News Update for 4/10/25
A Sebring man accused of illegal dumping is now in custody. Highlands County deputies arrested 44-year-old Howard L. Shackleford after he abandoned his ATV in an orange grove and fled from law enforcement. Deputy Kyler Hodge attempted to pull Shackleford over on County Road 17 South, but the suspect sped off into the grove, clipped a tree, and stalled his vehicle. When he couldn’t restart the ATV, he ran on foot. A K9 unit, including bloodhound Hooch, later tracked Shackleford to a home on Ahlambra Avenue. He was found shirtless, out of breath, and taken into custody. Charges include illegal dumping, fleeing police, resisting arrest, and driving with a suspended license.
In DeSoto County, a licensed alligator trapper was hospitalized Wednesday after being bitten by a 10.5-foot gator he was attempting to relocate. According to Florida Fish and Wildlife, the bite occurred when the tape around the gator’s mouth unexpectedly came loose. The trapper was rushed to Memorial Hospital for emergency surgery. Officials later confirmed the gator involved was captured and euthanized. FWC reminds the public: keep your distance from gators, leash pets near water, and never feed wildlife.
A Polk County man is now behind bars for the 21st time. 50-year-old Michael Reading was taken into custody following a string of thefts including a stolen Ford Bronco, generator, and power tools. Deputies say Reading took the Bronco from a gas station using a pickup truck seen on surveillance video. That same truck led investigators to Reading’s home, where they recovered all stolen items. Sheriff Grady Judd called Reading a “career criminal” with no sign of changing. He now faces multiple charges, including burglary, grand theft, and conspiracy.
Police are placing two men involved in a reckless chase on Interstate Four in jail. Deputies say the incident started after both men fled from a traffic stop. The chase led to a dangerous crash on the I-4 with both men choosing to flee to a nearby warehouse. Polk County deputies arrested them after they left the warehouse in different clothes.
A Polk County principal is now out of a job after being caught in a Walmart self-checkout scam. Gregory Lewis, former head of Bok Academy North in Lake Wales, resigned this week following his March 29th arrest and subsequent administrative leave placement, for “skip scanning” items to avoid paying the full $37.45 total. Security footage showed Lewis hiding cheaper items between more expensive ones like shrimp and bacon. He admitted it was a “dumb” idea inspired by friends. The incident has sparked backlash from educators and the community, raising concerns about leadership ethics. Lewis now faces a misdemeanor theft charge and a pending court date.
SpaceX could light up the sky tonight. The company is planning to launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center at 9:54 p.m. The rocket will be carrying 21 Starlink satellites. Meanwhile, a United Launch Alliance mission planned for night was scrubbed due to the weather. The launch was to be the first for Amazon’s Project Kuiper broadband satellite constellation. There’s no word on when the launch will take place.
The Florida Aquarium in Tampa wants to make sure its animals are safe when catastrophic weather strikes. That’s why aquarium officials brought a group of African penguins with them to the state Capitol today. They’re calling for more funding for storm and flood protections. The aquarium wants one-million dollars to build a flood barrier to protect the facility and its animals during hurricanes.
More than 509-million-dollars’ worth of drugs are being seized by the U.S. Coast Guard. They confiscated over 48-thousand pounds of cocaine and marijuana at Port Everglades. Surveillance systems, drones, aircraft and ships were used to interdict several vessels in the seizure. At a press conference, officials say they believe two cartel groups were heavily tied to the ship.