A Lake Wales man was arrested after deputies say he fled two hit‑and‑run crashes within minutes; the damaged car was later found parked behind Garden Grove Elementary. Authorities say he refused sobriety tests and faces multiple charges.

A Tampa federal guilty plea unmasked an alleged scheme that prosecutors say turned H-2A visas into a forced‑labor operation spanning five states.

A 15‑year‑old was arrested after deputies say he brought a firearm to Strawberry Crest High; he fled but was caught nearby and now faces multiple charges.

A 69-year-old Sarasota County Schools aide, identified as Tracy Lynn Criman, was booked on felony child-abuse and battery counts, records show. The district has not posted a public statement.

A reported street race on Jan. 7 left three people hospitalized in Clearwater; a 19-year-old was arrested March 9 and is being held without bond.

A two-vehicle crash at Kings Highway and County Road 761 near Arcadia killed one person and closed the intersection for hours. Troopers are investigating.

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office says scammers are posing as Assistant Chief Deputy Paul Carey and pressing residents for payments via apps, gift cards or crypto. Verify callback numbers and report suspicious calls.

Citrus County warns that convicted sexual predator Julius Knight has moved to Inverness and is reportedly under GPS monitoring; the sheriff’s office provided reporting contacts.

Federal prosecutors say a Spring Hill man allegedly diverted wholesale shipments of onions and potatoes, causing more than $600,000 in losses. The indictment charges him with interstate transport of stolen property.

Opening statements set up competing accounts in the 2022 Clearwater Beach tire‑iron killing — prosecutors pointed to texts and surveillance while defense denied a role.

A two-alarm blaze at Mega Auto Recycling sent a massive plume of smoke across Tampa Tuesday; crews contained it in about an hour and no injuries were reported.

A federal jury convicted a Sarasota TikToker after TikTok videos urged people wearing MAGA hats to be shot, according to court records and local coverage. The judge denied her post-trial acquittal motion.

A narcotics search in Bradenton turned deadly Tuesday when officers shot one person during a high‑risk warrant. FDLE has taken over the investigation.