Tag: lakeland

Florida Law and Order Priorities Highlighted by Governor DeSantis, AG Moody, Sheriff Judd
[ad_1]
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis highlighted law and order priorities, including protecting from fentanyl and illegal drugs, and curbing illegal immigration, with Attorney General Ashley Moody, Sheriff Grady Judd, and others in law enforcement.

Last year, Governor DeSantis signed legislation establishing the State Assistance for Fentanyl Eradication (SAFE) grant program, which provides law enforcement with the funding needed to conduct large-scale drug operations across the state, including many in Central Florida.

Florida has also enacted a suite of legislation to crack down on crime, curb illegal immigration, increase penalties for drug and human traffickers, and recruit law enforcement officers to the state.

And when two state attorneys refused to carry out the duties of their positions and enforce the law, Governor DeSantis removed them from office.

“Leadership matters,” said Republican Governor Ron DeSantis. “Law and order is maintained when leaders insist on enforcing the law. Florida has enacted legislation to combat crime, recruited police officers from all over the country, refused to allow cities to defund the police, and—when necessary—removed rogue state attorneys who refused to enforce the law.”

“Florida is a law-and-order state, and through proactive leadership and diligent law enforcement efforts we continue to prosper, break tourism records and lead in new business formations,” said Attorney General Ashley Moody. “This is due in large part to the brave men and women in law enforcement, and we will always work to ensure they are supported by Florida leadership.”

In 2023, the Governor approved $20 million in funding for Florida’s SAFE program administered by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. This state-funded grant has allowed local law enforcement agencies to effectively fight against drug trafficking and get hundreds of pounds of deadly drugs off our streets.

“I commend Governor DeSantis and the Florida legislature for their support of law enforcement in Florida,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. “We are a law and order state, and proud of it. Because of this, our communities are thriving. Florida is a safe place to live, work, and play.”

Examples of Florida being a law and order state from SAFE grant success stories include:
- In January 2024, the Polk County Sheriffs Office utilized SAFE to arrest 11 suspects trafficking in fentanyl and cocaine, seizing 30 pounds of cocaine and nearly 8 pounds of fentanyl.
- In March 2024, Santa Rosa County and Escambia County Sheriffs’ offices, working alongside the DEA, seized 3 grams of fentanyl, marijuana, prescription pills, and several handguns.
- In April 2024, FDLE operations in conjunction with Sheriffs’ Offices in Seminole County and Palm Beach County resulted in arrests of nearly 40 drug traffickers.
- In April 2024, officers in the Fort Myers region successfully seized nearly 4kg of cocaine, 90g of fentanyl, 69g of MDMA, 375g of marijuana, two AR-15 weapons, and more than $60,000 in currency.
- In July 2024, FDLE Pensacola, Santa Rosa County and Okaloosa County Sheriff’s offices, Fort Walton Beach Police Department, FHP, and the DEA announced the arrest of 19 drug traffickers facing charges including trafficking in cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, conspiracy to distribute, and racketeering.
- In August 2024, a SAFE-funded investigation dismantled a drug trafficking operation in St. Petersburg which was responsible for manufacturing hundreds of doses of fentanyl daily throughout Polk County, specifically in Lakeland.
  
  Officers confiscated 10.7 kilos of fentanyl, along with cocaine, oxycodone, marijuana, 3 illegal firearms, and over $500,000 in cash.
“Florida is a national model in eradicating drugs from our communities and taking criminals off the street,” said Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Executive Director Dave Kerner. “In every corner of this great state, you will find State Troopers and local law enforcement working together to interdict drugs and arrest those who profit off of it. Instead of being demonized, Governor DeSantis celebrates the dangerous work our law enforcement officers do every day, and our men and women in law enforcement deeply appreciate that.”

In total, SAFE funds have resulted in over 650 arrests and the seizure of more than 145 pounds of fentanyl, 220 pounds of cocaine, and 60,000 fentanyl pills – numbers officials say show Florida is a law and order state.

“Thanks to Governor Ron DeSantis and his leadership, Florida’s law enforcement officers have arrested hundreds of dangerous drug traffickers and taken fentanyl and other deadly drugs off our streets,” said Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass. “Florida is a national role model and stands in stark contrast to crime-plagued blue states.”
[ad_2]

Source link
August 31, 2024
Single-A Florida State League Glance

[ad_1]

Kristóf Rasovszky of Hungary has wrapped up Olympic swimming events in the Seine River by winning the men’s 10-kilometer marathon race.

[ad_2]

Source link

August 9, 2024
‘A family affair:’ 64 arrested as Polk sheriff’s office paralyzes Lakeland-based drug ring
[ad_1]
POLK COUNTY, Fla. – Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd held a news conference Friday to discuss “Operation Rooske,” a three-year investigation into a Lakeland-based drug ring that recently culminated with its leading members among 64 people now behind bars.

Judd said that most of the arrests were of the drug ring’s customers, at least two of whom — with their names shown red in the image at the top of this story — suffered fatal fentanyl overdoses. The sheriff’s office reportedly used these lower-level arrests to develop leads and build a case against the organization.

“We quit arresting the street-level people because it was putting heat on our ability to move up the chain of command,” Judd said. “… We could literally talk for a long time about all of the nuances of this case, but I think you’ve pretty well figured it out. Guns and dope equal violence and death, and why these fools can’t figure out the obvious that we all understand is a surprise to me every day.”

As far as which arrests served most to cripple the organization, as the sheriff put it, they would largely be those of the family behind Lakeland businesses Rooske Bait and Tackle Shop and Rooske Motorcycle Parts & Accessories, where the sheriff said drug money was being laundered. Both of the businesses have been shut down, according to Judd.
- Hector Baez Torres, 43, of Lakeland
  
  Called the “CEO” of the organization.
  
  Operated bait shop and motorcycle parts shop with Pilar Rivera, his wife.
  
  Faces charges of racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering and unlawful use of two-way communication device.
- Pilar Rivera, 41, of Lakeland
  
  Married to Hector Baez Torres and called the “CFO” of the organization.
  
  Operated bait shop and motorcycle parts shop with Hector Baez Torres.
  
  Faces charges of conspiracy to commit racketeering and unlawful use of two-way communication device.
- Jeimylee Baez Rivera, 23, of Auburndale
  
  Daughter of Hector Baez Torres and Pilar Rivera, girlfriend of Miguel Castro Rivera.
  
  Faces charges of conspiracy to commit racketeering, trafficking in cocaine 28g or more, trafficking in fentanyl 28g or more, possession of oxycodone, possessing a structure for drugs with minor present, negligent child abuse w/o bodily harm, unlawful use of two-way communication device, possession of marijuana resin, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of prescription drug without prescription.
- Miguel Castro Rivera, 24, of Auburndale
  
  Boyfriend of Jeimylee Baez Rivera and called Hector Baez Torres’ “right-hand man.”
  
  Faces charges of armed trafficking in cocaine, racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering, trafficking in fentanyl 14g or more, armed trafficking in fentanyl 28g or more, possessing a structure for drugs with minor present, use of firearm during commission of felony offense, unlawful use of two-way communication device, negligent child abuse w/o bodily harm, possession of marijuana resin, possession of oxycodone, possession of marijuana, possession of altered firearm, resisting without violence, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of prescription drug without prescription.
- Luis Ramos Delgado, 48, of Lakeland
  
  Boyfriend of Wilma Fuentes Laureano, called an “operator.”
  
  Faces charges of racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering, trafficking in fentanyl 4g<14g, trafficking in fentanyl 14g<28g , trafficking in fentanyl 28g or more and unlawful use of two-way communication device.
- Wilma Fuentes Laureano, 56, of Lakeland
  
  Girlfriend of Luis Ramos Delgado, called an “operator.”
  
  Faces charges of conspiracy to commit racketeering and trafficking in fentanyl 4g or more.
- Casimiro Bidoit Del Valle, 59, of Lakeland
  
  Called a drug supplier for the organization.
  
  Faces charges of trafficking in fentanyl 28g or more, trafficking in cocaine over 200 grams, possession of firearm by convicted felon and possession of drug paraphernalia.
[EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos]

The operation began in January 2021 when Polk County detectives realized street-level fentanyl dealers in the Lakeland area were selling hundreds of bags each day, Judd said.

Spurred to look further into where the drugs were coming from, investigators soon secured backing from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Florida State Attorney’s Office, with state funding from S.A.F.E. to boot.

“We were working the street and all of a sudden our detective said, ‘Oh my gosh, these folks are cranking out 500 to 1,000 bags of this a day in Lakeland from this one operation,’ so they needed to go further,” Judd said. “We set up wiretaps, or communication interceptions, through warrants. We saw that this immediately went across county lines… So what did this tell us? It told us, ‘OK, now we figured out that Pilar and Hector are the top of the organization.’ We define the hierarchy. We figured out the next level was part of the family affair. We figured out who they were (Jeimylee Baez Rivera and Miguel Castro Rivera). Then we figured out the operators and two of the operators are boyfriend and girlfriend, Wilma Fuentes and Luis. We also figured out that as these people at (the street) level were arrested, they would quit letting them deal dope, they would distance themselves.”

Come June 20, 2024, Polk County deputies served search warrants for Rooske Motorcycle Parts & Accessories, Rooske Bait & Tackle Shop, Hector and Pilar’s residence, Jeimylee and Miguel’s residence and Luis and Wilma’s residence, a total of six.

“We seized a lot of things. We seized motorcycles. We wiped out and seized everything from the bait shop because we were able to funnel the money and see it follow back up to be laundered at the legitimate places. We seized guns,” Judd said.

A sheriff’s office news release goes into more detail, stating the following drugs and assets were seized in the investigation:
- Fentanyl (742.14 grams)
- Cocaine 3,585.42 grams
- Methamphetamine (13.08 grams)
- Oxycodone (57 grams)
- Marijuana (228.69 grams)
- $12,270 in U.S. currency
- Five vehicles ($154,000)
- Two personal watercrafts ($15,000)
- Dirt bikes and off-road vehicles ($40,000)
- Enclosed trailer ($4,000)
- Rooske Bait Store merchandise ($35,000)
- Rooske Motorcycle Shop merchandise ($55,000)
- Jewelry/electronics/firearms/designer apparel ($67,500)
- Bank accounts ($40,000)
- Liens on the residence of Hector and Pilar ($200,000)
“In essence, this fentanyl trafficking organization was the family business. The motorcycle shop and the bait shop were corrupt businesses that were used as a means for money laundering. Their customers weren’t involved; they had no idea what was going on. In fact, the owners tried to project a wholesome façade while conducting their criminal enterprise behind the scenes until it all came crashing down on them, thanks to the fantastic work by our detectives,” Judd said in a statement.

Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily:
Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.

[ad_2]

Brandon Hogan

Source link
June 28, 2024
VIDEO: Florida McDonald’s employee accused of shooting at customers during drive-thru fight

[ad_1]

LAKELAND, Fla. – A 22-year-old Central Florida McDonald’s employee was arrested after she shot at customers during a drive-thru spat that was partially captured on surveillance cameras.

Lakeland police said that on Friday around 1 a.m. officers responded to the McDonald’s located in the 700 block of East Memorial Blvd. in reference to a shooting.

According to a news release, a dispute started in the drive-thru when an unspecified number of customers felt their order was incorrect.

[EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos]

Police said an employee – identified as Chassidy Gardner – argued with the customers at the drive-thru window before she threw a drink at the customers as they tried to drive away.

According to the release, two of the customers got out of their vehicle, opened the drive-thru window and tossed drinks at Gardner who then armed herself with a handgun.

Chassidy Gardner, 22 (Lakeland Police Department)

Police said as the customers drove around the west side of the restaurant, Gardner walked outside with her gun to continue the argument.

Gardner then fired the gun as the vehicle was leaving the parking lot, according to the release. The customer’s vehicle was struck at least one time.

Gardner was arrested and faces charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, police said.

Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily:

Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.

[ad_2]

Jacob Langston

Source link

June 17, 2024

This Florida city is the No. 1 place to live in the US. Here’s where others rank

[ad_1]

U.S. News and World Report has released its list of the “Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2024-2025.”

The list is made up of 150 cities from across the nation, ranked on factors like affordability, weather, crime rates and commuter friendliness.

Among the top cities on the list are places like Huntsville in Alabama (No. 7) and Charlotte, North Carolina (No. 5).

However, the No. 1 spot belonged to a city here in the Sunshine State: Naples in Collier County.

According to the ranking, the cost of living in Naples is fairly high — unless you live in the rural interior of the area.

In addition, the city features plenty of entertainment, tons of outdoor recreation, and Florida’s ever-present lack of a state income tax.

“Long known as a preferred retirement spot for the rich, powerful and cold-averse, the greater Naples area supplies pristine beaches, sprawling golf courses, and fine dining and shopping. Closer to the area’s rural interior, meanwhile, cattle graze and seasonal workers pick tomatoes in the fields around Immokalee, a farming community an hour’s drive outside of Naples.

Although geared more toward the older demographic that tends to settle in the Naples and Marco Island area, the two beachside communities are located just more than a two-hour drive from bustling cities including Tampa and Miami.

Much of the Naples area is subject to a seasonal ebb and flow as residents from cold-weather states – often called “snowbirds” – flock to the region during the winter months to enjoy Florida’s seemingly endless supply of sunshine and warm weather. Those seasonal residents leave their second homes in Naples as the sweltering summer months approach.

But proximity to the beach, loads of sunshine and no state income tax come with drawbacks. Continued growth and development are exacerbating a lack of affordable homes in Naples. And traffic, although nowhere near the levels seen in larger Florida metro areas, tends to choke roadways in the urban area during the winter months.”

U.S. News and World Report, “What’s it like to live in Naples, FL?”

The following are the Florida cities that made the list:

Rank	City	Quality of Life	Value	Overall Score
1	Naples	6.8	6.0	7.1
11	Sarasota	6.2	6.0	6.7
31	Pensacola	6.4	6.9	6.5
35	Tampa	6.3	6.4	6.5
37	Fort Myers	6.3	6.0	6.5
49	Melbourne	6.5	6.6	6.4
56	Jacksonville	6.3	6.8	6.4
68	Orlando	6.2	6.1	6.3
75	Tallahassee	6.4	7.1	6.2
78	Ocala	5.9	6.8	6.2
80	Lakeland	6.1	6.8	6.2
83	Port St. Lucie	5.7	6.3	6.2
96	Daytona Beach	6.0	5.9	6.1
123	Miami	6.6	3.5	5.8

Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily:

[ad_2]

Anthony Talcott

Source link

May 22, 2024

Wanted Florida man crawls into home through floorboards during getaway, deputies say

[ad_1]

POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A wanted Florida man attempted a getaway Sunday by hiding under a house, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

In a news release, deputies said that the incident started around 2 p.m., which is when an assault was reported near Central Avenue Southeast and 3rd Avenue Southeast.

While it began as a “disturbance” between two groups of people, things escalated when Gage Dennis, 19, purposefully drove a car at four people, hitting one of them, the release said.

Deputies added that another man — Andrew LaPorte, 19 — jumped on top of the downed victim and beat him.

[EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos]

Dennis tried to hide from arriving deputies by crawling under a house, according to investigators.

He then removed some floorboards from the home and went inside, but deputies managed to catch him there, the release said.

Both Dennis and LaPorte were arrested, though the victim suffered only minor injuries, according to the sheriff’s office.

Dennis faces charges of burglary, criminal mischief, resisting and four counts of attempted first-degree murder.

LaPorte faces charges of battery and violation of probation.

Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily:

Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.

[ad_2]

Anthony Talcott

Source link

May 7, 2024
Orlando man accused of stealing over $100K in Best Buy merchandise during statewide spree

[ad_1]

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – An Orlando man booked Thursday in Brevard County is accused of stealing some $118,413.45 in merchandise from Best Buy stores across the state in a crime spree lasting the better part of a year, according to investigators.

Earl Glover, 30, made a habit of almost exclusively targeting merchandise on display — such as cellphones and laptops — ripping the devices from their security cables, triggering an alarm and running out of the stores, some of which he pilfered from more than once, according a sworn complaint filed last year by the Melbourne Police Department.

Glover’s alleged actions took place between June 11, 2022, and March 22, 2023, the report states.

The timeline given in the complaint, as well as what Glover is accused of doing, is as follows:
June 11, 2022 — Stealing four iPhones worth $3,239.96 at a Best Buy in Daytona Beach.
June 26, 2022 — Attempting to steal $8,367.27 worth of display merchandise at a Best Buy in Lakeland. A citizen reportedly tried stopping Glover as he ran out of the store, causing him to fall and drop the merchandise as well as his personal cellphone. The report adds Glover then tried ripping out an additional display unit before retrieving his cellphone, sprinting across the parking lot and jumping into an SUV being driven by another person.
June 29, 2022 — Stealing three MacBook display models worth $4,794.98 at a Best Buy in Melbourne.
July 11, 2022 — Stealing three more MacBook display models, also worth $4,794.98, at a Best Buy in Ocala.
July 29, 2022 — Stealing $5,219.95 worth of display merchandise at a Best Buy in Plantation.
July 29, 2022 — Stealing $2,471.98 worth of display merchandise at a Best Buy in Stuart.
Aug. 8, 2022 — Stealing three MacBooks worth $4,358.99 at a Best Buy in the Gainesville area.
Aug. 12, 2022 — Stealing $4,806.97 worth of display merchandise at a Best Buy in Jacksonville.
Aug. 22, 2022 — Stealing $5,057.97 worth of display merchandise, including three Sony digital cameras, at a Best Buy in Daytona Beach, Glover’s second time targeting the store.
Aug. 26, 2022 — Stealing two gaming laptops and an Apple AirPods Max worth $3,330.97 at a Best Buy in Altamonte Springs.
Sept. 9, 2022 — Stealing four iPads, an Apple Pen and an Apple AirPods Max worth $2,652.93 at a Best Buy in Orlando.
Sept. 16, 2022 — Stealing $4,182.97 worth of display merchandise, including three gaming laptops, at a Best Buy in the Orlando’s Millenia area.
Oct. 5, 2022 — Stealing nine iPhone display models worth $9,593.92, joined in the act by an unknown female, at a Best Buy in Plantation. A Best Buy Asset Protection employee reportedly attempted to stop Glover, who evaded the employee only to run toward an off duty Plantation police motor officer. Glover led Plantation police on a foot chase, ultimately evading arrest, yet would also drop and leave behind his personal cellphone, the report states. This was allegedly Glover’s second time targeting the store.
Oct 20, 2022 — Stealing display merchandise worth $4,166.08, joined in the act by an unknown female, at a Best Buy in Jacksonville.
Oct. 28, 2022 — Stealing display merchandise worth $3,820.97 at a Best Buy in Orlando’s Millenia area, Glover’s second time targeting the store.
Nov. 4, 2022 — Stealing display merchandise worth $4,283.07 a Best Buy in Clearwater.
Nov. 14, 2022 — Stealing display merchandise worth $4,015.95 at a Best Buy in Ocala, Glover’s second time targeting the store.
Nov. 28, 2022 — Stealing display merchandise worth $6,749.97 at a Best Buy in the Orlando area.
Nov. 30, 2022 — Stealing display merchandise worth $4,949.97 at a Best Buy in Daytona Beach, Glover’s third time targeting the store.
Dec. 14, 2022 — Stealing merchandise worth $6,479.96 — joined in the act by an unknown female, who selected three new-in-box laptops — at a Best Buy in Melbourne, Glover’s second time targeting the store.
Dec. 19, 2022 — Investigators make contact with the Best Buy Asset Protection employee from the Oct. 5 incident, learning more about the cellphone that Glover left behind.
Jan. 22, 2023 — Stealing display merchandise worth $6,134.96 at a Best Buy in Jacksonville.
Jan. 24, 2023 — A search warrant is approved for the cellphone that Glover dropped in Oct. 2022, used in part to verify his identity as well as to access photographs of the stolen merchandise stored on the device.
Jan. 30, 2023 — Stealing display merchandise worth $9,719.96 at a Best Buy in the Kissimmee area.
Feb. 22, 2023 — A warrant is approved for the cellphone’s historical location data, showing Glover in the area of ten of the thirteen thefts that occurred between June 11, 2022, and Oct. 5, 2022.
March 17, 2023 — Stealing display merchandise worth $4,499.98 at a Best Buy in Orlando’s Millenia area, Glover’s third time targeting the store.
March 22, 2023 — Stealing display merchandise worth $5,847.30 at a Best Buy in Wellington.
March 24, 2023 — Investigators make contact with the Florida Department of Corrections, providing surveillance images of the thefts for further confirmation Glover was behind them.

Glover was arrested via warrant and faces a charge of grand theft over $100,000, held at the Brevard County Jail on $200,000 bond, records show.

[ad_2]

Brandon Hogan

Source link

[ad_1]

Popular Latin American restaurant chain adding new location due to popular demand.

Press Release
–

Nov 22, 2022 09:00 EST

LAKELAND, Fla., November 22, 2022 (Newswire.com)
–
Customers asked and they listened: La Granja Restaurants is opening a location in Lakeland due to overwhelming demand.

“Customers asked many times for us to expand to Lakeland. We’re proud to announce it’s finally happening!” said Claudia Bartra, the founder of La Granja Restaurants.

The Lakeland location will open in approximately three months, adding to the over 50 locations in Florida. In the meantime, customers can travel to La Granja’s other locations in preparation for their grand opening by finding their closest location. They will offer a Drive-Thru, takeout, dine-in and third-party delivery apps as options.

More information about the expansion is forthcoming soon.

About La Granja

For over 25 years, La Granja Restaurants has been known for their excellent and affordable Latin cuisine, including the 1/4 Chicken meal and delectable sides such as white rice, yuca, tostones, black beans or French fries. Their first location opened in Aruba in 1993 before expanding to the United States in 1995.

The award-winning restaurant has been recognized as the “Best Peruvian Restaurant of the Year,” “Best Family Style Restaurant” and “Best Peruvian Cuisine of Fort Lauderdale.” Bartra was honored with the 2016 Women of Worth Award by Restaurant Review Magazine.

La Granja’s focus on customer service and commitment to delicious cuisine keeps the restaurant chain growing.

Fantastic Dining for Everyone in the Family

Despite inflation, La Granja proudly offers meals that are affordable and filling, offering a variety of platter dishes, including a main course and several sides. Some of the most popular additions include fried plantains, frijoles and arroz. Families can also order platters with food for four or more people. Choose from seafood, chicken, pork, steak, or fried calamari with seafood rice, and pair it with a choice of side dishes. Dishes are perfectly seasoned, honor traditional Latin American cuisine and are homestyle for a comfortable, tasty experience for everyone.

Their famous chicken dishes are offered in whole, half and quarter sizes and come with rice or beans. Customers can also snag chicken wings with fries or their Boneless Breast Special.

Their seafood specials include whole snapper, criollo fish and shrimp paired with sides like rice and beans, yuca, or tostones.

Not feeling their staple chicken platters? La Granja also offers sandwiches and fajitas. Lunch or dinner guests will want to come back again and again for their homestyle and accessible meals.

Don’t forget other staples, such as a perfectly paired dessert. Top off the meal with flan, tres leches, pionono, flan, ice cream and alfajores. La Granja also offers a wide selection of wine and beer to pair with your favorite meal.

No matter what customers choose, they are guaranteed great dining and plenty of mouthwatering choices.

Call (954) 589-1967 or visit www.lagranjarestaurants.com to learn more about the upcoming expansion.

Source: La Granja Restaurants

[ad_2]

Source link