53-year-old man who intentionally ran over a woman with his vehicle, killing her after a domestic dispute in 2022, has been sentenced to life in prison. On Monday, March 10, 2025, Collier County Circuit Judge Elizabeth Krier sentenced Donald Lee Whitaker to life in prison. A jury found Whitaker guiltyContinue Reading
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) arrested Kelly Rae Short, 57, of Milton, for grand theft. Short is the former treasurer of the Santa Rosa County Association of School Administrators (SRCASA) and the former director of in-service and instructional technology for the Santa Rosa County school district. The investigationContinue Reading
During Bike Week 2025, the Port Orange Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit conducted “Operation Full Throttle,” a proactive online operation targeting individuals engaging in the sexual exploitation of children. The operation, conducted in collaboration with multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, Lake City Police Department, SouthContinue Reading
A joint law enforcement operation led to the arrest of a 28-year-old Lake City woman on drug charges after authorities uncovered a plan to smuggle narcotics into Suwannee Correctional Institution. Jakaleb Thomas, a correctional officer trainee, was taken into custody after task force detectives received intelligence from the Alachua CountyContinue Reading
After more than three decades, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office has identified a previously unidentified homicide victim found in 1988 as Pamela Leigh Walton. On September 25, 1988, deputies discovered the remains of a deceased individual approximately 30 feet off the side of CR 474 in a rural, heavily woodedContinue Reading
A convicted felon was arrested after multiple disturbances, a battery incident, and the discovery of 208 rounds of ammunition in his vehicle. On Friday, March 7, 2025, at approximately 10:20 p.m., Deputy J. Gonzalez responded to a battery call near the 13000 block of W Newberry Rd. The suspect, 40-year-oldContinue Reading
A six-year-old home invasion case has led to the arrest of a suspect after a DNA match linked him to evidence left at the scene. On January 19, 2019, at approximately 2:43 p.m., deputies responded to a reported home invasion in the 6000 block of NW 18th Ave. They foundContinue Reading
Early Saturday morning, a domestic disturbance in Gainesville led to a SWAT response and the discovery of two deceased individuals. At approximately 5:53 a.m. on March 8, 2025, the Gainesville Police Department received a call from a concerned family member regarding an argument in the 6100 block of NW 30thContinue Reading
Detectives with the Pinellas County Use of Deadly Force Investigative Task Force are investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred in St. Petersburg early Saturday morning. On March 8, 2025, at approximately 4:10 a.m., St. Petersburg Police officers responded to reports of shots fired in the 2800 block of Freemont TerraceContinue Reading
On March 6, 2025, at approximately 10 a.m., a road rage incident at the intersection of South US Highway 41 and West College Avenue in Ruskin resulted in the arrest of one driver after a confrontation escalated into violence. According to authorities, 47-year-old Leonard Cako, the driver of a whiteContinue Reading