Police Seek 911 Caller Whose False Claim Triggered a Massive Response to Ford’s Garage

Sep 14, 2022 at 8:40 am News Channel 8

Lakeland police are trying to identify a 911 caller whose false claim of an active shooter triggered a massive response at the Ford’s Garage restaurant in north Lakeland Monday evening. The restaurant’s managing partner told News Channel 8 he was “scared to my core” when the restaurant was suddenly surrounded by first responders. False reports like this are a “huge waste of resources” that also threaten public safety, police spokeswoman Robin Tillett told the station. More

Crime / Justice

FBI Doubles Reward for Lakeland Man Wanted in Attack on Officers During Capitol Riot

Sep 10, 2022 at 6:21 am WFTV

The FBI has doubled the award for information leading to the arrest of Jonathan Pollock, 23, of Lakeland, who is wanted in connection with the assault of police officers with a weapon during rioting at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The reward is now $30,000. | WFTV report More

Crime / Justice/ Public Safety

SUV Driver Arrested in Fatal Hit & Run Involving a Motorcyclist

Jul 17, 2022 at 8:16 am

A 39-year-old man was arrested after he left and then returned to the scene of a collision that resulted in the death of a 46-year-old motorcyclist on South Florida Avenue, according to the Lakeland Police Department. More

Crime / Justice/ News

Detectives Search for Man Possibly Connected to Fatal Shooting Sunday

Jun 13, 2022 at 5:23 pm

*Lakeland Police detectives search for 32-year-old Quinton Lakeith Owens.*

Lakeland Police search for a man they say is possibly connected to a Sunday night shooting in Webster Park that left one person dead.

Detectives are attempting to locate 32-year-old Quinton Lakeith Owens. They believe he may have information related to the case. Owens is described as 6’1″ and weighing approximately 250 pounds.

Police spokeswoman Robin Tillett said officers responded to the park in the 900 block of West Sixth Street just after 8 p.m. after receiving information about a shooting. They found a 46-year-old man in a vehicle suffering from bullet wounds.

Crime / Justice

Bryan Riley Plans Insanity Defense in Deaths of North Lakeland Family

Jun 10, 2022 at 6:21 am

Lawyers for quadruple murder defendant Bryan James Riley intend to argue that he was insane when he killed four people, including a 3-month-old infant, during a home-invasion attack in north Lakeland last September. More

Crime / Justice

Judd on Armed Man Who Had Threatened to Kill Wife, Deputies: ‘We Shot Him. A Lot’

Jun 4, 2022 at 10:23 am

A man who had been firing a gun and threatened to kill his wife was shot and killed by Polk County deputies Friday evening at the Ten Rocks Mobile Home Park on North Combee Road, Sheriff Grady Judd said. More

Crime / Justice

Lakeland Man Charged in Jan. 6 Capitol Riot

Jun 3, 2022 at 4:55 pm News Channel 8

Brian Boele, 59, of Lakeland, was arrested by FBI agents today and jailed on charges of felony civil disorder and three misdemeanors involving the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, News Channel 8 reports. An indictment filed last week says Boele and a Clearwater man were part of a group that entered the Capitol grounds illegally and moved to the Lower West Terrace, where rioters clashed with police; the two were scheduled for first appearance in federal court this afternoon ALSO: Tampa Bay Times

Crime / Justice/ People

Dozens Wrote Letters Urging Leniency for Former Commissioner Dunn

May 24, 2022 at 5:28 pm

2018 Lakeland City Commission — *Two of Dunn’s colleagues on the 2018 City Commission wrote letters of support*

Forty-nine people including elected officials and a retired FBI special agent submitted letters in support of former Lakeland City Commissioner Michael Dunn, hoping to convince Judge Donald Jacobsen to be lenient while deciding Dunn’s fate. More

Crime / Justice

Michael Dunn Sentenced to 3 Years in Death of Shoplifter

May 23, 2022 at 3:58 pm

Former Lakeland City Commissioner Michael Dunn was sentenced to three years in prison Monday for the October 2018 shooting death of Cristóbal Lopez, a suspected shoplifter who died of a gunshot wound in his back just outside the door to Dunn’s Army-Navy Surplus store. More

Crime / Justice

Document Signals Insanity Defense in Murders of Four Family Members

Apr 21, 2022 at 7:46 am News Channel 8

A new court document opens the door for Bryan Riley of Brandon, the Marine marksman who was charged in the murders of four north Lakeland family members last September, to use an insanity defense. His attorney filed an intent to rely on a defense of insanity document that says Riley suffered from a “mental infirmity, disease or defect,” but the specific condition was redacted, News Channel 8 reported.