News and Investigations

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Investigations Unit arrested and charged the suspect responsible for hitting two children with her vehicle and fleeing the scene.

On March 12, 2026, 30-year-old Victoria Johnson (DOB 10/14/1995) of Thornhill Road in Winter Haven, was taken into custody less than 24 hours after she committed the crime. The investigation began at 8:25 p.m. on March 11th when the PCSO received 911 calls from Faith Baptist Church located on Crystal Beach Road at Winter Lake Road in Winter Haven, regarding two children who were run over by an unknown vehicle traveling north on Crystal Beach Road, which then fled the scene.

The boys were at a church function that evening, and had crossed over to the west side of Crystal Beach Road when they were called to come back across the street. They waited for a truck that was heading southbound to pass them, then went into the road, at which time they were hit by the suspect traveling north. The 8-year-old boy was fatally injured; the 10-year-old boy suffered a broken arm, broken femur, and compound skull fracture. He is in critical but stable condition at Arnold Palmer Hospital.

Interviews with witnesses indicated the suspect vehicle might have been a dark-colored mid-sized SUV. Two vehicle parts were located within the crash scene; both were small plastic pieces consistent with the lower part of a vehicle. Video surveillance from the area near the intersection showed the southbound truck, and then another vehicle heading northbound; noises consistent with something being struck by that vehicle can be heard on the video, and the vehicle is then seen heading east onto Winter Lake Road. That vehicle appeared to be a dark-colored SUV.

On March 12th, the PCSO received a call from Victoria Johnson on Thornhill Road who wanted to report her dark blue 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe as stolen. When deputies responded to interview her, she was not there. They circulated the area and found her near the intersection of Spirit Lake and Thornhill Roads. She began telling them that her car was stolen the night of March 11th; she then said she loaned it to someone who didn't return it; then she admitted to driving it the night of March 11th and that she "thought she might have hit someone." She told deputies she gave the SUV to a man named Corey Stewart "to get rid of it" and thought it might be at the bottom of a lake somewhere.

While deputies transported her to a nearby substation to be interviewed, her Hyundai was spotted on SR 60 in Lake Wales, being driven by Corey Stewart with a female passenger, Mya Bass. Deputies followed the SUV to the residence located at 4336 SR 60; both Stewart and Bass ran inside and refused deputies' orders to come out. They were eventually taken into custody and charged with resisting arrest. A subsequent, unrelated investigation at that house ensued (see below).

A preliminary search of the Hyundai revealed damage, missing parts, and potential biological matter consistent with a pedestrian strike. A search warrant for the vehicle, and Johnson's cell phone, was obtained, and both will be further examined.

The following is an excerpt from the affidavit:

During the interview, Johnson stated that on the evening of March 11, 2026, she was driving around the area of her residence. She was not specific about the roads she traveled, just that she drove around in a circular or square pattern in the area. She stated that she drove around for approximately 20 minutes, but it could have been longer. The area Johnson said she was traveling was consistent with the area where the crash occurred. The crash location is approximately 2.8 miles from her residence. Johnson stated she was driving around, listening to music, and trying to relax. She explained that this was the first time she had driven her vehicle in some time. When asked why, she stated that her license was suspended for getting a DUI, and she knew that she was not allowed to drive. She stated several times that she knew she was in trouble and would be going to jail. When asked why she believed this, she stated that she knew she would be charged with felonies. Johnson stated that while driving around, she may have hit someone, but she didn't remember. Johnson advised that she is a regular methamphetamine user and had used methamphetamine before driving her vehicle on the night of March 11, 2026. After driving around, she contacted and met Stewart at the Circle K convenience store located at 4980 Spirit Lake Road, Winter Haven, Florida. Once she met Stewart, he drove her vehicle, and they went to a house where they used methamphetamine. They then went to a pond and went fishing. Eventually, Stewart took Johnson back to her residence, and Johnson stated that she let Stewart take her car and drive it. 

Victoria Johnson has been charged with: 

Leaving the scene of a crash with death (F1)
Leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury (F2)
Tampering with evidence (F3)
Driving without a license causing death (F3)
Giving false info to law enforcement (M1)

She will attend a first appearance hearing on March 13, 2026. Her criminal history includes an arrest by Winter Haven P.D. for DUI in November 2025.

Detectives interviewed Charles Cory Franklin Stewart, who told them he met Johnson the evening of March 11th at the Circle K approximately three miles from the scene of the crash - she was seated in the driver's seat of her car. She moved to the passenger side and Johnson got behind the wheel. They then drove to a friend of his' house, where they used methamphetamine. He drove Johnson home, and she told him to take her car and use it.

PCSO Environmental Crimes Unit arrests 6 suspects during spin-off investigation

On March 12, 2026, the PCSO Environmental Crimes Unit was called to 4336 SR 60 East in Lake Wales by deputies who were at the scene investigating a hit-and-run, after the initial responding deputies observed solid waste, trash, and a dozen waste tires on the property.

The following people live at this address: Charles Cory Stewart, Mya Bass, Leigha Bass, Catherine Cantrell, Barbara Ann Busbee, and Nicholas Davis.

Detectives inspected the property and observed the following: household trash, household goods, children's toys, construction materials, furniture, toilets, 12 waste tires in various stages of decay and deterioration, open containers of water, and a fire pit over 8' in diameter with burned household trash in it.

All six residents were arrested and charged with operating an unpermitted landfill, improper storage of waste tires without a permit, burning prohibited materials, having an open burn over 8' without a permit, and keeping nuisance property injurious to health.

Charles Stewart (DOB 12/12/1991) was additionally charged with operating a motor vehicle without a license. He and Mya Bass (DOB 2/12/2003) were also charged with resisting arrest, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. They both have criminal histories.