LAKELAND, FL (May 28, 2025) – A Florida Purple Alert has been issued for 71-year-old Frederick Blackwelder of Lakeland. Mr. Blackwelder is believed to be traveling in a 2006 Toyota Scion tC Florida license plate 665-3VY. A family member reported Mr. Blackwelder missing after unsuccessful attempts to make contact with him over the weekend. He was last known to be in the area of the 1500 block of Ariana Street, Lakeland, Florida.
Mr. Blackwelder is 5’9″ and weighs approximately 211 lbs. He has grey hair and blue eyes.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Lakeland Police Department’s Emergency Communications Center at 863.834.6966.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested an Auburndale man Tuesday, May 27, 2025, and charged him with animal cruelty for neglecting to care for his two dogs.
37-year old Bradford Thomas was booked-in at the Polk County Jail and charged with Animal Cruelty (M1) and Aggravated Animal Cruelty (F3). Thomas is the Public Utilities Director for the City of Auburndale.
The PCSO was contacted by Auburndale Police Department after they were made aware of a dog that was starving and in poor condition.
A detective from the PCSO’s Animal Cruelty Investigations responded to the residence on Diamond Ridge Drive in Auburndale Tuesday afternoon, and made contact with Mr. Thomas and his two dogs.
The dogs were a female Great Dane named Stella (approximately 8.5-years old) and a female Terrier mix named Bella (approximately 18 to 20-years old).
The detective noted that Stella was severely emaciated, had multiple abrasions and scabs, was covered with fleas, and was suffering from severe pododermatitis (also known as bumblefoot) on all four paws. She also appeared to be in severe pain. Records show that Stella has not received any veterinary care since 2020, even though she was in horrible physical condition.
Bella was suffering from severe flea dermatitis on her back with hair loss.
The dogs were also examined by Dr. Kerry Jackson, DVM, who concluded that Stella weighed just 60.8 pounds, which is about half of what she should weigh. Her Body Condition Score (BCS) was 1/9.
Dr. Jackson concluded that Bella weighed 10.6 pounds and had a BCS of 2/9.
Both dogs were voluntarily surrendered to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and taken to the PCSO’s Animal Control facility for treatment.
“The dogs and their former owner will be getting the attention they need and deserve. For Bradford Thomas, this behavior is absolutely unacceptable. It is incomprehensible that someone in his capacity as a senior manager in a reputable and responsible local government would do something like this—starving and causing such pain for an innocent animal. We will do everything we can to hold him criminally responsible. We will also do everything we can to get these dogs healthy and thriving. They are off to a good start—we pray it’s not too late and they respond to medical treatment, nourishment, and love.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
Since beginning treatment at Animal Control yesterday, Stella has increased her weight by 6.8 pounds with proper feeding and hydration.
Any inquiries regarding Mr. Thomas’ employment status should be directed to the City of Auburndale.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office conducted a Memorial Day Traffic Initiative from Saturday, May 24th through Monday, May 26th, resulting in 11 arrests, six of which were for DUI, and 4 of whom are in the country illegally.
Jose Cruz, a 32-year-old man from Lakeland, was arrested on May 24th after a blue Chevrolet was seen weaving and drifting on Reynolds Road in Lakeland at 1:38 a.m. A traffic stop was conducted, where Cruz was found to have slurred speech, watery eyes, and a strong odor of alcohol was detected. He admitted to drinking four to five beers and his breath alcohol level measured .180, over twice the legal limit. Cruz did not have a valid driver’s license or ID and admitted to being in the country illegally from Mexico, which led to upgraded charges. Cruz was charged with:
• DUI (M1)
• Driving without a valid driver’s license (M1)
Francisco Hernandez, 50, of Fort Meade, was arrested on May 24th at 9:19pm following a traffic stop on Broadway Street East at Hendry Ave after deputies observed a vehicle traveling with no headlights on. Hernandez advised he had no driver’s license, presenting only a Mexican passport. Deputies observed that he had watery eyes, detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage, and noted that he could not keep his balance. Hernandez admitted to drinking 12 beers. During a breathalyzer test, his breath alcohol content was measured at .260, more than three times the legal limit. He advised he was in the country illegally from Mexico and has remained in Polk County unlawfully since 2010, which upgraded his charges. He was charged with:
• DUI (M1)
• Driving without a valid driver’s license (M1)
Leobardo Armenta-Marcial, 40, of Lake Wales, was arrested on May 25th at 9:13pm on Alturas Babson Park Cutoff Road in Lake Wales after deputies responded to reports of a possible vehicle crash. Armenta-Marcial was located further down the road walking by himself and appearing to be dirty, disoriented, and intoxicated. His vehicle had struck a guardrail, causing heavy damage. In the front passenger floorboard, deputies found empty opened alcohol containers. Armenta-Marcial initially claimed he was not the one driving, but said that he recognized the car as being a family member’s, and then ultimately admitted to crashing the vehicle claiming that something went into the road in front of him. His boots were covered in dirt, matching footprints found near the scene of the crash, and he did not have a valid driver’s license. He refused to take the field sobriety test or breathalyzer test. He has 4 prior guilty convictions for DUIs and has been previously deported due to being in the country illegally.
He was charged with:
• Leaving the scene of a crash (M2)
• Driving without a valid driver’s license (M2)
• DUI 4th or subsequent (F2)
Guilherme Moreno, 32, of Orlando was arrested on May 26th following a routine traffic stop due to an expired registration. Moreno provided a paper from the DMV and a picture of his driver’s license, but upon further investigation, deputies learned his license had been cancelled in March due to his non-US citizen status. It was discovered that Moreno was in the country illegally from Brazil, which upgraded his charges. Moreno was given a citation for the expired registration but arrested and charged with having no valid driver’s license (M1).
All suspects were placed on an ICE hold in the Polk County Jail.
“If you drive drunk in Polk County, we will arrest you, and if you’re here illegally, we will turn you over to ICE. Our deputies worked hard this weekend to keep our roads safe—and we’ll keep doing it every day.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
There have been many questions raised since the events of Sunday, May 18th, surrounding the tragic murder of an 81 year-old man at 2226 Blue Bird Avenue in the Wind Meadows subdivision. Polk County Sheriff’s Office homicide detectives arrested the deceased’s roommate for the murder shortly after the discovery of the body. This communication is intended to provide factual information to the public, and additional contacts and resources for future inquiries.
It is important from the outset to draw the distinction between the terms “Group Home” and “Adult Family Care Home”, and how those terms are defined both by the State of Florida, and locally here in Bartow. Under Florida law, the term “Group Home” is used in a generic sense and can be used as a term to describe a variety of residential settings. Those could include homes for children (governed by DCF — Department of Children and Families), homes specifically for disabled persons (governed by ADP — Agency for Persons with Disabilities), and residences for the elderly (governed by AHCA — Agency for Health Care Administration). In the City of Bartow, the term “Group Home” is something of a catch-all term that is defined under the larger heading of “Special Needs Facilities”, and is further defined as, “…a residential facility which provides a family living environment including supervision and care necessary to meet the physical, emotional, and social needs of its residents.” Such facilities in Bartow can house as few as 4 residents, but no more than 15. In the City of Bartow, a “Group Home” must obtain a Special Exception Use Permit from the City in order to legally operate. This process includes a requirement for the conducting of a public hearing on the matter.
By contrast, the term “Adult Family Care Home” is a term that is defined by Florida Statute §429.65. As part of the Adult Family Care Home Act of 1985, this term is defined as, “…a full-time, family-type living arrangement, in a private home, under which a person who owns or rents the home provides room, board, and personal care, on a 24-hour basis, for no more than five disabled adults or frail elders who are not relatives.” These types of facilities are regulated by the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), and that agency is ultimately responsible for the periodic review, licensing, and ultimately oversight of such facilities. In the City of Bartow, no Special Exception Use Permit is needed for an Adult Family Care Home, as these are considered permitted uses in all residential districts.
There are two properties in the Wind Meadows neighborhood that are relevant to this recent event. The first is 2233 Blue Bird Avenue. This home is owned by Eddrena L. Thornton, and has been since 2015. Ms. Thornton is the principal member of the ET Home Care, LLC, and she holds a proper license through AHCA to operate as an Adult Family Care Home. Both the LLC and the license date back to 2020. It appears that Ms. Thornton’s use of the home at 2233 Blue Bird Ave is a properly licensed Adult Family Care Home, a permitted use under the City’s Code, and was not required to receive a Special Exception Use Permit from the City.
The second property is the home at 2226 Blue Bird Avenue. This home is across the street and slightly south of Ms. Thornton’s home at 2233. This home is owned by a real estate investment company based in Texas, and has been since 2019. It was rented to Ms. Thornton and another person, with no disclosure to the landlord that the home would be used to house additional residents through Ms. Thornton’s business, etc. Based on the Sheriff’s investigation so far, this home was also being operated as a “Group Home” by Ms. Thornton through the ET Home Care, LLC entity. It is important to note that this home has not gone through any City approval process to be properly used as a “Group Home” and it is not properly licensed with the State at all. These appear to be clear violations of both local and state laws related to this use. This location is where the unfortunate murder occurred. The landlord has started eviction proceedings against Ms. Thornton on the basis of several violations of her lease for this location.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office continues to lead the investigation into the murder itself. The City has undertaken a code enforcement investigation to determine what, if any, local violations have occurred so they can be properly cited (particularly on 2226 Blue Bird). The City has had excellent communication with the Texas company that owns 2226 Blue Bird and is closely following the eviction process. The Bartow Chief of Police has been in touch with representatives of the Wind Meadows HOA to strengthen communication and a team approach to addressing safety concerns in the neighborhood. City staff and the police department will also cooperate as needed with any state-level investigations that might be occurring through AHCA or any other licensing organizations.
Citizens with other specific questions or concerns about the Adult Family Care Home should contact the AHCA. Additional information can be found on the AHCA website by following this link. Complaints or concerns can be directed to 888-419-3456.
For further information from the City of Bartow, please contact the following:
• Tray Towles, Director of Codes Compliance/Neighborhood Services – [email protected]
The PCSO Traffic Homicide Unit is investigating a two-vehicle crash involving a semi-truck that resulted in the death of one of the drivers. The crash occurred at 8:16pm Tuesday night (May 27, 2025) on Hwy 640 near Watson Road, Mulberry, Florida.
A black GMC Terrain was heading eastbound on Highway 640 and the semi-truck was heading westbound. Prior to the crash the driver of the GMC was observed to be driving aggressively, passing others, and failed to stop at a flashing red signal. Then the driver, a 36-year-old woman from Ft. Meade, attempted to pass another vehicle in front of her in a no passing zone which put her in the westbound lane directly in the path of the semi-truck. It was a head on collision, resulting in her fatal injuries.
The GMC came to a stop to the south in a shallow ditch. The semi slid to a stop on the north shoulder of the road.
Both drivers were wearing seatbelts, but the woman was determined deceased inside her vehicle. The driver of the semi, a 48-year-old male from Tampa, had non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital.
Last month, my family and I went on a 7-day cruise on the Carnival Jubilee. We sailed from Galveston, Texas to Honduras to Mexico. Here’s a day-by-day travel log of my trip.
Day 1: Galveston, Texas (Fri. May 22, 2025)
First thing first. Before you can set sail from Galveston, Texas, you first have to get there. You’d assume that the first step would be one simple flight. But nope. It was a two-stop flight: first from Raliegh to Baltimore, then from Baltimore to Galveston.
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Our trip started bright and early at 2 in the morning. We woke up and drove to the Raileigh-Durham Airport. Not going to lie. I am not a fan of flying. It is my least favorite part of the vacation. I hate going through airport security. I hate being crammed into an aluminum tube with a dozen or so other strangers. And I hate waiting to get on and off the plane.
Our flight from Baltimore to Galveston was nearly four hours. Needless to say, I was quite overstimulated by strangers bumping into me, children crying and screaming, and having to breathe the same stale air that everyone else was coughing and sneezing in. Oh! And a kid seated behind us vomited. Good grief! I needed a shower after all that!
We landed and took a ride share to our lodging for the evening. We stayed the night inside a train at the Galveston Railroad Museum. It is a 1949 rail car called the Bonnie Brook. In its heyday, it served the NYC New England states between Boston and Chicago. The train was even used by Jackie Gleeson to film his popular television show during his trip between New York City and Miami.
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The Bonnie Brook is one of two train cars available for lodging, the other being Silver Fort. The refurbished train car certainly feels like lodging in the good old days with bunks and tight quarters, all outfitted with modern luxuries like Wi-Fi and a widescreen television. It also has a porter service. Our porter, Chris, was able to get us anything we required.
The museum itself is located in an old train station. It is right in the historic downtown district in walking distance of plenty of cafes, eateries, and shops. Best of all, it is a brisk walk down from the cruise terminal. So, we can walk right onto our cruise ship.
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My group ate at the Shark Shack. I ordered drunken boneless wings for an appetizer. I had it with chili siracha sauce. It had a sweet hotness to it. For my main course, I had the Big Kahuna Dog. It had chili and relish and jalapenos. I ate the whole dog but not the bun. Or the fries. The portions were big. Reminds me of the footlong hotdogs from Casey’s Corner in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.
Our room came with muffins prepared at a local bakery. They were a sweet treat after enduring a four-hour flight. Also provided was a bag of saltwater taffy prepared at a local confectionery. I did not eat them. But I’m sure they’re good.
Day 2: First Day at Sea (Sat. May 3, 2025)
Well, the vacation hadn’t even started yet and it felt like I needed a vacation from my vacation. Getting on the ship itself was quite the hassle. Especially going through security, which is always “fun.” I had to show my boarding pass and passport several times. But we managed to get on.
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Our cruise ship was the Jubilee, one of the largest ships in the Carnival fleet. This ship has multiple pools, countless restaurants and eateries, and even a roller coaster. There was so much to do on the trip, and with it being a weeklong cruise, plenty of time to do it—or so I thought.
When I got on the ship, I was shell-shocked by the cafeteria buffet. There were plenty of free options, obviously, but also food items you had to pay for like wings, Mongolian grill, and Indian. Very sneaky! That’s how they get you. Spend money to get on the ship, and spend money while you’re on it.
There were some technical difficulties with my Carnival Hub app. My sister said that it was not working properly. So, we went to guest services. We met a woman along the way who said she had similar problems. She solved it by deleting her app, reloading it, and signing in again. I tried that two times. It did not work. So, we went to guest services anyway. The line there was long. One of the customer service workers approached us and asked us what our problem was. I told her my app wasn’t working, She immediately figured out what the problem was. My VPN was turned on and blocking it. So, I turned it off and it worked.
We tried to order the soft drink package, but it was unavailable. So, we went to one of the bars to order it. Turns out I had to load my credit card onto my account to order it. So, I had to get my credit card and add it to my ship key card. Finally ordered a soda. A Mountain Dew. And I needed the caffeine. Bad!
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Went to dinner at the Pacific Restaurant. Had a pasta dish with braised lamb. It almost tasted like pork. And the tomato sauce was flavorful. For my main entrée, I ordered a 12-hour braised short rib, which was also very flavorful and succulent with a nice balance of spices and a melt-off-the-bone texture. And for dessert, I had the famous chocolate melting cake. It certainly lived up to its name: decadent chocolate that melts in your mouth and tastes even better when paired with vanilla ice cream. Overall, a satisfactory dinner.
I went to a comedy show later that evening at the Punchliner Comedy Club. That night was a performance by Manny Oliveira. He started strong enough. He bragged about joining the mile-high club on his way to the ship. However, he bemoaned about being an individual member. Rimshot!
His next joke was about his experience on dating apps. He said he tried eHarmony, but that he could not get past the questionnaire. One question was whether or not he would be willing to date outside his race. He replied that, given enough drinks, he would be able to date outside his species.
I took a stroll through the ship afterward. Had two slices of pizza as a midnight snack. Wanted Tex-Mex pizza, but decided to have a barbecue instead. It was good. Then went to the bar for a drink. Ordered a ginger ale with grenadine. I even had a maraschino cherry. Certainly, a nice way to end the evening.
A deputy-involved shooting early Monday morning in Polk County has left a man dead following a series of bizarre and violent incidents that culminated in an armed confrontation with law enforcement. According to Sheriff Grady Judd of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the deceased has been identified as 42-year-old Timothy Schulz.
The incident began around 5:56 a.m. when employees at a RaceTrac gas station on Highway 37 reported a disoriented man “shaking and asking to call his son.” Deputies responded within minutes and began searching the area, but Schulz was not immediately found.
At approximately 7:43 a.m., a second call reported a “white guy in the lake” with alligators nearby. According to witnesses, Schulz refused assistance, growled at a resident offering help, and eventually emerged from the lake holding a pair of garden shears. Sheriff Judd stated Schulz then attempted to break into a vehicle and charged deputies when they arrived.
Despite multiple attempts to deescalate the situation, including the use of tasers, Schulz continued to act aggressively. “He climbed into the passenger side of the patrol vehicle… trying to either get the rifle or the shotgun out of its holder,” Judd said. At that moment, deputies opened fire, fatally shooting him.
Schulz, who had a lengthy history of methamphetamine-related arrests, had recently been released from jail on May 20. Judd emphasized, “Quite frankly, his conduct was outrageous… you’re not going to assault feloniously our deputies.”
The shooting is now under investigation by a multi-agency task force, and the findings will be reviewed by State Attorney Brian Haas.
Around 9:40 a.m. on Saturday, May 24th, the PCSO ECC received a 911 call regarding a motorcycle crash with injuries on Green Pond Road near San Juan Avenue in Polk City A group of motorcycles, led by a 72-year-old man from Mascotte, FL on a Harley Davidson, was traveling westbound on Green Pond Rd when the lead bike entered the right curve and drifted over the center line and into the eastbound lane. At the same time, another group of motorcycles was heading eastbound. The lead bike (a Ducati) in the group of eastbound motorcycles was struck by the 72-year-old, and both motorcyclists were ejected.
Upon arrival of first responders, CPR was being performed on the 72-year-old by witnesses and continued by Polk Fire Rescue as he was transported to a local hospital where, despite life-saving efforts, he succumbed to his injuries. He was not wearing a helmet. The driver of the Ducati, a 61-year-old Tampa man, suffered broken bones and a collapsed lung, and remains in the hospital.
Lakeland, FL – A Walmart employee has been arrested and charged with grand theft after authorities say she stole over $3,000 in cash from multiple registers during her shifts throughout April and May 2025.
According to a police affidavit filed by the City of Lakeland Police Department, Dianna Estelle Brauchle, 52, of Lakeland, Florida, was observed on security footage repeatedly taking money from cash registers at the Walmart located at 5800 US Highway 98 North. The thefts reportedly occurred over several weeks between April 10 and May 2, 2025.
An Asset Protection employee reported the theft after noticing discrepancies tied to the registers Brauchle operated. Carr stated that Brauchle made the thefts in small increments during client transactions, allowing the money to be pocketed without immediately drawing attention. A total of 20 individual theft instances were documented, with amounts ranging from $50 to $500 each time. The total loss to Walmart amounted to $3,135.00.
The affidavit includes detailed observations from store security footage. On multiple occasions, Brauchle was seen removing and concealing money from the register after a transaction. On April 10, footage shows her positioning her torso over the till, counting money, and obscuring her actions from view. On April 15, she was observed placing a $100 bill in her front pocket after hiding it with receipt paper.
When questioned, Brauchle admitted to the thefts, stating she had fallen behind on payments and had been evicted from her home. She told officers she did not know how many times she had taken money or the total amount stolen. According to the affidavit, Brauchle was cooperative throughout the investigation and had no prior theft-related incidents.
Brauchle has been formally charged with one count of Grand Theft between $750 and $5,000, a third-degree felony under Florida Statute 812.014(2c1). She was issued a notice to appear in court and the case was officially filed with the Tenth Judicial Circuit Court in Polk County on May 12, 2025.
Walmart has chosen to pursue criminal charges in the case.
US 98 Crash Leaves One Dead, One Seriously Injured
Highlands County, FL – May 22, 2025 — A heartbreaking crash on US Highway 98 near Thunder Road claimed the life of a Lake Placid teenager Thursday afternoon and left another driver seriously injured, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The collision occurred around 4:10 p.m. when a 2022 Ford F350, driven by a 44-year-old man from Lake Placid, crossed into the southeast-bound lane of US 98 and struck a 2005 Honda Civic head-on. The Civic was driven by 16-year-old Serenity Neiderman, also of Lake Placid.
Serenity was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the Ford sustained serious injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. As of now, the cause of the crash remains under investigation, and no charges have been filed. Florida Highway Patrol reports the case is still active.
Serenity’s passing has sent shockwaves through the community. She is remembered as “one of the most thoughtful, caring, and beautiful people” whose presence deeply impacted the lives of those around her. With a bright and promising future ahead, her life was tragically cut short far too soon.
16-year-old Serenity Neiderman, also of Lake Placid.
“She is no longer suffering,” said those closest to her, reflecting on her memory. “Everyone around her will forever be impacted by the mark she left on the world and the love she left behind.”
A fundraiser has been launched to support Serenity’s family during this unimaginable time, with all proceeds going directly to help them navigate the days ahead.
As the investigation continues, the community mourns the loss of a young life filled with hope, kindness, and love. The Daily Ridge will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.
