A Sebring High School student has been arrested after two firearms were found in his vehicle at school yesterday. According to reports, 18-year-old, Alex Morales-Salvador, a senior at Sebring High, was initially caught with a vape on campus just before 1:00pm. When he was being questioned by the School Resource officer, Morales-Salvador ultimately admitted to having a firearm in his vehicle. After the search was conducted, two firearms were discovered- a pistol in the pocket of a door, and an AR-style rifle in the trunk. Ammunition for both firearms was also present in addition to two knives. Morales-Salvador was arrested and charged with 2 counts of possession of a firearm on school grounds and two counts of possession of a weapon on school grounds. The Highlands County Sheriff’s Office says the investigation is still ongoing but that there was no indication of an active threat towards the school or that anyone else was involved.
The Polk County school system is trying to crack down on a recent surge of threats directed at its campuses. Superintendent Fred Heid held a news conference yesterday, saying two dozen students have been arrested since the start of the current academic year. The district is expected to pursue the fullest extent of the consequences for anyone who makes school threats. Heid says the district will also try to get restitution for the resources used while investigating these kinds of crimes. Sheriff Grady Judd says there were 42 arrests for written threats against campuses last school year.
A woman accused of killing her boyfriend in Orange County plans to argue self-defense. Sarah Boone was in court yesterday for a hearing ahead of her upcoming second-degree murder case. Boone killed her boyfriend, Jorge Torres, Jr. four years ago by sealing him shut in a suitcase and suffocating him. Her lawyer told the judge he plans to utilize the battered spouse syndrome and plead not guilty. The judge still needs to approve use of battered spouse syndrome. There’s no word on when that ruling will come. Boone’s trial is set to start October 7th.
One of Florida’s largest festivals is already preparing for next year. The Florida Strawberry Festival gave an update yesterday saying its 2025 theme will be called "The Stage is Set!" Organizers say it will celebrate a new performance stage, while paying tribute to the old platform that hosted artists from around the country for 35 years. Festival President Kyle Robinson says the 90th annual event will feature great entertainment, delicious food, agricultural exhibits, and thrilling rides. The eleven-day festival will kick off in Plant City on February 27th.
A former coach is facing child sex charges in Marion County. The sheriff’s office announced yesterday Carl Philip Lombardo was arrested Wednesday for human trafficking of a child for commercial sexual activity. The 58-year-old Ocala resident is also facing other charges. Deputies started investigating last month after parents reported their 15-year-old son was at Lombardo’s home on Spring Lake Place, and Lombardo refused to let him go home to them. Investigators say they found several children who told them Lombardo inappropriately touched them and took nude photos of them. Deputies believe Lombardo met his victims while he was a basketball coach at the Boys and Girls Club. They’re asking any more victims to come forward.
The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority is looking for a new leader. CEO Kevin Thibault told board members Wednesday that he will step down at the end of January to spend more time with his wife, who has been diagnosed with an illness. Thibault has overseen the Orlando International Airport and Orlando Executive Airport for the past two years. He says serving as the Chief Executive Officer for the 7th largest airport in the country has truly been the epitome of his professional career. So far this year, the Orlando airport has seen more than 58-million passengers pass through its facility.
An indicator of layoff activity is up in Florida. The Labor Department reports about 65-hundred Floridians filed first-time claims for unemployment benefits last week. That’s close to 500 more than the previous week. Nationally, the number of new claims fell by 12-thousand, to 219-thousand.
Several students across the state are facing charges for threatening violence at their schools, and Governor Ron DeSantis has taken notice. DeSantis was in Pinellas County yesterday for a roundtable on condo safety, but he also discussed what seems to be a rise in threats directed at schools. DeSantis says it’s not a joke to threaten violence at a school. He thinks some do it for attention or because they get a kick out of creating anxiety in the community. DeSantis warns, though, that if you do that in Florida, you’re going to be held accountable.
Poison Control Centers across Florida are seeing an increase in caffeine-related cases among kids. Dr. Sonya Rashid, who works at a control facility in Jacksonville, tells Action News Jax that more and more young people are consuming energy drinks. She says since kids are already naturally full of energy, the caffeinated beverages can sometimes cause seizures. So far this year, there have been nearly one-hundred patients with caffeine poisoning in the Sunshine State with more than half of them being under the age of 19. People can call Florida Poison Control for potential concerns or questions.