HAINES CITY

A pediatric care facility for special needs children with locations across Central Florida has temporarily suspended operations following the hospitalization of two immediate family members, a spokesperson said in a statement on Monday.

HAINES CITY, Fla. — In an unusual twist, the mother of a burglary suspect went to the police station to thank the five officers who arrested her son. >> Read more trending news“I just came here to say thank you for saving my son’s life,” Barbara Washington told the officers, WFTS reported. “I really do appreciate it.”The five Haines City Police Department officers raced to save Washington’s son after he was shot during a burglary, WFLA reported. Washington had two bullet wounds in his chest and two in his legs, Goreck told WFTS. “This is a big positive for us,” Officer Justin Vasquez told WFTS.

A 28-year old Haines City man died after a crash on Sunday evening, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

A Haines City man suffered critical injuries and another man is dead after they attempted to cross a section of Colonial Drive in Orange County on Friday night and were struck by a sedan, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Three men were arrested in the fatal shooting of a 26-year-old in unincorporated Haines City, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

The fatal shooting of a 17-year-old in Haines City last week is believed to be connected to another shooting that occurred minutes earlier that same day, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Big rig Stock photo of a tractor-trailer. A Florida tractor-trailer delivery driver is facing a host of charges after admitting to smoking methamphetamine before crashing into the back of a Publix shopping center in Haines City on Thursday. (vitpho/Getty Images/iStockphoto)HAINES CITY, Fla. — A Florida tractor-trailer delivery driver is facing a host of charges after admitting to smoking methamphetamine before crashing into the back of a Publix shopping center in Haines City on Friday. When officers later asked Calvo, of Cape Coral, if he fell asleep at the wheel, had been drinking or had a medical emergency, he replied, “I was smoking my meth pipe,” WBBH reported. Calvo is facing charges of methamphetamine possession, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest without violence and possession of narcotics paraphernalia, WINK reported.

Two men were arrested Sunday after one stole approximately $5,800 worth of plywood, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

One man was killed and another was injured in a shooting at a bar near Haines City, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

A 44-year-old Orlando man was killed when his pickup slammed into the side of a tractor-trailer at the intersection of U.S. 27 and RWS Ranch Road in Polk County.

, Fla. — A 45-year-old Haines City woman won a $1 million prize from a scratch-off ticket, the Florida Lottery said Friday. Decker purchased the winning ticket from Superway on Dundee Road in Dundee. The retailer will receive $2,000 for selling the winning ticket. The lottery system said the overall odds of buying a winning ticket are 1-in-2.59. Winning scratch-off ticket Angelina Decker’s $1 million winning scratch-off ticket.

The Haines City police officer is accused of breaking into a woman's hotel room during a birthday weekend and sexually assaulting her.

A woman from Kissimmee faces charges after she wrote checks from her employer to her husband and herself, according to Haines City police.

An Osceola County man tried to run over a police dog and its handler early Monday morning, before breaking into the home of the Haines City mayor and forcing a standoff. (BlakeDavidTaylor/Getty Images/iStockphoto)HAINES CITY, Fla. — An Osceola County man tried to run over a police dog and its handler early Monday morning, before breaking into the home of the Haines City mayor and forcing a standoff, Florida authorities confirmed. According to a news release, Swett struck Tucker’s cruiser, in which the officer was sitting with emergency lights engaged, head on and drove away. A short while later, K-9 Officer Joseph Elam and his partner Cash pursued Swett’s vehicle briefly before he crashed it into a ditch. According to officers, the pair then climbed a fence and cut a hole to access the screened-in back porch of Haines City Mayor Morris West’s home and refused officers’ commands to exit, the newspaper reported.

Haines City police say a couple drove straight at an officer, rammed two patrol vehicles and broke into a Florida mayor’s home while trying to evade authorities.

Deputies are asking for the public’s help searching for a missing 82-year-old woman with dementia who last seen in the Haines City area.

HAINES CITY, Fla. – A former Haines City High School coach and teacher is accused of sexually battering a female student while they were both inside his classroom’s closet on at least 10 different occasions, according to the Haines City Police Department. Authorities said they obtained videos that showed Ricks and the girl together at Halloween Horror Nights in October 2020 and kissing inside of Ricks’ classroom. Records show Ricks was hired at Haines City High School on Aug. 31, 2020 and resigned on Saturday. “This case of grooming serves as a reminder for parents to remain vigilant about who their children are around,” Haines City Police Chief Jim Elensky said in a news release. “We appreciate the hard work of our detectives and the cooperation we received from Haines City High School, Polk County Schools and the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office throughout the investigation.

The Haines City Police Department said about 30 rounds were fired during the shooting, which occurred before 9 p.m. in the area of North 15th Street. Oscar Lee Hendrix Jr., 36, of Haines City, was killed and two other men and a woman were injured, records show. On Friday, Haines City Police Chief Jim Elensky spoke alongside the victim’s father, Oscar Hendrix Sr., in an effort to encourage any potential witnesses to step forward. Elensky called the shooting a tragedy that should hit home for every Haines City resident. Anyone with any information about the fatal shooting is asked to call the Haines City Police Department at 863-421-3636 or Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-8477 (TIPS).

HAINES CITY, Fla. – A Central Florida firefighter’s mission to “catch 'em all” ended with him stealing $165 worth of Pokémon cards from Walmart, according to the Haines City Police Department. Records show he took the barcode stickers from lower-priced Pokémon cards and placed them on more valuable packs then took them to the self-checkout. A loss prevention officer confronted Strickland before he could leave the store and then called police, according to a news release. Authorities said Strickland planned to “flip” the cards to make extra money because he’s been struggling financially. “Help is a phone call away,” Haines City Police Chief Jim Elensky said.

HAINES CITY, Fla. – A 26-year-old man has been accused of stealing a bulldozer from a Florida construction site, driving it into a neighborhood and knocking down campaign signs for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, according to authorities and homeowners. The man took the bulldozer in Haines City on Saturday and repeatedly destroyed Biden signs in full view of people who live in the neighborhood, witnesses said. James Blight was charged with grand theft auto and trespassing, according to the Haines City Police Department. Former Vice Mayor Adam Burgess lives in the central Florida neighborhood, which he said is predominantly Black. “This man came onto my property, took the two Joe Biden signs I had in my yard and then came back with a bulldozer to run down my fence,” Burgess told Bay News 9.

HAINES CITY, Fla. At least one man is injured following a shooting outside a bar in Haines City, according to the Polk County Sheriffs Office. Deputies said the shooting took place around 3 a.m. Tuesday in the parking lot outside Rosies Bar located at 33224 Highway 27. According to the sheriffs office, the man was taken to a nearby hospital to be treated for serious injuries from a gunshot wound. Details about what led up to the shooting or any possible suspects have not been released and the investigation is ongoing, according to the sheriffs office. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226 TIPS (8477).

HAINES CITY, Fla. A mother caught a Winter Haven man in the act as he tried to film under her 9-year-old daughters dress at a Polk County Walmart, according to the Haines City Police Department. When the childs mother turned away, Jonathan knelt down to the floor and tried to use his phone to film underneath the girls dress, records show. The girls mother then realized what was happening and reported the incident, according to authorities. While this is the first time hes being criminally charged for recording young girls, I can say unequivocally, given my experience, that this is not his only victim, Haines City Police Chief Jim Elensky said. Equally as important, I commend the girls mother for speaking up for her daughter.

POLK COUNTY, Fla. – Polk County authorities are investigating a double homicide, officials said. According to Polk County officials, the married couple had been deceased for some time. “Todd Jackson shot the two victims in the head as they slept at the crime scene,” officials said. Detectives arrested Jackson near his last known place of residence in the Wabash area of Lakeland on Saturday evening, officials said. He was expected to be booked into the Polk County Jail later Saturday night and had his first court appearance Sunday.

Her brothers and sisters in blue saluted to pay to tribute to the 17 years she worked to keep us safe. "I know those are the ones that worked day in and day out with her. "But that is not going to deter us or stop us from bringing him to justice.On day five of the manhunt, the search has expanded into Polk County. If you know where Markeith Loyd is, the Crimeline reward is still $100,000. And if he's in Polk, we will find him https://t.co/LYCPemhrsY Polk County Sheriff (@PolkCoSheriff) January 13, 2017Copyright 2017 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.

HAINES CITY, FL – Legoland Florida announced Friday when its water park will open. The new Legoland Water Park will open on May 26th. The water park will feature Lego versions of water park favorites, including a rafts built from Lego blocks and a gentle wave pool with Lego walls. The water park is an area inside of the park, requiring admission to Legoland plus an extra fee. Legoland has launched a Premium Pass that includes unlimited admission to the main park, the water park, along with free parking and other discounts.