Latest news with #Volz
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Yahoo
'We shot him a lot:' Man opens fire on law enforcement after holding parents hostage
The Brief Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said that two Bartow police officers and a deputy were involved in a shooting on Friday afternoon. PCSO says the deputy involved was shot in the arm and brought to the hospital. The suspect was shot and killed during the incident, according to deputies. BARTOW, Fla. - Two Bartow police officers and a deputy with the Polk County Sheriff's Office are recovering after being shot Friday afternoon in Bartow. The suspect was shot and killed. What we know Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said a man with a criminal history held his parents hostage Friday in Fort Meade. Judd said Wayne Volz, 34, told his parents he was Jesus and God. Judd said the elder Volz told his son that they were people of faith and that he was not Jesus or God. Judd said the younger Volz held a gun to his father's head, but did not shoot him. Volz took his parents' cellphones and held them hostage until later in the day. Judd said late this afternoon Volz's father said he needed to go to work at Lowe's in Bartow. The father and son left their home in Fort Meade and drove to Bartow. Along the way, Judd said they stopped so Wayne Volz could get some pills. Judd did not elaborate on that. When the pair eventually arrived at Lowe's, Judd said the victim went into the store and told his co-workers what was going on. The employees of the store hid the man so his son couldn't find him and that's when the victim called 911. The Polk County Sheriff's Office and Bartow Police responded to the scene. Judd said that's when Volz opened fire, striking a deputy in the arm. That deputy was taken to the hospital and is expected to be OK. Judd said gunfire erupted as Bartow Police opened fire on the suspect. He died after being taken to a hospital. What they're saying "We shot him. We shot him enough. We shot him alot. We stopped the threat," said Judd. What we don't know No further information was given about the parents of Wayne Volz. Judd went on to say about the officers shot, "They're alive. They are in great condition. They are going to once again be able to serve and protect the community and stop evil the way they stopped evil tonight. The Source Information for this story was provided from a news conference held by Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd on Friday evening. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter Follow FOX 13 on YouTube
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Yahoo
'Go to Bartow and kill': Fort Meade man dies in gunfight, injures 2 law officers, PCSO says
Two law enforcement officers are injured and a Fort Meade man is dead after a gunfight broke out outside Lowe's Home Improvement in Bartow on the afternoon of April 18. Polk Sheriff Grady Judd said the Bartow Police Department received a 911 call shortly before 4:30 p.m. from a man inside Lowe's. The man reported his son, 34-year-old Wayne Volz, was threatening his life and others. The incident started when Volz got into a verbal argument with his parents in their shared Fort Meade home Friday morning, Judd said. Volz pistol whipped his mother, according to Judd. When his father ran to her side to help, Volz threatened him and pointed a gun at the man's forehead, asking him to beg for his life. Volz held his parents hostage in their Fort Meade home starting about 11:30 a.m. Friday, according to Judd. He took their cell phones from them. Judd said he made threats to kill his parents, speaking with references to how he was Jesus and God. Volz is known to local law enforcement as "long-term drug addict," Judd said. By Friday afternoon, Volz's father, whose name has not been released, said he needed to go to his work shift at Lowe's, 425 E. Van Fleet Drive. Volz said he needed to run some errands as well and agreed to drive him to Bartow. "Wayne [Volz] said he had to, 'Go to Bartow and kill a lot of people anyway,' " Judd first stop involved Volz purchasing drugs from a man in Bartow, according to the sheriff. This is under investigation. Upon arriving at Lowe's, the father went inside and immediately told his co-workers what was happening. Judd said the co-workers hid him, and after a short period of time Volz came into the store looking for his father. "By the grace of God, he didn't shoot," Judd said. Volz's father made the 911 call. Bartow police officers and Polk deputies arrived at the scene, including a drone operator to help locate Volz. As a Polk deputy came around the building, he saw Volz walking between Florida Department of Transportation offices and Lowe's. Volz then ran past Polk's drone operator, who unaware he was armed, instructed him to stop or threatened to stun him, according to Judd. Volz ran around the corner of the building, pulled a gun and opened fire on law enforcement officers. Polk County Deputy Edwin "Ed" Alexander, a 30-year veteran, was shot clean through the forearm of his gun hand. Bartow Police Officer Mark Sills was shot in the chest, just below his badge, but the bullet was stopped by his ballistics vest. Law enforcement officers fired in return at Volz, striking him several times. Both law enforcement officers were taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center for treatment of their injuries. Both are in good condition and "good spirits," according to Judd. Volz was taken to Bartow Regional Medical Center, where life-saving measures were taken but he died of his injuries, Judd said. There is an active investigation ongoing, the sheriff said, and the 10th Judicial Circuit Officer-Involved Deadly Incident Task Force will investigate what happened. That report, once complete, will be forwarded to State Attorney Brian Haas for a separate investigation and review, Judd said. Judd said there will be no further updated information on the shooting released over the Easter weekend. This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Two officers injured, Fort Meade man dead after gunfight near Bartow Lowe's
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Weather satellite operational, completes fleet to forecast severe storms on Earth
April 8 (UPI) -- The final piece of an advanced series of weather satellites officially began operating Tuesday to help provide better forecasts on Earth and in space, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. GOES-19 satellite replaces GOES-16 to cover the GOES East orbit 22,236 miles above Earth's equator. It also completes NOAA's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites, or R-series, to provide the Western Hemisphere's "most sophisticated weather-observing and environmental-monitoring system." "With GOES-19 now in operation, NOAA has delivered the full fleet of GOES-R satellites to orbit, providing the most sophisticated technology ever flown in space to help forecast weather on Earth," said Stephen Volz, assistant administrator for NOAA's Satellite and Information Service. "GOES-19 supports NOAA's mission to provide secure and timely access to global environmental data and information to promote and protect the nation's security, environment, economy and quality of life," Volz continued. GOES-19, which launched on June 25, 2024, will track hurricanes and tropical storms in the Atlantic Ocean. It will also monitor severe weather, atmospheric rivers, wildfires, volcanic eruptions and other environmental events. The satellite is also equipped with space weather instruments to monitor the sun. NOAA's first compact coronagraph instrument, called CCOR-1, will provide "critical information about impending geomagnetic storm conditions." "CCOR-1 is a game-changer for ensuring our nation is resilient to solar storms, allowing us to monitor massive eruptions of energy from the sun in real time," said Clinton Wallace, director of NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center. "With dramatically improved resolution and faster detection, it helps us better predict dangerous space weather that can impact satellites, GPS, astronaut safety, aviation and power grids, ensuring we can protect critical technology and infrastructure like never before," according to Wallace. GOES-18 launched in March 2022 and was the "third in this new advanced series." The GOES-R Series Program includes four satellites, built and launched by NASA and operated by NOAA. GOES-19 joins GOES-18, or GOES West, to watch over more than half of Earth from Africa to New Zealand and from the Arctic Circle to the Antarctic Circle. The fleet of satellites is expected to provide valuable information about this year's Atlantic hurricane season, which is forecast to rival 2024, one of the most devastating and costliest hurricane seasons on record for the Southeast and Florida, due to damage caused by Beryl, Helene and Milton.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
WA state leaders react to executive order limiting transgender athletes
The Brief Washington Democrats are reaffirming their commitment to protecting trans people, following the President's action restricting their involvement in school sports. State lawmakers are considering taking action of their own. OLYMPIA, Wash. - State leaders are reaffirming their commitment to transgender people following President Donald Trump's executive order this week trying to restrict their participation in school sports. What they're saying State Superintendent Chris Reykdal said the president's executive order barring transgender athletes from women's and girls' sports attempts to "override the authority of states and local school districts" "The president's order directly contradicts state law, including the Washington Law Against discrimination, and our laws prohibiting discrimination in our public schools," Reykdal said in a statement Thursday. "Our state law prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity, and we will not back down from that." On Friday, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction said it was finalizing guidance for school districts "in response to this unlawful order." At a press conference Friday about challenging another transgender-related executive order, Attorney General Nick Brown (D) said his office has been closely reviewing all of the president's actions and is weighing action on the trans athletes executive order. "There are so many things that the president is doing that are illegal, alarming," he said. "We will work in collaboration with our other states to see if it's appropriate for Washington state to take action. Again, there may be some things that he does that I don't like that are legal, and we'll just make that analysis as we go." The other side Washington lawmakers are considering taking action of their own. With the president's order, the NCAA following suit, and other restrictions proposed across the country, State Representative Mike Volz (R-Spokane) is highlighting his "Defending Equity in Interscholastic Sports Act." House Bill 1699 would allow schools to prohibit "biologically male students" from competing in women's sports, and establish a process to verify an athlete's sex. Volz acknowledged the bill would have a "big, uphill fight" in the House, but said the legislation is about fairness. "It's not some sort of anti-trans, or attack on the trans community. They have rights like everybody else," he said. "I just think the women's space should be protected and safeguarded." House Speaker Laurie Jinkins (D-Tacoma) did not specifically comment on Volz's bill when asked. Though she said, "any bill that violates our state's robust anti-discrimination laws has no home here." On Tuesday, the Democratic speaker and other legislative leaders reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the transgender community. "Washington will remain, and that the House and Senate Democrats will remain, a place that will look to protect trans people-transgender people and transgender youth and youth who have questions about their gender identity," she said at a weekly media availability. Democrats argued Washington has some of the strongest protections for transgender people as a result of legislation passed during the president's first term. "Now it is about making sure that if there are any loopholes in those laws, we're closing them," said State Senator Manka Dhingra (D-Redmond). "Making sure we're reminding people that in this Washington, we will be protecting every vulnerable Washingtonian. That means our communities of color, our immigrants, our refugees. And our trans folk." The Source Information in this story is from Albert James, a television reporter covering state government as part of the Murrow News Fellowship program – a collaborative effort between news outlets statewide and Washington State University. Washington Senate passes changes to parental rights in education Japan Airlines plane clips tail of Delta plane at Sea-Tac Airport Judge blocks DOGE access to sensitive Treasury Department payment system records Man sentenced to 20 years for grooming, taking WA girl to Michigan home To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily Fox Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national coverage, plus 24/7 streaming coverage from across the nation.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Yahoo
1 arrested after child pornography investigation
A man was arrested Thursday and charged with pandering obscenity involving a minor, according to the Miami County Sheriff's Office. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Michael Volz, 69, from Bethel Township, was arrested after a search warrant was executed in the 8800 block of US Route 40, deputies say. TRENDING STORIES: Area school crossing guard hit by vehicle while helping students cross the street Starbucks to cut 30% of menu Man charged with attempted murder after stabbing in Miami Twp Deputies executed the search warrant after an on-going investigation into child pornography, deputies say. Computer hard drives, thumb drives, a cell phone, tablet, router and other electronics were seized by deputies as they executed the warrant, according to the sheriff's office. Volz is in the Miami County Jail on three counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor, which is a third degree felony, the sheriff's office says. The sheriff's office says they are expecting other charges for Volz as the investigation continues. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
