32-year-old Ashauntie Cox (DOB 2/15/1991) of Orlando, who caused serious bodily harm to two children in her vehicle while fleeing from two crashes and driving under the influence, was arrested in Polk County on Friday, May 19, 2023, and charged with several felonies.
According to witnesses and information developed during the investigation, the first crash occurred around 8:00 p.m. on US Hwy 27 at the intersection with US Hwy 98 near Frostproof. Cox was driving a blue Kia southbound on Hwy 27 when she struck a grey Chevy Silverado pickup truck and then fled at a high rate of speed. As she continued to recklessly speed south down Hwy 27, weaving in and out of slower moving traffic, she rear-ended a 2016 Honda CRV while trying to pass between that SUV and the vehicle next to it which were both also going southbound. The victim driving the CRV was taken to Sebring Hospital, where he was treated and released with minor injuries.
The collision caused Cox’s vehicle to flip several times, ejecting two Orlando children, ages 5 and 8 years old. Both sustained significant injuries, and they were taken to Tampa General Hospital where they are both in critical condition. A 27-year-old female passenger was also seriously injured along her spinal cord, hip, and back. She remains at Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center in stable condition.
When deputies arrived at the scene of the crash, they detected the odor of marijuana and located a bottle of tequila in Cox’s vehicle. Cox was transported to the hospital and interview by deputies. Cox told deputies they were driving from Orlando to Avon Park to celebrate the 5-year-old’s kindergarten graduation. She admitted to smoking marijuana earlier in the day, and to having four shots of tequila. Her blood was drawn for further analysis, and she displayed several signs of impairment.
She was booked into the Polk County Jail and is being charged with:
· Three counts DUI with serious bodily injury (F3)
· Two counts negligent child abuse with great bodily harm (F2)
· Reckless driving (F3)
· One count DUI with property damage (M1)
· One count DUI (M2)
Further charges are pending the outcome of the investigation.
“This woman had no regard for anyone’s life when she got behind the wheel intoxicated and then drove recklessly down a major highway, but what’s worse is the blatant disregard she had for the lives of the innocent children in her car. I expect a successful prosecution to hold her accountable—and let’s hope she loses her driving privileges if she’s released from jail or prison. Please keep these babies and their families in your prayers.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
A Lake Wales woman who allegedly crashed a vehicle into a fire hydrant is facing multiple charges after police say she fought with officers during the subsequent investigation and struck one officer in the face.
Amber Huffman, 29, was arrested August 27 after Lake Wales Police responded to a vehicle crash near First Street and Orange Avenue at approximately 6:47 p.m.
According to the arrest affidavit, an officer was advised while responding that the driver was attempting to leave the scene. When the officer arrived, he reported seeing Huffman getting out of the driver’s seat of a black vehicle.
Police said Huffman immediately claimed she had not been driving.
The officer began investigating the crash, which the affidavit states involved a fire hydrant. According to police, Huffman told the officer she did not have a driver’s license and then attempted to walk away.
The officer reported that Huffman appeared extremely nervous, repeatedly attempted to leave, spoke rapidly and had glassy eyes. Concerned she might flee, the officer attempted to place her in handcuffs.
Police say Huffman then began resisting.
According to the affidavit, Huffman repeatedly tensed and pulled away from the officer. As the officer attempted to secure her, police allege she began throwing her body and arms and pushing the officer.
The officer eventually escorted Huffman to a nearby wall while waiting for additional officers. A Lake Wales Fire Department firefighter assisted in holding Huffman while officers secured her in handcuffs, according to the report.
The confrontation allegedly continued after Huffman was taken to a patrol vehicle.
Police said Huffman repeatedly attempted to get out of the vehicle and refused commands to remain inside. While officers continued investigating the crash, Huffman allegedly began banging on the patrol car window and managed to slip one of her hands out of the handcuffs.
Officers removed Huffman from the vehicle to secure her hands behind her back again. Police allege she continued pulling away, pushing against officers and bracing herself against the vehicle in an effort to prevent officers from placing her back inside.
Eventually, officers were able to gain control of Huffman.
According to the affidavit, as officers were placing her into the back seat, Huffman allegedly struck an officer in the facial area with her elbow, knocking the officer’s agency-issued hat to the ground.
Huffman was transported to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Processing Center.
Because officers suspected impairment, a 20-minute observation period was conducted. Huffman subsequently provided two breath samples, both of which registered .00 g/210L, according to the affidavit.
Police said they suspected possible impairment by a controlled substance and requested a urine sample. Huffman provided the sample, which was sent for processing. No results from that testing were included in the affidavit.
Police said Huffman later admitted she had been driving the vehicle and told officers the vehicle had been experiencing mechanical problems prior to the collision.
A records check reportedly showed Huffman’s driver’s license had been suspended since February 21, 2022, for failure to pay traffic citations.
Huffman was arrested on charges including battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer with violence, DUI property damage, DUI alcohol or drugs, driving while license suspended or revoked and resisting an officer without violence.
Lake Wales City Workers Seen Working On Fire Hydrant Allegedly Struck In Early Evening Crash
LAKE WALES – Lake Wales came within a yard of knocking off one of the best high school football teams in Florida Friday night.
In the end, Head Coach Tavaris Johnson had a decision to make: play for overtime or play to win.
He chose to go for the win.
The Highlanders came up just short on the two-point conversion, allowing DeLand to escape Legion Field with a 35-34 victory in a wild season opener that may have told Lake Wales far more about its football team than an easy opening-night victory would have.
DeLand entered the matchup ranked No. 1 in Class 6A and figures to be one of the most difficult opponents Lake Wales will see all season. Johnson deliberately scheduled a difficult opponent early, and his Highlanders showed they could stand toe-to-toe with one of the state’s top programs.
It didn’t look that way at first.
DeLand jumped out to a 14-0 first-quarter lead before Lake Wales answered with 14 points in the second quarter. The Bulldogs took a 21-14 advantage into halftime.
Both teams scored twice in the third quarter, and DeLand eventually built a 35-21 advantage in the fourth.
Lake Wales could have folded.
Instead, the Highlanders made a furious comeback.
Lake Wales scored to cut the deficit to seven and then recovered an onside kick, giving the Highlanders another opportunity. They found the end zone again, pulling within 35-34 late in the fourth quarter.
That left Johnson with the biggest decision of the night.
Kick the extra point and potentially send the game to overtime, or put the game in the hands of his offense and try to beat the No. 1-ranked Bulldogs right then.
Johnson went for two.
Quarterback Kingston Loydd took the ball up the middle but was stopped just short of the goal line, leaving DeLand with the one-point advantage and ultimately the victory.
Despite the loss, Lake Wales showed plenty offensively.
According to statistics posted to MaxPreps, Loydd completed 14 of 21 passes for 235 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Kamari Smith rushed 16 times for 86 yards, while Kaneilius Purdy had a huge night through the air, catching nine passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns.
The performance was particularly encouraging considering the level of competition.
DeLand isn’t the type of opponent most teams would choose when looking for an easy way to begin a season. For Johnson and the Highlanders, however, Friday night’s game provided an early measuring stick. Lake Wales walked away 0-1, but also walked away knowing it was only inches away from beating one of Florida’s top-ranked teams.
Unfortunately, the football wasn’t the only thing people were talking about following the game.
An apparent disagreement between a Lake Wales assistant football coach and the Lake Wales High School band resulted in the band leaving Legion Field before the game was over.
Multiple people in attendance told Daily Ridge they witnessed the incident or noticed the band leaving the stadium early.
A message reportedly written by Lake Wales band director Meagan Delacerda and shared with band parents Saturday provides her account of what happened.
In the message, Delacerda reportedly wrote that the band did not leave because it lacked school spirit or support for the football team, but because she believed her students were being treated disrespectfully.
According to the message, Delacerda alleges the disagreement between members of the football coaching staff and the band is not new. She claimed assistant coaches have attempted to get the band to stop playing or play quieter during games over the past three years.
She reportedly wrote that she had previously warned that if it happened again, the band would pack up and leave.
Importantly, the message attributed to Delacerda does not place the blame on Head Coach Tavaris Johnson or the football players.
In fact, Delacerda reportedly praised Johnson’s relationship with the band, writing, “Coach Johnson has said how much he loves us and supports us numerous times.”
She also urged parents not to turn the situation into a football-versus-band dispute, saying the students support one another and characterizing the issue as involving only a small number of assistant coaches.
Delacerda reportedly told parents she is scheduled to meet Monday with school administration and members of the coaching staff regarding the situation.
The decision to leave the stadium, however, also drew criticism from some parents who became aware of Delacerda’s explanation.
“It made us look like sore losers,” one parent said of the band leaving before the game had ended.
Another parent, who does not have a student involved in either the football program or the band but was aware of the message attributed to Delacerda, felt there was plenty of blame to go around.
The parent said that if tensions between members of the football coaching staff and the band have been an ongoing problem, they should have been addressed long before Friday night and in a much more professional manner. In the parent’s view, neither the actions of the assistant coach nor the decision to pull the band from the stadium sent the right message to students.
Daily Ridge has not independently verified the claims regarding previous incidents described in the message, and there may be additional context surrounding Friday night’s exchange. What is clear is that the disagreement became visible enough that spectators noticed the band leaving Legion Field before one of the most dramatic Lake Wales football games in recent memory had ended.
Hopefully, Monday’s meeting provides an opportunity for those involved to address the issue away from the sidelines. Both the football program and band are made up primarily of students who spend countless hours preparing to represent Lake Wales High School, and neither should become caught in the middle of a disagreement between adults.
For the Highlanders on the field, the season moves forward.
Lake Wales will travel to Sebring next Friday for another non-district matchup. Sebring enters that game following a 21-0 victory over Ridge Community.
If Friday night was the measuring stick Johnson wanted for his football team, the Highlanders showed they aren’t far away.
LAKE WALES — The preseason work is finished. Friday night, the games start counting.
Lake Wales opens its 2026 regular season Friday night at home against DeLand in what should provide an immediate measuring stick for a Highlanders team that brings back a significant amount of talent from last season.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Lake Wales.
The Highlanders got their first opportunity to line up against another team last week in a preseason matchup against Auburndale. While the preseason contest did not count toward the regular-season record, it gave Lake Wales an opportunity to evaluate a roster that includes a number of players who played major roles during last year’s 10-3 season.
Now the difficulty increases.
DeLand comes to Polk County with considerable expectations. The Bulldogs enter the season highly regarded in Florida’s Class 6A, while Lake Wales is also ranked among the top teams in Class 4A.
DeLand is coached by Rick Darlington and brings a roster with size and experience in several key spots. One player to watch is senior quarterback Gardner Nordman, listed at 6-foot-3 and 208 pounds. The Bulldogs also have senior defensive end Leighton Hill at 6-foot-5, 235 pounds, along with senior offensive linemen Tucker Wilson and Justin Burns.
For Lake Wales, many of the names to watch Friday night will already be familiar.
Senior running back Kamari Smith returns after averaging 121 rushing yards per game last season and scoring 18 rushing touchdowns. Smith gives Lake Wales a proven option in the backfield and will be one of the players DeLand’s defense will have to account for throughout the night.
Sophomore Kingston Loydd also returns after being thrown into a major role as a freshman. Loydd completed 62 percent of his passes and threw 20 touchdown passes last season while also contributing on the ground. He is listed on this year’s roster as a quarterback, free safety and athlete.
Senior Kaneilius Purdy gives the Highlanders another experienced offensive weapon. Purdy caught 11 touchdown passes last season and averaged more than 87 receiving yards per game. Lake Wales lists him at quarterback and running back this season, providing the Highlanders with another player capable of being used in several ways.
There is experience on the defensive side as well.
Senior Raeshaun Pugh averaged 9.2 tackles per game last season and caused four fumbles, while senior Loobensky Lafortune recorded 4.5 sacks and 13 quarterback hurries. Senior A’Quayvion Herring had four interceptions. All three return on the 2026 roster.
That returning production is part of what makes Friday night’s matchup intriguing.
Lake Wales isn’t easing into its schedule. DeLand represents a significant opening-night challenge, particularly as a highly regarded program competing in the larger Class 6A classification.
For the Highlanders, Friday begins another challenging schedule of their own. Lake Wales travels to Sebring next week, visits Winter Haven on Sept. 4 and begins district play at Lake Region on Sept. 11. Later games include Osceola, Jones, Kathleen and Bartow.
But those games can wait.
Friday night gives Lake Wales an opportunity to find out immediately where it stands against a talented DeLand team.
DeLand at Lake Wales Friday, Aug. 21 Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Lake Wales, Florida – Lake Wales Police have released limited additional information following a death investigation at a home in quiet neighborhood near Lake Wailes Thursday evening.
Lt. Dale Hampton with the Lake Wales Police Department confirmed Friday that the person who died was an adult female.
“At this time, we have not deemed anything suspicious,” Hampton told Daily Ridge.
Hampton said investigators will not know for certain until laboratory results are returned along with the medical examiner’s report. Additional information could become available once some of those results are received.
Lake Wales Police responded to the home on Voncile Street Thursday, where a significant law enforcement presence could be seen during the early evening hours. Multiple Polk County Sheriff’s Office forensic units were also at the scene assisting with the investigation.
Police initially told Daily Ridge Thursday evening that the incident was being handled as a death investigation and that there was no danger to the public.
Authorities have not released the woman’s identity or additional information regarding the circumstances surrounding her death.
Daily Ridge will update this story as additional information becomes available.
Lake Wales, Florida – Andy Blair has resigned from the Lake Wales Charter Schools Board of Trustees, telling fellow board members Monday night that his family is relocating to Vero Beach.
Blair announced his resignation near the end of Monday’s Board of Trustees meeting, saying it would be his final meeting and that his resignation was effective that night.
“It’s been a great four years,” Blair told the board. “My family and I are relocating to the Vero Beach area.”
Blair reflected on his time with the charter school system, saying the first couple of years were difficult but that board members had worked through challenges together.
“I’m real proud of the work we’ve done,” Blair said. “I’m proud that we got the right leader in place.”
Blair also said he was excited about the current makeup and direction of the board. Before leaving, he encouraged trustees to continue asking questions and to “demand full transparency.”
“My only regret is that I’m not going to see us become that charter school system of excellence that I so badly want us to become, and I know we will,” Blair said.
He ended his remarks by saying there was “no drama” surrounding his departure and thanked fellow trustees for his time on the board.
Blair’s resignation from the Charter Schools Board comes shortly after his departure from Refuge on the Ridge, the Lake Wales faith-based residential recovery ministry he founded in 2020.
Andy Blair
His departure from Refuge has received attention in recent weeks after questions were raised publicly about why he left the organization. Refuge’s Board of Directors has not publicly detailed the circumstances surrounding Blair’s departure.
Despite Blair’s departure, Refuge on the Ridge said in its August newsletter that the ministry continues to operate and is enrolling new residents. The organization reported welcoming four new residents during August and recently graduating seven men from its recovery program, bringing its reported five-year total to 74 graduates.
Blair did not connect his departure from Refuge on the Ridge with his resignation from the Lake Wales Charter Schools Board during Monday’s meeting. Instead, he specifically cited his family’s relocation to Vero Beach.
Blair was originally selected to serve on the Lake Wales Charter Schools Board of Trustees in 2022.
Blair’s departure will create a vacancy on the Lake Wales Charter Schools Board of Trustees. Blair held a trustee seat filled through the city’s nominating process. Under the process previously outlined by city officials, Mayor Jack Hilligoss nominates a candidate with the advice and consent of the Lake Wales City Commission, while the Charter Schools Board ultimately determines its membership. It was not immediately clear when a nominee to replace Blair will be considered.
Lake Wales, Florida – Lake Wales Police are investigating a death at a home on Voncile Street Thursday evening.
According to Sgt. Rhoden with the Lake Wales Police Department, officers are conducting a death investigation and there is currently no danger to the public.
Polk County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Technician At Home On Voncile St.
A significant law enforcement presence could be seen early Thursday evening along Voncile Street, a normally quiet residential street in a well-maintained neighborhood just a block from Lake Wailes. Multiple Polk County Sheriff’s Office forensic units are assisting at the scene, where crime scene tape has been placed around a residence.
Law Enforcement Conducting Death Investigation
Sergeant Rhoden couldn’t release any further information at this time. We still have no information regarding the identity of the deceased or the circumstances surrounding the death.
This is a developing story.
Developing Death Investigation Story In Lake Wales
Lynn Robert Greenfield, a devoted husband, beloved family member, and respected member of every community he joined, passed away at his residence on August 10, 2026, at the age of 78. Born in Estherville, Iowa, on December 5, 1947, Lynn’s journey through life was marked by hard work, service, dedication to family, and a steadfast commitment to friendship and camaraderie.
Lynn was the cherished son of the late Lawrence and Alverta Greenfield. His life’s path took him from the fields of Iowa to new beginnings and responsibilities elsewhere. Lynn also distinguished himself as a manager at Singer Sewing Machines in Wisconsin, demonstrating both skilled leadership and unwavering reliability. Beyond his professional roles, his time in the Wisconsin National Guard spoke to his sense of duty and service. Music was a vital part of Lynn’s life and spirit; he played the tuba with passion, both as a member of the University of Wisconsin Marching Band, as part of the Army Band, and local polka bands in Wisconsin. He participated and then later managed the Lake Wales Farmers Market from 2013 on. He also found great pride and joy in his work as a citrus farmer, nurturing the land and contributing to his community with patience and care. He grew organic and pesticide free vegetables on 7000 square feet of land that were then sold at the Lake Wales Farmers Market which he later managed and helped expand to this day.
Lynn’s connection to community extended to his role as a member of the Loyal Order of the Wild Shiners of which he was known as a “The Legend”. In 1978, Lynn and his beloved wife, Faye Greenfield, became “snowbirds,” spending their winters escaping Wisconsin’s cold in favor of sunny Lake Wales, Florida. Two years later, in 1980, they made Lake Wales their full-time home, continuing to foster strong bonds and making new memories.
He leaves behind his loving wife, Faye, whose companionship was the cornerstone of his life for the 55 years they were married. Lynn is also survived by his nephews, Kris Seeley and Marc Seeley; and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Alverta Greenfield; as well as his brothers and sisters.
LAKE WALES, Fla. — Emergency crews responded Saturday night to a two-vehicle crash at Burns Avenue and North 9th Street in Lake Wales that resulted in multiple patients and temporarily blocked the roadway.
The crash was reported at approximately 9:24 p.m. Saturday, August 8, according to Polk County Fire Rescue dispatch information.
Initial dispatch traffic described the vehicles as a red Nissan Maxima and a gray Volkswagen.
When Lake Wales Fire Department personnel arrived, radio traffic indicated there were two vehicles blocking the roadway and that occupants initially remained inside the vehicles. Lake Wales Police were requested to assist with traffic control.
A short time later, firefighters advised that they might need rescue tools to open one of the vehicle doors.
As crews continued evaluating those involved, fire personnel reported there were a total of three patients and requested that a second rescue unit respond to the scene.
The extent of the patients’ injuries and whether any of them were transported to an area hospital were not immediately available.
Daily Ridge is working to obtain additional information regarding the crash. This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
INDIAN LAKE ESTATES, Fla. — A man who was pulled from Lake Walk-In-Water Friday morning after reportedly falling from a boat later died at the hospital, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident was reported at approximately 9:16 a.m. Friday, August 7, near Banyan Drive and Park Avenue in the Indian Lake Estates area.
Initial dispatch information indicated a man, believed to be in his 70s, had fallen from a boat and was pulled from the water. Dispatch traffic also indicated the man was not breathing at the time emergency crews were responding.
The man was brought back to the boat ramp, where Polk County Fire Rescue personnel provided emergency medical treatment before transporting him to an area hospital.
Polk County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Brian Bruchey later told Daily Ridge that investigators do not yet know whether the man drowned or suffered some type of medical episode before falling into the water.
Bruchey confirmed the man was transported to the hospital and later passed away.
At this time, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office has not clarified the full sequence of events that led up to the man entering the water or everything that occurred before he was brought back to shore. The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation.
A significant Polk County Sheriff’s Office presence remained at the lake following the incident. Two PCSO boats were seen at the scene along with multiple Sheriff’s Office vehicles, including forensic investigation personnel. Polk County Fire Rescue also responded.
The identity of the man has not yet been released.
Daily Ridge will provide additional information as it becomes available from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Residents Raise Concerns About Proposed Right-Of-Way Vacation of 237 Feet Along Ninth Street North
by James Coulter
Several residents raised concerns about how their own properties would be affected if 237 feet of public right-of-way along Ninth Street North is vacated.
At their regular meeting on Tues. July 7, 2026, Lake Wales city commissioners voted unanimously to approve the first reading of an ordinance to vacate a public right‑of‑way located east of Ninth Street North and north of a vacant City‑owned parcel. The Public Works Department requested the vacation for the 237‑foot segment, which connects directly to Ninth Street North.
Several residents opposed the request, saying the right‑of‑way has been eroding and damaging their properties. Lynn M. Evans, who lives on Chelsea Way, wrote in her objection that the ongoing erosion has encroached onto her yard, which sits directly behind the right‑of‑way.
“For more than ten years, the hill located within the right-of-way has experienced ongoing erosion,” she wrote. “In recent years, the erosion has accelerated significantly and has now encroached on my property. Some of the posts for the HOA fence behind my home have collapsed into the eroded area, and the slope continues to deteriorate.”
Because the erosion occurred while the City still controlled the right‑of‑way, she asked commissioners to delay the vacation until the area is stabilized or repaired, to make remediation a formal condition of approval, or to prohibit any transfer of the right‑of‑way to adjacent owners until the hazardous condition is corrected.
Another resident, David Roberts, asked during public comments who would be responsible for the property if the City vacates the right‑of‑way, and how the change would affect him and other members of the Homeowners Association. He also raised concerns shared by other HOA members about the City’s maintenance of the property, particularly given the ongoing erosion.
“I will politely say it [the property] fell between the loops, and they [the City] didn’t maintain it,” he said. “Over the last couple of days, the city has stepped up. Kudos to them on filling it, trying to do the right thing before this vacation is complete.”
Another resident, David Krawsek, noted that the vacant parcel once served as the site and access road for a pumping station that has since been removed. He said the City had been promising improvements since 2008 and only recently began addressing the erosion by filling the area with dirt delivered by dump trucks.
He also raised concerns about the sewer‑line easement that crosses both the vacant parcel and his property, as well as the fence separating the two. He recommended that the City grant ownership of the parcel to the adjacent residents and move the fence back eight feet, noting that neighbors have long maintained the area by mowing and cutting weeds.
“So we have been in limbo for a very long time trying to figure out how to resolve this [situation],” he said. “If you move our fence back eight feet, then it becomes part of Northpoint. We already have an easement that the property owners own, but you have the right of way to do any kind of repairs on the sewer system that’s there. That was in the contract when we purchased our home.”
City Attorney Albert Charles “Chuck” Galloway Jr. explained that the right‑of‑way would be split between two adjacent owners, the southern portion going to the HOA and the northern portion to the property owner to the north.
“Legally, what transpires is that half of the property would go from the owner to the south and the other half would go to the owner to the north,” he explained. “So, the Association would take half, and Chris Davey [the adjacent property owner] would take half in this vacated portion.”
City Manager James Slaton then added that the next step following the vacation would be to classify the surplus and authorize it for sale, explaining that “somebody wants to vacate it so it can be sold and repaired.”
