Detectives Investigate Homicide at Carefree Inn

Osceola County * Osceola County Sheriff’s detectives are investigating a homicide
that occurred at the Carefree Inn, 4900 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway in Kissimmee.
Deputies responded to the motel on January 23 at approximately 1:33 p.m. after the
girlfriend of the victim reported the incident.
Derris Evans (DOB 8/19/79) was found in the room deceased. His cause [...]

Lester Petty killed by a CSX train going westbound

Lester Petty, DOB 11/20/59, who was struck and killed by a CSX train going westbound toward
Experiment Station Road in Lake Alfred last night, lived at 1640 US Hwy 17/92 West, lot 34, in Lake Alfred.
Mr. Petty was known to deputies who patrol that area as someone who wanted to harm himself, and
he had been taken [...]

Crime Stoppers Bulletin Otis Carden Apprehended

Detectives from the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Apprehension Unit apprehended Otis Carden, DOB 11/5/81, around noon on Wednesday, January 23, 2008, at a short-term rental located at 2637 Star Lakeview Drive in Kissimmee. He was taken into custody without incident as he sat in a vehicle at that location. Located in the vehicle with him was [...]

Fatal traffic crash in Lakeland

Date: Wed Jan 23, 2008 20:51:10
From: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
Polk County Sheriff’s Traffic deputies are investigating a fatal traffic crash in Lakeland in which a 14-year-old boy was killed. Preliminary information is as follows:
Around 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 23, 2008, Gordon Parody, DOB 2/14/93, of 5559 Emerald Ridge in Lakeland, was riding his 10-speed [...]

Lake Region High School (Winter Haven, FL) coach arrested

Polk County Sheriff’s Special Victims Unit detectives have arrested the  coach for the Lake Region High School (Winter Haven, FL) girls’ junior varsity basketball team, Fred Standifer, Jr., DOB 8/10/59, on charges of Battery, Solicitation of Sexual Battery on a Victim Under 18, Lewd Conduct, and False Imprisonment, after investigation revealed he victimized two of [...]

Transient Arrested in Theft of McDonald’s Donation Box

Polk County Sheriff’s deputies, working in partnership with the Lakeland Police Department, have identified and arrested a homeless man in the theft of a Ronald McDonald House donation box from the McDonald’s restaurant located at 4721 South Florida Avenue in Lakeland.
According to affidavits, Theron D. Bryan, DOB 11/26/54, who has no current address but states [...]

Haines City Murder-Suicide

Date: Wed Jan 23, 2008 17:13:46
From: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is conducting an investigation that appears to be a domestic murder-suicide, at 52 Joel Massey Road in Haines City.
More information will follow as soon as the PCSO releases it.

Sheriff to Kick Off New Self-Defense Awareness Program Tonight

Osceola County * Tonight, a full class of 20 women will
participate in a new self defense awareness program hosted by Sheriff
Bob Hansell and taught by instructors at the Osceola County Sheriff’s
Office. Self Defense Awareness Familiarization Exchange or SAFE is
designed to educate women on how to protect themselves if they should
become a victim. [...]

Zero Tolerance Operation Results in 75 Arrests

Osceola County * Despite inclement weather conditions, Osceola
County Sheriff’s deputies successfully conducted Operation Zero
Tolerance which resulted in 75 arrests and 386 citations issued. The
three-day operation began January 17 in Poinciana. Deputies from all
areas of the agency including criminal investigations, community
response, tourist policing, K-9, narcotics enforcement,
agriculture/marine, motors, aggressive driving, gang, school resource
DUI traffic, patrol and reserves [...]

Detectives Looking for Armed Robbery Suspect

Osceola County * On January 21 at approximately 3:12 p.m.,
Osceola County Sheriff’s deputies responded to Cones & Coffee, 2332
Fortune Road in Kissimmee in reference to an armed robbery. Upon
arrival, deputies spoke with a store employee who indicated a Hispanic
male had entered the business at approximately 3:00 p.m. He asked for a
job application. The store employee [...]