Latest news with #PolkCountySheriff'sOffice
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Severely emaciated Great Dane ‘grateful' after Polk deputies rescue her, Terrier sibling
POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — The Polk County Sheriff's Office shared a video updating on the condition of Stella, a Great Dane rescued from an animal cruelty situation. The sheriff's office took custody of the pup on Tuesday, after her owner, Auburndale Public Utilities Director Bradford Thomas, was arrested and charged with animal cruelty. City of Auburndale's public utilities director accused of neglecting his dogs The 8-year-old dog weighed just 60.8 pounds when she was brought to Polk County Animal Control, half of the recommended 120 pounds for a dog her size. 'We fed her ourselves, and she was very grateful to eat a lot,' Detective Jacob Durrance said. 'Was not a picky eater at all. Like Mr. Thomas claimed she was.' In addition to being severely emaciated and in obvious pain, Stella was also covered in fleas, dirt, scabs and had swollen, infected feet. The sheriff's office said she's already gained 8 pounds in the few days she's been in their care, and is already looking happier and healthier. 'You can obviously tell she loves to be loved on,' Durrance said. 'She got a nice bath today and is no longer covered in fleas and flea dirt, but she does have a long road to recovery.' Deputies also rescued Bella, a Terrier mix they estimated to be around 18 years old. Bella was suffering from flea dermatitis on her back that resulted in hair loss. Both dogs are now recovering at Polk County Animal Control and will hopefully be up for adoption when they're fully healed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
City of Auburndale's public utilities director accused of neglecting his dogs
AUBURNDALE, Fla. (WFLA) — The city of Auburndale's public utilities director was arrested Tuesday after the Polk County Sheriff's Office said he neglected to care for his two dogs. The sheriff's office said it was contacted by Auburndale police officers after they were made aware of a dog that was starving and in poor condition. Woman heard 'screaming for help' after possible barracuda bite at Florida beach A detective with the sheriff's office went to Bradford Thomas' home on Diamond Ridge Drive on Tuesday. The detective said an 8.5-year-old Great Dane named Stella was severely emaciated, had multiple abrasions and scabs, was covered in fleas and was suffering from severe pododermatitis, also known as bumblefoot, on all four paws. She also appeared to be in severe pain. The sheriff's office said records showed that Stella had not received any veterinary care since 2020, even though 'she was in horrible physical condition.' Bella, an 18 to 20-year-old Terrier mix, was suffering from severe flea dermatitis on her back with hair loss. A veterinarian who examined the dogs said Stella weighed just 60.8 pounds, which is about half of what she should weigh. Both dogs were voluntarily surrendered to the Polk County Sheriff's Office and taken to the PCSO's Animal Control facility for treatment. 'The dogs and their former owner will be getting the attention they need and deserve. For Bradford Thomas, this behavior is absolutely unacceptable,' Sheriff Grady Judd said. 'It is incomprehensible that someone in his capacity as a senior manager in a reputable and responsible local government would do something like this—starving and causing such pain for an innocent animal. We will do everything we can to hold him criminally responsible. We will also do everything we can to get these dogs healthy and thriving. They are off to a good start—we pray it's not too late and they respond to medical treatment, nourishment, and love.' The sheriff's office said Stella has gained 6.8 pounds since beginning treatment at animal control. Thomas was charged with animal cruelty and aggravated animal cruelty. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Post
5 days ago
- New York Post
Meth-crazed Florida man is bitten by alligator, charges at cops with garden shears before he's shot dead in wild series of events
A meth-crazed Florida man survived getting bitten by an alligator — just to be fatally shot when he charged at cops trying to help him. The wild scenes erupted after Timothy Schulz, 42, was spotted swimming in an alligator-infested lake in Lakeland, south of Orlando, early Monday, authorities said. Schulz, who cops said was high on drugs, had growled at good Samaritans trying to toss him a life vest just moments before one of the gators bit his right arm. 4 Office deputies began searching for Timothy Schulz, 42, after a convenience store clerk reported he was acting strangely. Polk County Sheriff's Office 4 Bullet holes seen in the police vehicle's windshield. Polk County Sheriff's Office 'The fact that he was bitten by an alligator and still continued his rampage is shocking,' Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said. 'But if you're on enough meth, then the person you see is not the person that's attacking.' The horror only continued when Schulz suddenly emerged from the lake soon after being bitten and grabbed a pair of garden shears from a nearby home, authorities said. As deputies arrived on the scene, Schulz then charged at them with the shears. 4 Inside the police vehicle after the fatal shooting. Polk County Sheriff's Office One of the officers fired off their stun gun in a bid to thwart Schulz — but the taser had no effect, authorities said. 'They were still trying to take him peacefully into custody,' Judd said. The crazed man then tried to jump into the patrol vehicle and remove one of the firearms, according to authorities. 4 The Polk County Sheriff's Office discusses the incident to the press. Polk County Sheriff's Office 'At that time our deputies shot multiple times,' the sheriff said. 'As a result, Timothy is deceased.' Schulz, who had a lengthy drug-packed rap sheet, had only just been cut loose from the county jail on May 20 following a methamphetamine bust. The deputies involved in the shooting will be put on administrative leave as the ordeal is investigated, the sheriff said.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Man shot and killed by deputies in confrontation after apparent gator attack
A man believed to be on drugs was shot and killed Monday by Florida sheriff's deputies who had tried to shock him with a Taser as he wielded a set of garden shears shortly after he was apparently bitten by an alligator in a lake, a sheriff said. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd told reporters the two deputies were trying to de-escalate the situation before the man, identified as 42-year-old Timothy Schulz, climbed into their running patrol vehicle and tried to get the weapons inside. That's when the deputies opened fire, Judd said. "This is just crazy stuff, OK?" Judd said. "You know that it's got to be true, you can't make it up." Schulz had a long history of drug-related arrests, Judd said. He had been released from jail last Tuesday after being arrested for possession of meth, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office. Monday's incident started when a convenience store worker at about 5:56 a.m. reported a man acting bizarrely, shaking and asking to call his son, Judd said. Deputies went to the store but couldn't find the man. At about 7:43 a.m., people reported a man later identified as Schulz swimming in a lake that contained multiple alligators, Judd said. One witness tried to give him a life preserver, and another tried to speak with him but received a growl in response, according to the sheriff. While Schulz was in the lake, he was apparently bitten by an alligator on his right arm, Judd said. "The fact that he was bitten by an alligator, significantly, and still continued his rampage is shocking," Judd said. "But if you're on enough meth, then the person you see is not the person that's attacking." When Schulz emerged from the water in a gated community in Lakeland, east of Tampa, he picked up a set of garden shears that had been left outside, Judd said. Schulz then tried to break into a vehicle with a brick. After deputies arrived at the scene, Schulz charged at them with the shears, Judd said. The deputies tried to de-escalate the situation, told Schulz to put the shears down and attempted to shock him with a Taser twice, according to the sheriff. "They were still trying to take him peacefully into custody," Judd said. Schulz entered the deputies' still-running patrol vehicle from the passenger side and tried to get either the rifle or the shotgun inside from their holders, Judd said. The deputies then shot Schulz multiple times. The sheriff's office posted photos to social media showing the patrol vehicle with what appeared to be multiple bullet holes through the windshield. The incident is under investigation, Judd said. The deputies have been placed on routine administrative leave during the initial phases of the investigation. Delta Air Lines' 100th year takes flight 9 young siblings killed in Israeli airstrike in Gaza Full interview: Jack McCain on "Face the Nation"
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Man here illegally charged with battery after striking deputy: Polk County Sheriff's Office
POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — The Polk County Sheriff's Office said a man here illegally from Venezuela has been charged with battery after striking a deputy while trying to flee a traffic stop. A deputy pulled over a Pontiac G6 early Sunday morning due to an expired registration sticker. The driver, 57-year-old Jose Adorno Pabon of Wahneta, told the deputy he did not speak English and didn't have a drivers license. The passenger, 37-year-old Jhonnys Robles Pereira, got out of the car and began moving toward the deputy, ignoring commands to stay inside the vehicle. The sheriff's office said Pereira then ran at the deputy and struck him before fleeing on foot. The deputy was able to catch up to Pereira, deploy his taser and take him into custody. The driver, Pabon, attempted to flee the traffic stop while the deputy chased Pereira, but was later stopped and apprehended by backup units in the area. During their investigation, deputies learned that Pabon did have a valid driver's license, but he hadn't yet obtained insurance or registered the recently purchased vehicle. Pabon showed signs of impairment during the traffic stop and told deputies he had five beers. He was arrested for DUI and charged with fleeing to elude, resisting arrest, DUI, attaching an unassigned tag, operating a vehicle without registration and failure to maintain vehicle insurance. Deputies confirmed with ICE that Pereira was in the country illegally, which upgraded his charges. He was charged with felony resisting arrest with violence, felony resisting arrest without violence and felony battery on a law enforcement officer. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
