposed four-lane road extending from US 17 at SR 540 to W. Lake Ruby Road. Polk County will design, permit, provide utility coordination, right-of-way acquisition and construction.
We’re working on a documentary about the 2004 hurricane season and how it impacted Polk County. Do you have photos or video of Hurricanes Charley, Frances and/or Jeanne? We’re telling a visual story that reminds people just how deadly hurricanes can be.
If you have footage to share, reach out to [email protected] ASAP. Please include your name and phone number, and some details about what you have. We can then figure out the best way to help you share the footage.
The documentary will debut in early June, so time is of the essence. Thanks for any help.
The Judd Jog is an annual 5k presented by Polk Sheriff’s Charities, Inc. with all proceeds benefiting the United Way.The course is paved and begins and ends at the front of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office main office in Winter Haven.There will be additional activities available for your family and friends during the event, including: Polk County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations vehicles on display, K-9 meet and greet, and more!
The Judd Jog is a shining example of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and the citizens of our community coming together to make a positive impact in the lives of others. Come run with us as we raise money to benefit the United Way.
Registration is $35.00 until April 26th!
Shirts and sizes are guaranteed if pre-registered before April 8, 2024. (After that, shirts are available while supplies last.)
Finishers will receive a medal when they cross the line! Awards: Overall M-F; Masters (40+) M-F; Age Group Awards 3 deep M-F (0-9, 10-14, 15-19… 70+) Living Legend Award M-F for the oldest finishers!
Have you seen 24 year-old Michael Torres? Michael was last heard from via text messages around midnight on 4-17-24 by family. Michael indicated that he was wanting to harm himself. Attempts to contact Michael on his phone have been met with negative results. He was last seen at his Roberta Dr. residence on 4-17-24. Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Michael Torres is asked to contact Detective Michael Roe at 863-401-2256.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has arrested Tydarion Javon Futch of Lakeland, DOB: 05/04/2005. Futch, 18 years old, was placed under arrest in Winter Haven for possession of a machine gun, conceal carry of a firearm, agg assault of a LEO, fleeing to elude, possession of cannabis, possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting w/o violence, and no valid DL.
It should be noted that this is an unedited report of facts by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. These facts are up for question and everyone is entitled to question the validity of facts by law enforcement in a court of law. Winter Haven Daily does not rewrite these facts as some meanings or interpretations could be in error and change context. We hope readers appreciate being able to read the information and come to your own conclusion.
“On 4/16/2024 at approximately 1829 hours, I observed a White Nissan Altima operating at a high rate of speed north on First St N. I caught up to the vehicle bearing tag #RHEJ44 which showed to be FR SUSP On the Driver And Vehicle Identification Database (DAVID). The vehicle then stopped at the stop light at First ST N and Martin Luther King Blvd NW. The vehicle did not wait at the stop light and turned right entering the Citgo parking lot located at 128 Martin Luther King Bivd NE. He subsequently exited the gas station to avoid the light.
I followed the vehicle and observed it illegally park in a handicap parking spot of the 3 Brothers food mart located at 223 Martin Luther King Bivd NE. I activated my lights and sirens and observed the driver to look in the rear view mirror at the red and blue lights. The driver of the vehicle placed the vehicle in reverse and attempted to flee the traffic stop. The driver placed his vehicle in reverse and intentionally struck my vehicle in which I was driving and I immediately accelerated into the vehicle to perform a “block”. A technique utilized to prevent suspects from driving away.
It is to be noted, the suspect placed me in fear that I could get severely injured by the willful actions of him striking my agency vehicle in an attempt to flee the traffic stop. It is further to be noted, Detective Dailey 9222 was on the passenger side of the suspects vehicle shouting for him to stop. He was wearing his agency issue bdu style vest with “SHERIFF” in bright yellow across his chest.
The suspect stopped trying to reverse his vehicle when he realized the block was successful. The driver exited the vehicle and I detained him. I asked him “why”. He replied he does not know what is going on but he saw the lights and doesn’t know anything. I asked him to provide his driver’s license in which he advised it was in his bag in the vehicle. While speaking with him I could smell the odor of cannabis emitting from the vehicle. He provided me with consent to search his vehicle.
In his bag I located his wallet which contained his ID and social security card. Next to his wallet was a scale, a blue cup containing suspected cannabis, and a large baggie which had cannabis residue.
The green leafy substance was placed into a Syndicate Chemistries 4-AP Hemp Typification Test Kit, which yielded [REDACTED] indicating the presence of more than 1% delta-9 THC. There was only a small amount in the blue cup.
The subject was identified by his ID CARD as Tydarion Javon Futch. He is 18 years of age. In plain view on the driver’s seat floorboard sticking out from beneath the driver’s seat was a Glock handgun. I immediately recognized this handgun to have a full auto sear or “switch”. A device placed on the handgun to convert it to an operable automatic weapon. This firearm was readily accessible for immediate use and was not in a holster or securely incased.
790.221Possession of short-barreled rifle, short-barreled shotgun, or machine gun; penalty.-(1)It is unlawful for any person to own or to have in his or her care, custody, possession, or control any short-barreled rifle, short-barreled shotgun, or machine gun which is, or may readily be made, operable; but this section shall not apply to antique firearms.
The firearm was a Glock 23.40 caliber bearing serial number BYAB431.
CIC advised it was clear and Futch did not have a criminal record.
Based on the above, Futch was placed under arrest for possession of a machine gun, conceal carry of a firearm, agg assault of a LEO, fleeing to elude, possession of cannabis, possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting w/o violence, and no valid DL. “
Tydarion Javon Futch of Lakeland, DOB: 05/04/2005 arrested
“Editors Note: 18 U.S.C. 921(a) (23): Definition of machinegun The definition of machinegun in the National Firearms Act and the Gun Control Act Includes a part or parts that are designed and intended for use in converting a weapon into a machinegun. This language includes a device that, when activated by a single pull of the trigger, initiates an automatic firing cycle that continues until the finger is released or the ammunition supply is exhausted.”
