HAINES CITY, FL – The Haines City Police Department is looking for any information regarding the fatal shooting of a 34-year-old man that took place on Sunday night. Gerald Lewis, of Haines City, was pronounced dead with a gunshot wound to the left side of the torso and a severely injured leg in the area of Valencia Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way at about 9:30 p.m. on Sunday. Polk County Emergency Medical Services performed life-saving procedures, but were unsuccessful in reviving Lewis. The shooting took place after Lewis had become involved in a physical altercation with a 41-year-old man near Valencia Avenue. The man told detectives that Lewis, whom he does not know, attacked him unprovoked and struck him in the eye. The punch caused the man to fall to the ground. One witness, related to the shooter, witnessed the punch and subsequent fall and corroborated the man’s claims that the fight was initiated by Lewis and unprovoked. The much-leaner man told detectives that Lewis jumped on top of him after the punch. The man, who was in legal possession of a concealed firearm, said he was in fear for his life and reached for his gun. The man said that as he and Lewis were struggling for the gun, a single shot was fired, which struck Lewis just below the ribcage. The man told detectives that the shot was enough to get Lewis off of him. Both he and Lewis stood up and ran in different directions. The shooter told detectives that he heard a loud noise and turned around to see that Lewis had been struck by a vehicle, which he described as a gray four-door sedan, in the area where he later died. The sedan did not stop after hitting Lewis and the driver remains at large. The shooter, who claimed to have acted in self-defense, suffered bruising to the eye to the point that it was swollen shut. He also suffered cuts to his elbows and knees. No charges have been filed. The investigation is ongoing. Detectives are asking anyone with any information to call the Haines City Police Department at 863-421-3636. Anyone who wants to remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward can contact Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-8477 (TIPS) or via the web at www.p3tips.com.
Officers responded to a hit-and-run crash before 9 p.m. on Monday that left an infant seriously injured.
A black Chrysler was traveling at a high rate of speed when it struck a black Lincoln at the intersection of North 12th Street and Avenue L. The driver of the Chrysler was not present at the scene and has not been identified.
Located in the Lincoln were one adult driver, one juvenile passenger and two infants. One of the infants was found to be unconscious and transported to St. Joseph’s Pediatric Trauma Center in Tampa.
The child suffered several fractures, internal bleeding, head trauma and a lacerated liver. The child is currently in critical but stable condition.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the Haines City Police Department at 863-421-3636 . Anyone who wants to remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward can contact Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-8477 (TIPS) or via the web at www.p3tips.com.
Deputies from the Polk
County Sheriff’s Office responded to a fatal vehicle crash at around 6:00 p.m.
Monday evening, September 6, 2021, at the intersection of SR 60 and Old
Connersville Road in unincorporated Bartow.
According to the
preliminary investigation, 32-year-old Brittany Young of Bartow was driving a
beige 2010 Chevrolet Malibu on Old Connersville Road. Ms. Young and her two
passengers, 30-year-old Christopher Moore and 29-year-old Anthony Spurlock,
both from Bartow, had just left the Connersville Bait and Tackle when they
crossed the eastbound lanes of SR 60 and entered into the path of a red and
black 2016 Suzuki 600 Motorcycle driven by 21-year-old Blake Adam Gilmore of
Winter Haven.
Mr. Gilmore was
ejected from his motorcycle and pronounced deceased at the scene. Mr. Gilmore
was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.
Ms. Young was
transported to a local hospital where she was treated and released with minor
injuries. Mr. Spurlock and Mr. Moore were uninjured. Ms. Young was wearing her
seatbelt at the time of the crash; her passengers were not.
When deputies arrived
on scene, they found Anthony Spurlock and Christopher Moore walking away from
the crash. Moore was carrying a backpack which belonged to Mr. Gilmore. Moore
admitted to deputies that he stole the backpack from the crash site.
Christopher Moore was
arrested for Petit Theft (M1) and Tampering with Evidence (F3). He was
transported to the Polk County Jail and currently has a $1500 bond. Moore’s
criminal history includes 6 felonies and 20 misdemeanors with charges for
Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Marijuana,
Domestic Violence Battery, Disclose Testimony of Witness for a Grand Jury
Hearing, Trespassing, Criminal Mischief, Resisting an Officer without Violence,
Driving with No Driver’s License, Failure to Appear, and Violation of
Probation.
Westbound SR 60 was
closed for approximately four hours.
Do you recognize this guy? He went to Boston Market (Cypress Gardens Blvd.) on Sunday, Sept. 5th. The employee assisting him evidently took too long in this guy’s opinion and he hauled off and struck the employee in the face causing minor injuries. He was possibly riding a green bicycle. If you recognize him, please call the on-duty supervisor at 863-401-2256.
Lakeland, Florida – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating a death on Apache Lane in unincorporated Lakeland. According to Carrie Horstman, Public Information Officer, with the PCSO a shots fired call went out at 1:35pm.
Horstman advised the sheriff’s office had a suspect in custody and there was “no danger to the public”.
This is a developing story. We will update as more information is released by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office
Bartow, The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating a crash on S.R. 60. According to Carrie Horstman, Public Information Officer, with the PCSO the westbound lanes of S.R. 60 are closed near Old Connersville Rd.
We have reader reports that the accident involved a motorcycle. We will update this information as more is confirmed and released by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Lakeland, Florida – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating a situation occurred in North Socrum Loop Road (near Fulton Green Road) in unincorporated Lakeland, in which deputies responded to a report of shots being fired. They eventually take a suspect into custody and find four people shot and killed in two homes. They also found an 11 year old girl shot multiple times.
Sheriff Grady Judd reported to the media that the situation initially started at 7:30pm Saturday night. A call came in regarding a suspicious car and a suspicious person at a home on Socrum Loop Road. The suspicious person told a woman that God told him to speak to one of her daughter. Deputies arrived shortly after the call but the suspicious person was gone.
Sheriff Judd then relays what unfolded 9 hours later (4:30am). A Polk County Sheriff’s Office Lt. who was at a different call two miles away heard bursts of gunfire. Polk County Deputies and Lakeland PD responded. Law enforcement found a truck on fire and a popping sound coming from the truck. They also saw a man dressed in camouflage and body armor, head into a house. Deputies did not see the man have any type of weapon at that time. Moments later they heard gunfire again this time coming from inside the house. They heard a woman scream and as Judd put it a baby whimper. Deputies attempted to get access into the house. However they found it barricaded. A gun battle ensues with officers and the now armed assailant in the home. Eventually things calm down and the man comes out of the home with his arms raised, with no weapons. Deputies take the man into custody. He has been shot once. They transport him to the hospital for treatment.
According to Sheriff Judd, deputies went inside the home and found three people deceased. A woman clutching a child was killed along with the child. A male was also found in that house. And anotherThe property has three homes on it. A house adjacent to that house also had a dead woman in it.
While at the hospital the assailant attempted to gain access to a Lakeland Police Department Officer service weapon. A struggle ensued and they assailant had to be sedated.
The 11-year-old girl was transported to Tampa general hospital and is undergoing surgery now.
The suspect advised that he was on methamphetamines and possibly other drugs.
Currently no motive for this horrendous shooting has been discovered. This however is a very active ongoing investigation. Additional information will be released as soon as it’s available.
On Saturday, September 4, 2021 at approximately 1:15 pm, a vehicle crash occurred on Highway 27 at Washington Avenue between a 2014 Freightliner tractor trailer and a 2003 Nissan Frontier pickup. The Freightliner was driven by Sterling Robles, age 59 of Fresno, California. The Nissan Frontier was driven by 62 year old Edwin McMillan, of Lake Wales.
As McMillan traveled southbound on Highway 27 through the intersection in the outside lane, Robles was turning left from northbound Highway 27 onto Washington Avenue westbound. The Freightliner struck the Frontier on the driver side causing major damage to both vehicles. Both vehicles came to rest in the middle of the intersection at the point of impact.
It is unclear at this time which vehicle had the right-of-way. McMillan was extricated from the Frontier by the Lake Wales Fire Department and flown by helicopter to Lakeland Regional Medical Center with life threatening injuries. McMillan later succumbed to his injuries at 2:20 pm at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Mr. McMillan.
Highway 27 was shut down for some time while emergency personnel treated the drivers and cleared the roadway. The complete roadway was reopened at approximately 6:00 PM.
No charges have been filed at this time as this case remains under investigation. If anyone has information about this crash, please contact Officer Sean Robertson or Officer Rocky Myers at the Lake Wales Police Department at 863-678-4223.
Annual Big Belly BBQ Battle Being Hosted This Friday & Saturday
by James Coulter
Don’t let these uncertain times hinder your cravings for barbecue. Come on down to Downtown Davenport for a weekend of good food, great music, and even greater company during the annual Big Belly BBQ Battle.
The festivities kick off on Friday and continue on through Saturday. The Jason Green Band and Blake Free Band will be revving up their amps to play live music, while teams from across the state and county will be arriving to prepare their barbecue and compete in a Florida Barbecue Association-sanctioned contest.
This year’s event will be raising money for Nature’s Place, a local therapy center that offers rehabilitation services with the help of animals. Nature’s Place is currently seeking an expansion of their facilities and services.
“We are hoping to raise as much money as we can for Nature’s Place because they are seeking new things in their facilities, and we want to be able to help with that because they do a lot,” said Samantha Summerlin Tomlinson, past president of the Davenport Merchants.
Samantha helped start Big Belly BBQ Battle nearly 12 years ago. She fondly remembers when Labor Day weekend was a big deal in the community. Everyone in town came out to enjoy everything from barbecue dinners to ugly dog contests and horse races, which were hosted along North Avenue by her father, a local feed store owner.
However, as the years went by, the festivities dwindled, and Labor Day weekend no longer became an important event. Samantha wanted to reinvigorate interest, which is why she and her team at Davenport Merchants started Big Belly BBQ 12 years ago. The barbecue competition was started during a time when barbecue was becoming popular and before such competitions were sanctioned by the Florida Barbecue Association.
Samantha herself started competing with her then boyfriend with their team. He has since become her husband of two years, and they run their current team Cooters n’ Smoke. Because of their participation, she has turned over her presidential duties to Bonnie JoSonger.
“The most we are looking forward to is the community coming together like we always do,” Samantha said. “This is a great event for a great cause, and we are hoping that the community will come out and show their community spirit and eat good barbecue and fellowship because it has been really hard the last year, we have not been able to do that very much, so we are hoping to do that.
Davenport’s Big Belly BBQ Battle will be hosted on Fri., Sep. 3 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Sat., Sep. 4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event will be hosted along Main Street in Downtown Davenport. For more information, visit their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/DavenportsBigBellyBBQBattle
Lake Wales Steelers Youth Football Leauge Hosting 1st Home Game This Saturday
by James Coulter
With 150 players and counting, the Lake Wales Steelers youth football leauge is set to host their first home game of the season this Saturday at 9 a.m. at Legion Field, located at 240-298 N Wales Dr, Lake Wales, FL 33853.
More than 150 to 160 players between the ages of 4 to 15 (with mascots at the age of 3) were enrolled this season completley free of cost. The youth football leauge is still accepting football enrollment from players ages 7 to 15 at no cost. (Flag division ages 4 to 6 is full.)
The first home game will kick off with an apperance from Lake Wales Mayor Eugene Fultz, the Director of the YMCA Lake Wales, and several principals from the local schools, including Spook Hill Elementary, Polk Elementary, Bok Academy North, and Lake Wales High School.
Deanna Holtsclaw, Head of Fundraising and Head Flag Division Cheerleading Coach, hopes that the attendance of such important local figures will serve as an inspiration for the players, as they will know that their whole town supports them and their athletic endeavors.
“It is not just the coaches that believe in them, it is everybody, the pillars throughout the community,” she said. “It is our educators, it is our mayors, it is our doctors and our lawyers. There are so many people who want to truly want to see these children to strive and achieve these things.”
As for the players themselves, this year saw an exceptional turnout, even in spite of the ongoing COVID crisis and the recent outbreak of the Delta variant. While Holtsclaw expects some players to drop out due to these uncertain circumstances, she also expects many more to enroll and those who remain to endure.
“We have had a great turnout,” she said. “These children have poured their hearts into the season. They have dedicated themselves, they jumped in with both feet, and they do an absolutley amazing job. We have amazing coaches in every single division.”
The Lake Wales Youth Football Leauge, Inc. is a non-profit, tax-deductible organization. To ensure that all children are able to participate regardless of economic status, all children between 4 to 15 can join at no cost to themselves. The only requirement asked from the parents is to provide cleats for the boys and tennis shoes for the girls.
“Our normal tuition is $150 per child, [but] we waive this because we see that the world all around us in a complete pandemic,” Deanna said. ” I want all children to feel the support, the encouragement, and the pride that we have in them knowing that no matter what they come from, no matter what they background, some of them come from hardship situations where they face economic hardships and they would not normally be able to sign on.”
To help cover their expenses, the youth football leauge often hosts fundraisers. They also accept donations, which are tax-deductible. Overall, 90 percent of everything was completley covered,
explained Holtsclaw. Being able to cover these expenses has allowed the organization to accept children from all backgrounds, thus offering them an opportunity they would otherwise be shut out of, she said.
“We wanted to show that they can achieve anything outside our mission,” she said. “[We want] to motivate them and inspire them and to show them that they are able to reach new pinnacles and they are able to do things that their heart desires if they put the effort behind it—that us, as their activists, the coaches and teachers and volunteers, we can show them that they can accomplish all things. I cannot wait to see what the outcome will be.”
Currently, the youth football leauge is accepting donations of all kinds, be it monetary, food, or even transportation. Many of their players are unable to afford transportation to out-of-town games, so they are currently seeking to purchase two 15-passanger vans. They would appreciate either money to purchase these vehicles, or donations of the actual vehicles themselves.
As for their upcoming game, both the children are excited to be able to participate, and the coaches are excited to give them the opportunity to play and prove themselves when they otherwise would not have that chance.
“Every game is a win,” Holtsclaw said. “As long as we go out there with heart, and believing in each other and supporting each other and cheering for each other, every game is a win. Obviously, the children are going for the win, but not matter what the outcome is on the score board, every child there won because they had somebody show up and say that they cared and that they made a difference.”
Donations can be made to: 319 S. Scenic Highway Suite 104B, Lake Wales, Florida 33853. Their Tax ID is: 59-3587696. For more information, call 863-332-2500.
