Winter Haven, Florida – The Florida Highway Patrol is searching for a hit & run driver who killed a pedestrian In Winter Haven. According to an FHP report the suspect vehicle was traveling eastbound on Lake Howard Drive, east of 15th Street NW, where the pedestrian was on foot crossing the roadway. The suspect vehicle collided with the pedestrian who suffered fatal injuries at the scene of the crash.
Following the collision, which appears to have occurred around 6:50pm Saturday evening, the suspect vehicle fled the scene and was described as possibly a silver Dodge Caliber with Virginia plates.
Anyone with information regarding this crash is asked to call *FHP or Crime Stoppers at **TIPS
A Davenport woman was killed Saturday, November 26, 2022, when the vehicle she was riding in was involved in a crash with another vehicle in Winter Haven.
At about 5:42 pm, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Polk County Fire Rescue were dispatched to the crash on Cypress Gardens Boulevard, in front of the Hill Nissan car dealership.
Upon the arrival of first responders, 76-year old Jean Worme was found deceased.
The PCSO Traffic Homicide Investigations learned that the victim had been a front passenger in a white 2023 Nissan Rogue that was being test driven by 86-year old Clifford Worme, and the vehicle was making its return to the dealership.
Based on evidence and witness statements, investigators say that the Rogue was traveling east on Cypress Gardens Boulevard and began a left turn into Hill Nissan, crossing into the path of a red 2007 Nissan Murano that was traveling in the westbound lanes.
Mr. Worme only suffered minor injuries. The rear passenger in the Nissan Rogue, who was a Hill Nissan sales representative, and the driver of the Nissan Murano were both uninjured.
All of the people involved in the crash were wearing seatbelts.
The westbound lanes of Cypress Gardens Boulevard were closed for about four hours.
Wanted Felon Accused Of Strangling Woman Was Shot By Winter Haven Police
This is a follow-up to the initial release of the officer-involved shooting in Winter Haven this morning.
On 11/10/22 at approximately 3:52 a.m., officers responded to an apartment at Haven at Lake Deer involving a female who had been strangled and pushed into a wall by 43 year-old Jason Pickles (DOB 5/19/79). Pickles had an outstanding warrant from an incident that occurred on 10/25/22 for Felony Battery Prior Conviction.
When officers arrived, Pickles had already left the property. A complaint affidavit was issued for Pickles regarding this case. Through the early morning hours, officers continued to monitor the location and when Pickles returned to the apartment, officers attempted to have him step out of his vehicle.
Pickles refused to exit the vehicle and sped off. Officers located Pickles again in an apartment complex parking lot when Pickles sped through the parking area towards one of the officers. The officer, in fear for his safety and safety of the public, fired his department-issued weapon striking Pickles.
Pickles continued through the lot striking another vehicle and ultimately exited the Haven at Lake Deer Apartments lot.
Officers were able to block him in at the parking area of the Wellington Condominiums along Lake Howard Drive.
Once Pickles was secured officers began treating his injuries until EMS personnel arrived, Pickles was transported to Lakeland Regional Health with non-life threatening injuries.
After being released from the hospital, Pickles will be charged with two counts of Aggravated Assault and Resisting Arrest with Violence.
The 10th Judicial Circuit Officer-Involved Shooting Team is currently investigating the shooting with the State Attorney’s Office overseeing the investigation. The Winter Haven Police Department will conduct an internal administrative investigation, which is standard procedure.
(The officers’ names are not being released due to Marsy’s Law.)
The officer involved in the shooting has been placed on paid administrative leave until the investigation is complete.
Due to the ongoing investigation, there will be nothing more released at this time.
Original Update:
Winter Haven Police are on the scene of an officer-involved shooting that occurred earlier this morning. No officers are injured and the suspect has non-life-threatening injuries and has been taken to the hospital for treatment.
The incident location is at the Haven of Lake Deer Apartments (350 24th St. NW). The suspect, Jason Pickles (DOB 5-19-79) has a long and violent criminal history and currently had a warrant for his arrest.
The investigation is being turned over to the 10th Judicial Circuit Officer Involved Shooting Team.
In-Gauge of Polk County, an NRA affiliated, non-profit organization, gave away, free of charge, 150 child gun safety locks at the 46th Annual Pioneer Days Heritage Festival, conduct the weekend of October 29th and 30th, in Lake Wales, Florida.
In-Gauge of Polk County, located in Winter Haven, Florida participated in the Lake Wales 46th Annual Pioneer Days Heritage Festival providing a booth that promoted firearm safety, emphasizing child gun safety, October 29th and 30, 2022.
See a gun: Stop! Don’t touch. Run away. Tell a grown-up. Through a grant from the NRA, In-Gauge distributed free Eddie Eagle printed materials that included the Parent’s Guide to Gun Safety and kid activity books to adults and children who visited their booth.
In addition, In-Gauge provided free gun safety locks to all adults who wanted one. In the two-day period, 150 gun safety locks, donated by Wild Wild West Arms of Lake Hamilton, Florida, were given away.
Lake Wales, Florida – The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has announced the arrest of 37 yr old Lake Wales man, Marion Tyrone Burgess. According to FDLE Burgess is charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, tampering with physical evidence, attempted murder, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to reports this all started back in 2019. In October of 2019 Burgess was accused of attempted murder after allegedly shooting a Winter Haven man, Dominque Harris, multiple times in the area of Dawn Heights Drive in Lakeland. According to information gathered, witness and the victims statements, Burgess shot Harris after they met at a location in Winter Haven and drove to the area in Lakeland. The two got out of the car and then Burgess shot him multiple times. They had known each other for about 3 or 4 months. The two were arguing according to the Harris. Luckily Harris escaped Burgess and was treated at a local hospital. This all happened just 5 months after Burgess was released from Florida State Prison serving a 15 year sentence for robbery with a weapon, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, resisting an officer with violence, and battery on a law enforcement officer.
According to FDLE representative, Mark Brunell, Burgess tried to pursued Harris not to testify against him for attempted murder, multiple times. Fearing that Harris was going to be the reason he would be sent back to state prison, Burgess devised a “cold and calculated” plan to murder Harris.
On May 26, 2020, Harris’s body was found badly beaten and stabbed in an orange grove in Zolpho Springs.
Burgess had subsequently been arrested by Lake Wales Police for violation of his release pending the original attempted murder charge. He has been in jail Since 2020.
Now Burgess will stand trial the attempted murder and subsequent murder of Dominique Harris.
This morning (10/4/2022) at approximately 11:31 a.m., Winter Haven Officers responded to a disturbance call at 270 Kings Pond Ave., Winter Haven.
The first officer on scene arrived and was speaking with a witness across the street from the residence where the disturbance occurred, when two men from the disturbance residence came outside and starting shooting at each other.
From across the street, our officer turned to see the aggressors shooting towards each other. Due to the imminent danger to the public, our officer fired his weapon in the direction of the aggressors.
The two aggressors were injured and aide was given by our officers on scene. It is unknown at this time what injuries came from the aggressors shooting at each other or if there are any injuries resulting from our officer firing his weapon.
Our officer was not physically injured. The two aggressors were taken to the hospital and condition on either is unknown at this time.
This is very early in the investigation with limited information available. The Tenth Judicial Circuit Task Force, overseen by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, is handling the investigation. We will send out additional information as it becomes available, however there will not be any further updates this evening.
Sunday evening crash in Winter Haven kills one driver and injures another
A two vehicle crash Sunday night, October 2, 2022, in an unincorporated area of Winter Haven resulted in the death of one driver, and non-life-threatening injuries to the other.
Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and crews from Polk County Fire Rescue were dispatched at about 11:36 p.m. to State Road 540, just east of the intersection with Spirit Lake Road in Winter Haven.
Upon arrival, they found 31-year old Tiffany Flannagan of Winter Haven, deceased. The other driver, 21-year old Matthew Hjort, Jr., also of Winter Haven, suffered a broken leg and was transported to a local hospital.
Ms. Flannagan was the driver of a black 2019 Chevy Malibu, and Mr. Hjort was the driver of a black 2014 Honda Civic.
Based on evidence and statements taken at the scene, it was determined that Ms. Flannagan had been driving westbound on SR 540 at a high rate of speed when her Chevy crossed over the grassy median and collided with Mr. Hjort’s Honda which was travelling east.
Ms. Flannagan’s Chevy caught on fire following impact, but witnesses at the scene were able to extinguish it quickly.
A portion of SR 540 was closed for approximately three hours.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal crash near Frostproof that occurred Tuesday morning, January 31, 2023, in which a pedestrian was hit by a passing vehicle.
43-year old Janie Barnett of Frostproof was transported to a local hospital but died from her injuries shortly after arriving.
Deputies and Polk County Fire Rescue were dispatched to the crash on US 27, near the Camp Inn Resort, at about 6:12 am.
The northbound lanes of US 27 were shutdown at County Road 630A for about five hours.
The driver of the silver 2015 Chevrolet Colorado pick-up truck that was involved was 61-year old Perry Jock of Sebring. He was not injured, and remained at the scene to speak with detectives.
Evidence and witness statements collected by the Traffic Homicide Unit revealed that Ms. Barnett was walking along US 27 when a relative stopped their car off of the east shoulder of the road to pick her up.
Mr. Jock was travelling north on US 27 and said he saw the parked vehicle, but did not see Ms. Barnett until impact.
Detectives said the crash occurred before sunrise and there are no street lights in this area.
Mr. Jock consented to a voluntary blood draw, but showed no signs of impairment. Excessive speed or distracted driving do not appear to be factors in the crash.
Folks were able to get back to their roots and jam out to great tunes in the middle of rugged Florida wilderness during the Roots and Jam Festival, hosted last Saturday at HEART Village in Warner University.
Attendees were able to go on guided farm tours of HEART Village, a self-sustaining demonstration village located within 40 acres near Warner University. They could also listen to bluegrass and other music performed by bands and musicians throughout the day, as well as participate in gardening workshops and enjoy meals made from food grown on location.
At least 150 attendees had been estimated to attend that day, with approximately 75 to 100 visiting, explained Phil Murphy, Executive Director for HEART Village.
“I am pleased with the goal that we met here today which was bringing people together,” he said. “The people who said they would come and do music, they came and they have done a really good job. The people who came to speak did a good job. The people who came to participate and volunteer [did as well]. I would say we went way over our expectations.”
HEART Village (Hunger Education and Resource Training) was started in 1981 by Warner University (then Warner Southern College). The “simulated world village”, as it is described, was started to train students with the essential skills needed to volunteer overseas in developing countries.
“It was the idea of people going overseas as missionaries or peace corps they go unprepared,” Murphy said. “They are not ready for the living conditions or the issues that people have to deal with overseas…living without the amenities we have here in the United States. That is how we got started.”
More than just a simulated village for training, HEART Village also serves as a fully-functional farm, supplying more than 65 percent of their own fruits and vegetables, and raising meat from fish and livestock on the property.
“We are focusing on preparing people to live in community and raise their own food and live sustainably and to do it in an appropriate manner, whether it is in the US or around the world,” Murphy said.
For the past several years, HEART Village has hosted an annual fall festival. They had ceased the celebration during the COVID-19 pandemic, but have since brought it back with a new focus on education.
“We decided to bring people together and have a good time and bring the community together,” Murphy said. “So. we focused this year on the gardens and the lessons a little bit, but mostly about giving people a place to eat some food and come together to listen to some local music, and also learn from one another and network. That has been our goal today.”
My New Year’s resolution (which most other people commonly make) is to lose weight. More than two weeks in and I’ve succeeded in losing four pounds. So, what better way to celebrate than splurging on fast food? And what better place than Lake Wales’ newest (and hottest) burger joint?
Brake Burger Garage is the brain child of Dwyane McQuillen, owner of Crazy Fish Bar and Grill and Harry’s Old Place. Despite being someone who normally specializes in serving seafood, McQuillen wanted to open an eatery that, as What Now Orlando put it, “grills a better burger than the usual fast food offering.”
His idea manifested itself into Lake Wales’ newest burger joint, which, true to its name, is built inside an old gas station next door to Locorrito along US Highway 60. The eatery recently started with a test opening on Tuesday and Wednesday, and I (along with my publisher, Carl Fish) was one of the lucky “taste testers.”
Brake Burger Garage’s menu is typical burger joint fare: burgers, fries, chicken sandwiches and tenders. If you’re craving a burger that isn’t your run-of-the-mill McDonalds and Burger King, this new place will offer you something familiar with enough of a new kick and twist to make you at least want to give it a try—or even two.
During my visit on Tuesday evening, I decided to break my New Year’s resolution by ordering the eatery’s eponymous Brake Burger with grilled onions, pickles, and signature Brake Sauce (more on that later) with a side of waffle fries and cole slaw. I also added jalapenos because I like my food with an extra kick.
I also placed an order for loaded waffle fries as an appetizer. I had the option to top those fries with bacon, beef, or chicken, but I didn’t want to break my resolution that badly (or break the servers there that busy evening with extra ingredients).
Glancing over the menu, I was tempted to order some of the spicy chicken sandwiches, especially the Nashville Chicken tenders. However, as this is a burger joint, it was only proper to judge it based on its burgers. (But if the chicken is anything like the Nashville Chicken at Locorrito next door, then I’m sure they were finger-licking good!)
Both the burger and loaded fries were served with the signature Brake Sauce, a tangy mayo-based sauce with cumin, onion, and chili powder. The best comparison I can make is either to Guy Ferrari’s Donkey Sauce or to Zaxby’s signature sauce–enough of a tang to kick it a real kick but not too spicy to set your mouth blazing.
As for the burger patty, it was equal parts meaty and greasy. In other words, the best kind of diner-style burger, seeping with enough finger-licking grease to make you thankful you’re eating it in an absorbent-enough bun. Though diners be warned: the grease does drip, so make sure you’re eating it over your fries and not over your shirt.
The best way I can describe the burger is that it’s about the size and quality of a Checker’s or Culver’s burger served with the greasy, smash-burger goodness of Five Guy’s and with a tangy sauce like Zaxby’s. In other words, excellent!
As for the overall atmosphere, I admit, judging it based on a busy test eater’s evening is slightly unfair. In its favor, the setting inside and old garage with hubcaps and car logos on the walls has very rustic, old-school burger joint feel.
However, you can tell it was built inside an old gas station with its small dining room that holds a handful of tables. Because of the busy evening, customers were asked to wait ten minutes before being assigned a seat. I doubt it will be that busy moving forward, but unless they plan on adding outdoor seating, I’m curious whether they will be able to accommodate the lunch hour rush.
The only major complaint I have (or rather, minor complaint) are the condiments. As a typical burger joint, each table offers the standard salt and pepper shakers with ketchup and mustard. The only thing missing was a small bottle of hot sauce (like tabasco). This is just me, but I prefer having the option to spice up my meal. At the very least, I was able to order an extra side of Brake Sauce, which is nice.
Overall, Brake Burger Garage certainly makes me want to slam on the brakes next time I pass by in Lake Wales. The selection may be slim for now, but what little they have packs real old-fashioned burger joint flavor. You’ll certainly want to put the pedal to the metal and head over there to give it a chance.
Now, if you excuse me, I have four extra pounds to re-lose and a resolution to unbreak.
Brake Burger Garage is located along 206 E. State Rd 60, Lake Wales, FL 33853. For more info, visit their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076151152963
