PCSO deputies arrested 69-year-old David Roberts, Lake Wales, a Polk County Sheriff’s Office volunteer (Volunteer Sheriff’s Service Officer), for drug trafficking charges (selling Oxycodone pills) and weapons charges yesterday, April 29, 2022. Roberts was charged with: Possession of a vehicle used to traffic drugs, possess of narcotic paraphernalia, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, unlawful use of a 2-way communication device, possession of cannabis over 20 grams, trafficking in Oxycodone 25 grams or more, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Deputies received a tip earlier this month that Roberts receives a monthly prescription for 90 Oxycodone pills (10 mg) that he sells to others and that Roberts was seen carrying large amounts of cash. Undercover detectives contacted Roberts and asked to purchase Oxycodone. Roberts agreed and a meeting was set up yesterday at a convenience store in the Lake Wales area to conduct the transaction. U/C detectives agreed to purchase 90 Oxycodone pills from Roberts.
After the drug transaction, Roberts drove to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Southeast Command Center where he was taken into custody. The money for the drug transaction was located in his from pocket. Deputies then went to Roberts’ residence and located a .22 rifle, a handgun, ammunition, a prescription pill bottle for 90 Oxycodone pills, and a large mason jar full of a green leafy substance that tested positive for cannabis (25.02 grams). Roberts told deputies he does not have a medical marijuana card. Roberts has a 1971 conviction for burglary (a felony). Roberts became a PCSO volunteer in October of 2009. He has served as a volunteer Sheriff’s Service Officer out of the Southeast district office. VSSOs are civilian volunteer members and do not have law enforcement authority, assist with directing traffic, conducting neighborhood canvassing, documenting minor crashes, etc.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man in unincorporated Lake Wales on Thursday, April 28, 2022, for the death of a 52-year old Lake Wales woman.
19-year old Seth Settle of Lake Waleswas charged with: 2nd Degree Murder with a Weapon (FL), Tampering with Evidence (F3), Discharging a Firearm in a Residential Area (M1), and Giving False Information During an Investigation (5-counts, M1).
Prior to law enforcement being notified, the victim was transported to a local hospital at about 9:41 a.m. for penetrating injuries to her breast and left armpit. Due to the suspiciousness of the injuries, medical staff contacted law enforcement.
Deputies simultaneously responded to the hospital and the crime scene which was at a residence near Red Oak Court and Capps Road, east of Lake Wales. Seth Settle and his victim both resided in the same home at this location.
The victim passed away at about 10:26 a.m.
According to the arrest affidavit, Seth Settle told detectives that he had been sitting in his bedroom when the victim told him “Stop smoking in the house,” and she walked out of his room. Settle said he pointed a firearm at the door and the gun went off. He said that he exited his bedroom and found the victim unresponsive so he told another person in the house to call an ambulance, and then left the scene in a car.
Settle lied to detectives five separate times about where he disposed of the firearm. A friend of Settle contacted the Sheriff’s Office and reported that Settle had given him two firearms, and the weapons were recovered by detectives.
“The suspect is trying to play this off as an accident, but he had a loaded gun and intentionally pointed it at the door where the victim just exited and he fired it. He fled the scene without rendering aid, then he arranged for a friend to dispose of the weapon. These are not the actions of a man who just accidentally killed someone. He knew exactly what he was doing.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff.
Sheriff Grady Judd will brief the news media at 10:30 a.m. at the Polk County Sheriff’s Operations Center, 1891 Jim Keene Blvd., about two arrests made yesterday, April 28, 2022:
Deputies arrested 69-year-old David Roberts, Lake Wales, a Polk County Sheriff’s Office volunteer (Volunteer Sheriff’s Service Officer), for drug trafficking charges (selling Oxycodone pills) and weapons charges.
Deputies arrested 19-year-old Seth Settle of Lake Wales for shooting and killing a family member. He’s been charged with 2nd degree murder, tampering with evidence, providing false information to a law enforcement officer (5 counts) and discharging a firearm on a residential property. The murder occurred yesterday, April 28, 2022, in the unincorporated area near Lake Wales.
Lake Wales, Florida – The Daily Ridge began getting messages and calls shortly after 11am Thursday morning regarding an incident in East Lake Wales.
According to Brian Bruchey, public information officer, with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office a person at a residence on Red Oak Ct., in Country Oaks Community has been severely injured. That person has been transported to a local hospital for care. Details at this time are not available as the incident is under investigation.
We are told by readers that Red Oak Ct. is currently blocked off to through traffic.
We will update this article as more information becomes available.
Affidavit released from Lake Wales Police Department on the arrest of Marcus Kirby of Lake Wales:
On 04/05/2022, I made contact with Robert Quam, who is the registered agent of the Lake Wales Care Center INC. Lake Wales Care Center is a registered not for profit corporation within the city limits of Lake Wales. The Lake Wales Care Center is an organization that helps people in need within the community.
One of the programs ran by the Lake Wales Care Center is acting as a trustee for disabled adults, as a power of attorney to help protect them and their finances. This portion of the Lake Wales Care Center’s program was in the care of Marcus Kirby. Marcus Kirby’s position within the organization was to issue funds, pay bills, and to act as a trustee for both ■■■ accounts. To help with his duties Marcus Kirby was issued a Debit Card for both ■■■ bank accounts located at South State Bank.
Marcus Kirby provided small amounts of cash to both ■■■ as an allowance controlling the flow of money the spent which was his duties as the trustee of their money.
Marcus Kirby duties within the Lake Wales Care Center recently changed which led to a new person within the entity taking over the duties. This change in personnel led to the discovery of charges on both ■■■ South State Bank accounts, which raised alarms. Due to this Robert Quam notified the Lake Wales Police Department of the situation.
The charges that raised alarm were charges on the victim’s cards for dining, groceries, large cell phone bills, gas stations, vehicle maintenance, entertainment, photography, and utilities bills.
Robert Quam then provided me with both ■■■ South State Bank Statements.
On 04/25/2022, I met with-at the Lake Wales Care Center to review the charges on her bank statements. ■■■ explained she did not have a debit card to her account and did not ever access the fund in the account. During the interview I went through the charges from 01/01/2019 to 03/31/2022.
■■■ explained she did not ever use a debit card to her account and any charges using the debit card would not be charges she knew about. ■■■ was asked if she was ever taken to a restaurant by Marcus Kirby to which she replied no. ■■■ was asked if she was ever brought food from a restaurant or grocery store to which she replied no. The total charges accrued utilizing the debit card attached to ■■■ account is $5,527.05. The $5,527.05 was utilized by Marcus Kirby for his own gains with no benefit to ■■■■ land without her consent.
On 04/25/2022, I also spoke with ■■■ at the Lake Wales Care. During his interview I reviewed the charges on his account from the dates of 06/18/2021 to 04/14/2022. ■■■■ did not have knowledge he had an account and believed the cash provided to him by Marcus Kirby was for the work he provided to the Lake Wales Care Center. ■■■■ explained he never received food from any restaurants or grocery stores from Marcus Kirby. ■■■■ stated he was provided $20.00 a week by Marcus Kirby until he complained about the amount causing Marcus Kirby to misc the amount to $40.00 a week. ■■■■ stated this was the only thing Marcus Kirby provided him.
On 04/27/2022, Marcus Kirby came to the Lake Wales Police Department with the intent to turn himself in for the crimes he committed. I walked Marcus Kirby into an interview room and read him his Miranda Rights and he stated he would like to speak with me.
Marcus Kirby provided a statement explaining the charges on the victim’s cards. Marcus Kirby explained all charges accrued from the debit card attached to ■■■■■ account was indeed him and was used only for his gain except one. The one charge was for $71.74 for Amazon he explained was not him, but every other charge on ■■■■■ account was him and for his gain alone. The total amount Marcus Kirby stated he stole from ■■■■■ was $5,455.31. Marcus Kirby went through the bank statements line by line.
Marcus Kirby continued on to ■■■■■ account. Marcus Kirby stated all charges accrued from he debit card attached to ■■■■■ account was indeed him and was used only for his gain except one. The one charge was for $8.99 for the Apothecary Shop he explained was not him, but every other charge on ■■■■■ account was him and for his gain alone. The total amount Marcus Kirby stated he stole from ■■■■■ debit card was $10,215.03. Marcus Kirby then explained the amount issued to ■■■■■ weekly was $40.00 to him and $50.00 to his aunt for helping take care of him. The total amount of cash issued Marcus Kirby stated was issued to ■■■■■ and his aunt in the 11 months he was in control of the account was $3,960.00. The amount of money withdrawn by Marcus Kirby was $11,979.00. This shows the total amount of case taken by Marcus Kirby from ■■■■■ account was $8,019.00. This makes the total amount of money taken from ■■■■■ by Marcus Kirby $18,234.03 this number was agreed upon by Marcus Kirby.
Both ■■■■■ are disabled adults when Marcus Kirby knowingly used the victim’s funds. Marcus Kirby did this with the intent to permanently deprive the victims of the use of the funds. Marcus Kirby did this to benefit him alone. At the time Marcus Kirby did this he was in a position of trust as the trustee to their accounts due to their mental capacities. I believe it to evident, Marcus Kirby breached his fiduciary duty to the victims.
I believe l meet the state requirements to charge Marcus Kirby with exploitation of a disabled adult.
On April 22 Frank Hunt III provided a letter to packing house employees sharing that the packing house would be closing and not re-opening. According to the letter the reason for closing was due to Citrus Greening caused by hurricane Irma and lost citrus supply.
Hunt Bros. held on for the past five years hoping the trees would bounce back from Irma’s damage unfortunately reality set in as trees crashed and now must be replanted.
Packing House Citrus Line
According to the letter it will take nearly a decade for trees to start producing at a level that would be sustainable. In order to fund new planting Hunt Bros. states they were forced to sell over 1,000 acres of groves that even further reduced their future citrus supply.
The packing house is scheduled to conclude business and pack their last carton of fruit May 6th.
Lake Wales, Florida – On Tuesday night the Lake Wales Charter School convened it’s regularly scheduled board meeting. Many topics were on the agenda, however, retaining the high school principal wasn’t one of them. During the meeting an opportunity was given, per Roberts Rules of Order, for the public to speak. There were 10 speakers allowed. One of those speakers was LWHS freshman Ally Donley (her full speech to the board is below). She tried to reason with interim superintendent and the board into retaining Donna Dunson for one more year. Tearfully Ally stated “I don’t understand the rules all of you are arguing back and forth about, but I do understand how me and my friends feel about Ms. Dunson. I wish she would stay the next 3 years until I graduate, but I know she can’t. I also know that you grown ups can stop arguing about what is right and wrong and listen to what us students want. We want her to be here one more year. Please give her a chance to help us to get to know the new principal. Please show us kids what it means to be mature.”
The issue is, during a tumultuous time last year LWHS Principal Donna Dunson resigned as principal after 20/21 school year with her last day being 6/30/2022. This resignation came in August of 2021. However, after meeting Dr. Rodolfich (the new LWCS superintendent) having several discussions with him, and at the prompting from Dr. Rodolfich she had a change of heart. Dr. Rodolfich notified the board by email of his desire on April 1, 2022. Several days later Dr. Rodolfich advised the teachers at Lake Wales High School that he wanted Principal Dunson to stay onboard. After Principal Dunson Dunson sent an email to the LWCS administration she and Dr. Rodolfich we’re advised that due to policy and procedure her rescinding of her resignation could not be done. It also was learned that Dr. Rodolfich nor interim superintendent Smith could guarantee employment. This is clearly written out in the charter bylaws that the board only can confirm employment on a year to year basis for the Principal Position. The superintendent has the right to suggest her as a candidate. However, in an email Danny Gill, board chairman, informed Dr. Rodolfich (in an email LINK) that Principal Dunson would no longer be on staff as of June 30, 2022. He also advised Dr. Rodolfich that he felt the board has moved on “I believe the board is ready to move in a new direction and a clean start will help you to be the successful superintendent we need.” Dr. Rodolfich will not be coming onboard until July 1, 2022. In an email to the media Dr. Rodolfich realized his error and walked back those statements (LINK to that article). “I am publicly acknowledging my misunderstanding of the policies and my inability to make such decisions before my contract begins on July 1, 2022” said Dr. Rodolfich.
Several items have parents, LWHS Staff and community leaders disturbed. The administration says Dr. Rodolfich has no say so on Principal Dunson staying until he is an employee, yet they have given him an email address, let him tour and speak to schools and asked him to choose candidates from a pool of candidates that applied for the principal job over 120 days ago. Parents are also upset that interim superintendent won’t allow Principal Dunson to rescind her request to resign outright. He has pointed to policy and procedures, but we cannot find anything in the bylaws to prohibit this action. Additionally Interim Superintendent Smith advised that there is a path forward for Ms. Dunson to remain the principal, but it will require Dr. Rodolfich to again recommend keeping Principal Dunson, this time officially and open up the whole process again. However after the email from Chairman Gill it would appear to not be in Dr. Rodolfich’s best interest to do so.
One board member, Lori Hutto, asked if she could make a motion to suspend the search for a new principal and retain Principal Dunson for another year. That request was not acknowledged nor advisement on proper procedures of such a request wasn’t addressed by Chairman Gill.
Parents have vowed to continue to ask the board to directly address why they will not entertain the idea of Principal Dunson for an additional year. Her personal file is clear of any reprimands or written disciplinary in over 17 years from her time at Polk Avenue, originating Bok Academy or as Lake Wales High School Principal. Principal Dunson has take the high school from estimated 65% graduation rate to over an estimated 95% graduation rate.
Editors note: This is the first part of a multiple part series of articles regarding the Lake Wales Charter School Board.
Board of Trustees Work Session & Finance Meeting Tuesday, April 26, 2022 Agenda – 4:00pm (in person) Lake Wales High School (Auditorium) Livestream Link: https://youtu.be/MQ2OMgiqSv4 I. CALL TO ORDER Alricky Smith, Superintendent/CFO II. EVALUATION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT Alricky Smith, Superintendent III. LWCS BOARD SUPERINTENDENT RELATIONS Alricky Smith, Superintendent IV. LWCS JOB/POSITION DESCRIPTIONS Stacie Padgett, Prof. Dev. Coord. V. LWCS WHISTLEBLOWER POLICY Alricky Smith, Superintendent VI. EMPLOYEE DISCIPLINE – GUIDE FOR ADMINISTRATORS 1 Stacie Padgett, Prod. Dev. Coord. VII. PROPOSED HEALTH CURRICULUM 21-22 VIII. GENERAL COUNSEL UPDATE IX. FINANCIAL REPORT A. Monthly Financials Marcia Rose, RN– Dir. of Nursing Robin Gibson, Attorney Alricky Smith, Superintendent/CFO Presented for your review and approval at the April 26, 2022 Board of Trustees Meeting. B. PersonnelChanges Presented for your review and approval at the April 26, 2022 Board of Trustees Meeting. X. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT Alricky Smith, Superintendent/CFO A. MINUTES: BOARD OF TRUSTEES WORK SESSION AND MEETING: March 28, 2022 Work Session/Finance Meeting; March 28, 2022 Board Meeting Presented for your review and approval at the April 26, 2022 Board of Trustees Meeting. B. NEXT MEETING DATE Board of Trustees Work Session/Finance Meeting (4:00pm) and Board of Trustee Meeting (5:30pm) – Monday, May 23, 2022 at the Lake Wales High School (Auditorium). Board of Trustees Work Session & Finance Meeting – Tuesday, April 26, 2022
XI. SCHOOL UPDATES – DRFBP/HC/JHW/PAE/BOK N/ BOK S/LWHS XII. OTHER BUSINESS FOR THE GOOD OF THE CAUSE XIII. ADJOURN
Lake Wales, Florida- The Polk County Sheriff’s Office isn’t releasing most details regarding an altercation which required a man to be airlifted for care. What is available is at around 9pm, Sunday night, a call came in for assistance at the new Circle K gas station on Hwy 27 in South Lake Wales.
According to the PCSO public information officer, Alicia Manautou, the incident did not occur at the location or even in Lake Wales. There is a person of interest, but the name of the person isn’t being released at this time. That individual is still at large as of this time. She advised the man who was airlifted has been treated and released.
We will continue to monitor this situation and update information as it is received.
Lake Wales, Florida – Parents and educators at a recent Lake Wales High School School Advisory Council (SAC) meeting felt a recently sent email by Lake Wales Charter School Board Chairman, Danny Gill, to new superintendent to be, Dr. Wayne Rodolfich, bordered on “bullying”.
What has parents, educators and community members upset are multiple factors. The first two are regarding why Interim Superintendent Alricky Smith didn’t just accept her rescinding her resignation and if that wasn’t possible, why can’t Dunson be added to the pool of candidates (link to article here: LWHS School Advisory Council Seeks To Retain Principal Dunson).
The most troubling factor for parents is a written communication between LWCS Board Chairman Danny Gill and Dr. Rodolfich. That email was forwarded by chairman Gill to the Daily Ridge that “I have no further comment on this matter. This is my official response.” In that email to Dr. Rodolfich the chairman advises the following: “As to your request for Ms. Dunson, she submitted her resignation August 6, 2021 to Alricky Smith, Acting Superintendent and Dr. Ogontola, Board Chair and it was accepted. The Board authorized the Acting Superintendent to post the position and seek applicants. At the COB on June 30.2022. Ms. Dunson will not be an employee of LWCS. According to the bylaws, the Board has to approve the hiring of the principal position. I would encourage you and the current superintendent to move forward with looking over the pool of applicants and give him your suggestion for the position. He can bring it to the board for approval next month. If you wish to hire Ms. Dunson for the next school year, you can bring it to the board once you are in the superintendent position. I believe the board is ready to move in a new direction and a clean start will help you to be the successful superintendent we need. I would suggest that you keep Mr. Anuj Saran as the AP for the needed stability and institutional knowledge at the high school.”(the entire email is: Here).
It would appear from that statement and Dr.Rodolfich’s own statement posted on the front page of the charter school website that Dr. Rodolfich can’t recommend anything about Donna Dunson being principal until the 2023/2024 school year. As he is not the acting superintendent until after principal Dunson leaves he has no say so until next year. Yet the charter school system has furnished Dr. Rodolfich a Lake Wales Charter School email and asked him to make recommendations on the candidates that applied for principal prior to his official start date.
The question is if chairman Gill overstepped his bounds and intimidated Dr. Rodolfich. One SAC member referenced Mr. Gills email to “bullying”. Another asked how and if the could ask for a vote of “no confidence” in chairman Gill. Multiple areas of the above statement are in question and the walking back of a statement by Dr. Rodolfich seem to show Dr. Rodolfich was put in his place. (Link to article: Incoming Superintendent Walks Back Statement Made To Faculty Of Lake Wales High School).
Was it appropriate for chairman Gill to write the following “I believe the board is ready to move in a new direction and a clean start will help you to be the successful superintendent we need.”? Does this really express the entire board’s feelings on Dunson’s return. Does imply that Dr. Rodolfich will not have a successful start if he continues to want to bring principal Dunson back? Additionally chairman Gill makes reference to current assistant principal Anuj Saran “I would suggest that you keep Mr. Anuj Saran as the AP for the needed stability and institutional knowledge at the high school.” The difficulty with that statement is that if they don’t choose to bring principal Dunson back, Anuj Saran has put in his resume to be principal. Yet the email would appear to imply don’t make him your principal choice keep him as assistant principal.
These are questions parents and educators will bring up with the committee at the next charter school meeting April 26, 4pm at LWHS.
