A 51-year-old man was killed in a single-vehicle crash on Waverly Road and Lake Lee Drive in Waverly. The victim was identified as Todd Locke Johnson of Winter Haven.
Johnson was driving a 2019 white Porsche.
On Tuesday, November 10, 2020, at approximately 11:00 a.m., an overturned vehicle was located in Lake Lee. Deputies, along with Polk County Fire Rescue, responded to the scene where Johnson was found deceased inside his vehicle.
According to the preliminary investigation, detectives determined that Johnson was traveling eastbound on Waverly road at a high rate of speed when he failed to negotiate the curve. His Porsche continued east onto the grass shoulder, lost traction, and began to spin. At that time, it appears the vehicle crossed Lake Lee Drive and became airborne. The vehicle then struck small trees and bushes along the edge of the lake before coming to rest along the southeast corner of the lake upside down.
Johnson was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash. Impairment, excessive speed, and reckless driving are believed to be factors in the crash.
Lake Wales, Florida – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is currently conducting a death investigation after body found in Lake Wales Grove. The body was located near Helicopter Rd which runs off Tindal Camp Rd. The body may have been found by the PCSO helicopter that was on scene of the vehicle in Lake Lee which is about a mile away.
The Sheriff’s Office currently has two mobile command units on scene.
At this time no additional information is being released and the medical examiners office is closed tomorrow due to Veterans Day holiday.
Waverly, Florida – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating a vehicle found floating upside down in Lake Lee. The nearest roadway is Waverly Rd and it is currently shut down in both directions.
The initial call came in around 11:11am.
We will update this article as more information is released.
Release by Winter Haven Police Department On Nov. 5, 2020, a younger male and female went to Staples located in CitiCenter. In the Copy Center area, our victim conducted business at the desk, but left his wallet behind. The female subject speaks to the associate for a short time and then walks to an adjacent desk – all while watching the wallet. She waits for a couple of other customers to leave the counter area and then walks over taking the wallet. She meets up with the male she came in the store with and he takes the contents of the wallet ($150) and then leaves the wallet on a shelf. The pair exit without purchasing anything. If anyone recognizes either of these two or knows anything about this case, please contact Detective Lozado at 863-595-1721.
Four teenagers from the Winter Haven/Auburndale area have been charged with attempted murder after purposely running over the mother of another teen with whom they had an ongoing dispute.
According to the affidavits, deputies responded to the teenaged victim’s home in Polk City around 2:50 p.m. on Monday, November 9, 2020, and found an adult victim critically injured after being run over by a van. The known suspects fled the scene but the suspect vehicle information was quickly BOLO’ed (broadcast over the radio as “be on the lookout”) and located by responding deputies and Auburndale Police Officers.
During the investigation, deputies learned that 18-year-old Elijah Stansell brought three friends – 16-year-old Raven Sutton, 15-year-old Kimberly Stone, and 14-year-old Hannah Eubank – to the victim’s house to “handle” an ongoing dispute (romantic in nature). The suspects banged on the victim’s front door, but the victim came out of the side door and into the carport to see who was there. The group of suspects ran to the carport, where Stansell physically attacked him. The victim retreated into his home, followed by Stansell and Sutton. At that time, the victim’s mom came home, and the suspects ran off.
The victim’s mother followed them and watched them get into their van, which was parked across the street. She began taking photos of the suspects and the van with her cell phone. Though there was enough room for the van to maneuver around her as she stood in the roadway, Stansell intentionally ran into her, then over her, before fleeing the scene.
There were several eyewitnesses to the crime, along with home surveillance videos. The video footage shows the suspect approaching the front door, the group of suspects going around to the side and attacking the victim, the attack inside the home, the suspects fleeing, and the suspects running over the victim’s mother. The mother (victim) remains in very critical condition in the hospital. Stansell was booked into the Polk County Jail on the following charges: • Attempted felony murder (F2)• Burglary with assault (F1)• 3 counts Contributing to the delinquency of a minor (M1)
He was additionally charged with lewd and lascivious battery on a minor (F2) on a victim 15 years old, a crime that was discovered after his arrest on Monday. Sutton, Eubank, and Stone were arrested and taken to the JAC on the following charges: • Attempted felony murder (F2)• Burglary with assault (F1) The suspects were interviewed by detectives, and all four admitted to going to the victim’s home to confront the victim. Stone showed the suspect where the victim lived, and she remained in the van while the other three suspects went to “handle” it. They all admitted to fleeing the scene on foot, being in the van when Stansell intentionally ran over the victim’s mother, and then fleeing in the van after critically injuring her. “This was a coordinated, planned attack, carried out by a group of teens who beat up a teen then ran over his mother, leaving her for dead. I can’t even fathom teenagers doing something so heinous. Our prayers are with this family.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
Polk City, Florida – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating an incident that occurred at the intersection of Berkeley Rd & Citrus Grove Blvd. this afternoon. A woman was struck and a vehicle allegedly drove off. According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office the vehicle was stopped in Auburndale by the Auburndale Police Department.
Details have not been released, but atleast one suspect is in custody.
This may not be a simple hit & run. A witness claims to have seen the woman & driver of the vehicle arguing prior to being run over. The Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating that information.
The condition of the woman is unknown at this time.
We will update this article as more information is released.
Lakeland, Florida – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is currently conducting a death investigation in the area of 729 Combee Rd. According to the PCSO a body was located in a pond behind the Dollar General Store. The initial call came in around 12:09am.
Sheriff’s Office investigators were out at the pond today and an autopsy is currently being conducted. The name of the victim has no been released,but we can advise it is an adult male.
We will update this article as more information is released.
These images are small and far away, but maybe someone can help identify either of these two. They were pulling on door handles and entered a few vehicles at the Tupelo Vue Apartments (525 Ave H NW) on Oct. 22 around 3:15 am. Miscellaneous items were taken from the vehicles they entered. If anyone has information regarding this case, please contact Detective Lozado at 863-595-1721.
Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office responded to a domestic violence call in unincorporated Bartow at around 8:40 a.m., Sunday, November 8, 2020. PCSO deputies arrested 33-year-old Christopher Pequeen for first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and other charges after a shooting during which one female victim was killed and another female victim was injured. According to the affidavit, and witness statements, Pequeen and the female victim (girlfriend) had recently moved into a Bartow apartment with another male and female couple. The male roommate told detectives that Pequeen and the victim had been arguing early that morning. The female victim then came into her roommates’ bedroom and told the roommates that “she was scared that Pequeen was going to kill her and that he had held his hand over her nose and mouth so that she could not breathe.” She also stated that she wanted to obtain a restraining order against Pequeen.
According to the witness, that is when Pequeen entered the bedroom and pointed a gun at all three individuals. Pequeen then hit the female victim (roommate) in the face with the pistol and then shot his girlfriend multiple times. The female roommate attempted to shield the victim and Pequeen shot her as well. Pequeen then pointed the pistol at the male roommate and demanded their cell phones. The male roommate gave Pequeen the phones. The roommates ran to a neighbor’s apartment and called 911. Deputies and Polk Fire Rescue responded. The female roommate who was shot and the girlfriend were transported to a local hospital. The girlfriend died at the hospital. The female roommate is currently in stable condition. Pequeen fled the scene on foot and attempted to discard the cell phones and hide the firearm. Pequeen was arrested soon after by responding deputies and was booked into the Polk County Jail on the following charges: · First Degree Murder (FC)· Attempted First Degree Murder (F1)· Shooting Into a Building (F2)· Tampering with Physical Evidence (F3)· Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon without Intent to Kill (F3)· Robbery with a Firearm (FL)· Tampering in Felony Life Proceeding (FL)· Battery of a Police Dog (M1)· Resisting an Officer without Violence (M1) Pequeen’s criminal history includes 18 felony charges and 17 misdemeanors, charges such as battery domestic violence, aggravated assault domestic violence with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, dealing in stolen property, date rape, and drug charges. “This is an example of how horrific domestic violence can become. Christopher Pequeen is a coward and a murderer. We will do everything we can to make sure justice is done in this case.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
Bartow, Fl – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating a shooting in unincorporated Bartow. The shooting took place at a residence on Henson Lane. Multiple people were shot and details on their condition has not been released. A suspect in the case has been apprehended by deputies.
This is an ongoing investigation and more information will be released as it becomes available.
