Steven Schelmety, 32, was shot and killed at an auto repair shop around 11:30 p.m. Friday, according to Lakeland police. His wife told News Channel 8 he was sitting at his desk and she was nearby. A person police would not identify was wounded in the incident at Artillery Motor Sports, 3609 Century Blvd., in an industrial […]
Category: Crime / Justice
Some Area Police Agencies Restrict Shooting at Vehicles
Lakeland Police Chief Larry Giddens says his officers were following procedure when they fired into a moving vehicle, resulting in the death of a teen who tried to run them down early Wednesday. But many police agencies, including some in the Tampa Bay area, restrict firing into a moving vehicle, the Tampa Bay Times reports. […]
Clergy: Stay Calm Pending Police Shooting Investigation
The Interdenominational Ministerial Association, representing churches mostly in northwest Lakeland, held a news conference this morning to ask for calm as a police-involved shooting is investigated. The group asks that those who witnessed the incident cooperate with police. Lakeland police officers shot and killed a 17-year-old Winter Haven teen they say was trying to run […]
LPD: Officers Shoot, Kill Teen Who Tried to Run Them Over
Police approached the stolen Camaro around 2 a.m. as they monitored a crowd of 200 in the parking lot of Salem’s Gyros and More at Florida Avenue and Memorial Boulevard | VIDEO: Chief Giddens news conference. UPDATE: Police have identified the dead driver as Michael Jerome Taylor, 17, of 3741 Imperial Drive, Winter Haven, who has four felony arrests ranging from […]
Reward Offered for North Lakeland Bank Robbery Suspect
Myron William Ernst is suspected in the robbery of the TD Bank at 6108 US 98 North on Oct. 12 just before 1 p.m. The robber gave a bank employee a note saying he had a gun; after he was given money, the robber fled in a late-model, dark gray Ford F-150 pickup.
Family of Dunn’s Shooting Victim Speaks Out
“We just keep asking, ‘Why? Why did this happen over $16?’ It has been so hard for our family—not only the loss that’s left a gaping hole in all of our hearts—but also to see our brother’s killer be released from jail, granted the right to travel, pretending that he was in some way the […]
Judge: Dunn Can Go to Savannah for Anniversary
The judge who placed former City Commissioner Michael Dunn on house arrest after he was indicted on second-degree murder charges now says he can take a previously arranged trip to Savannah next month to celebrate his anniversary. He is also allowing Dunn to travel to Orlando to meet with lawyers. Source: The Ledger
Argument Escalates Into Murder-Suicide
The victims were identified as Antero Araujo Quintana, 40, and his wife, Beatriz Araujo, 42. The shootings took place Wednesday evening at in the 2000 block of 10th Street W. Source: News Channel 8
Two Teens Arrested in Downtown Armed Robbery
Two teens were arrested early today in one of two armed robberies that have led to increased patrols in downtown Lakeland, the Lakeland Police Department announced.

