6,000-home development will double population of 'small town' Lake Wales
Lake Wales is getting bigger – much bigger. The population is expected to double because of a new development project.
Police arrest sex predator accused of exposing himself, crashing into patrol car while fleeing from officers
Leroy Towns, 61, a registered sexual predator with a criminal history, was arrested Thursday afternoon after allegedly exposing himself and then crashing into a police vehicle while trying to flee from officers.
Life-changing event leads former corrections officer to help others
When Michelle Threatt left law enforcement following an incident with an inmate, she pursued her passion, bought a food truck and feeds her Lake Wales neighborhood for free every Wednesday.
DeSantis suspends Lake Wales city commissioner who threatened child with gun
Governor Desantis signed an executive order that suspends the Lake Wales City Commissioner from her office until she's been acquitted of aggravated assault.
'Armed and dangerous' Sebring man wanted in deadly Father's Day shooting in Lake Wales
Lake Wales police are searching for a man they say shot a Bradenton man six times on Father's Day.
'I'll bury you': Lake Wales city commissioner arrested after threatening 11-year-old with gun, sheriff says
A city commissioner in Lake Wales was arrested for allegedly threatening an 11-year-old with a gun. "She said, ‘I didn’t say I was going to bury him alive, I just said I was going to bury him,’" Sheriff Grady Judd explained.
As hurricane season starts again, memories of 2004 will always linger
2004 brought Charley, Jeanne, and Frances -- a triple-hit that left devastation across the Tampa Bay area and central Florida, especially in the normally quiet town of Lake Wales.
Former school nurse arrested in Lake Wales for recording videos of students using bathroom at TN school
A man who was employed as a school nurse at a high school in Tennessee was arrested in Polk County on federal charges related to hundreds of images and videos of girls using the bathroom and undressing.
2 killed in Lake Wales crash
Two men were thrown from a pickup truck along State Road 60 in Lake Wales after the driver lost control, deputies say. Both were killed.
Lake Wales police searching for 3 ‘armed and dangerous’ men wanted for attempted murder
The Lake Wales Police Department is searching for Derrious Bradwell, 30, of Lakes Wales, Matthew Bradwell, 25, of Bartow and Devonte Bradwell, 24, of Winter Haven after they say the three men were involved in two shootings on Thursday.
Sexual battery investigation leads to large drug seizure, recovery of stolen firearm, police say
Lake Wales police arrested Johnny Hamilton, 55, after they say they found illegal drugs and a stolen gun inside his home while investigating a sexual battery complaint.
Police: Person shot dog, then themselves, at Lake Wales boat ramp
Police say a person killed their dog and then died by suicide at a Lake Wales boat ramp this morning.
Lake Wales bicyclist killed after being struck by several vehicles, police say
The Lake Wales Police Department is investigating after a bicyclist was hit and killed Thursday evening on US 27, south of State Road 60.
Polk woman tried to sell 8.8 pounds of meth to undercover detectives, officials say
A woman from Lake Wales tried to sell nearly 9 pounds, but it turned out the potential buyers were undercover Polk County detectives, according to the sheriff's office.
Lake Wales police search for shooting suspect
Police in Lake Wales are searching for a suspected shooter responsible for injuring one person on Monday.
Deputies arrest teenage brothers wanted in connection to body found in orange grove
Brothers Jojo Lobato, 19, and Angel Lobato, 18, of Lake Wales, were arrested Saturday night in Lake Wales thanks to a tip regarding their location, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Polk deputies searching for 2 teenage brothers possibly connected to murder victim found in orange grove
Horstman says Jo Jo Labato, 19, and his brother Angel, 18, are on the run after stealing the car of Danne Frazier. Frazier’s body was found earlier this week in a Lake Wales orange grove.
PCSO: Lake Wales man committed crimes with child to ‘toughen him up’
Ernest McKnight III, 36, was arrested Thursday after deputies say he committed a series of crimes over several days, some in the company of an eight-year-old child.
Man loses 3 family members, including 2 children, in Lake Wales wrong-way crash
Wagner Salvador, 42, lost three family members Friday night after the car he was driving was hit nearly head-on by Phillip Penatello, 83, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Warner University trying to create protective 'bubble' against COVID-19
Professional sports teams are doing it. Now, a Polk County school is trying the same approach to ward off COVID-19.