21-year old Bradley Shaw and 20-year old Caiden Kirkland (both of Lakeland) got #ArrestedByThePolkCountySheriffsOffice at around 3am on Wednesday, March 26th.
The two were up to no-good in the May Grove Village (off of Gibsonia-Galloway Road in Lakeland), and thanks to a man who saw something and immediately said something to the PCSO, it was all stopped.
A man noticed the brake lights lighting up on his neighbor’s parked car. Then he noticed Bradley and Caiden opening car doors. The pair then came across the street and opened a car that belonged to the witness, and he confronted the two young burglars. Caiden and Bradley ran.
911 was called, and the witness began following the duo as they fled in a golf cart.
Deputies caught up to Caiden and Bradley as they tried to ditch their masks and gloves.
Both were arrested and taken to the Polk County Jail and each was charged with: Unarmed burglary of an occupied dwelling (3 counts) (mask enhancement), trespassing (2 counts), loitering and prowling (6 counts), conspiracy to commit burglary, possession of burglary tools, tampering with physical evidence, resisting arrest without violence, burglary of a conveyance, petit theft 2nd offense, and unlawful possession of personal identification.
And some days, you’re like 31-year old Taron Todd of Bartow.
On Wednesday, March 26th, just before 3pm, a minor crash occurred between a Toyota sedan and a motorcycle at Transport Road and US 17 in Winter Haven. The motorcycle fled from the scene, but the Toyota driver called 911 and followed the motorcycle.
When a deputy caught up to the motorcycle, he recognized the driver as Taron.
The deputy tried to perform a traffic stop, but Taron was committed to his attempt to get away.
His attempt slowly sputtered. Or more accurately, the motorcycle engine sputtered…as if the bike was out of gas.
As the motorcycle began to slow, Taron threw his arms up in the air, then pulled over and dismounted from the bike.
As the deputy exited his patrol car, Taron threw his hands up in disgust again and shouted, “”****, man, I barely hit that guy, I was trying to get away from him, he was chasing me, then you got behind me and I was like ****.” Dude began and ended that sentence with the same word.
Taron was #ArrestedByThePolkCountySheriffsOffice and taken to the Polk County Jail where he was charged with: Aggravated Fleeing the Scene of a Crash with Damages, Littering, Leaving the Scene of a Crash with Property Damage, Possession of Marijuana and Drug Paraphernalia, Driving without a Valid License, Resisting, Driving an Unregistered Vehicle, and Operating a Motorcycle without a License.
Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrests fraud suspect in the United States illegally
A 44-year old man from Mexico who is in the United States illegally, was arrested by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and charged with four fraud-related felonies.
Edgar Flores Robles, was taken into custody by PCSO deputies on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. He used another man’s identification to gain employment at a Winter Haven business.
A victim discovered on January 26, 2025 that his identity was being used by someone else for employment purposes at Carpenter Contractors of America in Winter Haven.
PCSO detectives went to the business and made contact with their Human Resources Department. They were provided documentation showing the victim’s name and date of birth, and copies of the victim’s Social Security card and Passport card.
The victim said he had lost his wallet in Plant City a few years ago, and his Social Security card and Passport identification were in it at that time.
Robles has been employed by the company since March 24, 2024, and has received approximately $27,000 in wages by using the victim’s identity.
A representative from Immigration and Customs Enforcement reported that Robles entered the United States on April 11, 2019 under a H2A Visa, with admittance until June 11, 2019, but he remained in the country illegally, and is listed as a non-immigrant overstay.
“Identity theft can be a very difficult and time-consuming crime for someone to recover from. Had our suspect left the country when he was supposed to, this crime may have never occurred against the victim.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff.
Robles’ charges would have amounted to three felonies and one misdemeanor, but due to him being an unauthorized alien, each charge is enhanced by one degree. His enhanced charges are: Obtain Property by Fraud (F1), Utter False Instrument (F2), Criminal Use of Personal Information (F2), and Unlawful Possession of Personal Identification (F3)
Lake Wales, FL – The Rockin’ on the Chain committee kicked off this year’s fundraising efforts in style, presenting a generous $25,000 check to Victory Ridge in Lake Wales. The donation, raised during the 2024 Rockin’ on the Chain event through the group’s tireless efforts, will support students with autism and special needs right here in Polk County.
Rockin’ on the Chain, a beloved local fundraising event, has a history of making a big impact. Over the past few years, the organization has raised funds to build a sensory garden at the Winter Haven Library, providing a calming and inclusive space for the community.
Steve Whitaker, along with his team at Victory Ridge, expressed deep gratitude for the donation. “This is nothing we ever expected, but it’s greatly appreciated,” Whitaker said, highlighting the meaningful difference the funds will make for their students.
Steve Whitaker sharing with Carl co-founder of Daily Ridge how this donation will benefit Victory Ridge and the students
Joey Foley, a key member of the Rockin’ on the Chain team, emphasized the group’s commitment to keeping their efforts local. “Our main goal, and always has been, is to make sure that everything we do as an organization stays right here in Polk County,” Foley shared. The team’s hard work ensures that every dollar raised goes directly to helping those in need within the community.
Foley also extended a heartfelt thank-you to Lora Donnley, whose guidance was instrumental in establishing Rockin’ on the Chain as an official organization. “Because of her involvement with Victory Ridge, we felt honored to present this check,” he added.
The excitement doesn’t stop there. The annual Rockin’ on the Chain Benefiting Autism Special Needs event is just around the corner, set for April 4th, 5th, and 6th at Tanners Lakeside in Winter Haven. This fun-filled weekend music festival promises something for everyone, featuring live entertainment from talented local Polk County musicians. Attendees can also enjoy food trucks, a kids’ zone, raffles, a 50/50 drawing, live auctions and more— This year, all proceeds from the event will be given to the Winter Haven Hospital Foundation.
Mark your calendars and join the Rockin’ on the Chain team for a weekend of music, community, and giving back. Together, they’re proving that Polk County knows how to rock for a cause.
A redundant aquifer well is being proposed to prevent possible disservice of a local water treatment plant. Located along North Boulevard West with the nearby No. 4 well, well No. 7 would be drilled into the ground to collect groundwater and pump it back to the plant.
The company CPH Consulting would provide its services for the design and construction administration of this well. After permits and schedules have been figured out, the design phase would begin. Both phases are estimated to take 180 days after their Notice-to-Proceed, finishing the design by August.
Given that the capacity of this well is desired to be 1,500 gpm (gallons per minute of water flow), No. 7 is expected to be a steel construction with a diameter of 36 ft. The diameter would incrementally decrease as the hole travels to its depth of 650 ft below land surface. This is an increase in scope compared to No. 4 which has a maximum diameter of 24 ft, and a depth of 558 ft below land surface. For its services, CPH wants $94,262 from the Water Budget in Capital Improvements.
Proposed exploration well to determine ground composition, data used here was collected from the past drilling of nearby well #4, which this new well will supplant in the event of a malfunction
On March 17th, city officials heard the proposal at the City Commission Meeting. Davenport Utilities Director Michael Stripling explained the need for the well, “Right now well No. 4 is the only well that serves water plant No. 2. If something were to happen to well No. 4, that water treatment plant would be out of service. So this is a redundant well; it has been contemplated in our water use permit, it has been contemplated in the budget.” Stripling noted that this motion would only approve the design stage of the project. Stripling aims to complete the redundancy quickly before development begins on well No. 8, the alternative water supply well.
The proposal was unanimously approved with no comment from the public. Given the fast-tracking of this project, bidding services for construction contractors can be expected to begin soon. From there, construction is estimated to take 3-4 months once the winning contractor mobilizes on the site.
The PCSO Traffic Homicide Unit is investigating the death of a bicyclist that occurred as a result of a traffic crash in Davenport on Tuesday, March 25, 2025.
According to the preliminary investigation so far, around 12:40 p.m., a 62-year-old Davenport woman was stopped at the stop sign on Pinewood Drive at the intersection with Ronald Reagan Parkway, in her 2009 gold Toyota RAV4. At the same time, a man and woman were on their bicycles heading east on the sidewalk along Ronald Reagan Pkwy. The man proceeded across Pinewood, while his wife stopped on the sidewalk. The driver of the Toyota was looking east for westbound traffic, and then turned right to head west onto Ronald Reagan. The female bicyclist had just entered Pinewood at that time, and was struck by the Toyota. Despite life-saving efforts at the scene, she succumbed to her injuries. She was 65-years-old and visiting from Canada.
The PCSO is conducting a death investigation that was initiated yesterday after a traffic crash on South Florida Avenue in Lakeland.
Around 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25th, the decedent, an 80-year-old Mulberry woman, appears to have had a medical episode while driving a 1997 Toyota Corolla southbound on S. Fl. when it crashed into the right front passenger side of a 2014 Toyota that was crossing the southbound lanes to enter the business plaza. The Corolla then proceeded over the grass shoulder and into the parking lot of the Pop-Shelf store, striking a parked and unoccupied car in the lot, before coming to a stop. There was no evidence of evasive measures or braking by the Corolla. She was declared deceased at Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office clarified rumors that a pedestrian was involved. “Despite the online rumors, there were no pedestrians involved.” Said Carrie Horstman, Public Information Officer PCSO
Image of Bargain Barn Road c. 2022, provided by Google Maps (adjusted to remove personal info)
At the March 17th Davenport City Commission Meeting, city officials were requested to authorize a construction inspection for the change of a force main along Bargain Barn Road to continue the road’s relocation. This is part of the larger initiative to realign Powerline Road, which Bargain Barn is connected to. A force main is used to carry wastewater through pressure when gravity isn’t enough, so this change is necessary.
The construction inspection includes surveying the road itself: its dimensions, nearby trees, right-of-ways, and markings. After that, SUE services (standing for Subsurface Utility Engineering) are carried out to determine the precise location of underground utilities such as powerlines and wastewater pipes. From there, the design of the project can begin, with detailed drawings, surveys, and permits to be submitted to the city and regulatory agencies for approval.
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Image of old force main provided by the Engineering Training Institute website
City Utilities Director Michael Stripling explained, “This project is not only the redesign because we’re changing the location of Bargain Barn Road. So initially, when we went and designed this a year and a half ago, it was directly up 90 and on 17/92 to make the connection with future Powerline Road. Now, we’re redesigning because we’re going to relocate Bargain Barn Road, so we need to move that force main.” Stripling commented that most of the project’s budget was going towards the construction inspection. Mayor Summerlin, heading the meeting, joked, “So we’re gonna save a little money because we take out two 90s?” Chuckling, Stripling responded “We’re gonna add a bunch of 45s, cause that road now curves!” “I had to ask.” the mayor quipped.
Chastain Skillman, a company known for its civil and utility engineering services, have been selected for the project, and $130,000 from the city’s Water Distribution Wastewater Collection Budget has been authorized for this stage of the project, along with a $2,000 licensing fee for encroachment on the railroad as Stripling explained, “The force main from Bargain Barn Road is going to cross underneath the railroad. It’s one more avenue for us to bring sewer from the east side of the city to the wastewater plant that’s on the west side.” The authorization was unanimously approved.
Notice is hereby given that Lake Wales Storage intends to sell the property described below to enforce a lien under the Florida Self Storage Facility Act, Statutes (section 83.80-83.809). The owner will sell at public auction on or after April 17,2025 at 10:00 am at storageauctions.com
Units belonging to the following:
CUSTOMER NAME/UNIT #
Tikiasha Boone #365
Miguel Antonio Perez Rodriguez #1051
This sale will be continued on such succeeding sale days thereafter as may be necessary to be completed. *Unless otherwise noted units contain household items.
