Amazon driver carjacked by masked man, Polk County deputies say
An Amazon delivery van was recovered near the intersection of Radford Road and North Avenue in the Gordonville area of Bartow. (Image: Polk County Sheriff's Office)POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A 22-year-old man accused of carjacking an Amazon delivery driver in Polk County has been taken into custody, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said the Amazon driver did the right thing by getting out of the van. “The delivery man did the right thing by not resisting the unarmed carjacker. He just knew that an unknown man wearing a ski-mask was demanding him to get out, and that was the safest thing to do.
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Florida General Election Results for Polk County on Nov. 3, 2020
Find All Race Results HereBARTOW, Fla. – One of the key races in Polk County is the U.S. House of Representatives District 9 seat. Check out all the Polk County races, including how residents voted for president, in the list below. Check all the races in Central Florida and statewide in the dropdown menu below.
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Death penalty sought for man in shooting deaths of 3 friends
The State Attorney’s Office filed its intent to seek the death penalty for Tony “T.J.” Wiggins Jr. on Tuesday in Polk County circuit court, the Ledger reported. Wiggins was indicted by a grand jury last month in the deaths of Brandon Rollins, 28; Damion Tillman, 23; and Keven Springfield, 30. Wiggins remained in the Polk County Jail, where he's being held without bond. Wiggins’ younger brother, William Robert, told investigators during questioning that he witnessed the shootings while sitting in his brother's pickup truck, Polk County Sheriff's officials said. He said his brother accused Springfield, who was a mechanic, of taking his truck, reports said.
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Grand jury indicts man in shooting deaths of 3 friends on fishing trip
BARTOW, Fla. – A grand jury has formally charged a 26-year-old man with three counts of first-degree murder in the fatal shootings of three friends who had gathered at a Central Florida lake in July for some late night fishing. Prosecutors have 45 days to determine whether to seek the death penalty for Tony “T.J.” Wiggins Jr., following the grand jury’s findings. [RELATED: ‘Evil in the flesh:’ 2 men, 1 woman arrested after 3 friends slain on Florida fishing trip | Two brothers and young woman charged in deaths of three men on fishing trip make first court appearance | Mystery lingers after 3 beaten, killed during Florida fishing trip]He’s accused of killing Brandon Rollins, Damion Tillman and Keven Springfield. Wiggins is being held without bond at the Polk County Jail. Detectives tracked down Wiggins using evidence gathered at the scene and surveillance video.
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Florida man faces 15 years for fatal punch
BARTOW, Fla. – A Florida man faces up to 15 years in prison for fatally punching another man in the face. Travis Brian Barlow, 37, was found guilty of manslaughter last week in Polk County, the Ledger reported. Barlow went to the Lakeland home of Adam Frank Hoffman, 38, in June 2018, the sheriff's office said. Barlow was apparently angry that Hoffman had disrespected Barlow's girlfriend earlier. Barlow acknowledged to deputies that he hit Hoffman once, though other witnesses said Barlow hit the other man twice, officials said.