Free Republic

POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A central Florida man took out his anger over nearby construction work by shooting into a vehicle over the weekend, earning him two attempted murder charges, according to authorities in Polk County. According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, 75-year-old Richard Vitiritti shot into the occupied vehicle Saturday night in the Lake Hatchineha area, near Haines City. No one was hurt. In addition to two counts of attempted murder, Vitiritti also faces charges of shooting into an occupied vehicle and tampering with evidence.

A Polk County family says bullying may force them to pull their 14-year-old daughter out of school. Haines City Police said it has launched an investigation into the bullying, and the FBI is also looking into the complaint.Fourteen-year-old Zarah Habibulla says the bullying started last December when she began wearing a headscarf to school as part of her Muslim faith. Zarah said she is now scared to go to school after students have taunted her saying, “terrorist, yo we got some terrorists here we gotta run,” and “…I’m going to shoot you. I’m going to bomb you. You better watch...

BARTOW | A judge refused to lower bail Friday for a Haines City police officer accused of receiving sexual favors from a 15-year-old girl while on duty.