Silver Alert issued for Winter Haven man

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office issued a Silver Alert for Thomas Lee Seymour, 78, of Santa Maria Drive in Winter Haven.

Winter Haven police searching for 4 armed robbery suspects

According to police, the armed robbers entered the Circle K located at 1000 First St. S. in Winter Haven around 3:50 a.m. Saturday.

Police safely locate missing man 

The Lakeland Police Department safely found a 79-year-old man who was the center of a Silver Alert Saturday afternoon. No other details were released. 

'Wonderful people of Polk County' thwart would-be carjacker four different times

An ex-felon was repeatedly rejected when he tried to carjack several vehicles while fleeing a hit-and-run crash in Lake Alfred this morning, even getting sprayed with gasoline and leaping from an overpass during the escapade.

Sheriff Judd: 'When President Trump comes here, he don’t have to wear a mask'

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd declined to answer a question about COVID-19 masks on Friday, hours after the White House confirmed President Trump had tested positive for the virus.

Winter Haven man finds his stolen vehicle sitting in a nearby driveway; 3 arrested, police say

Three people were arrested for stealing a man's vehicle after a victim spotted it sitting in a driveway just miles away from his own home, according to the Winter Haven Police Department.

No arrests made two years after shooting death of Winter Haven man

Family and friends of Darnell Powell gathered in front of the Winter Haven Police Department on the two year anniversary of his death Tuesday, carrying signs that said, “Justice for Dee.”

Drug suspect agrees to come retrieve lost wallet filled with cash -- not realizing who had it

Things just fell into place for the Polk County Sheriff’s Office after a young guy who was riding his bike along Coleman Road in Winter Haven found a wallet with $500 in it.

Man found outside Mulberry Phosphate Museum suffered blunt-force trauma: deputies

A Mulberry man's body was found outside of the Mulberry Phosphate Museum Friday morning. Now, the Polk County Sheriff's Office is trying to figure out how he died. 

Detectives: Woman creates fake GoFundMe for Frostproof murder victims families, uses over $11,000 for herself

A Frostproof woman claimed she wanted to raise funds for the families of three murder victims, but then said she ended up using the $11,915 raised for personal expenses, the sheriff's office says.

Lakeland to sell swans following annual roundup next month

Swans I overpopulated Lakeland lake to be sold in pairs to people with a safe bird environment and body of water.

Winter Haven company transforms baseball bats into drinkware

A Polk County company is putting new use to old baseball bats and they're unlike almost anything you've ever seen. Dugout Mugs, in Winter Haven, hollows out the barrels of baseball bats to make drinking mugs.

Estranged boyfriend accused of murdering Lakeland mother of three, police say

Two months after a Lakeland mother was gunned down in the presence of her three small children, police detectives said they found the killer: her estranged boyfriend.

Vice-chair of Lakeland police advisory board steps down, remains as board member

The Lakeland Police Citizen Advisory Board is meant to mend relations between police and the community, but there's concern one member's Facebook post could cause further divide.

Woman's body found in ditch day after hit-and-run in Lakeland

A 44-year-old mother was hit and killed while walking on the side of the road in Polk County Friday night. Investigators say the driver who hit her never stopped to help.