Local News in Polk County
Community news from our local sources
Polk County 48 storiesWiden to Greater Lakeland
Daily Ridge
Published October 02Winter Haven Woman Arrested After Dead Donkey, Multiple Dead Cats Found At Property
On Thursday, October 1, 2026, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested 59-year-old Melissa McKinney of Logan Lane in Winter Haven after an investigation by the Animal Cruelty Investigations Unit and Environmental Crimes detectives. The investigation began earlier in the week…
Daily Ridge
Published October 02PCSO Arrests Two Men In Mud Hole Shooting That Left Four People Injured
After an exhaustive investigation in which detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office identified and interviewed more than 100 people, two men have been arrested and charged for the shooting of four people at the Lake Wales Mud Hole on Sunday, September 27, 2026. PCSO…
Daily Ridge
Published October 01PCSO Looking For Alleged Suspect in Credit Card Fraud Case
CRIME: THEFT & CREDIT CARD FRAUDCRIME SCENE: POSNER PARK, DAVENPORTPOLK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE CASE 26-40392 On September 28, 2026, the victim’s wallet was stolen while it was not in his possession at a business on Posner Blvd. in Davenport. Within the wallet was $470 in cash…
Osceola News-Gazette
Published October 01Osceola Sheriff's Office seeks public help in finding two female teenagers missing from Poinciana area
Osceola Sheriff's Office seeks public help in finding two female teenagers missing from Poinciana area News Staff Thu, 10/01/2026 - 00:53
Osceola News-Gazette
Published October 01Osceola Sheriff's Office seeks public help in finding two female teenagers missing from Poinciana area
Osceola Sheriff's Office seeks public help in finding two female teenagers missing from Poinciana area News Staff Thu, 10/01/2026 - 00:53
NewsTalk 730 AM (WWTK)
Published September 30News Update for 09/30/26
A verdict is in in the TJ Wiggins murder trial. A Polk County jury has found Tony Lee “TJ” Wiggins Jr. guilty on all three counts of first-degree murder in the 2020 deaths of Damion Tillman, Brandon Rollins and Keven Springfield. The three men were killed while meeting for a…
NewsTalk 730 AM (WWTK)
Published September 29News Update for 09/29/26
A dramatic outburst interrupted closing arguments Monday in the trial of Tony Wiggins, who is accused of killing three men during a 2020 fishing trip in Frostproof. The father of victim Brandon Rollins interrupted the defense attorney, saying his son had told him Wiggins was the…
Daily Ridge
Published September 28Dog Killed On U.S. 27 During Incident At Loves Truck Stop In Lake Wales, Suspect Facing Multiple Charges
A dispute between a couple at the Love’s Travel Stop along U.S. 27 turned into a chaotic arrest Monday morning that involved a Lake Wales Police K-9, a medical helicopter and the death of a dog that ran into traffic. The incident unfolded at approximately 11:31 a.m. Monday,…
Daily Ridge
Published September 28Ghosts On The Road? Better Drive the Speed Limit In Lake Wales
Drivers traveling too fast through Lake Wales may soon see a ghost in their rearview mirror. The Lake Wales Police Department has begun using the agencies’ new Ford Mustang GT police vehicles, which were purchased specifically for traffic enforcement. One of the newly marked…
Daily Ridge
Published September 28Winter Haven Police: 15-Year-Old Girl Shot, 19-Year-Old Suspect Charged With Attempted Murder
A 19-year-old Winter Haven man is facing an attempted murder charge after police say he shot a 15-year-old girl Sunday night. According to the Winter Haven Police Department, officers responded to a residence on Avenue K NE at approximately 10:36 p.m. September 27 after receiving…
Daily Ridge
Published September 27PCSO Confirms Four Victims In South Lake Wales “Mud Hole” Shooting
By Carl Fish The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that four people were injured in a shooting late Saturday night near the area commonly known as the “Mud Hole” south of Lake Wales. The shooting occurred in the area of Alturas-Babson Park Cutoff Road and prompted a…
Daily Ridge
Published September 27Multiple People Reportedly Shot Near South Lake Wales “Mud Hole,” One Patient Airlifted
Update: LAKE WALES, Fla. — The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a reported shooting that prompted a large law enforcement and emergency response late Saturday night into early Sunday morning near the area commonly known as the “Mud Hole” south of Lake Wales. The…