Police investigators say the driver of a 2000 Dodge minivan that was struck by an orange hauler Saturday night in Lake Placid was at fault. ...more

February 18, 2009

Polk County deputies have charged the mother of one of the girls involved in the beating of a teenage girl recorded for YouTube with domestic battery in an unrelated incident. ...more

February 15, 2009

Palmetto police investigators have identified the man who was killed Wednesday night in the 700 block of 8th Street West, according to a release. ...more

November 28, 2008

The owner of Donut King did not see the individuals coming who eventually robbed her. ...more

October 12, 2008

No one was hit after seven or eight shots were fired at three Sebring police officers shortly after midnight Friday, as they spoke with each other at Orange Blossom Avenue and First Street in the Highlands Homes subdivision. ...more

October 4, 2008

Al Hamdan's car was found abandoned in the 4900 block of Nassau Street on July 11, 2002. It had fresh fire damage and old front-end body damage. His body was found four days later inside the Colonial Grand apartment complex on Temple Terrace Highway. Al Hamdan, a Saudi Arabia native, was 53. ...more

July 1, 2008

AVON PARK — Graduation night shooting victim Dwight Hankerson, 18, of Sebring, and his shooting suspect, Antwan Leon Jones, 18, of Avon Park, had been friends in the months prior to the shooting, according to Amina Mathis, the victim's mother. "He's been at my house before as a friend of Dwight," Mathis said late Monday. Hankerson used to date Jones' sister, Mathis said. "They broke up or something. I don't know any details," she added. Mathis said she didn't understand the motive behind the alleged shooting. ...more

June 4, 2008

SEBRING — Police who responded to a domestic battery in progress call reportedly found three female victims crying and cowering in a rear hallway of the victim's Sebring home. Police Officer Sean Bueford reported as he entered the home that he encountered Rogelio Pompa, 35, walking away from the women. He ordered Pompa to place his hands above his head, but he did not listen, the report stated. He unholstered his Taser and aimed it at Pompa, repeating the order, but Pompa did not respond. He tried to grab Pompa's arm but the man pulled away. ...more

June 3, 2008

AVON PARK — An 18-year-old Sebring youth remained in Florida Hospital in stable condition Monday, and a shooting suspect was in custody, after a young man was shot Saturday morning in his abdomen. The shooting occurred near the corner of East Hal McRae Boulevard and South Delaney Avenue, in Avon Park, according to police. Dwight Hankerson, 18, of Sebring was shot early Saturday morning about an hour after the Friday night graduation dance ended at the former Hopewell Academy. Antwan L. Jones, 18, of 1025 Marble Ave., Avon Park, was already in police custody Monday afternoon, to be charged with attempted second-degree murder, according to Avon Park Police Cmdr. Michael J. Rowan. ...more

June 2, 2008

AVON PARK — A 49-year-old Avon Park man was recovering from a self-inflicted and accidental gunshot wound Monday, after his .25-caliber semi-automatic handgun went off while he was cleaning it Friday night. Avon Park Police Cmdr. Michael J. Rowan said that police investigators were called to the Florida Hospital of Sebring emergency room shortly after 8:30 p.m. Friday, in response to a report of a man with a gunshot wound. "He apparently was cleaning his firearm and thought he had emptied it when the firearm discharged," Rowan said. "The bullet struck the inside left forearm and the exit wound was above the wrist. It was a non life-threatening injury." ...more

June 2, 2008