News Update for 5/25/20

New numbers by the Florida Department of Health over the weekend show Highlands County has recorded another couple of cases of Coronavirus. Highlands total now stands at 113. Of the 3,743 tests administered over the past couple of months here, 3,625 have come back negative.
Still, there have been 36 people listed as hospitalized at some point during their illness. Eight fatalities have been tied to the Coronavirus in Highlands County.

Highlands County first responders were busy at both ends of the county over the weekend. Reportedly, one person was hurt in an All terrain Vehicle accident on Southwest Anderson Road in Avon Park Estates. The victim was airlifted out. No names or other details were released by Sheriff’s officials.
Units from Sun ‘N Lake South were called out to put down a brush fire off Moon Glow Avenue. That one charred about an acre. No injuries or structure damage were reported there.

Sebring Police, working with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, have charged a Miami man in connection with a local bank fraud case. Phillip Conze has been arrested and charged with criminal use of personal identification, trafficking in counterfeit credit cards and defrauding a financial institution among other things.
Detectives say the 24-year-old Miami man got information about the victims over the internet – then was able to con them into giving him PIN numbers to their accounts.

A 23-year-old Avon Park man reportedly is facing charges in connection with a fatal DUI crash in Brevard County. Reports say Shawn Coombes was clocked driving at 111 mph on Interstate 95 near the Pineda Causeway on New Years day.
According to reports, Coombes wrecked the car and a passenger – identified as Irene Gonzalez, later died of her injuries. A second female passenger reportedly suffered a broken back.
Coombes has been arrested and was booked into the Brevard County Jail. He has been charged with DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide, DUI serious bodily injury and driving with a suspended license among other counts.