Deputy Chief Troy Schulze of the Lake Wales Police Department notes that even with thousands of spectators and participants in attendance at the Lake Wales 2012 Mardi Gras, police had “very few problems.” Schulze notes this could be credited to … read more.

On Wednesday, Feb. 15, a Lake Wales Police School Resource Officer reported they were notified via school radio of a student hitting a teacher. According to reports, at about 2 p.m., the officer was told that it was an incident … read more.

Feb. 14 Sharicka Ward, 28, of 225 Osceola Avenue — battery. James Murphy, 34, of 4041 Longhorn Drive — trespassing. Luis Vasquezmiranda, 33, of 2980 Jasmine Avenue — driving without a valid license. Feb. 15 Curtis Zink, 31, of 3954 … read more.

Polk crime rate is at a historic low. Polk County’s crime rate in the unincorporated areas and contract cities dropped from 2010 to 2011, according to the Uniform Crime Report statistics. The crime rate, which is the number of crimes … read more.

Prosecutors say a 19-year-old man should be executed for killing a central Florida police  officer in December. The state attorney’s office in Polk County will seek the death penalty for Kyle Williams in the  Dec. 18 slaying of 25-year-old Lakeland … read more.

Attorney General Pam Bondi presented Polk County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Sheriff Michael Braswell the 2011 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award at a ceremony Tuesday, Feb. 7, at the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee. Braswell, an 11-year veteran of … read more.

Credit card and tax fraud typically increase around tax time. People should always safeguard this information and be sure that they shred any paperwork containing personal information or credit card numbers. Always use caution when making online purchases and make … read more.

A search for a man suspected in the death of Alicia Nicole McDonald, 22, of 928 Sunshine Way SW in Winter Haven, ended at about 3 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8, when Michael “Romeo” Andrew Hagan, 26, of 3147 Spirit Lake … read more.

Feb. 6 Derick Tyler, 39, of 37 W. Seminole Avenue #B — aggravated stalking and criminal mischief. Feb. 7 Jamie Chavez, 24, of 3612 Harcourt Street — grand theft and dealing in stolen property. Isaac Knighten, 32, of 433 E. … read more.

Police report that on Friday, Feb. 3, at about 8:35 a.m., a Lake Wales city employee found a small plastic bag containing numerous baggies and a brown leafy substance inside a city owned trash receptacle on D Street. Police confirmed … read more.