Gang Leader Convicted in Central Florida Racketeering Case
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Hernando Cortez Thompson Jr., a 39-year-old Orlando man identified by prosecutors as the leader of the Bloods-affiliated “Sex Money Murder” gang in Florida, was convicted this week on all charges following a Polk County jury trial, state officials announced. The verdict, delivered after about an...
Hillsborough deputy faces DUI charges in Manatee County
HILLSBORURGH COUNTY, Fla. (WWSB) - A Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office deputy appeared in a Manatee County courtroom today facing DUI charges. Shannon McBride, 60, has worked for the Sheriff’s Department for seven years and was most recently assigned as a jail detention deputy. Manatee County sheriffs responded...
Big Chill Incoming: Rain And Gusts To Usher In Near-Freezing Lows For Tampa Bay
TAMPA, Fla. – Residents enjoying the mild start to the week should keep their umbrellas—and their winter coats—close at hand. The National Weather Service reports a turbulent shift is on the horizon for the Tampa Bay area, bringing a mix of rain, gusty winds, and a sharp drop in temperatures that could see the...
Plant City Felon On Probation Jailed After Gunfire Erupts In Fort Meade Near Polk...
POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A Plant City man currently on probation for attempted murder is back behind bars after deputies say he fired a handgun just feet away from a patrol car early Sunday morning, claiming he was simply trying to create “fireworks.”. The incident unfolded around 1:42...
Bartow Woman Accused of Using Movers to Burglarize Winter Haven Home
A Bartow woman is in custody after Polk County deputies say she orchestrated a burglary by deceiving local business owners into unknowingly removing thousands of dollars’ worth of property from a Winter Haven home. The investigation began on December 22, when deputies responded to a reported break-in at a...
Polk County man dies after driving SUV into lake
(This article was revised to include the driver's name.) A Lake Wales man was found dead in an SUV that was halfway submerged in a Haines City lake on Jan. 9. The Polk County Sheriff's Office said in a news release that it received a call about 8:50 p.m. from a resident who saw lights with its front end submerged at...
Polk County Sheriff Searching For Bold Thief Who Hit Poinciana 7-Eleven Twice In One...
POINCIANA, FL – Polk County deputies are looking for a man accused of pushing his luck by targeting the same convenience store twice in a single evening. According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the suspect entered the 7-Eleven at 6519 Marigold Avenue on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. At approximately 5:45 p.m., a...
Central Florida Man Arrested for Critically Injuring Three-Month-Old Baby
A Central Florida man was arrested for critically injuring a three-month-old baby. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested 24-year-old Zachary Ingram, of Eagle Lake, and charged him with aggravated child abuse, a first degree felony, for causing critical injuries to a three-month-old baby for whom he was caring....
AG Uthmeier on Florida’s camping ban law: ‘Homelessness is not permitted’
Attorney General James Uthmeier said Monday that "homelessness is not permitted" as he addressed a notice sent to Winter Haven last week alleging violations of a state law that bans overnight camping on public property. The city responded to the notice on Friday, insisting Winter Haven is in compliance. The...
Daddy-daughter food truck ready to sling barbecue in Lake Wales
Tongue Tinglin Meats, a “daddy and daughter” food truck, will soon be purveying barbecued items in Lake Wales. Jessie Durrance and his daughter, Alexis Durrance, plan to hold a grand opening Jan. 17 starting at 11 a.m. at 18643 U.S. 27, near the Lake Wales Inn. The elder Durrance will handle the cooking, while...
