A second suspect is in custody in connection to a deadly attempted robbery in Polk County last week. Winter Haven police say 17-year-old Christian Rodriguez was the driver who traveled to the Abbey Lane Apartments to sell a cellphone last Monday. Two people are accused of getting into the vehicle before pistol-whipping Rodriguez during a fight inside the car. Police say Rodriguez drove off after shooting and killing an 18-year-old during the altercation. The teenager and one of the people who got into the vehicle, Devonta Washington Junior, have been charged in connection to the incident.
An Arcadia man is in jail after fleeing from police. The suspect, Thomas Killmon, is accused of being armed and taking off in a vehicle with a small child inside. Police units from the Arcadia Police Department and the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched after the child’s parent called in to report Killmon. After authorities arrived on scene, Killmon proceeded to flee. Eventually, Killmon let the child leave the car but still attempted to escape. Killmon then crashed the vehicle and ran away on foot. Killmon was apprehended with the help of the Charlotte County Sherriff’s Office air unit and K-9 units from Sarasota County, DeSoto County, and Hardee County. Killmon has been charged with Driving while License Suspended, Fleeing to Elude Law Enforcement, Kidnap, Child Abuse, and additional charges by the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office.
Governor Ron DeSantis is proposing a six-week sales tax holiday on gun and ammunition purchases as part of his proposed state budget for next fiscal year. Under the "Second Amendment Summer" program, ammunition, firearms and "related accessories" would be exempt from the state sales tax between Memorial Day and July 4th. The budget also includes tax holidays for back-to-school, Freedom Month, Disaster Preparedness and a new Marine Fuel Tax Holiday. DeSantis’ spending plan totals 115-point-six-billion dollars. It includes pay hikes for first responders and proposes cutting more than 700 government positions.
The Florida Highway Patrol is getting ready to take on more responsibility as part of the state’s efforts to increase immigration enforcement. Governor Ron DeSantis talked last week about how the state signed an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security, giving troopers authority to exercise immigration power. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles told lawmakers this week that the highway patrol needs an additional 30-million dollars each year to increase troopers’ salaries to ensure they carry out the additional duties. The agency is still waiting on more information about the enforcement procedures. There are currently 150 vacancies within the FHP.
An arrest in Ohio could close a murder investigation in Central Florida. Orlando Police announced yesterday US Marshals arrested Herlin Petion in Dayton. He’s charged with second-degree murder with a weapon in a case that goes back almost two years. In July 2023, Terrance Dolan was found hurt inside a car at Summerlin Ave and Palmer Street. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. The OPD has not released any details.
A Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office K-9, injured in a crash with an accused supplier of a major Fentanyl trafficking organization, has died. The man accused of deliberately slamming into Roxi and her handler was in bond court this morning to face a long list of charges. Anthony Medina was the target of a seven-month, multi-agency investigation. Investigators say he fled a traffic stop Thursday night and crashed into the deputy’s cruiser carrying Roxi. Roxi was rushed to the vet, but doctors couldn’t save her. The detective also was injured. Cops recovered from the car presumed hallucinogenic mushrooms, marijuana, THC, more than 85-hundred dollars in cash and a gun.
The Florida Panthers were special guests at the White House yesterday. The Panthers were celebrated for their 2023-24 championship team by President Trump and his adminstration. Florida took down the Edmonton Oilers in a seven-game series, four-games-to-three for their first Stanley Cup championship in franchise history. The Panthers are currently first-place in the Athletic Division standings this season.
Visit Florida is using one of its overseas partners to try to boost its tourism numbers. British television personality Alison Hammond and her son are taking part in a ten-part series with BBC Two, where they will explore the Sunshine state while on a budget. Visit Florida provided more than 30-thousand dollars for the project and helped make some accommodations. The organization says travelers from the United Kingdom accounted for more than one-point-one-million of the state’s visitors in 2023. That’s higher than the previous year, but still lower than pre-pandemic levels.