Golf cart theft is a growing concern in several Florida communities with what appears to be organized rings responsible for a rash of heists since August in Jacksonville, Atlantic Beach, The Villages and Charlotte County. Lakeland has also experienced a recent spate of 16 golf cart thefts, but the Lakeland Police Department and Polk County […]
Category: Crime / Justice
Posted inCrime / Justice, Public Safety
Robbery Suspect Shot After Car Chase Ends in Lakeland
A car chase that started in Plant City ended on New Tampa Highway in Lakeland near a Publix warehouse, where a robbery suspect continued shooting at the law enforcement officers pursuing him. Francisco Cabrera, 27, was apprehended after being hit when officers from three agencies, including LPD, shot at him, News Channel 8 reports. | […]
Posted inCrime / Justice
Police News: Intruder Shot, DUI Manslaughter, Car Chase
Breaking police news in Lakeland today includes a homeowner who shot and wounded an intruder, a woman charged with DUI manslaughter in a June accident, and an I-4 car chase that ended near Lakeland Ford.
Posted inCrime / Justice, Public Safety
Damaged White Van Sought in Fatal Hit-and-Run
Polk deputies are looking for a white work van with a damaged headlight in connection with the death of a 36-year-old bicyclist who was killed in a hit-and-run accident in Kathleen on Sunday evening, News Channel 8 reports. “Every time we have one of these, it shocks my soul that someone can run over and […]
Posted inCrime / Justice
Michael Dunn Murder Trial Scheduled for March
The second-degree murder trial of former Lakeland City Commissioner Michael Dunn has been set for three weeks starting tentatively March 14. Circuit Judge Donald Jacobsen has previously ruled that Dunn’s “stand-your-ground” defense could not be applied in the October 2018 shooting death of a man attempting to steal a hatchet from the Vets Army Navy […]
Posted inCrime / Justice
No Charges Planned in Boarding School Teen’s Death
No charges are planned in the death of Naomi Wood, who died in May 2020 at Lakeland Girls Academy, a faith-based boarding school. The Polk Sheriff’s Office closed its criminal case after the Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the 17-year-old Vermont girl died of natural causes. The report does not mention medical negligence disclosed by a […]
Posted inCrime / Justice, Downtown
Downtown Fight Leads to a Shooting and Murder Arrest
A fight between a man and a woman leaving a downtown bar early this morning escalated to physical blows and then gunshots, leaving the 31-year-old man dead and the 30-year old woman charged with second-degree murder, according to the Lakeland Police Department.
Posted inCrime / Justice
FBI Releases Video of Lakeland Fugitive Wanted in Capitol Assault
As part of its efforts to find and arrest Jonathan Pollock of Lakeland, the FBI has released police body-cam video showing his actions during the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol, News Channel 8 reports. Pollock has been considered a fugitive since late June, when agents attempted to arrest him on charges of assaulting […]
Posted inCrime / Justice
Insanity Defense Considered in North Lakeland Family’s Murders
A day before today’s scheduled arraignment of Bryan Riley on charges of murdering four people in their north Lakeland homes, his attorneys told a judge that they are considering an insanity defense and may need a year’s delay in the case, the Associated Press reported. Prosecutors asked Judge Jalal Harb to limit the defense to […]
Posted inCrime / Justice
Prosecutors Seeking Death Penalty in Family’s Slaying
Prosecutors announced today they will seek the death penalty against Bryan Riley, who has been accused in the slayings of four family members in their north Lakeland homes on Sept. 5. The 33-year-old security guard and former Marine sharpshooter had been under the delusion that the victims were engaged in sex trafficking of a pre-teen […]