Governor DeSantis was in Brownwood discussing the success of the amount of shots that were given. Now getting things ready for a new batch of Vaccines. Florida will be receiving 41,000 more doses on top of our normal allotment.

Earlier Gov DeSantis said the drive through’s work so well some will become permanent. It looks like there is a plan in place now if they will get the medication in the state.

The improvement of technology in today’s society has greatly benefited law enforcement and our society as a whole.  However, improvements in technology have led to a serious threat on our roadways – distracted driving.

Dialing numbers on cell phones or typing text messages requires attention that should be paid to the task of driving.  There are four main types of distraction: visual (taking your eyes off the road), auditory (hearing something not related to driving) manual (taking your hands off the wheel) and cognitive (taking your mind off what you are doing).  While all distractions can endanger drivers’ and fellow motorists’ safety, texting while driving is the most alarming because it involves all three types of distraction.  Shockingly, statistics show that texting while driving is just as dangerous as operating a motor vehicle while impaired.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), it is estimated that 2,841 people were killed on our nation’s roadways and more than 400,000 were injured as a result of distracted driving in the year 2018.

Texting while driving has been proven dangerous beyond dispute.  Taking one’s eyes off the road for the average 5-6 second text, is enough to travel the length of a football field at 55 MPH.  It is clear that the dangers of texting while driving are serious.  A life is more precious than taking a call or responding to a text message.  It is imperative that we put the safety of others above our own need to access technology.  If you feel the need to send that message, safely pull off the roadway first. Continue reading →

Detectives with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office have been investigating the thefts from gravesites at the Edgewood Cemetery since the incident occurred on December 6. At the time of the initial processing of the scene, crime scene investigators collected items (to include cigars) that were left and sent those items off for laboratory DNA testing.

Detectives recently received information that DNA samples had been obtained from the cigars and that the samples were being submitted into the database for comparison. One sample came back as a match to 43-year-old Brian Montalvo Tolentino, who resides at 115 Walpole Loop in Davenport.

On January 6, Lake detectives contacted The Polk County Sheriff’s Office, whose detectives obtained a search warrant for mouth swabs from Tolentino for a direct DNA comparison.

Lake detectives then met with and interviewed Tolentino, during which he confessed to going to the cemetery with another individual, 39-year-old Juan Burgos Lopez, of 5170 Timberlane Road in Lake Wales, and committing the crimes. Tolentino stated that Lopez used a crowbar to open the vaults and then removed the heads of the deceased. He stated they removed four heads from the four graves and then returned to Lopez’s residence. He stated the heads were taken for religious practices.

Continue reading →

01/20/2021

Detectives with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office are investigating a shooting that occurred at approximately 11:20 this morning at 51 Highland Avenue in Umatilla. The Umatilla Police Department requested the Sheriff’s Office to conduct the investigation.

The investigation has revealed that a black male suspect with shoulder-length dreadlocks shot the victim at the victim’s residence and fled the scene in a dark-colored passenger vehicle with tinted windows.

The victim was transported to an area hospital in critical condition.

Detectives are asking for anyone with information concerning this incident to please call the Sheriff’s Office at 352-343-2101, or Central Florida CRIMELINE at 1-800-423-TIPS, where they could be eligible for a cash reward.

No further information is available at this time.

Released by John Herrell

www.lcso.org

By Kevin Yeo

The smoke is a rising on the horizon and gun oil is in the air.  The Cowboy Fast Draw Club, “.45 SideKicks” of the First Baptist Church of Lady Lake hosted a bunch of cowboys and cowgirls in January for a Snow Bird Shoot Out.   This year’s tournament marks not only the 3-year anniversary of the club’s creation.  But also highlights a unique way that the Church outreach program’s shows the community that God’s family does more than just get together on Sundays!!

Shooting started at 9 am, ended at roughly 1pm each day and the public is welcome.  A spectator will see participants dressed in cowboy and cowgirl garb from the 1880’s era while they compete in head-to-head duels.  Each gun fighter attempting to draw and fire their single action .45 caliber pistols faster than a real-life adversary.  For more information about the sport which has clubs across the United States.  Check out the Cowboy Fast Draw Association website at www.Cowboyfastdraw.com

For more information about the shoot out or to come to one of the .45 Sidekicks Tuesday night weekly practices and see how fast you really are.  Call Kevin at 605-999-7687

Pictured here is a fine group of people made up of owners, employees, customers, friends and Lady Lake Chamber ambassadors. The ribbon cutting and Grand Opening was for the Tropical Cafe located at 13721 N. US Highway 441 Suite #1 Villages. Good Luck!

With the New Year upon us, many people, including me, are happy to say good riddance to 2020!  Moving forward, the Lady Lake Police Department would like to remind you to check around your home to ensure that all alarms, monitors, and detectors are in good working condition.  These include your smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector.  It’s a good idea to change the batteries in these detectors every year.  You may want to have them replaced if you have not done so within the past 10 years.

It should come as no surprise that carbon monoxide deaths are the highest in winter.  Cold weather increases the use of gas-powered heating or portable heaters using a fuel source.  Homeowners should be aware of the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, especially those that use natural gas as a heat and cooking source.  These symptoms include feeling dizzy, light headed, and/or nauseated.

It’s a good time to remember the following safety tips to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.  Here are some tips from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• Have your heating system, water heater and any other gas, oil or coal-burning appliance inspected and serviced by a qualified technician every year.
• Install battery-operated carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home.
• Don’t use a generator, charcoal grill, camp stove or other gasoline or charcoal-burning device inside the home, garage or outside the home near a window.
• Don’t burn anything in an unvented stove or fireplace.
• Turning on an oven whether gas or not is not safe.
• Use electric space heaters with automatic shut-off switches and non-glowing elements. Make sure to keep them away from any flammable materials, like curtains or blankets.  Never leave children unattended near a space heater.  Check the cords on the heater to make sure that they are not damaged.
• Check with your local fire department if you want to use a space heater that uses a fuel source such as kerosene.
• Don’t let a vehicle idle inside a garage attached to a house, even if the garage door is left open. Carbon monoxide will build up and will put you at risk of serious illness or even death.

If a carbon monoxide detector sounds, leave your home immediately and call 911 from outside. Seek prompt medical attention if you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning and if you or someone in your household is feeling dizzy, light-headed or nauseated.  The same goes for a smoke detector.  Your safety is more valuable than any property.

The 6th Annual Experience Lady Lake Expo was hosted this year at a Brand New location, the Lady Lake Soccer Fields! The event was sponsored by Bill Bryan Chrysler Dodge Jeep, UF Health Auxiliary Foundation, Elevate Lake, and the Town of Lady Lake.  There were over 50 Vendors in attendance and we saw around 1,000 visitors. Businesses were excited to have the opportunity to get out in person and interact with the local community!

The Expo also featured a car show this year, and vendors sponsored trophies to award to participants. Thank you to all who attended the expo… we will see you next year!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.