CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. – Three drug dealers arrested in separate undercover investigations by the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms, officials announced. Crystal R. Gilbert, 44, was sentenced on December 10, 2025, to seven years in the Florida Department of Corrections, followed byContinue Reading
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – A man was arrested and charged with second-degree murder after deputies say he shot and killed his landlord during a physical altercation inside a Port Charlotte home last week. According to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded at about 1:39 p.m. on January 7, 2026,Continue Reading
POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A Dade City man was arrested late Saturday night after deputies say he threatened a group of people following a minor traffic crash northwest of Lakeland, punched an 18-year-old, and claimed he would shoot them, authorities said. According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, deputies respondedContinue Reading
POLK COUNTY, FL – A 43-year-old Wauchula woman is behind bars after investigators say her 16-year-old victim’s mother discovered incriminating videos on the boy’s phone. Marie Ibarra was arrested on Monday, January 5, 2026, by detectives with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO). The investigation was launched in December 2025Continue Reading
OCALA, FL – A Wednesday afternoon shooting in a quiet Ocala neighborhood left one man dead and prompted a swift police response that ended with a suspect taken into custody just blocks away. According to the Ocala Police Department, officers were first alerted around 3:34 p.m. on January 7 afterContinue Reading
A New Year’s Eve celebration turned into a criminal investigation after an 18-year-old man allegedly lured two minors to his home, provided them with illicit narcotics, and sexually assaulted one of them. Authorities announced the arrest of James Scheuerell, born June 28, 2007, following an intensive investigation by the MajorContinue Reading
Polk County Sheriff’s Office Cyber Crimes detectives arrested 39-year-old Andrew “Drew” McGaffigan of Auburndale on December 17, 2025, and charged him with 30 counts of child pornography. After further investigation of his electronic devices, 46 more counts were added on December 23rd. He has been incarcerated since his original arrestContinue Reading
Highland City, Fla. – Polk County deputies are investigating a tragic murder-suicide that occurred Monday night, December 22, 2025, leaving a mother dead, her daughter critically injured, and a father deceased. Just before 11:00 p.m., a 12-year-old boy ran to a neighbor’s house on Lemon Avenue, reporting that his motherContinue Reading
Bartow, Fla. – Polk County deputies arrested 64-year-old Stephen J. Phillips of Mulberry following a road rage incident on Sunday, December 14, 2025, that involved a firearm and left a family, including a 3-year-old child, in fear for their lives. According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the victims wereContinue Reading
Davenport, Fla. – Polk County Sheriff’s Office homicide detectives have arrested 19-year-old Julian Andre Trevino in connection with the murder of 67-year-old John Joseph Torneo in the Polo Park neighborhood. Torneo was found dead in his bathroom on Sunday, December 14, by a friend who had not heard from himContinue Reading