News List Page
Aug 10, 2020
Undercover operation and high-speed pursuit lead to sex offender's arrest
The safety and security of our children remains one of the top priorities of the Hardee County Sheriff’s Office, which is why we’re committed to monitoring the sexual offenders and predators living in our community. Recently, a detective with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office contacted our agency in regards to a local sexual offender, Michael Daughtry, having an active warrant for unlawful use of a two-way communication device, transmission of harmful materials to a minor, and solicitation of a minor for a sexual act.
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Aug 05, 2020
Former HCSO deputy arrested for tampering with evidence and drug charges
After a follow-up investigation on the previous arrest of former Hardee County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Mark McCoy, further information emerged and led to a second arrest.
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Jul 22, 2020
Wauchula man found with over 130 grams of meth, nearly 900 grams of marijuana and over $12,000 cash
A recently arrested Wauchula man was found in possession of over 130 grams of methamphetamine, nearly 900 grams of marijuana and over $12,000 cash.
Read More Jun 29, 2020
Zolfo Springs man arrested for sexually battering child
George Ownby, 40, of Zolfo Springs, FL is currently behind bars and being held without bond for sexually battering a child less than 12 years old.
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Jun 08, 2020
Search warrants place meth dealers behind bars
Members of the Hardee County Sheriff’s Office Drug Task Force, S.W.A.T. Team and Criminal Investigations Unit have successfully executed two search warrants over the past two weeks, resulting in arrests for the selling of methamphetamine.
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May 26, 2020
Recent HCSO deputy arrested for drug charges
A recent Hardee County Sheriff’s Office road patrol sergeant was arrested for the purchase and possession of Oxycodone without a prescription.
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May 20, 2020
Hit and run results in Okeechobee man's arrest
An Okeechobee man was arrested and placed behind bars after reportedly trying to plow over a group of people.
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May 15, 2020
Sex offender arrested for failing to comply with offender registration requirements
The Hardee County Sheriff’s Office is committed to staying current and monitoring sexual offenders and predators living in our community, and that’s why a local sexual offender, Johnny Robert Carpenter, was arrested for failing to comply with his offender registration requirements.
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May 12, 2020
Juvenile with seven local warrants arrested after high-speed chase in stolen vehicle
Following a high-speed chase and K-9 search, Hardee County Sheriff’s Office Deputies successfully located and captured a juvenile who was driving a stolen vehicle and had seven local warrants for his arrest.
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Mar 30, 2020
Hillsborough County man charged with armed burglary and kidnapping
On Friday, March 27, 2020, at approximately 12 p.m., the Hardee County Sheriff’s Office received a call in reference to a possible burglary in progress in the area of Ona, FL.
Read More Feb 14, 2020
HCSO Drug Task Force investigation lands felon 40-year prison sentence
A Wauchula man was recently sentenced to nearly 41 years of incarceration on February 12, 2020, for drug-related charges.
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Feb 12, 2020
Couple passed out in running vehicle with child in backseat
In the early hours of February 11, 2020 around 5 a.m., the Hardee County Sheriff’s Office received a call about a vehicle left running in the street with an individual passed out inside. The caller also advised the vehicle had been there since about 3 a.m.
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Feb 05, 2020
Individual wanted by U.S. Marshal Service found hiding in attic
On Tuesday, February 4, 2020, the Hardee County Sheriff’s Office Drug Task Force was contacted by the United States Marshal Service Fugitive Apprehension Task Force in regards to a wanted suspect, Mario Orosco, possibly being at a residence in Wauchula, FL.
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Jan 23, 2020
Drugs found in car being driven by individual with suspended license
In the early hours of January 22, 2020 around 1 a.m., a Hardee County Sheriff’s Office deputy was patrolling in Zolfo Springs when he conducted a traffic stop on Esbeida Maldonado, who not only had a suspended license, but also a seize tag order for her car.
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Nov 14, 2019
Felon arrested on local warrant at traffic stop, meth and stolen firearm found in vehicle
A traffic stop in Zolfo Springs resulted in deputies locating a felon with an active warrant, methamphetamine, drug equipment and a stolen firearm.
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Nov 12, 2019
Individual crashes stolen vehicle near high school, resulting in foot pursuit and death investigation
On November 8, 2019 at approximately 12 p.m., the Hardee County Sheriff’s Office received information of a subject, who appeared to be covered in blood, erratically driving a white Jeep near Hardee Senior High School. A deputy observed a vehicle matching the description in the area of the school and attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the Jeep, which entered the school’s visitor parking lot and then exited on the road, trying to evade law enforcement, before ultimately crashing on the curve just south of Hardee Senior High School on Altman Road in Wauchula, FL.
Read More Oct 16, 2019
DNA results in prison sentence for burglar
The individual responsible for a burglary back in April of 2018 recently accepted a plea offer of seven years Florida State Prison after DNA results pinned him to the crime.
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Jul 29, 2019
Hardee County Sheriff's Office Implements GED Program at County Jail
On July 22, 2019, the Hardee County Sheriff’s Office implemented a General Education Development (GED) program at the Hardee County Jail.
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Jul 23, 2019
Cybertips result in Bowling Green Man's Arrest
Cybertips submitted to the National Center for Missing and Endangered Children resulted in the arrest of 40 year old Samuel Kersey of Bowling Green, Florida.
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Jul 16, 2019
Cybertips lead to Wauchula Man's Arrest
Cybertips submitted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children resulted in the arrest of 26 year old Ismael Hernandez of Wauchula, Florida.
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Jul 05, 2019
Traffic Stop Results in Alligator's Rescue
A traffic stop resulted in members of the Hardee County Sheriff’s Office Drug Task Force locating not only narcotics, but also a live alligator in the defendant’s vehicle.
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Jun 12, 2019
Thieves Caught for Multiple Burglaries
Two charged with stealing four vehicles and burglarizing a local business in Zolfo Springs, Fl.
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Jun 04, 2019
Local Veterinarian Arrested for Suspended License
Local veterinarian arrested for allegedly practicing veterinary medicine with a suspended license.
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May 31, 2019
Possession of Concentrated THC Results in Felony Charge
With the popularity and usage of e-cigarettes on the rise, it’s important to understand that being in possession of any amount of concentrated THC, without a valid prescription, is a felony charge.
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May 08, 2019
Thief Leaves Cell Phone Behind in Stolen Vehicle
A man who stole a truck out of a victim’s yard, beat the owner and fled the scene, while leaving his cell phone behind in the stolen vehicle, has been caught.
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Apr 16, 2019
Drug dealer arrested
The Hardee County Sheriff’s Office Drug Task Force made an arrest stemming from a lengthy criminal investigation, which resulted in 24 charges.
Read More Apr 12, 2019
Armed and dangerous
Three individuals traveling together were nearly run off of the road and threatened with a firearm by a man in a vehicle when passing through Zolfo Springs, Florida.
Read More Apr 11, 2019
Juveniles burglarize Hardee County sports complexes
Two juveniles are responsible for burglarizing the Hardee County Recreation Complex and the Hardee Senior High Baseball Complex in Wauchula, Florida.
Read More Apr 08, 2019
Reported Dangerous Shooting
The Hardee County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating a reported dangerous shooting in the area of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and South Road in Wauchula, Florida.
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Apr 05, 2019
Traffic Stop turned Drug Bust
A traffic stop in the area of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and South Road in Wauchula resulted in deputies locating various amounts of methamphetamine, drug equipment, prescription drugs and suspected LSD.
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Mar 28, 2019
Crime Stoppers Reveals New National Logo
Crime Stoppers has revealed its new “Say It Here” national logo, which encourages civilians to submit an anonymous tip and Crime Stoppers will give the tipster a cash reward if the information results in an arrest, the recovery of stolen property or the recovery of illegal drugs.
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Mar 28, 2019
String of Vehicle Burglaries in Riverview Area
Several vehicle burglaries have been reported in the Riverview area of Wauchula, Florida, including the personal vehicle of a Hardee County Sheriff’s Deputy.
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Mar 27, 2019
Domestic Violence turned Orchestrated Burglary
A Hardee County inmate is being additionally charged with four crimes after being arrested for domestic violence against his wife, then violating the judge’s order not to contact her, when he called her from jail to orchestrate a burglary in order to pay for his bail.
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Mar 07, 2019
Search Warrant Results in Large Drug Bust
On March 6, 2019 at approximately 1 p.m., members of the Hardee County Sheriff’s Office Drug Task Force, S.W.A.T. Team and Criminal Investigations Unit conducted a search warrant at 694 Honeysuckle Street in Wauchula, Fl.
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Mar 04, 2019
Death Investigation at Intersection of Honeysuckle and Hyde Street
The Hardee County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating a dead body found at the intersection of Honeysuckle Street and Hyde Street in Wauchula, Fl.
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Feb 12, 2019
Secretary Charged with Grand Theft and Fraud
Esmeralda Cruz, who was previously employed by Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church, is being charged with felony counts of Grand Theft of $10,000 or more less than $20,000 and Fraud / Illegal Use of a Credit Card for making unauthorized transactions with the church’s credit card.
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Feb 12, 2019
Reported Strong Arm Robbery
The Hardee County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating a reported strong arm robbery that occurred in front of New York Fashions in Wauchula, Fl.
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Jan 25, 2019
Dangers of Synthetic Cannabis
One of the most popular drugs being used in our area right now is synthetic cannabis.
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Nov 23, 2018
Reported Shooting on Magnolia Boulevard
The Hardee County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating a reported shooting on Magnolia Boulevard in Wauchula, FL.
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Nov 06, 2018
Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon
On Sunday, November 4, 2018 around 10:30 p.m., Deputies made contact with Hardee County Fire Rescue at the Ona food store attending to defendant, Ronnie Cobb, who stated he was hit in the head by an individual at Jordan’s Labor Camp.
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Nov 05, 2018
Reported Shooting on Lincoln Street
The Hardee County Sheriff’s Office has identified Darius Saldivar as being responsible for a reported shooting on Lincoln Street in Wauchula, FL.
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