ReportWire

Tag: APP Crime

  • Woman who stabbed, killed 3-year-old sentenced to life in prison

    [ad_1]

    CLEVELAND — A woman was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for stabbing and killing a 3-year-old and stabbing his mother at Giant Eagle last fall. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Bionca Ellis, 34, stole two knives from the Volunteers of America Thrift Store next to Giant Eagle near Lorain Road and Dover Center Road on June 3, before she walked next door to the Giant Eagle

    • Ellis continued to follow the victim and her child to their vehicle and immediately stabbed the 3-year-old, who was sitting in the shopping cart, multiple times

    • Ellis was found guilty on Oct. 15

    “In my years as prosecutor, I have seen unimaginable acts of violence — but this is among the most heartbreaking,” said Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley. “Bionca Ellis’s horrific actions warrant nothing less than life without parole. My thoughts and prayers remain with Julian Wood’s family as they continue to grieve this unimaginable loss.” 

    Ellis, 34, stole two knives from the Volunteers of America Thrift Store next to Giant Eagle near Lorain Road and Dover Center Road on June 3, before she walked next door to the Giant Eagle. As Ellis entered the Giant Eagle, she spotted the 37-year-old victim and her 3-year-old child, Julian Wood, in the store and followed them. After the victim paid for her groceries and walked towards the exit, Ellis followed the victim and her son into the parking lot. She continued to follow them to their vehicle and immediately stabbed the 3-year-old, who was sitting in the shopping cart, multiple times. His mother attempted to pull him out and was also stabbed. Several people called the police and reported the stabbing.

    The North Olmsted Police Department (NOPD) arrived at the scene and located Ellis walking toward Dover Center Road with a knife in her hand. She was arrested at the scene without incident. North Olmsted Police officers and EMS began providing life-saving aid to Julian Wood. Julian Wood and his mother were transported to a nearby hospital. Julian Wood was later pronounced dead. His mother was treated for her injuries.  

    Ellis was found guilty on Oct. 15 on the following charges:

    • One count of aggravated murder
    • Two counts of murder
    • Two counts of attempted murder
    • Two counts of felonious assault
    • One count of endangering children
    • One count of misdemeanor theft

    [ad_2]

    Madison MacArthur

    Source link

  • St. Petersburg police target e-bike misuse after 3 fatal crashes

    [ad_1]

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — This week the St. Petersburg Police Department conducted a special operation targeting e-bike misuse.

    The crackdown comes after three fatal accidents this month, where the e-bike riders were allegedly at fault.

    What You Need To Know

    • St. Petersburg Police issued 161 tickets to electronic mobility device users over three days this week

    • The targeted enforcement operation was in response to three fatal e-bike accidents this month

    • Officers were looking for people riding down the wrong side of the road, running stop signs or red lights, and lane splitting 


    “We’re out here trying to do the enforcement to try to curb that problem,” said Sgt. Michael Schade. “The biggest problem we’re seeing is just that the bicycles and the scooter operators are not following the basic rules of the road.”

    The targeted enforcement was conducted from Wednesday through Friday with officers looking out for riders on e-bikes, e-scooters, and uni-wheels. The violations officers said they saw were people riding down the wrong side of the road, running stop signs or red lights, and lane splitting.

    “The scooters can’t ride tandem,” Schade said. “The uni-wheels can’t be on the road at all, road or sidewalk.”

    Schade said officers issued 68 citations on Wednesday, 24 on Thursday and 69 on Friday.

    The enforcement on Thursday night involved a large group of e-riders who completely take over the road when they go from North Shore Park to Beach Drive in downtown St. Petersburg. Due to complaints, police said the group, which rides on a regular basis, was stopped and warned over the summer about restrictions on the various mobility devices.

    On Friday, Spectrum News went on a ride-a-long with Schade, who quickly spotted a man who allegedly ran a red light on a bicycle. He stopped the man and explained the problem.

    “You went through the red light, OK?” Schade said. “So, we’re out here doing bike enforcement because we’ve had several fatalities related to bicycles.”

    The rider, Patrick Jarrell, was issued a $64 ticket. Jarrell said he understood why he was stopped.

    “They’re doing their job. There’s a lot of accidents out here,” he said. “So I’m glad they’re doing it. Unfortunately, I’m not loving this, but it is what it is.”

    Another rider on an e-scooter, who allegedly ran a stop sign at the Pier, did not stop when ordered by Schade. The man fled on his scooter until Schade caught up with him near the Vinoy. The man was arrested on charges including fleeing and eluding, DUI, possession of marijuana and no driver’s license.

    Schade said any scooter motor that’s stronger than 750 watts is considered a motor vehicle. He said the e-scooter the man was riding has 5,600 watts.

    “It’s capable of doing over 50 miles an hour,” he said. “So, this is actually classified as a motorcycle.”

    The problem is being seen all over the city, police say. In the Harbor Isle neighborhood, resident Geoff Davis said he and his neighbors have been having problems with kids on e-bikes riding in backyards and cutting in between homes.

    “They literally trespass on everybody’s property,” he said. “These are dirt bikes that are very high horsepower, very high powered, and they’re very fast.”

    Davis said the kids also race their e-bikes on 16th Street N.E., because it’s a long straight road.

    “It goes all the way down there like a big drag strip,” he said. “This is where we routinely see donuts, tire marks, drag racing kids on these e-bikes, doing wheelies up and down the street. This is where they play.”

    Schade said officers have been seeing people from all ages riding recklessly on electronic mobility devices — from 12 years old to 60. He said the three fatal accidents all involved adults.

    Davis said he’s thrilled the police conducted a special operation on e-rider who break the rules, especially the kids.

    “The issue is the sheer number of them and the fact that they’re not regulated,” he said. “The parents do not understand what they’re doing. They’re contributing to something that can get these children injured or killed.” 

    [ad_2]

    Josh Rojas

    Source link

  • Heat’s Rozier and Trail Blazers’ Billups among dozens arrested in gambling probe

    [ad_1]

    NEW YORK — The head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers and a player for the Miami Heat were arrested Thursday along with more than 30 other people in two criminal cases alleging sprawling separate schemes to rake in millions by rigging sports bets and poker games involving Mafia families, authorities said.

    What You Need To Know

    • The head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers and a player for the Miami Heat have been arrested along with more than 30 other people in two criminal cases alleging sprawling schemes to rake in millions by rigging sports bets and poker games involving Mafia families

    • Authorities said Thursday that Portland coach Chauncey Billups is charged in an indictment alleging a wide-ranging scheme to rig underground poker games that were backed by La Cosa Nostra crime families

    • Heat guard Terry Rozier is accused in a separate case of participating in an illegal sports betting scheme using private insider NBA information

    • Both men face money laundering and wire fraud conspiracy charges

    Portland coach Chauncey Billups was charged with participating in a conspiracy to fix high-stakes card games in Las Vegas, Miami, Manhattan and the Hamptons that were backed by La Cosa Nostra Crime families. Heat guard Terry Rozier was accused in a second scheme to concoct fraudulent bets by exploiting confidential information about NBA athletes and teams.

    The indictments unsealed in New York create a massive cloud for the NBA — which opened its season this week — and show how certain types of wagers are vulnerable to massive fraud in the growing, multi-billion-dollar legal sports-betting industry.

    “My message to the defendants who’ve been rounded up today is this: Your winning streak has ended,” said Joseph Nocella, the U.S attorney for the Eastern District of New York. “Your luck has run out.”

    Both men face money laundering and wire fraud conspiracy charges and were expected to make initial court appearances later Thursday. Also arrested was former NBA assistant coach and player Damon Jones, who is charged with participating in both schemes.

    Nocella called it “one of the most brazen sports corruption schemes since online sports betting became widely legalized in the United States.”

    “The fraud is mind boggling,” FBI Director Kash Patel told reporters. “We’re talking about tens of millions of dollars in fraud and theft and robbery across a multi-year investigation.”

    Billups and Rozier have been placed on leave from their teams, according to the NBA, which said it is cooperating with authorities.

    “We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority,” the NBA said in a statement.

    A message seeking comment was left Thursday morning with Billups. Rozier’s lawyer, Jim Trusty, said in a statement that his client is “not a gambler” and “looks forward to winning this fight.” Trusty said the FBI had previously said his client was not a target in the probe.

    But at 6 a.m. “they called to tell me FBI agents were trying to arrest him in a hotel,” Trusty said. “It is unfortunate that instead of allowing him to self-surrender they opted for a photo op. They wanted the misplaced glory of embarrassing a professional athlete with a perp walk. That tells you a lot about the motivations in this case.”

    “We are in the process of reviewing the federal indictments announced today. Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups are being placed on immediate leave from their teams, and we will continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities. We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority.”

    Athletes accused of leaving games early

    In the sports betting scheme, players sometimes altered their performance or took themselves out of games early, New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. In one instance, Rozier, while playing for the Hornets, told people he was planning to leave the game early with a “supposed injury,” allowing them to place wagers that raked in thousands of dollars, Tisch said.

    The indictment of Rozier and others says there are nine unnamed co-conspirators, including a Florida resident who was an NBA player, an Oregon resident who was an NBA player from about 1997 to 2014 and an NBA coach since at least 2021, as well as a relative of Rozier.

    Rozier and other defendants “had access to private information known by NBA players or NBA coaches” that was likely to affect the outcome of games or players’ performances and provided that information to other co-conspirators in exchange for either a flat fee or a share of betting profits, the indictment says.

    The NBA had investigated

    The NBA had investigated Rozier previously. He was in uniform as the Heat played the Magic on Wednesday in Orlando, Florida, in the season opener for both teams, though he did not play in the game. He was taken into custody in Orlando early Thursday. The team did not immediately comment on the arrest.

    The case was brought by the U.S. attorney’s office in Brooklyn that previously prosecuted ex-NBA player Jontay Porter. The former Toronto Raptors center pleaded guilty to charges that he withdrew early from games, claiming illness or injury, so that those in the know could win big by betting on him to underperform expectations.

    Billups was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame last year. The five-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA point guard led the Detroit Pistons to their third league title in 2004 as NBA Finals MVP. Boston drafted the former Colorado star with the No. 3 pick overall in 1997.

    The player known as Mr. Big Shot also played for Toronto, Denver, Minnesota, the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Clippers. Billups won the Joe Dumars Trophy, the NBA’s sportsmanship award, in 2009 while playing for his hometown Denver Nuggets.

    The 49-year-old Billups is in his fifth season as Portland’s coach, compiling a 117-212 record. The Trail Blazers opened the season Wednesday night at home with a 118-114 loss to Minnesota.

    A game involving Rozier that has been in question was a matchup between the Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans on March 23, 2023. Rozier played the first 9 minutes and 36 seconds of that game — and not only did not return that night, citing a foot issue, but did not play again that season. Charlotte had eight games remaining and was not in playoff contention, so it did not seem particularly unusual that Rozier was shut down for the season’s final games.

    In that game, Rozier finished with five points, four rebounds and two assists in that opening period — a productive quarter but well below his usual total output for a full game.

    Posts still online from March 23, 2023, show that some bettors were furious with sportsbooks that evening when it became evident that Rozier was not going to return to the Charlotte-New Orleans game after the first quarter, with many turning to social media to say that something “shady” had gone on regarding the prop bets involving his stats for that night.

    A prop is a type of wager that allows gamblers to bet on whether a player will exceed a certain statistical number, such as whether the player will finish over or under a certain total of points, rebounds or assists.

    [ad_2]

    Associated Press

    Source link

  • Experts, lawmakers debate the lack of A/C in most Florida prisons

    [ad_1]

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A former Tampa Bay lawmaker calls it a “moral collapse” that a majority of Florida prisons do not have air conditioning. 

    While federal prisons are required to have air conditioning, state prisons are not. A 2023 report suggested about 75% of the facilities in Florida do not cool the air.

    What You Need To Know

    • A 2023 report found that around 75% of Florida prisons don’t have air conditioning  

    • Officials say it would cost around $582 million to install A/C at all state prisons
       
    • Some consider not having air conditioning at prisons to be cruel and unusual punishment, a violation of the Eighth Amendment 

    • Others think the money should be used on continuing education and job training for inmates 


    “That isn’t just logistics,” said former State Sen. Jeff Brandes, a Republican who represented Tampa Bay in the Florida Legislature from 2010 to 2022. “That’s morally saying, ‘We’re doing something wrong.’”

    The Florida Department of Management Services commissioned KPMG in 2022 to develop a 20-year master plan for the Florida Department of Corrections. The plan, released in 2023, found that more than a third of state prisons were in “critical” or “poor” condition, and work for “immediate needs” — basic life, health and safety modifications needed to make Florida prisons inhabitable — would cost $2.2 billion.

    According to the plan, adding air conditioning to Florida prisons that currently lack HVAC systems would cost $582 million.

    Brandes suggested that all state lawmakers should tour prisons to understand what inmates are dealing with. He said his experience touring facilities — he described the heat by saying it  “felt like 105 (degrees)” — convinced him the money should be spent to outfit facilities with air conditioning.

    “Going to prison is supposed to be the deterrent,” said Brandes, who is currently the president of the Florida Policy Project. “That is the punishment. You are in prison. Prison is not supposed to be additional punishment while you’re there.”

    State Sen. Jonathan Martin (R-Fort Myers) said he disagrees with Brandes. He has argued the $582 million would be better spent on job training and continuing education for inmates, saying they have told him that’s what they prefer.

    “There’s a finite amount of resources,” Martin said. “Could we do more if we moved these resources somewhere else?”

    Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith (D-Orlando) argued that not having air conditioning during Florida’s hot summers is a violation of the Constitution’s Eighth Amendment, which outlaws cruel-and-usual punishment.

    “It’s not meant to be a luxury hotel. We all get that,” he said. “But the punishment is time away from their families and society and their loved ones. The punishment is not cruel and inhumane conditions.”

    Martin, though, pointed to Florida statute 921.002 (“The Criminal Punishment Code”) which specifically states: “The primary purpose of sentencing is to punish the offender. Rehabilitation is a desired goal of the criminal justice system but is subordinate to the goal of punishment.”

    He went on to argue that the Eighth Amendment was ratified in 1791, before modern air conditioning existed.

    “To say somehow that not having air conditioning is a violation of your constitutional rights flies in the face of everybody over the age of 30 in the state of Florida who rode a school bus to school without air conditioning,” Martin said.

    Attorneys representing the state during a lawsuit over hot conditions at a prison in Miami-Dade County recently argued “the lack of air conditioning does not pose a substantial risk of serious harm.” They contended that, to violate the Eighth Amendment, conditions must be “objectively extreme enough to deny an inmate the minimal civilized measure of life’s necessities.”

    Brandes said he believes the state was arguing the conditions were cruel, just not “cruel enough.”

    “What is cruel? Is it 110 degrees? 115? If you could fry and egg on the floor, would that make it cruel and unusual?” Brandes asked.

    Connie Baroth Edson, an inmate advocate in Central Florida, has fought for years to bring air conditioning to prisons.

    She said adding air conditioning would decrease turnover among correctional officers (which is a significant issue in Florida) and offer basic humanity to inmates.

    “Why are you made to feel like you’re not worthy of anything by not having air conditioning?” Baroth Edson asked.

    While she did not think the state would ever pay the $582 million necessary to put air conditioning into all the Florida prisons, Baroth Edson said she was encouraged when the Florida Legislature agreed in 2025 to spend $300,000 on a pilot program to add wall units to some institutions.

    The expenditure was ultimately vetoed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

    When Spectrum News requested an interview with the secretary for the Florida Department of Corrections, the department provided a statement that said: “FDC has air-conditioning housing units serving the most vulnerable inmate populations, including the infirmed, mentally ill, pregnant and geriatric.”

    The statement said all new institutions are designed to include air conditioning, but noted many existing facilities were built before air conditioning was commonplace.

    The Florida Department of Corrections uses “various climate control measures” to reduce heat, according to the statement.

    [ad_2]

    Jeff Butera

    Source link

  • Trial for FSU mass shooting suspect postponed until next year

    [ad_1]

    TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The trial of the Florida State University student accused of a deadly mass shooting on campus in April has been postponed until next October.


    Authorities say 21-year-old Phoenix Ikner allegedly walked through campus on April 17 firing a handgun. Two people were killed and six others were injured.

    The suspect’s court-appointed lawyer withdrew from the case, citing a conflict of interest, causing the trial delay. According to the Associated Press, he has been assigned a new defense team.

    Ikner’s trial was initially supposed to start Nov. 3, but was rescheduled for late March, AP reported. The trial will now start on Oct. 19, 2026, according to AP.

    He has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and seven counts of attempted first-degree murder.

    Ikner, the stepson of a Leon County Sheriff’s Office deputy, is accused of using his stepmother’s previous service weapon in the attack.

    Investigators said Ikner arrived on campus nearly an hour before the shooting, which lasted between three and four minutes before officers had him in custody.

    According to AP, prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty. 

    [ad_2]

    Spectrum News Staff

    Source link

  • 3 dead in ‘highly premeditated’ shooting at North Carolina waterfront bar

    [ad_1]

    SOUTHPORT, N.C. — A mass shooting that shattered the evening tranquility of a picturesque, seaside town in North Carolina was a “highly premeditated” attack that left three people dead and five injured, police said Sunday. The suspect who allegedly carried out the attack on a waterfront bar was in custody.

    Nigel Edge, 40, of Oak Island is accused of opening fire Saturday night from a boat into a crowd gathered at the American Fish Company in Southport, a historic port town about 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of Wilmington, Police Chief Todd Coring said. 

    At a press conference Sunday, Coring said the location was “targeted,” but he did not elaborate.

    Authorities said Edge piloted a small boat close to shore, which was lined with bars and restaurants, stopped briefly and fired. He then sped away.

    A makeshift memorial sprung up outside American Fish Company in Southport, N.C. where three people were killed and eight others were injured. (Spectrum News 1/David Ivey)

    Roughly half an hour after the shooting, a U.S. Coast Guard crew spotted a person matching the suspect’s description pulling a boat from the water at a public ramp on Oak Island. The person was detained and turned over to Southport police for questioning, officials said.

    Edge is charged with three counts of first-degree murder, five counts of attempted first-degree murder and five counts of assault with a deadly weapon. He could face additional charges, Coring said.

    The weapon used was an assault rifle, although Coring didn’t specify what kind.

    “We understand this suspect identifies as a combat veteran. He self-identifies. Injured in the line of duty is what he’s saying, he suffers from PTSD,” Coring said, referring to post-traumatic stress disorder.

    Edge is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Monday, District Attorney Jon David said. He is being held without bond.


    Among the five people hospitalized with injuries, at least one “is now clinging for their life,” David said. Some of the victims were vacationers from out of town.

    Oak Island Police Chief Charlie Morris said the suspect was known to police as someone “who frequently hung out on our pier,” and that he had filed lawsuits against the town and police department over the last few years. He did not elaborate.

    The district attorney said Edge had had “minor contacts” with police in the past “but nothing significant in his past which would give us any indication that he was capable of such horror.”

    It was not immediately known whether Edge has an attorney to speak on his behalf. No attorney was listed on court documents.

    Investigators from multiple agencies — including the State Bureau of Investigation and the Coast Guard — remained on the water and at the scene Sunday collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses.

    Officials did not immediately release the names of the victims.  

    “Our hearts are heavy this morning following the tragic mass shooting in Southport that claimed the lives of three individuals and left others injured,” Brunswick County Sheriff Brian Chism. On behalf of the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office, I extend my deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives, and my prayers are with those who are recovering from their injuries.”

    He went on to call Southport a strong and resilient community” and asked that people pray for the victims and their families. 

    (Spectrum News 1)

    [ad_2]

    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

    Source link

  • 3 dead, multiple injured in shooting at a North Carolina waterfront bar

    [ad_1]

    SOUTHPORT, N.C. — Three people are dead and several others are injured after a shooting at the American Fish Company in Southport, city officials said.

    The Southport Police Department responded to calls of shots fired with multiple injuries at the waterfront bar around 9:30 p.m. Saturday night. Officials said a person on a boat traveling on the Cape Fear River opened fire, fatally wounding three patrons, and injuring at least eight others. The boat then fled the area towards the Intracoastal Waterway in the direction of Oak Island.

    The city of Southport said the U.S. Coast Guard detained the suspect around 10 p.m. and was turned over to the Southport Police Department for questioning, officials said.

    The investigation is ongoing. Officials have not released information on those who were killed or wounded in the shooting. 

    [ad_2]

    Spectrum News Staff

    Source link

  • Seven men sentenced for role in methamphetamine operation

    [ad_1]

    CINCINNATI — The seventh and final person involved with a “national narcotics conspiracy” has been sentenced to almost eight years in prison, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Ohio.

    What You Need To Know

    • Seven men have been handed sentences for their roles in a methamphetamine operation

    • The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Ohio states that these individuals brought more than 100 pounds of the drug to the Cincinnati area from California

    • The men had been indicted back in March of 2023

    “According to court documents, from at least July 2018 until March 2023, Juan-Jose Carrillo, 32, of Compton, California, and the six other defendants were responsible for the distribution of more than 100 pounds of methamphetamine from California into and throughout the Cincinnati area,” the release reads. “The methamphetamine supplier was connected to the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG).  The defendants charged represent both high-level suppliers and local-level drug distributors.”

    The other individuals and their sentences are as follows:

    • Franklin Johnson: 156 months
    • Gerald Jeter, Jr.: 132 months
    • Anthony Clardy II: 104 months
    • Dre’Quan Christopher: 102 months
    • Robert Day: 72 months
    • Tyrone Jordan: 36 months

    A federal grand jury had indicted the men back in March of 2023.

    The release notes that Carillo was the supply source, coordinating delieveries to Jeter, Johnson and Clardy. It calls Jeter and Johnson “high-level distributors,” Clardy and Day “mid-level distributors” and Christopher “a street-level dealer.”  

    [ad_2]

    Cody Thompson

    Source link

  • ‘Just disappeared’: Police need help closing case of 1977 missing teen

    [ad_1]

    FAIRVIEW PARK, Ohio — Sometimes the smallest tips can lead to the biggest breaks for investigators working to solve a case. Even one that has gone cold.

    What You Need To Know

    • Fairview Park Police Chief Paul Shepard said he is counting on someone speaking up with information to finally bring Yvonne Reglar’s family answers after she went missing 48 years ago

    • On Aug. 8, 1977, Shepard said the 17-year-old was abducted during a work shift at a gas station on Lorrain Road; she would now be 65 years old

    • The U.S. Marshals Service is assisting with the investigation

    Fairview Park Police Chief Paul Shepard said he is counting on someone speaking up with information to finally bring Yvonne Reglar’s family answers after their loved one went missing nearly 50 years ago.

    “She was a tomboy, played in the band,” Shepard said while flipping through photographs. “Just a decent, good kid.”

    The pictures give a glimpse into Yvonne’s life. At least up until Aug. 8, 1977: the day Shepard said the 17-year-old was abducted during a work shift at a gas station on Lorrain Road.

    “The fact that she wasn’t supposed to be there,” he said. “Two, she had plans that night. We found no indication that she ran away.”

    Shepard said coworkers brought the North Olmsted teen to the Fairview Park service station around 8 a.m. He said she was transferred there to replace the scheduled employee, who was skilled at changing tires and sent to cover a shift at a location with a garage.

    “It was raining that day,” Shepard said. “There were storms, business wasn’t super busy. It was just like, ‘Hey, just go and do it.’”

    Yvonne was the only attendant on duty.

    A photo of Yvonne Reglar as a teen and an age-progressed photo. (Fairview Park Police Department)

    “The other thing is, it’s Fairview Park,” he said. “What could happen to you in Fairview Park?”

    Shepard said Yvonne initialed a receipt around 1:25 that afternoon, but between 1:30 and 2:05 p.m., he said two customers and a coffee machine repair person found the gas station empty. Yvonne’s personal items were still there.

    “Would you leave your purse and all your belongings behind?” Shepard said. “No. You would take something.”

    He said it was only after her shift replacement arrived for work at the empty station around 3 p.m. that Yvonne was reported missing. By that time, it was about an hour and a half after Shepard believes she was either tricked or physically taken.

    “She was taken from the pump,” he said. “There was no DNA. There’s no evidence. Because she would have just been grabbed and put in the car.”

    The disappearance captured newspaper headlines at the time, as her parents asked for answers.

    Peter Elliott said he was a detective at the Higbee’s department store where Yvonne’s mom worked.

    “I can remember that time,” he said. “I can remember the mom and her daughter was missing. Again, I wasn’t in law enforcement at the time, I was in security, so I really didn’t know what was going on.”

    But now as the U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Ohio, Elliott brings national resources to assist with the investigation into what happened to Yvonne.

    “Not very typical is a serial killer that comes to town and snatches people,” Elliott said. “So typically it’s somebody you know, may know well.”

    Shepard said they look into every lead, as he combed through a box of files to bring out an example. A black-and-white clipping of an advertisement.

    “They thought this model looked like her from a 1970s hair stylist, and they ended up finding out that this was a professional model,” Shepard said, explaining the tip. “But there is some resemblance.”

    The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children released an updated age progression photo of how Yvonne might look today at age 65.

    Shepard hopes someone recognizes her or remembers something to close a case that generations of Fairview Park officers have worked to solve.

    “This is a young lady that showed up to work, did nothing wrong, she’s missing,” Shepard said. “We owe it to her, her family and the rest of the community to find out what happened to her.”

    He vowed that his department will not stop searching until they find her.

    If you have any information about Yvonne Reglar’s disappearance on Aug. 8, 1977, please call Fairview Park Police at (440) 356-4418 or email chiefofpolice@fairviewparkohio.gov.

    [ad_2]

    Jenna Jordan

    Source link

  • Ormond-By-The-Sea couple recounts tragic shooting at Circle K

    [ad_1]

    ORMOND-BY-THE-SEA, Fla. — Multiple communities are still reeling after off-duty Edgewater Police Officer David Jewell was shot and killed at a Circle K in Ormond-By-The-Sea.

    The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office confirms that 24-year-old suspect Eduardo Machado is in custody and admitted to the shooting, but the motive is still being investigated.

    What You Need To Know

    • Edgewater Police Officer David Jewell was shot and killed inside of a Circle K in Ormond-By-The-Sea Monday while off-duty

    • A couple that lives near the Circle K says they went there daily and were shocked to learn that Eduardo Machado was the suspected shooter

    • David and Teressa Pender say they heard multiple gunshots the night Jewell was shot

    • The Edgewater Police Department confirms that a vigil for Officer Jewell will be announced in the coming days and a memorial ride has been planned for Friday Sept. 19 at 7:30pm at Goodfellas Beer and Wine in Edgewater


    David and Teressa Pender say they go to that Ormond-By-The-Sea Circle K on Ocean Shore Boulevard and Wisteria Drive everyday and know everybody on staff, including Machado, and are still shocked that this even happened.

    David Pender says he bought a pack of cigarettes from one of the store clerks less than ten minutes before David Jewell was tragically shot 24 times.

    “I had just pulled out to get to the house and as soon as I got out of my truck, I heard pop, pop, pop, pop! And then I heard pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop,” exclaimed David Pender.

    His wife Teressa said she thought he just heard construction noise nearby until the store was surrounded by law enforcement within five minutes and a search ensued.

    The two said they couldn’t believe the news when they learned the suspect was Eduardo Machado, as he was someone that they grew to adore when they visited the store.

    “We’ve known him for two and a half years. He’s the quietest, doesn’t really talk, great guy and you know everybody in the condos, people were friends with him,” Teressa Pender said. “Everybody knew him. You would just never have expected this. Especially when we hear how devastating it was.”

    The Penders also gave their condolences to the Jewell family and even brought flowers to the scene.

    Meanwhile, in Edgewater, a memorial with Jewell’s vehicle and picture has been started in front of the police station with local businesses like the family-owned Frosty King, who paid tribute with a sign for Jewell.

    “United we stand tall and divided we fall. So, we just want to let everyone know on that big sign and let the community and everybody know that we feel really sorry about what happened and we only get through this by being there for each other,” Frosty King employee Victoria Ice said.

    Flowers surround an Edgewater Police cruiser on Sept. 16, 2025, after an off-duty officer was shot and killed this week. (Spectrum News/Nick Allen)

    It’s an incident that has changed many lives and for the Penders, even changed how they go about their days.

    “Oh, brother I’m going to have a hard time walking through those doors. I’m not going to lie to you because I know the managers and the staff, and it just becomes a little community of the same people,” David Pender said. “You know, and then when something like that happens, it just kind of rips your heart a part.”

    The Edgewater Police Department confirms that a vigil for Officer Jewell will be announced in the coming days.

    Edgewater businesses, however, have partnered up and shared on Facebook that a Memorial Ride is expected to happen Friday Sept. 19 at 7:30 at Goodfellas Beer and Wine in Edgewater.

    [ad_2]

    Brandon Spencer

    Source link

  • Man arrested in fatal shooting of off-duty Edgewater officer

    [ad_1]

    ORMOND-BY-THE-SEA, Fla. — An investigation is underway in Volusia County after a man was arrested for reportedly shooting and killing off-duty Edgewater Police Officer David Jewell in the head multiple times at a convenience store.

    It all happened just after 4 p.m. at a Circle K in Ormond-By-The-Sea.

    Officials with the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office say Jewell and the suspected gunman, identified as Eduardo Machado, reportedly knew each other.

    [ad_2]

    Spectrum News Staff

    Source link

  • Bethune-Cookman University on lockdown after threat

    [ad_1]

    DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Bethune-Cookman University went into lockdown Thursday after officials say a threat was made against the  school.

    The school posted on its Facebook page at 12:23 p.m saying: “Due to a potential threat to campus safety, as a precaution, Bethune-Cookman University is currently on lockdown.”

    The alert did not give any details on the nature of the threat received by the school.

    Due to the lockdown, all classes were canceled, and students were told to return to their dorm rooms and shelter in place.

    All faculty and staff were also sent home, and those not on campus were told to plan to work remotely.

    “Safety is our first priority, and we will continue to provide updates,” the school’s Facebook message said.

    No other information was immediately released by the university.



    [ad_2]

    Spectrum News Staff

    Source link

  • Orange deputy accidentally shot victim of alleged home invasion, officials say

    [ad_1]

    PINE HILLS, Fla. — Officials with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office say a deputy has been relieved of law enforcement duty after he accidentally fired his weapon and hit the victim of an alleged home invasion last month.

    The incident happened on Aug. 23, just after 3 p.m., when deputies were sent to a home in the 2600 block of Sheringham Road in Pine Hills after a resident there reported an attempted home invasion.

    According to information from the Sheriff’s Office, a man in his 40s had fired shots at four individuals he said were trying to break into his home. The four had fled the scene on foot by the time deputies responded.

    “When deputies arrived on scene, the victim went to unlock the door and one of the deputies accidentally discharged his agency firearm and struck the man,” a Sheriff’s Office statement said.

    The victim — who was not identified by investigators — was taken to the hospital with injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening.

    The deputy — who was also not identified by the Sheriff’s Office — was relieved of his law enforcement duties and reassigned to “an administrative capacity.”

    The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the incident.

    No other information was immediately released by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

    [ad_2]

    Spectrum News Staff

    Source link

  • 4 arrests made in connection with shooting of FSU player, FDLE says

    [ad_1]

    TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Four people have been arrested in connection with the shooting of Florida State linebacker Ethan Pritchard, Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass said Wednesday.

    What You Need To Know

    • Four people are now in custody in connection with the shooting of FSU linebacker Ethan Pritchard on Aug. 31, FDLE says

    • Jayden Bodison, Caron Miller, and an unnamed minor were charged with three counts of attempted murder and one count of shooting into an occupied vehicle

    • Pritchard was ambushed as he dropped off an aunt and a child in Havana and was shot in the back of the head, according to FDLE

    • Gadsden County Sheriff Morris Young said authorities believe Pritchard’s shooting was a case of mistaken identity

    • The 6-foot-2, 224-pound freshman is still critical but stable at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital

    Glass said Pritchard was “not doing anything wrong” when he was ambushed outside an apartment last month. He added that Pritchard was dropping off family members, an aunt and a child, when he was shot in the back of the head.

    Pritchard, a 6-foot-2, 224-pound freshman from Sanford, remains critical but stable at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. He was shot Aug. 31 while inside a vehicle outside apartments in Havana, according to the Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office.

    Gadsden County Sheriff Morris Young said authorities believe Pritchard’s shooting was a case of mistaken identity.

    Jayden Bodison, Caron Miller, Germany Atkins and an unnamed minor have been arrested in connection with the shooting, the FDLE said. Bodison, Miller and the juvenile were charged with three counts of attempted murder and one count of shooting into an occupied vehicle. Atkins was charged with one count of probation violation. It was not immediately clear whether any of the accused had attorneys.

    Pritchard did not play in Florida State’s season opener, a 31-17 victory against No. 8 Alabama in Tallahassee on Aug. 30.

    “I recruited him for years, got a chance to watch him grow,” FSU coach Mike Norvell said Saturday. “The way that he plays the game, it’s a passion, energy. He loves it, absolutely loves it.

    “To know that right now that’s taken away from him in a senseless act … you don’t always know why you have to go through things in life. You don’t understand the reasoning. But I do believe that God has his hand over Ethan and this football team and just all the relationships.”

    Ethan’s father, Earl, attended Florida State’s win over East Texas A&M on Saturday. He was on the sideline and in the locker room afterward.

    “He’s a wonderful man,” Norvell said. “And being with him, I know it’s so very hard for anybody to have to go through. … But he told me earlier this week, ‘I know where my boy wants to be, so I’m going to go stand in his place for him.’”.

    Pritchard’s high school alma mater, Seminole High School in Sanford, hosted a fundraiser last Friday at its football game, selling T-shirts with his number on them.

    All funds from T-shirt sales and concession sales went to his family to help pay for his medical bills.

    “We did this because we’re a community. I mean, that’s the biggest thing about Seminole High School is we’re a community,” explained Seminole High School Booster Club President Michelle Wright.

    “Ethan is a part of our family, and you know he’s always going to be a ‘Nole,” she added.

    [ad_2]

    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

    Source link

  • Jury selection to begin for Trump assassination attempt at Florida golf course

    [ad_1]

    FORT PIERCE, Fla. — On Monday, the trial is scheduled to begin for the man accused of trying to assassinate President Donald Trump at a Florida golf course in 2024.

    What You Need To Know

    • Ryan Routh is on trial for allegedly attempting to assassinate Donald Trump at a Florida golf course in 2024

    • Routh is representing himself in the trial, which is set to last three weeks

    • Jury selection is expected to last three days with opening statements on Thursday

    • More than 30 pages of exhibits will be presented, including a rifle and security footage


    Ryan Routh will be in federal court not only as the defendant, but he will also represent himself in the trial.

    On Monday morning, the first pool of potential jurors arrives at court. The goal is to question 60 people a day until they find the 12 jurors and 4 alternates to fill the fair and impartial jury.

    Prosecutors will try to prove to those jurors Routh planned to kill then-presidential candidate Donald Trump and pointed a rifle through the fence as he played golf before the attempt was stopped by the Secret Service.

    “(Routh) is going to have a unique opportunity to select the people who are going to be judging him,” said Roger Handberg, a former prosecutor for the Middle District of Florida and currently a shareholder at Gray Robinson.

    Handberg said self-representation at the federal level is uncommon but not unheard of.

    “I have been in those hearings, and will tell you, I think every federal judge tells the defendant who wants to do that the exact same thing, which is, ‘please don’t do this,’ and they try to explain all the reasons why that is maybe not the best choice for them,” Handberg said.

    There will be attorneys on standby to take over if requested by Routh or the judge.

    “It is tough. It is like being a relief pitcher in baseball. You don’t know if you are going to pitch that day or not, and if you pitch, you may not have a lot of notice,” Handberg said.

    The jury selection process is expected to last 3 days, with opening statements likely to start on Thursday and then continue for what could be a three-week trial.

    There are more than 30 pages of exhibits that include everything from the semi-automatic rifle, text messages, pictures, internet search history and security camera footage.

    “I would be surprised if it takes three weeks. I think they are going to be meticulous. I don’t expect they are going to call all 46 witnesses,” Handberg said.

    Most of the government’s witnesses include law enforcement. For Routh’s defense, he wanted 24 witnesses, but the judge denied most of the requests for being irrelevant to the case.

    [ad_2]

    Sarah Winkelmann

    Source link

  • 12 involved with Lakeland gang charged with wire fraud

    [ad_1]

    LAKELAND, Fla. — Twelve members of a well-known Lakeland gang have been indicted on charges of wire fraud.

    They are accused of stealing more than $230,000 from the PPP Loan Program set up during the COVID pandemic.

    According to the indictment, the gang devised a scheme by allegedly submitting false and fraudulent paycheck protection program loan applications. 

    The gang is accused of stealing approximately $236,000.

    The loans were devised during the pandemic to help bring economic relief to small businesses.

    “These individuals, these 12 individuals who were part of the Hood Boys gang, both members and associates, male and female, chose to defraud the Small Business Administration and the SBA and the banks with which they were working by filing false documents,” said Gregory W. Kehoe, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida.

    “These individuals filed fabricated businesses, fabricated business records. And what was their goal? The goal was to make it appear that they were running successful businesses when in fact, they were not.”

    The investigation dates back to a shooting on Jan. 30, 2023, that injured 11 people. Lakeland police officials said they believe the shooting was linked to drug sales, which is what eventually led to the discovery of the alleged wire fraud.

    The investigation is still underway.

    [ad_2]

    Spectrum News Staff

    Source link

  • Dayton Police Department warns of car break-ins

    [ad_1]

    DAYTON, Ohio — The Dayton Police Department is reminding residents to be smart with their valuables after a string of car break-ins.

    Police said Aug. 4-18, there were 22 thefts from unlocked cars. Police added that most valuables were in plain sight. 

    “To help prevent theft, please lock your doors and don’t leave valuables in your car,” Dayton Police Department wrote in a Facebook post. 

    Police shared where recent break-ins occurred to warn the public. (Dayton Police Department)

    Dayton isn’t the only area recently to report frequent car break-ins. Earlier this week, Summit Metro Parks in northeast Ohio put out a warning for people to be cautious of what they put in their cars. Areas of the break-ins included multiple areas of Cascade Valley Metro Park, the Towpath Trail and Firestone Metro Park.

     

    [ad_2]

    Lydia Taylor

    Source link

  • Body found in Florida pond confirmed to be missing teen from NC

    [ad_1]

    UPDATE: In a news release issued Thursday, the Medical Examiner’s Office said the body was positively identified as Giovanni Pelletier. Dental records and forensic testing led to his ID.

    His cause of death is still undetermined pending toxicology reports. The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office said there are no signs of foul play.  

    PREVIOUS STORY

    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — 18-year-old Giovanni Pelletier, who disappeared while visiting Florida from North Carolina, is likely dead.

    Detectives with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office say a preliminary identification shows that he was the body found in a retention pond near I-75 and State Route 70 on Friday.

    As of Sunday, officials said they have yet to make a positive identification due to the body’s “advanced state of decomposition.”

    An autopsy also took place, and according to the medical examiner, no foul play or trauma was found. Officials add that a cause of death is pending a toxicology report and further investigation.

    Giovanni’s mother shared a message, saying that the family is asking for privacy at this time.

    We Are The Essentials, a group that helps look for missing people, also shared a message online, praising Giovanni’s family for their strength and offering condolences.

    [ad_2]

    Spectrum News Staff

    Source link

  • Loved ones call for justice for Manatee County teen fatally shot last year

    [ad_1]

    BRADENTON, Fla. — A vigil was held Wednesday in honor of a Manatee High School student who was fatally shot last year.

    Jann Michael “JM” Feeney was just 17 years old when he was shot in the backyard of a home at 5912 8th Ave. Dr. W. in March 2024.

    According to a probable cause affidavit from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, Carter Layne, also 17, was playing with a gun he said wasn’t loaded when it fired, killing Feeney.

    Layne was charged as an adult with manslaughter with a weapon (firearm) and recently pleaded no contest. His sentencing is scheduled for next month, and at the vigil, those who knew Feeney called for justice.

    What You Need To Know

    • A vigil was held Wednesday evening for Jann Michael “JM” Feeney

    • Feeney, a 17-year-old Manatee High School student, was fatally shot by a fellow teen at a backyard party in Bradenton last year

    • Carter Layne, 19, recently pleaded no contest to the charge of manslaughter with a weapon (firearm)

    • Vigil organizers asked attendees to write letters for the judge, saying a concern is that Layne’s age at the time of the shooting could impact sentencing


    “JM was super nice. That JM smile was unlike any smile you’ve ever seen,” said Julian Smith, who was a teammate of his with Manatee High wrestling.

    “He was energetic, electric,” said Feeney’s wrestling coach, Andrew Gugliemini.

    “He brightened my day every day,” said Feeney’s neighbor, Nancy Ambrose. “He had the most beautiful hair you’ve ever seen, and he would come out of the garage I don’t know how many times a day and flip that hair.”

    Those were some of the memories of Feeney shared in the shadow of Manatee County’s historic courthouse. Gugliemini said it’s a loss that still stings.


    “I mean, I broke down in tears on the way here,” said Gugliemini. “I just see something or hear something, and I just get teary-eyed. I wish I was coming here to see him rather than coming here to do this.”

    Many at the vigil wore the same green T-shirt calling for “Justice for JM”.

    “As far as I’m concerned, there will never really be justice served because we can’t bring JM back,” said Ambrose. “But to see Carter Layne in handcuffs and walked out of the courtroom, a little, tiny slice of justice because now, he can’t hurt anybody else.”

    Ambrose asked those at the vigil to write letters to the judge in the case.

    “There is a chance he could get youth offender status. He is eligible for it. However, the severity of the crime, we don’t feel he should ever receive youthful offender status,” she said. 

    Layne’s sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 24.

    “I feel bad for the Layne family, too,” said Ambrose. “There’s no winners. I mean, it’s just so devastating for so many people, but it’s devastating for our community because JM was such a vital part of our community.”

    Ambrose also urged parents to talk with their kids about guns and encouraged young people to leave any situation where a peer pulls out a gun.

    [ad_2]

    Sarah Blazonis

    Source link

  • BPD invests in new devices to detect card skimmers

    [ad_1]

    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — The Bradenton Police Department is ramping up its efforts to stop scamming in the area, specifically credit and debit card scammers.

    Recently, the department received a grant from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to buy new credit card skimming detection devices.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Bradenton Police Department is ramping up its efforts to stop scamming in the area, specifically credit and debit card scammers



    • Recently, the department received a grant from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to buy new credit card skimming detection devices



    • They also suggest that you regularly check your bank statements and register for alerts from your financial institutions to quickly detect and report fraud



    Bradenton Police Detective Michael Carpenter is tracking down credit card skimmers using new credit card skimming detection devices they received, thanks to a grant from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

    “You insert it with a credit card, go. As soon as you get a green light, there’s no skimming device detected. If you had a red light, a skimming device detected, we would continue our investigation,” Carpenter said.

    He said criminals install skimming devices on ATMs, gas pumps, and other payment systems to steal people’s credit and debit card information.

    Carpenter says they investigate a lot of credit card fraud.

    “So far, we’ve done probably 50 different gas stations, ATMs, et cetera. We found one on the first day. We aren’t able to determine if it had information on it, what information it had on it, or who put it there. But we were able to deter anybody else from becoming a victim,” he said.

    He says solving this type of crime can be challenging.

    “We notify the business, but we can’t determine who put it there until we get fingerprints and DNA from the inside of the device,” he said.

    BPD said detectives go out periodically to check payment systems.

    All officers will have access to these devices and will use them if they notice anything suspicious.

    “It gives people peace of mind that the devices they’re using are safer devices,” he said.

    It’s another way for the police department to detect scamming and protect residents from a financial crime.

    The Bradenton Police Department says to avoid becoming a victim, use payment tools like Apple Pay or Google Pay, which encrypt payment data.

    They also suggest checking your bank statements regularly and registering for alerts from your financial institutions so fraud can be detected and reported quickly.

    [ad_2]

    Julia Hazel

    Source link