PUNTA GORDA, Fla. — Two men were arrested after deputies observed a cocaine sale in the parking lot of a local bar, according to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators with the Narcotics Unit said they had been monitoring Phillip Jerome Barker Jr., 36, and had probable cause for hisContinue Reading
PUNTA GORDA, Fla. – A 20-year-old Bradenton man is behind bars after a family in Punta Gorda discovered his communications with a 13-year-old girl and intercepted him as he returned to their home. Kevin Lopez Perez was arrested on Friday, March 27, 2026, by the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office MajorContinue Reading
OCALA, Fla. — A 59-year-old woman has been arrested following an investigation into a fraud scheme that diverted more than $1 million from a healthcare business, according to the Ocala Police Department. Jean A. Gonzalez, a former employee of Ethos Health Group, is accused of redirecting patient and insurance paymentsContinue Reading
OCOEE, Fla. – A man is in custody following a statewide child exploitation investigation led by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. FDLE agents arrested 32-year-old Jhonatan Marcello Tulio in Ocoee on two counts of possession of child sexual abuse material and one count of transmission of such material. TheContinue Reading
KISSIMMEE, Florida – An Osceola County woman was arrested Monday after deputies say she directed her children to assault another child during a disturbance at a Kissimmee apartment complex. On March 16, 2026, deputies responded to the Heritage Park Apartment Complex following reports of a disturbance involving multiple juveniles atContinue Reading
PLANT CITY, Fla. — A 16-year-old Plant City High School student has been arrested after authorities say he brought a firearm onto campus and threatened two classmates during a robbery. According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred on Friday, March 13, 2026, around 8:25 a.m., when aContinue Reading
Charlotte County, FL — Two caregivers have been arrested after a middle school student overdosed on fentanyl at L.A. Ainger Middle School in Rotonda West, FL, on Tuesday morning. Deputies with the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office responded on March 10, 2026, after receiving reports that a student was not breathing.Continue Reading
ST. PETERSBURG, FL — A digital forensic investigation into illegal downloads has led to the arrest of a 77-year-old Pinellas County man on nearly 20 felony counts. Gregory Arendt was taken into custody on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, by agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). Arendt isContinue Reading
Orlando, FL — Two St. Petersburg men have been arrested in connection with an organized retail theft scheme that investigators say targeted home improvement stores across several west Florida counties. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced the arrests of Raydel Amado Gines Prieto, 52, and Erisniel Melgarejo Rodriguez, 36,Continue Reading
Charlotte County, FL — A Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office detective has been honored for the second consecutive year by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for his role in bringing a child predator to justice. Detective Don Woelke was named Outstanding Law Enforcement Officer of the Year by the U.S. Attorney’s OfficeContinue Reading