Around 9:45 am this morning, March 4, 2012, Lily Cline, DOB 8/14/1975 of Poyner Oaks Road North in Polk City, who was driving a red 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier northbound on Commonwealth Ave North in Polk City just south of Lake County, for unknown reasons lost control of the car, causing it to leave the roadway. As Cline brought the car back onto the road, she crossed over into the path of a silver 2011 Hyundai Tucson that was traveling southbound on Commonwealth, being driven by William A. Schultz, DOB 8/4/1944, of Soledad Way in The Villages and the two vehicles collided nearly head-on.

Cline died at the scene as a result of the crash. She was wearing her seatbelt but was wearing it improperly. She was the sole occupant in her car. Schultz’s wife, Joann, DOB 1/3/1938 of the same address as William, who was the front seat passenger in his SUV, also died instantly. She was wearing her seatbelt. William was airlifted to LRMC with critical injuries. He died during surgery around 4:45 pm today. He was wearing his seatbelt.

“This was a particularly awful crash, with the loss of three lives. Any loss of life is tragic, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of these victims. Although our investigators aren’t certain yet what caused this crash, I want to remind everyone to please be careful when driving on our roadways.” – Sheriff Grady Judd

Polk County, Florida -From Saturday evening, through Sunday morning, June 16-17, 2012, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office has received three drowning related calls for service involving small children.

The first incident occurred at approximately 6:48 pm, on Saturday, June 16, 2012, when a 5-year-old girl from Okeechobee was visiting with family members at an Aldridge Lane residence in Davenport.  Several family members, children and adults, were in the pool together when one adult noticed the 5-year-old at the bottom of the pool.  Family members pulled the child out of the water, performed CPR and the child was revived.  Responding emergency medical personnel further stabilized the child and transported her to Arnold Palmer in stable condition.

At approximately 8:12 pm, on Saturday, June 16, 2012, a two-year-old child was visiting a Trailsman Lane residence in Lakeland with his parents.  The group was celebrating a friend’s birthday and there was a large group of people attending.  The child, a Mulberry resident, wandered away from his parents and could not be located for approximately 15 minutes.  Ultimately, the child was found floating in a pool on the property.  The toddler was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa.  He is listed in very critical condition.

At approximately 11:22 am, Sunday, June 17, 2012, PCSO deputies again responded to a near drowning of a 21-month old boy.  This incident occurred at a residence on Hilltop Lane in Davenport.  The child’s three-year-old sibling opened the door to the pool area of the residence and the toddler wandered into the water.  The child’s mother found her son unresponsive, pulled him from the water and performed CPR.  Emergency medical personnel responded and further stabilized the toddler.  He was transported to Arnold Palmer as a precaution.  He is listed in stable condition.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, “Every day, about 10 people die from unintentional drowning.  Of these, two are children age 14 or younger.  Drowning ranks fifth among the leading causes of unintentional injury death in the United States.”  (http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Water-Safety/waterinjuries-factsheet.html)

It only takes a few moments for a normal day to turn tragic.  The following tips are offered in hopes of preventing tragic drowning or water-related accidents

• ·         Never leave small children unattended around any body of water (pool, bathtub, lake, etc.). Small children don’t often think of water as a danger and they are, by nature, very curious. Being left alone in or around water without supervision can be fatal.  

• Take small children with you if the phone should ring or if you should have to perform some brief task such as making a sandwich or loading the washing machine rather than trusting toddlers to be careful or to stay away from water while unsupervised.
• Learn CPR especially if you own a pool or live near the water. Valuable lifesaving seconds are lost by having to wait for Emergency Medical Services to arrive to begin CPR. Four to six minutes without oxygen can cause irreversible brain damage or death. 
• Encourage older children and adolescents to learn how to swim, but remember even good swimmers can drown.
• Swimming lessons are no substitute for supervision of young children in and around water and no one should ever swim alone.
• Teach children and adolescents to avoid conditions or situations which could create the potential for danger, e.g. swimming in nonpublic, restricted or isolated areas, or swimming in areas with strong, unstable or turbulent currents.
• Swimming pools should be enclosed by a 4-sided fence that is at least 5 feet high and separates the pool area from the house. The fence gate should have a self-closing, self-latching mechanism, which is located on the side of the gate closest to the pool and out of reach of small children. Reaching and/or throwing aids should be readily available.  

Laura Hunt was a beautiful young girl who was brutally murdered. Here Ex-Boyfriend is accused of being the killer.

Original Story: Girl with “Pray For Death” Tattoo Found Dead

Polk City, Florida – Twenty year old Laura Hunt had her whole life ahead of her and in a moment of apparent rage her ex-boyfriend  Patrick E. Wilkey, 21, of Auburndale, is accused of ending it.  The family of Laura Hunt had been searching for the young woman since Saturday July 8th after she didn’t return from a night out at a local club, Wally’s, with friends. On July 10th a body was found by a local land owner near Berkley Road and Walker Road. The body was of a young woman with some distinctive tattoos. She had the words “Pray For Death” tattooed  on the inside of her right forearm; a tattoo of the word “Love” on the outside of her right hand in the webbing between her thumb and index finger. The DailyRidge.Com received a media release just after 7pm from the Polk County Sheriff Office. The editors of Daily Ridge reviewed the information and posted an article along with a graphic picture of the “Pray For Death” tattoo at 7:45pm. The article was then posted through several different avenues of social media including facebook and twitter. According to an affidavit by the PCSO a family member of the victim read the DailyRidge.Com article around 2am, July 11, 2012. Realizing it was describing a missing family member they contacted the PCSO. The family member then advised the investigators that Laura Hunt had recently broken up with Wilkey and he had made threats against her if she ever broke up with him.

The details that followed in the affidavit were quite disturbing and graphic. Wilkey and Hunt met each other at Wally’s to play some pool. Wilkey describes in the affidavit that he and Hunt left and went to Saddlecreek Park to watch the sunrise. According to Wilkey they engaged in sexual intercoarse. While the pair were having sex, Hunt said something that angered Wilkey and he describes getting angry and started to choke her. Wilkey advised he choked her for nearly 8 minutes with the intention to kill her . “Wilkey stated it took longer than it did in the movies and stated that his thumbs still hurt from how hard he was squeezing” according to the affidavit. The affidavit would go on to say that Hunt fought for her life scratching he attacker in the face, but couldn’t stop him.

Wilkey would then put a belt around her neck in case she regained consciousness as he drove away from the park. The affidavit goes on to explain how he left the area and drove  until he found an orange grove  at which time he took and threw her body in the trunk of the car. He would go on to drive all the way to Cape Coral to visit his mother and would use her credit cards and text the victim’s mother a message saying she was with friends in Ft. Myers. He eventually purchased a shovel, some latex gloves and drove to Walker Road with the intent to bury the body.

With the information from a family member Wilkey was contacted and admitted in an affidavit to the above statements. He parked Hunts car at a church close to his house and when investigators searched his room they found the keys. Even though he parked the car at a church Wilkey is a self proclaimed Atheist who doesn’t give a  #$%& according to his facebook page.

The DailyRidge.Com has just launched RidgeClassifieds.Com! ” We’re very pleased to offer free classified ads to the local community. We do have a premium price for auto’s, boats and realestate. We have noticed a huge demand for a platform that people can sell items online. The DailyRidge.Com is so unique of a concept in regards to news reporting that we should have tremendous exposure to sellers.” said Micheal Elsner webmaster for RidgeClassifieds.Com.

After months of noticing people struggling to keep items “bumped” up and organized on facebook the  management at DailyRidge.Com decided that a change needed to take place. So they set to work on putting together a classified section for DailyRidge.Com that would allow people to post items with ease. Sellers will need to set up a free account and can use a nickname, to keep themselves safe from online scammers and predators,  and post high quality images of the items they wish to sell. Buyers can contact the sellers through a contact tab to the right of the item being sold.

“We have also set up a new Fan facebook page (Facebook/RidgeClassifiedes.Com) specifically for RidgeClassifieds.Com where items will also be displayed.” Said Elsner. Currently were having a problem with the pictures being displayed on facebook, but we are working diligently to correct this issue.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH  IN EFFECT FROM 11PM  UNTIL 9 AM EDT MONDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS

IN FLORIDA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 10 COUNTIES

IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

CHARLOTTE LEE

IN WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA

DESOTO HARDEE HIGHLANDS HILLSBOROUGH MANATEE PINELLAS POLK SARASOTA

Polk County Shelters

                  Polk County does NOT plan to open shelters at this time.

Polk County Schools Cancelled

The threat of Tropical Storm weather in Polk County, which could include sustainable high winds and tornadoes, has prompted the Polk County School Board to cancel schools for Monday August 27 including all school activities and closing district offices. This weather threat could severely affect the safety of bus riders and students who take classes in portable classrooms. For more information on school closures, visit their website http://www.polk-fl.net/.

Lake Wales Charter Schools - Closed

Candlelight Christian Academy – Closed

Lake Wales Little Theater – Cancelling Practice

Lake Wales Lutheran Day Care – Closed

Brigham Academy Bartow (Part of Polk County School System) – Closed

Lake Wales YMCA - Open for all activity at this time

Studio 6 Academy of Dance – Cancelled Opening Dance Monday

Other Schools

Polk State College – Cancelled

Southeastern University – Cancelled

Florida Southern College – Now Cancelled

Fortis Institute – Cancelled

USF Poly – Now Cancelled

Keiser University – Open

Warner College – Open

Webber Int. Uni – Unknown

County Solid Waste Pick-up

Solid waste pick-up will continue as normal for Monday and throughout the week for those serviced by the county.

County Offices – OPEN

All Polk County government offices under the Board of County Commissioners, including constitutionals, will be open to the public for regular business hours tomorrow, Monday, August 27.

All Polk County employees should report for their regularly scheduled shifts at their normal workplaces.

Polk County Citizen’s Information Line

The Polk County Citizen’s Information Line also remains open to answer storm related questions. Further updates will be provided as conditions change. The Citizen’s Information Line can be reached at 863-401-2234 (locally) or toll-free 866-661-0228. The line will remain open 24 hours a day through Monday afternoon.
Storm Related Information in the Event of Power Loss

Local Polk County website DailyRidge.Com – radio stations WPCV 97.5 FM, WWRZ 98.3 FM, WONN 1230 AM and WLKF 1430 AM will be broadcasting up to date news on Tropical Storm Isaac.

For the most updated information, please continue to monitor your local news media or call the Citizen’s Information Line at 863-401-2234 (locally) or toll-free 866-661-0228.  Information is also available onPGTV (Bright House 622, Comcast 5 or Verizon 20), or check the county website for updates www.polk-county.net. You may also obtain further emergency information at http://www.facebook.com/polkcountyem and http://www.twitter.com/polkemergency.

PCSO is working a crash involving a child and a vehicle which occurred shortly after 5:00 pm today near Woodview Drive and Country Trails Drive in Polk City. They are not actively looking for a driver, the child was transported to Tampa with serious injuries..

The crash remains under investigation at this hour with deputies continuing to conduct interviews at the scene.

Persons of Interest

Polk County, Florida – Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd is advising residents that devices known as “skimmers” have recently been found in the Bartow, Mulberry, and Haines City areas.

PCSO and the Bartow Police Department are currently investigating fraud complaints related to skimming devices that were placed on two Publix ATM’s (one in Bartow, one in Mulberry), and two Mid-Florida Credit Union ATM’s (one in Bartow, one in Haines City).
Skimmers are device readers that criminals put on ATM’s or other card readers (such as on gas pumps) that customers use to swipe their debit or credit cards. A trained eye can detect if a skimmer has been placed on such a device.

Skimmers are almost always accompanied by tiny cameras that record the customer entering his/her PIN number after swiping the card. Law enforcement agencies work hand-in-hand with business owners to examine their card readers and see if skimmers have been placed within them. A well-trained eye or physical inspection of the device is key to locating a skimmer.

“Unfortunately, this is not the first time, nor the last time, that we will see this trend in our county. Criminals are placing these skimmers on ATM’s all across the state. Our best resource for catching criminals like these is you – the public. We need your eyes and ears. Let us know if you see anything suspicious on a card reader or an ATM, or if you recognize the suspect seen here. Together, we can stop this crime trend.” – Sheriff Grady Judd

The persons of interest seen here in the attached photos were captured on video surveillance possibly placing skimmers on the aforementioned ATM’s.

If you can identify these persons of interest you are urged to contact the Bartow Police Department, PCSO, or Heartland Crime Stoppers.

ANYONE WITH INFORMATION WHO WANTS TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS AND BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CASH REWARD IS ASKED TO CALL 1-800-226-TIPS or LOG ONTO www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com . ANONYMITY IS GUARANTEED! iPhone and Droid users can download a free tip submit app to anonymously report crime. To install these free apps, please visit www.tipsoft.com.

Lake Wales, Florida – Wednesday morning turned out to be a deadly chaotic day in Lake Wales. IOne filled with uneasiness and sorrow. As reported earlier someone stood outside of a home in the Laurel Mobile Home Park in Lake Wales and fired what appears to be a 12 gauge shotgun blast through the window of a residence killing a man inside the home. The man killed was William Macauley. Mr. Macauley had apparently just returned home, he lived at the Deluxe Motel,  from work and decided to visit his mother just a street over in the mobile home park. Sometime just before 6:25am a the deadly shotgun blast took his life.

Police responded immediately to the call and quickly set up a parimeter to try and capture the shooter if he or she was nearby. The efforts did not turn up the shooter, but they were able to narrow down a person of interest. That man is Larry Futrill (Here Is Link To Story)

DailyRidge.Com was on the scene for the majority of the morning and captured some interesting images. Less than one week after one of the deadliest shootings in American history involving kids we again saw children in the middle of a situation they could or should not comprehend.

These children were trying to get to school at the same time officers form LWPD and PCSO were trying to catch a possible murderer.

The search for the killer was an exhaustive process and one that officers from both the Lake Wales Police Department and Polk County Sheriff’s Office took seriously.

The search for the killer was an exhaustive process and one that officers from both the Lake Wales Police Department and Polk County Sheriff’s Office took seriously.

The investigation into a homicide is a difficult one. After the initial assessment of the scene it was several hours before trained teams went into the trailer

Deputy Chief Troy Schulze with the Lake Wales Police Department did a fantastic job of alerting the media and keeping panic to a minimum with a plethora of rumors flying around about not only the victim, but the killers whereabouts and school lock-down information.

Auburndale, Florida – At approximately 2:40 am, on Thursday, May 2, 2013, 27-year-old Jack Edmund Darley Jr., DOB 08/12/1985, of  4th Street Polk City, was traveling southbound on Berkley Road approaching Gapway Road in a white, 1995 Chevrolet Blazer when for unknown reasons, Darley lost control and started to slide sideways while negotiating the curve.

The Blazer struck the curb on the west side of the road sideways, then rolled and went airborne. The Blazer then struck a fence and a tree and came to rest in a drainage area on the west side of Berkley Road. Darley was ejected from the vehicle and came to rest in the middle of the intersection of Berkley Road and Strickland Lane. It was raining in the area and the roads were also wet.

Darley was taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center where he is currently listed in critical condition.

Charges are pending toxicology.

In cooperation with Polk County Animal Control:

These animals are available at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control located at 7115 de Castro Road Winter Haven, Fl. 33880
Kennel Adoption hours are Monday – Saturday 10am to 4pm.
Phone: 863-499-2600

Cats are $40.00
Puppies and Kittens under 6 months are $40.00
Dogs are $70.00
The adoption price includes vaccinations, rabies license tag, dewormer, microchip, and spay or neuter.

1. Choco Chip – “I whip my tail back and forth, I whip my tail back and forth…I need some kids to sing with me! ….I whip my tail back and forth”

2. Robin – Hi, my name is “Robin”, but I don’t wear a hood cause my face is just to cute to cover!!!! I love to play ball not shoot arrows!

3. Annie – “Tomorrow, tomorrow! They say I howl, but I am really singing….Tomorrow, tomorrow…I need someone to adopt me…tomorrow.

4. Norris – I love to lounge on a lap. So if you could be so kind as to provide one, we could get this party started.

5. Sean Connory – Don’t you know white goes with anything!! If I get any more good looking, I am going to start cloning myself! Can I get a “Meeooww”.

6. Squirt – I might be wearing a tuxedo..but I am all girl, people ! My playful personality lets everyone know girls rule!

Polk City, Florida – Polk County Sheriff’s Traffic deputies are on the scene of a traffic crash in Polk City at this time, involving three vehicle and one confirmed fatality. A child from one of the vehicles was airlifted to Tampa General and is still alive – she has serious injuries but not life-threatening. The child’s mother was airlifted to LRMC with injuries. The confirmed fatality from another vehicle is an adult.

The crash occurred around 3:00 p.m. on SR 33 North near Grimes Road in Polk City.

SR 33 North is shut down in both directions in that area at this time. Traffic is being diverted to Voyles Loop Road.

Deputies and EMS are actively working the crash. I will send out more details later this evening

Polk City, Florida – Around 3:00 p.m. today (December 25, 2013) a gold 2005 Honda CRV being driven 20-year-old Nidaeus Sierra (male) from Polk City was traveling northbound on SR 33 North near the intersection with Grimes Road in Polk City when Sierra had to brake hard to avoid hitting a car that had stopped suddenly in front of him.

At that time, a burgundy 1999 GMC Yukon that was behind the Honda heading northbound and being driven by 28-year-old Sheena Star of Lakeland swerved to the right and into the oncoming lane of traffic to avoid hitting the Honda. Star was unable to avoid a collission, and her car struck the rear of the Honda and entered into the path of a red 2009 Ford Mustang which was heading southbound on SR 33, being driven by an adult male from Polk City.

As a result of the crash, Sheena Star and her 5-year-old daughter, Shemir, had to be cut from the Yukon by Polk Fire/EMS. Sheena, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was airlifted to LRMC with injuries. Shemir was airlifted to Arnold Palmer Hospital in Orlando with serious injuries. She was strapped in a child booster seat.

The driver of Mustang was declared deceased on-scene. Deputies are still trying to locate his next-of-kin to notify them of his death. As soon as that notification is made, I will send out his information. He was not wearing a seatbelt but his airbags deployed.

Sierra did not suffer any injuries. He and his passenger, 18-year-old Justina Nieves of Polk City, were both wearing seatbelts.

The investigation is ongoing.

Sim’s Children in Facebook Photo

8:50pm Update: The two girls who were airlifted to Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital had surgery today, and are both expected to make full recoveries.

The 3-month-old baby girl was released from LRMC, and brought to Arnold Palmer by DCF to be with her siblings and grandfather who is there.

Polk City, Florida – PCSO is investigating a two-vehicle crash in Polk City that occurred around 10 minutes after midnight this morning (March 11, 2014), at the intersection of SR 33 (AKA Commonwealth Ave) and Deen Still Road in Polk City. Preliminary information is as
follows: It appears a passenger vehicle heading westbound on Deen Still Road failed to stop at the stop sign at SR 33, and as it proceeded through, it was struck by the trailer that was being dragged by a semi-truck traveling NB on CR 33. The passenger vehicle was dragged approximately 400 feet by the trailer. The semi-truck driver was uninjured. Updated Information -

Vehicles involved were: A white 1998 Buick Century, heading westbound on Deen Still Road; A gray 1999 Peterbuilt semi-truck pulling a trailer, belonging to Exxact Transport, being driven by 31-year-old Antonio Garcia of Tampa, heading northbound on CR 33/Commonwealth Ave.

Driver of Buick: 31-year-old Justin Sims, of  Acorn Loop #3, Dade City – deceased; Front seat passenger, his wife, 28-year-old Sharonda Sims, same address – also deceased; Front seat passenger, their  son, 5-year-old Savion Sims – also deceased; Rear seat passengers:
7-year-old Ariel Sims (daughter) – airlifted to Arnold Palmer, critical; 2-year-old Kitty Sims (daughter) – airlifted to Arnold Palmer, critical; 3-month-old Arienne Sims (daughter) – taken by  ambulance to LRMC, stable with no visible injuries. The baby was properly restrained in her carseat in the back seat of the car.

None of the children, nor the parents, were wearing a seatbelt. The investigation indicates that the family was shopping at an outlet mall in Orlando and returning home to Dade City when the crash occurred. The truck driver, Garcia, was wearing his seatbelt and did not suffer any injuries. The investigation is ongoing, and no charges are pending. Deputies found that the driver of the Buick, Sims, had a suspended driver’s license from September 2013, for
failure to pay traffic fines. An adult male and female in the front seat – both deceased; A child in the front seat – deceased; Two children in the back seat – airlifted to Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital in critical condition; An infant in the back seat – taken to LRMC with non-serious injuries; Deputies are still actively working to notify next Motorists to avoid the area until further notice.

28-year-old Dustin Deck and 27-year-old Katie Renner of 5653 Viburnum Ct., Polk City. Deck is charged with child neglect (2 counts), possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, domestic violence battery, and assault on a law enforcement officer. Renner is charged with child neglect (2 counts), possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, animal cruelty (15 counts), battery on a law enforcement officer, and tampering with evidence.

Polk City Couple living in filthy home arrested for child neglect, animal cruelty, marijuana possession

Two children, 1 ½ and 5, placed with relative, DCF investigating
28-year-old Dustin Deck and 27-year-old Katie Renner of 5653 Viburnum Ct., Polk City were arrested after deputies responded to the home looking for Deck, who Renner accused of domestic violence earlier in the day at a gas station.

When deputies entered the home they discovered “deplorable conditions.” There were 7 adult pit-bull dogs and 8 pit-bull puppies inside and outside the home, dog feces in the living areas (next to children’s toys), urine stained carpet, dirty dishes, upon which was rotting food, flies, and cockroaches, stale food on a baby’s highchair, a baggie of marijuana and smoking pipe sitting out on a living room table, marijuana in the bedroom, dead flies and cockroaches in a child’s room, dirty laundry on the floors, cluttered conditions, damaged walls, and dirty carpets, walls, and bathrooms. According to the affidavit, the odor inside the residence was overwhelming with dog feces, urine, and rotten food.

Because of the child neglect charges, the children are not being identified. Deck and Renner had access to the children and were responsible for their nourishment, care, supervision, and wholesome environment.

According to the arrest affidavit: Renner told deputies the conditions were appropriate in her home and the children were happy. She told deputies if people don’t like her house then they don’t need to come over. She admitted to the marijuana being in the home and admitted to smoking marijuana, saying she believed marijuana should be legal. The marijuana & bong was sitting on a low table in the living room, providing access to the children.

Deputies also determined that the conditions of care for the animals showed neglect. Two pit-bull dogs were locked in a cage with no overhead cover to protect them from the direct sunlight and intense heat (temperature at the time was 91 degrees with a heat index of 101 degrees). There was no access to fresh or clean water. There was dirty water in a plastic bucket lined with green algae. 8 pit-bull terrier puppies and one adult pit-bull were located in the garage. The garage was littered with feces and urine and no clean or fresh water was accessible. The dogs were removed from the property by animal control.

Deck is charged with child neglect (2 counts), possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, domestic violence battery, and assault on a law enforcement officer. Renner is charged with child neglect (2 counts), possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, animal cruelty (15 counts), battery on a law enforcement officer, and tampering with evidence.
Deck’s criminal history includes 12 arrests, 2 prison incarcerations, 9 felonies, 12 misdemeanors, 3 failure to appear, and 2 “others.” Renner’s criminal history includes 5 arrests, 5 felonies, and 9 misdemeanors.

“It is one thing if you want to sit around, smoke pot, and live in nasty conditions as an adult. But it is an entirely different thing if you do those things while neglecting the basic needs of children and animals under your care. These two are in jail where they belong.” –Sheriff Grady Judd

Karen Watson was stabbed multiple times in 1987. A suspect In her death, Carl McCauley has been arrested.

Winter Haven, Florida – According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office a 37 year old murder has a suspect.On March 24, 1987, Karen Watson, 41, was found murdered inside her residence, located in between Lake Alfred and Polk City. The crime scene was located about one mile from Interstate 4. The victim was found on her living room couch and had been stabbed several times. The victim was brutally murdered between 12:15 p.m. and 1:00 p.m and was found by her husband when he returned home from running a business errand.  She was the mother of three sons.

Watson was stabbed multiple times. According to an article in the Sandusky Register (http://www.sanduskyregister.com/article/6034191)  , a break in the case came in early June, Polk County cold case detectives reached out to Sandusky police, trying to track McCauley down.

Sandusky police Detective Gary Wichman indeed located him — McCauley had been living an apparently normal life on Vine Street for about 15 years or more.

He’d worked for a local business installing garage doors, an incredulous neighbor told the Register, and always appeared to be a responsible, hard-worker. McCauley would crack jokes regularly, the neighbor said, and was personable after he’d had a few drinks.

And McCauley apparently steered clear of local legal trouble as well — Wichman said Sandusky police had received no complaints or incidents involving McCauley since he moved to town.

After Wichman located McCauley’s Sandusky home, officers conducted surveillance and eventually rounded him up for an interview, per Polk County deputies’ request.

Investigators collected a DNA sample, asked some questions, and sent McCauley home.

Then, last week, deputies obtained a forensic match: McCauley’s DNA was consistent with that found at the crime scene, the affidavit stated.

Deputies drew up a murder warrant and set out for Sandusky, Wichman said. On Wednesday afternoon, around 1 p.m., Sandusky police and Polk County deputies arrested McCauley without incident at his home. He asked for an attorney soon after and thus did not confirm or deny his involvement in the killing, Wichman said.

During the original investigation, McCauley’s wife told police that he’d showed up at a bar she was at the morning of the murder.

McCauley was angry she was there with other men, according to the affidavit, and another patron said McCauley appeared high on “angel dust” or some other drug.

Another witness placed McCauley — or someone who looked like him — walking towards Watson’s home around the suspected time of her death, later that afternoon, documents stated.

Investigators learned the McCauleys knew the Watsons and had been to their home. McCauley’s wife later stated she knew Watson’s husband, but denied having a relationship with him, the affidavit said.

After McCauley was initially interviewed earlier this summer, his girlfriend told Wichman that McCauley admitted having sex with Watson in her bed the day she was murdered, but denied killing her, the affidavit said.

Following his arrest, McCauley was taken to the Erie County jail and held without bond.

Polk County Sherriff Grady Judd will hold a press conference today to fill in details of what lead to McCauley’s arrest. We will update this article when that information is available.

Polk County Sheriff’s deputies are seeking the public’s help in locating a wanted subject.

47-year Benjamin Skeen, (last known address of 2719 Abilene Trail Polk City) is wanted for burglary with assault/battery, tampering in felony 1^st degree proceeding, false imprisonment (domestic violence), domestic battery by strangulation, violation of injunction-repeat sex/date violence, battery (domestic violence), resisting without violence.

Skeen is also on bond for lewd lascivious behavior-victim 12YOA up to 16YOA, sexual assault by custodian sexual battery victim 12YOA under 18YOA.

Skeen has been in state prison three previous times.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Brett Bulman at 863-499-2400, or 863-298-6200.

ANYONE WITH INFORMATION WHO WANTS TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS AND BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CASH REWARD IS ASKED TO CALL HEARTLAND CRIME STOPPERS AT 1-800-226-TIPS or LOG ONTO www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com. ANONYMITY IS GUARANTEED!  iPhone users can download a free tip submit app to anonymously report crime. To install this free app, search for “TipSoft” or “TipSubmit” on the Apple App Store.

Polk City, Florida – This morning at 5:00 AM, a tractor trailer hauling sand overturned following a traffic crash.  A large volume of sand was ejected onto the roadway along Interstate 4 near the 44 milepost, between State Roads 557 and 559.  Traffic was diverted at Exit 48 while crews worked to remove the obstruction.

Update:  the westbound lanes of Interstate 4 have been reopened; the westbound exit ramp to SR-559 remains closed (Exit 44 – Polk City).

Clara McGriff

Lake Wales, Florida  – Wednesday evening, December 10, 2014, PCSO Special Victims Unit detectives arrested 52-year-old Clara McGriff of Lake Wales on a warrant charging her with one count Negligent Child Abuse (F-3). McGriff is employed by the Polk County School Board as a school bus attendant, and has been charged with child abuse for physically assaulting a special needs child who has been diagnost with Autism & suffers from ADD, ADHD & Explosive Behavior Disorder on the bus. She was booked into the Polk County Jail and will have a first appearance hearing on Friday, December 12th.

According to a Polk County Sheriff’s affidavit the suspect, McGriff, allegedly intentional & maliciously struck a special needs student. According to the affidavit on December 3, 2014 the student was began to toss and throw a seat belt that was next to him. The student was sitting closest to the window and was secured in a special school bus harness. McGriff allegedly can be seen on video taking the seat belt from the students hand and hitting him in the arm/hand with the seat belt. The student then continued to throw the seat belt after McGriff walked away. McGriff then arose from her seat and went and struck the boy on the arm 2 or 3 times with what appeared to be a water bottle of some kind. It is unknown if the bottle contained any liquid at the time. McGriff allegedly stood over the student in a threatening manner and said “I’m tired of you”. The student at this time took a shoe off and threw it behind him. McGriff retrieved the shoe and threw it at the student. It is unclear if the shoe struck the student. The student then threw the shoe again. This time McGriff retrieved the shoe and also removed the students other shoe and placed them both in his book bag. The student then threw his socks at McGriff. Again McGriff retrieved these and put them in the students book bag. The student then spit on McGriff. At this McGriff allegedly grabs the student by the arm and with her other arm proceeds to strike student 8 or 9 times with an open hand on the arm in a rapid manner.  McGriff then allegedly uses her body to physically press the boy up against the bus wall, even though he is already in a harness seat, for approximately 40 seconds. She eventually eases off the student. The student and McGriff exchange words while McGriff is next to him in the seat. Within a few seconds she turns herself sideways and with her back begins pressing the student up against the bus wall again & window again. After approximately 10 seconds of this the bus stops and McGriff assists another student off the bus. Prior to leaving the seat with the student McGriff allegedly instructs another special needs child to keep the student pressed up against the wall as she did. This other special needs child is seen pushing the student up against the wall and using his legs on the seat across from him for leverage. McGriff returns to students seat and the other special needs child returns to their own seat. The student and McGriff exchange words again and moments later McGriff pins the student up against the bus wall using her full weight on the student for approximately 30 seconds.

Superintendent of Schools Kathryn M. LeRoy is suspending McGriff without pay and will recommend her termination to the Polk County School Board at their meeting on January 20, 2015

McGriff has the right to request a hearing before final action is taken by the Polk County School Board. McGriff, a bus attendant with an annual salary of $12,156, was hired on January 26, 2006.

She has one incident of prior discipline action in her personnel file for failing to give proper notice to use sick leave and be absent from work.

Easter Egg Hunts Happening in Polk County! Check them out!

April 04 Easter Egg Hunt Ft. Meade Outdoor Recreation Area, U.S. 98 E. on Peace River, Ft. Meade 9 am SHARP
April 04 Easter Egg Hunt Hunt Fountain Park, 2020 Duff Road, Lakeland 9 am SHARP
April 04 Easter Egg Hunt Mary Norma Campbell Resource Center, 2226 Karen Street, Lake Wales 9 am SHARP
April 04 Easter Egg Hunt Medulla Resource Center, 1049 Parker Road, Lakeland 9 am SHARP
April 04 Easter Egg Hunt Northeast Regional Park, 50901 US Highway 27, Davenport 9 am SHARP
April 04 Easter Egg Hunt Polk City Park, 5130 Duey Road, Polk City 9 am SHARP
April 04 Easter Egg Hunt Snively-Brooks Park, 191 9th Street, Eloise 9 am SHARP
April 04 Easter Egg Hunt Westwood Park, 1145 36th Street N.W., Winter Haven 9 am SHARP