The Lake Wales Police Department is working a traffic crash at the intersection of Burns Ave and Old Scenic Hwy.

There are two vehicles involved, a black car and a gray suv. One occupant from each vehicle is being transported to local hospitals as a precaution.

There are no life threatening injuries. Eastbound and Westbound traffic on Burns Ave have been re-routed but a tow truck is on scene to clear the roadway. Traffic flow will return to normal shortly.

By Carl Fish

Lake Wales City Manager Seeking Employment Elsewhere

Lake Wales, Florida – The Daytona Beach News-Journal, in it’s April 22 online edition, is reporting that Lake Wales City Manager James Slaton is one of 13 candidates chosen to be a semi-finalists for its vacant city manager position.

The news comes as a shock to many in the community. Slaton has been an employee for the city for almost 19 years (June of 2005). He spent 7 years as the cities Director of Information & Technology. He also spent various time as Director of Support Services, Director of Public & Support Services and Deputy City Manager. Since June of 2020 Slaton has been city manager for Lake Wales.

The Next Step For The City Of New Smyrna

“The next step is to prepare each semifinalist for the interview process, according to Thomas.

They will complete “a fairly detailed” questionnaire and participate in video interviews and a media search by SGR.

After the City Commission reviews the information, it will select three to five finalists for the next phase. This will take place during a public meeting at 5:30 p.m. May 16.” according to the The Daytona Beach News-Journal.

Recent Decisions Dogging Lake Wales City Manager

Recent decisions, regarding the Lake Wales Police Chief, by Slaton has put him at odds with most of the constituents at one point or another. A grievance was filed against Chief Velazquez for his handling of advancement of staff to Lieutenant positions. The grievance felt race was an issue in the selection process and that a reposting of the position allowed one member an opportunity that the grieved felt was not fair. An independent company reviewed information gathered by the cities Human Resources Manager, Sandra Davis, and they concluded no racism occurred, but the appearance of favoritism and nepotism existed, but fell short of saying it occurred. The independent review also did not find that Chief Velazquez broke any rules by the city in his actions. It found that the chief was not consistent in how he handled job postings. This prompted Slaton to write a memo to Chief Velazquez instructing him that he was going to seek a replacement and relieve him of his duties once a replacement was found. “On April, 2024, I will advertise a search for a new police chief. You may remain in your current position until a new chief has been appointed.” said Slaton. This memo was provided to an organization named the Poor Minority Justice Association who leaked it to the media (entire memo here). This all happened on Monday March 11 as Chief Velazquez left on a family vacation cruise. A little over a week later, without much explanation, Slaton addressed the commission and advised he had changed his mind.

The memorandum coming out to the public without any further explanation and the fact it was sent the first day the chief left on vacation didn’t sit well with many residents. It allowed no opportunity for the Chief to even respond to the accusations or the memorandum. Additionally it brought into question why the police department was in charge of job postings and not the Human Resources Department, who has a much better understanding of labor laws and job postings.

The reversal decision by Slaton with little response to the public didn’t sit well with many residents. It even prompted Lake Wales City Commissioner Daniel Williams to state the following “I need everyone to know that when you see black people in the City of Lake Wales right now, and they’re frustrated, they got a reason to be frustrated,” Williams said. “We can handle anything if you tell us the truth. But if it seems like you said one thing today and then certain people call and then things get changed it makes us feel like we still up under Jim Crow, and we ain’t going back there!” 

“You have literally today told black people that power is more, and…or color is greater in this city,” Williams said. “I am extremely frustrated about how this went down.”

This coming from a sitting city commissioner was extremely damning of Slaton and sent a clear message a rift between the two had occurred.

This news brings more questions than answers at a time when so much is occurring in the central Florida city.

On the morning of April 17, the Lake Wales Fire Department and Lake Wales Police were called to the Citgo Gas Station at the intersection of Burns Avenue & Scenic Hwy. They were called because a middle age gentleman was found unresponsive in his car.

According to the Lake Wales Police Department the man was transported to the hospital, but passed.

The call came in around 11:39 am.

According to Troy Schulze, Deputy Police Chief, no immediate foul play was observed. An autopsy and toxicology screen will be performed to determine cause of death.

At this time it doesn’t appear any danger to the public. This is an ongoing investigation and we will update as more information is released.

The Lake Wales Police recently stopped a man driving on SR 60 and swerving down the road. This stop resulted in the arrest of Filadelfo Hernandez-Gabriel. Mr. Hernandez-Gabriel reported to the arresting officer he has never been issued a drivers license.

Here is an excerpt of the arrest affidavit. (It should be noted that this is an unedited report of facts by the Lake Wales Police Department. These facts are up for question and everyone is entitled to question the validity of facts by law enforcement in a court of law. The Lake Wales Daily does not rewrite these facts as some meanings or interpretations could be in error and change context. We hope readers appreciate being able to read the information and come to their own understanding and conclusions) :

“On 04/10/2024, while traveling east on Hwy 60 near High St., I observed a dark color Ford Explorer traveling in front of my patrol vehicle. The vehicle was crossing over the dividing lines going over both sides and almost hitting the curb. The vehicle was on the outside lane and was drifting over to the inside lane, then back to the outside lane over the solid white lane almost hitting the curb.

I conducted a traffic stop and the vehicle came to a stop in the RaceTrac parking lot. I made contact with the driver, Filadelfo Hernandez-Gabriel, who appeared intoxicated; I could smell the odor of alcoholic beverage emitting from his breath, his eyes were watery and bloodshot, and his speech was slurred. I asked Hernandez-Gabriel for his driver’s license, which he fumbled in his wallet searching for a long period of time. I eventually interrupted his search and asked him if he was ever issued a license in the U.S, which he stated he was never issued one.

I had Hernandez-Gabriel exit the vehicle and asked him to walk to the rear, which I observed him stumble and he appeared to have a difficult time maintaining balance. Post Miranda, Hernandez-Gabriel admitted to consuming 6 Modelo beers, not including a Modelo beer in his cup holder.
advised Hernandez-Gabriel I suspected him of driving under the influence and asked him if he was willing to perform field sobriety exercises, which he agreed. I first conducted the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus exercise. During the exercise, Hernandez-Gabriel was swaying and had a difficult time maintaining balance. I observed lack of smooth pursuit, distinct and sustained Nystagmusat maximum deviation, and onset of Nystagmus prior to 45 degrees. Additionally, Hernandez-Gabriel kept following the stimulus with his head and stopped tracking it during several occasions.

Next I conducted the Walk and Turn exercise. During this exercise, Hernandez-Gabriel missed heal to toe numerous times during both 9 steps. Additionally, he raised his arms and fell off the line multiple times.

I then conducted the One Leg Stand exercise. During this exercise, Hernandez-Gabriel had a very difficult time maintaining his balance. He put his foot down several times and was not extending his leg and toes outwards as instructed. Hernandez-Gabriel was unable to count past 6 seconds and used his arms to attempt to regain balance.

At this point, I placed Hernandez-Gabriel under arrest and transported him to the Polk County Processing Center where I initiated his 20-minute observation at 0055 hours. At 0115 hours, After the observation period, Hernandez-Gabriel consented to a breath test: the first sample showed 0.143g/210L of breath, the second sample showed 0.140g/210L of breath.

I also ran Hernandez-Gabriel through FCIC/NCIC, who confirmed he was never issued a driver’s license.

Based on my investigation, probable cause exists to charge Hernandez-Gabriel with F.S 316.193(1) -driving under the influence,and F.S 322.03(1) – No drivers license, for operating a motor vehicle on city roadway while impaired.”