Lakeland Archives

Two Polk County Deputies Hospitalized, Suspect Killed in Shootout: Morning Standoff Turns Deadly in Lakeland

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — Two deputies in Polk County, Florida, were injured in a shootout with a lone gunman early Saturday morning. The incident unfolded at Hunt Fountain Park, where a deputy discovered a vehicle parked after hours. When the deputy questioned the driver, he refused to cooperate, leading to a call for backup. Sheriff Grady Judd revealed that the driver, identified as a Moorish Sovereign citizen, resisted commands and opened fire when deputies attempted …

Tragic homicide in Lakeland claims life of 23-month-old toddler

Lakeland, Florida – A tragic incident in Lakeland, Florida has left the community in shock as a 23-month-old toddler was found dead in what authorities are now treating as a homicide. The young child’s death has raised questions and concerns about the safety and well-being of children in the local area. Local law enforcement officials are working diligently to unravel the circumstances surrounding the toddler’s death, treating the case as a priority. Residents of Lakeland …

Lakeland Nurse Arrested for Fatal Poisoning of Neighbor’s Pets Leads to Animal Cruelty Charges

LAKELAND, Fla. — A licensed practical nurse at United Health Care at WellMed, Tamesha Knighten, was arrested on animal cruelty charges for fatally poisoning her neighbor’s pets. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Agricultural Crimes Unit conducted an investigation and charged Knighten with three counts of animal cruelty and one count of depositing poison in public after detectives discovered that she poisoned two pet cats and a pregnant Chihuahua on Aug. 16. Additionally, eight puppies in …

Woman Arrested for Felony Animal Cruelty After Poisoning and Killing Her Neighbors’ Pets in Lakeland

LAKELAND, Fla. – A woman in Lakeland, Florida, has been arrested and charged with felony animal cruelty for allegedly poisoning her neighbor’s pets, resulting in the death of two cats and a pregnant Chihuahua along with her puppies. Tamesha Knighten, a 51-year-old licensed practical nurse working for United Health Care at Wellmed, was arrested and charged with three counts of felony animal cruelty and one count of depositing poison in a public area by detectives …

Teen Fatally Hit by School Bus Carrying Students

LAKELAND, Fla. — A 15-year-old student was tragically killed on Tuesday morning when he was struck by a school bus in Lakeland, Florida. According to authorities, the student, identified as Jaxon Crabtree by his family through a GoFundMe page, attempted to cross a road while riding his bicycle. The Lakeland Police Department reported that the accident took place around 7 a.m. on Pipkin Road, involving a Central Florida Aerospace Academy student and a bus from …