PUNTA GORDA, Fla. – A Punta Gorda man is being held without bond after investigators obtained videos that authorities say show him repeatedly abusing a 6-week-old puppy until the animal died. Neil R. Puterbaugh, 53, was arrested Sept. 15 on a felony aggravated animal cruelty charge and a probation violation,Continue Reading
LAKE WALES, Fla. – A traffic stop over broken tail lights ended with the arrest of a Lake Wales man who had been wanted since 2023 on charges including armed kidnapping and aggravated assault, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. Thomas Kenneth James, 42, was driving a white FordContinue Reading
LAKELAND, Fla. – A Polk County Tax Collector’s Office IT manager was found dead in a wooded area of Colt Creek State Park after investigators identified him as the suspect accused of secretly recording women inside an employee restroom. Polk County sheriff’s deputies found the body of Sean Michael Krause,Continue Reading
LAKELAND, Fla. – A Lakeland woman has been arrested after a 3-month-old boy died from multiple head injuries that a medical examiner determined were consistent with being struck by a large ring she was wearing, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. Jessica Vlasac, 42, was arrested Sept. 10 andContinue Reading
ORLANDO, Fla. – A 26-year-old man has been arrested on an attempted murder charge after authorities say he shot at a woman inside the Orange County Courthouse parking garage Wednesday, forcing court operations to halt for several hours. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect as Kenneth Jerome LoganContinue Reading
MULBERRY, Fla. – A 24-year-old man has been arrested after a 77-year-old woman was sexually assaulted, choked and dragged back into her Mulberry home when she tried to escape early Saturday morning, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. Axel Antonio Espinal Herrera was arrested after detectives canvassing the victim’sContinue Reading
ORLANDO, Fla. – A teenager has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a 4-year-old child at an Orlando apartment complex last month, police announced. The Orlando Police Fugitive Task Force arrested 18-year-old Brandon Sir Nevaeh McCloud on the morning of Aug. 5 in connection with the child’sContinue Reading
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit arrested and charged 42-year-old Timothy Chaneyfield, the pastor at St. James United American Free Will Baptist Church in Winter Haven, after receiving a NCMEC (National Center for Missing and Endangered Children) cyber tip regarding inappropriate contact he wasContinue Reading
BROOKSVILLE, FL — A 62-year-old Brooksville man previously released on bond for child sexual abuse material charges has been re-arrested and is now held without bond after state agents uncovered a scheme to steal the identity of a disabled elderly man and flee the country to evade prosecution. Paul WolaverContinue Reading
WEST MELBOURNE, Fla. – A West Melbourne woman has been arrested after investigators determined she was more than three times the legal alcohol limit when she caused a rollover crash that seriously injured multiple people earlier this year, according to the West Melbourne Police Department. Jessica Elizabeth Rua, 31, wasContinue Reading