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Tag: Crime & Safety

  • St. Petersburg police chief says programs have kept youth crime down

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — New data shows violent crime was down in 2025 in the Tampa Bay area.

    The city of St. Petersburg had the lowest number of homicides in nearly 60 years. Youth crime is also down, according to the city’s police department.

    What You Need To Know

    • Violent crime is down in St. Petersburg, according to the city’s police department

    • St. Pete had the lowest number of homicides in nearly 60 years

    • Youth crime is also down, the police chief said, thanks to city programs

    • A new Young Influencer Felony Prevention Program starts in March


    St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway said that’s in part because of city programs keeping kids out of trouble, and another new program is launching soon.

    Charles Price is starting the Young Influencer Felony Prevention Program next month. It’s a subject that hits close to home.

    “I got my first arrest at 12. Assault and battery. At 15, I had an armed robbery. At age 24, I went to prison,” said Price, who is the founder and president of Felons Ain’t Failures.

    Price started a podcast geared toward felons to foster community. That community will help facilitate the new program.

    “They’ll be able to tell the kids: this is not a life you want to live. It’s not a fun life. It’s not what TV makes it look like. It’s rough, it’s lonely, and mentally it does a lot to you,” Price said.

    The Young Influencers Felony Prevention Program will feature four different projects over ten months. With lessons focusing on self-discipline, goal setting and conflict resolution.

    “They see guys out here selling drugs, it looks cool, they have nice cars, they have women around them and so we’re trying to turn their minds into something different,” he said.

    While this program will focus on felony prevention, St. Petersburg’s “Forward Together” program helps young felons get back on track by addressing the root cause.

    Holloway said 60% of participants are not re-offending.

    “We’re getting on the front of it and not on the back end of it, because people make mistakes, but how do you address it after a mistake? So I think by us staying in front of it when a child does something wrong, that we’re addressing it right away,” Holloway said.

    New data shows that violent crime is down by 16% across St. Pete.

    Homicides, robberies and auto thefts were down from 2024 and are well below the five-year average.

    “What we tend to see is that people are starting to really talk to each other instead of just using a gun and finding a way of solution or using a knife or something like that,” Holloway said.

    Holloway said police will continue to build trust with the community to keep the downward trend in motion. Price hopes that his prevention program will have the same effect.

    “We believe with the mental, the physical, the group sessions and conversation, and then the professional readiness, that can keep a child from making a bad decision to go down the wrong path,” Price said.

    The new program will kick off at the Thomas “Jet” Jackson Recreation Center on March 4 for registered participants.

    Crime is also dropping on the other side of the bay.

    According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, violent crime was down by nearly 14% and homicides fell by 55% from 2024 to 2025.

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    Tyler O’Neill

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  • Filings: Insanity defense set Osceola triple homicide suspect free in 2021 case

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    KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Court documents show that a man charged with killing three men in Osceola County over the weekend was charged with attempted murder in 2021, but was released when a judge found him not guilty by reason of insanity.

    Ahmad Jihad Bojeh, 29, has been charged in the shooting deaths of Douglas Kraft, of Columbus, Ohio, Robert Kraft, of Holland, Mich., and James Puchan, of Galena, Ohio, just after noon on Saturday.

    What You Need To Know

    • Ahmad Jihad Bojeh, 29, has been charged in the shooting deaths of Douglas Kraft, of Columbus, Ohio, Robert Kraft, of Holland, Mich., and James Puchan, of Galena, Ohio, just after noon on Saturday
    • The men’s families said they were in town for a car show and were shot and killed while they waited for assistance with their rental car

    • Court records show that Bojeh was charged with attempted murder in 2021, but was found not guilty by reason of insanity
    • State Attorney Monique Worrell responded in a statement after Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier criticized her handling of the 2021 case, saying “the court, not the prosecutor, determined the outcome”

    In a joint statement Tuesday, family members of the men said they were getting ready to travel home after attending a car show in Kissimmee, and had been waiting for help with their rental car when they were killed.

    Investigators with the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office said the shooting happened outside a residence in the Indian Hill subdivision near Kissimmee. They said Bojeh was quickly located after the shooting and has been charged with three counts of premeditated murder. Sheriff’s Office officials have not released any information on a possible motive for the killings.

    Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, though, noted that Bojeh was free despite being charged with attempted murder in 2021. In that case, a judge found Bojeh’s insanity defense compelling and found him not guilty on Dec. 20, 2022. 

    He criticized State Attorney Monique Worrell’s handling of the 2021 case, saying in a post on X: “It appears she didn’t put up a fight to Bojeh’s use of the insanity defense, and he was allowed to go free.”

    Circuit Court Judge Keith Carsten ordered Bojeh to be released on Dec. 21, 2022, as long as he fulfilled conditions, which included getting mental health treatment and complying with all treatment recommendations — including taking prescribed medication — not owning or having access to firearms, and having no contact with the victims or witnesses in the case.

    According to court filings in Saturday’s triple-homicide case, investigators reported finding two handguns hidden under Bojeh’s bed at a residence in the 200 block of Indian Point Circle.

    A filing from his attorney in 2024 shows that after his acquittal, Bojeh was ordered into the Ninth Judicial Circuit’s Problem Solving Courts, which, according to the court’s website, “coordinates with judiciary, criminal justice entities, and treatment providers to address the participant’s underlying issues contributing to their criminal behavior. This is achieved through targeted and supportive services while also holding participants responsible for their actions.”

    Few details were released following the verdict, but in a 2023 filing, a mental health specialist told the court that Bojeh “has attended his psychiatric appointments and has been compliant with taking his medications as prescribed. He has acquired employment at McDonald’s and (is) happy with his job. He attends his appointments with me. He is always on time and has not missed any appointments.”

    Filings from Aug. 15, 2023, and March 12, 2024, indicate he was in compliance with court requirements associated with the case.

    In response to Uthmeier’s accusations, Worrell released the following statement:

    “The Attorney General’s claim shows he fundamentally misunderstands both the facts and the law. This case was fully litigated at trial — where the court, not the prosecutor, determined the outcome after hearing evidence and expert testimony.

    Suggesting that a prosecutor failed to ‘put up a fight’ because a judge ruled a defendant incompetent reflects a fundamental lack of understanding of how the criminal legal system works. Prosecutors argue cases within the confines of the law. Judges decide them.

    The fact that someone running to be the state’s top attorney would seek to politicize the tragic deaths of three people is shameful and further evidence that he is unfit for the role of Attorney General. Prosecutors are obligated to follow the law, not manufacture outcomes to satisfy political narratives. Undermining judicial decisions for political gain weakens public trust in the justice system and disrespects the victims and their families.

    I remain committed to having a serious conversation on how we can address the real issues — and that would be the inadequacies in how the system responds to offenses involving people with severe mental illness, not on misrepresenting court proceedings for political attention.”

    Family Speaks Out

    In their joint statement, family members of victims of Saturday’s triple homicide in Osceola County were described as “beloved husbands, fathers, grandfathers, uncles, brothers and friends.”

    “These three wonderful men did not deserve this,” the statement said. “Our families are left with an unexpected, unimaginable loss that cannot be put into words. We ask for privacy, prayers, and respect as we mourn and begin to process this tragedy.

    “We are grateful for the outpouring of concern and for the quick response efforts of local law enforcement, the detectives, the medical examiners, and the various state agencies who are assisting with this investigation. Further details will be shared by our families or official representatives when appropriate. For now, please respect our need for space and time to grieve.”

    Osceola County Sheriff Christopher Blackmon said the investigation into the shootings is ongoing.

    “There is no threat to the community, as a suspect of these horrific and senseless murders and been caught and arrested by Osceola County deputies,” he said in a statement.

    Bojeh is currently being held without bond at the Osceola County Jail. 

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    Mark Boxley

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  • Police: 1 dead, 1 hospitalized in shooting at Bradenton lab processing facility

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    BRADENTON, Fla. — Bradenton Police say a man faces first degree murder charges for allegedly killing his ex-girlfriend and wounding one of her co-workers at a medical processing lab.

    According to police, 29-year-old Keith Roberts, Jr. was arrested shortly before 6 p.m. Thursday. They say he fatally shot his ex-girlfriend, Myshaela Burnham, 29, then turned the gun on another office employee who witnessed the crime.

    It happened on 4th Avenue Circle East, just off of State Road 64. Police said the call came in shortly before 1 p.m. A spokesperson said a number of witnesses were able to identify a vehicle involved, and police stopped one matching that description 22 minutes later as it crossed the DeSoto Bridge into Palmetto. That’s where police said Roberts was taken into custody. 

    The other injured employee was hospitalized, and her name wasn’t being released by police Thursday night. Roberts also faces charges of attempted first degree murder with a firearm. Police said the investigation is ongoing.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • One shot after ‘ding-dong ditch’ prank in North Carolina

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    One person was shot in the leg by a homeowner Saturday night after engaging in a late night prank with a group of friends, the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Deputies with the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office responded to gunshots in a nearby neighborhood as they were doing a traffic stop

    • A car was found with open doors, broken glass and bullet holes. Five people under the age of 18 were found nearby, one with a gunshot wound to the leg

    • Criag Steven Mason, 59, was arrested for allegedly shooting at the vehicle, striking the minor

    Sheriff Darren Campbell said Craig Steven Mason, 59, identified himself as the shooter, and was arrested on Monday. The victim was only described as a “juvenile” by the sheriff’s office. 

    “Mason told detectives he observed a vehicle driving through the neighborhood with no headlights on, and he fired multiple rounds toward the vehicle as it passed,” Campbell said. 

    “The vehicle was struck four times, with one round striking the juvenile passenger,” he said.

    Deputies from the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office were already in the area doing a traffic stop when they heard the shooting in a nearby neighborhood. 

    The deputies came across a vehicle with open doors, shattered glass on the ground and bullet holes, the sheriff’s office said.

    Five people under the age of 18 were found by deputies in a nearby field, one laying on the ground with a gunshot wound to the leg. 

    After speaking with witnesses and examining evidence, the sheriff’s office said the group was playing “ding-dong ditch,” and did not go near Mason’s residence.

    Mason told deputies he had been sleeping when he heard loud noises coming outside, and retrieved his handgun before going to see what was happening.

    Deputies arrested Mason and charged him with felony assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, four counts of felony assault with a deadly weapon and felony discharging a weapon into an occupied vehicle causing serious bodily injury.

    Mason is currently being held without bond and the sheriff’s office is continuing its investigation. 

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

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    Blair Hamilton

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  • Two Largo residents arrested for animal creulty

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Largo police have arrested two people on felony animal cruelty charges after 11 sick dogs — including nine puppies — were abandoned in a park.

    What You Need To Know

    • Today Largo police have arrested two people on felony animal cruelty charges after 11 sick dogs — including nine puppies — were abandoned in a park

    • McKnight owns Pawlicious Poochie Pet Rescue. All the dogs were brought to the rescue after they were found on December 19
    • McKnight says a couple of days later, another puppy they named Frosty was brought in, he later died

    • The two suspects arrested by Largo police each face 12 counts of felony animal cruelty and could face additional charges

    Largo police say they have arrested two people on felony animal cruelty charges after 11 sick dogs — including nine puppies — were abandoned in a park.

    The dogs were found at Taylor Park on December 19.

    Jamie McKnight owns Pawlicious Poochie Pet Rescue. All the dogs were brought to the rescue after they were found on December 19. McKnight says a couple of days later, another puppy they named Frosty was brought in. He later died.

    “That was a huge heartbreak,” she said.

    All the dogs had parvovirus.

    Today, Largo police arrested 42-year-old Mary Gamble and 43-year-old Fred Gamble. Officers say they were illegally breeding the dogs and knew some were sick.

    The arrests come just one day after the database under Dexter’s Law went into effect. It is a statewide animal abuser database. Under Dexter’s Law, people can remain in the database for up to 10 years.

    Rescue centers like Pawlicious Poochie Pet Rescue say the database is a vital part of the law.

    “With Dexter’s Law, I’m hoping it’s going to make an example out of them and be the first huge case to really start to push for stricter consequences,” McKnight said.

    The two suspects arrested by Largo police each face 12 counts of felony animal cruelty and could face additional charges.

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    Julia Hazel

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  • Citrus County woman charged after 2 ex-husbands found dead

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    BRADENTON, Fla. — A Citrus County woman was arrested Wednesday night after being accused of shooting and killing one ex-husband, and potentially another, Manatee County Sheriff’s officials said.

    Detectives arrested 51-year-old Susan Avalon at her home in Citrus County after the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) said she allegedly shot and killed a 54-year-old man who answered the door at his home on Chatum Light Run in Bradenton earlier that day.

    Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells said that deputies were able to speak with the man before he died and told them the shooter was possibly his ex-wife.

    Wells also said the man’s 15-year-old daughter was inside the house at the time of the shooting and told deputies she heard gunshots and saw a silver Honda Odyssey driving off.

    After detectives matched the description to Avalon’s vehicle, they went to her home and said they needed to talk about her about the death of her ex-husband. Officers said she allegedly replied, “Which one?”

    The investigation expanded into Hillsborough County after MCSO asked the Tampa Police Department to conduct a welfare check at a home in the 1200 block of East Frierson Avenue.

    Officers reported finding an adult male dead from multiple gunshot wounds inside the home.

    Tampa Police officials said they are working with MCSO in the ongoing investigation. Wells said the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office charged Avalon with second-degree homicide. The Tampa Police Department has not yet announced any charges connected with the case in its jurisdiction.

    Wells said his department planned to seek the death penalty in its case against Avalon.

    Watch the full press conference from Manatee Sheriff Rick Wells below: 

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  • 19-year-old charged with fatally stabbing retired nurse in Davenport

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    DAVENPORT, Fla. — The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the fatal stabbing of a 67-year-old man in Davenport.

    What You Need To Know

    • Concerned neighbors discovered 67-year-old John Torneo dead in his bathroom at the Polo Park 55-plus community

    • Investigators say 19-year-old Julian Trevino admitted to breaking into the home, stabbing Torneo multiple times and hitting him with a wine bottle in an attempt to steal money

    • A barking dog, Torneo’s missing car and unusual text messages prompted a neighbor to request a welfare check that led to the discovery


    Sheriff Grady Judd stated the incident happened at the Polo Park 55-plus community. Concerned neighbors found retired nurse John Torneo dead in his bathroom Sunday afternoon.

    After further investigation, Judd says Torneo’s former roommate, 19-year-old Julian Trevino, admitted to breaking into the home, stabbing him multiple times and hitting him over the head with a wine bottle. Investigators say Trevino told them the goal was to steal money.

    Longtime resident Louise Jutras says Torneo recently changed the locks at his home because Trevino was no longer allowed to live there.

    Jutras says she and her husband, Dan, first met Torneo three years ago when he moved across the street. Since then, she says they grew closer. They often helped care for Torneo’s beloved dog, Ashley. She says that’s when she knew something was wrong Sunday when the dog was barking inside, and Torneo’s car was gone.

    “It just didn’t seem like him to jump in the car and go,” Jutras said.

    She called Torneo’s phone multiple times before receiving strange text messages from an unknown number.

    “The first (message) said, ‘Ashley is all good,’ and then the second message said, ‘Yes, I’m good. And Jay is going to take care of her he’s coming by now to do it.’ John would have never said that. So, I’m like, OK, this is clue number three,” she said.

    She eventually called 911 for a wellness check. A Polk County sheriff’s deputy gave Jutras’ husband and other neighbors permission to search inside the home. They later found Torneo’s body in the bathroom.

    “And he said, ‘Oh my God, they killed him! They killed him!’ And when he came out, he said it was just so awful,” she said.

    Jutras says no one would have ever imagined this would happen to Torneo. She says he was a good man who always helped others, including Trevino.

    “He will be missed. He’ll be missed,” she said.

    Judd says Trevino got rid of the knife he used to kill Torneo and stole his vehicle, bank card and phone. He was captured after a short foot pursuit and now faces multiple charges, including first-degree murder.

    Here is the list of charges he is facing, according to the sheriff’s office:

    • 1st Degree Murder (FC)
    • Armed Robbery (FL)
    • Tampering with Evidence in a Felony (FL, 3-counts)
    • Armed Burglary of a Dwelling (F1)
    • Burglary of an Occupied Dwelling (F1)
    • Obtain Property by Force (F3)
    • Criminal Use of Personal Identification (F3)
    • Tampering with a Victim (F3)
    • Grand Theft from a Dwelling (F3)
    • Grand Theft Motor Vehicle (F3)
    • Fleeing to Elude (F3)
    • Theft of Bank Card (M1)
    • Fraudulent Use of a Bank Card (M1)
    • Resisting without Violence (M1)
    • Petit Theft (M2)
    • Driving without a Valid License (M2)

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    Alexis Jones

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  • Deadly shooting being investigated outside Clearwater sports bar

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    CLEARWATER, Fla. — Police in Clearwater released more information Monday about a deadly shooting that took place over the weekend outside of Fuzzy’s Sports Bar & Grill on South Highland Avenue.

    The incident happened just before 8 p.m. Sunday.

    Investigators say one person was found dead in the parking lot and multiple other victims were dropped off by a car at Morton Plant Hospital.

    The car then left the hospital.

    Jordan Javontay Walls, 24, was killed in the shooting, police said Monday.

    Teron Albert Dudley, 27, Jaheim Jabez Maxie, 23, Lamar Johnson, 23, and Antwone Jackquezz Holmes, 22, were all injured.

    “Detectives believe the suspects were two men dressed in dark clothing who then fled the scene,” police said in a release. “Detectives also reiterate they do not believe this was a random act.”

    Police are still investigating. Anyone with information is asked to call Clearwater Police at (727)-562-4242.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Wesley Chapel family seeks answers after fatal hit and run

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    WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. — A family in Wesley Chapel is pleading for answers in a deadly hit and run that took the life of their loved one.

    Daniel Avena was hit while walking on Boyette Road in Pasco County on Nov. 16.

    What You Need To Know

    • Daniel Avena was killed in a hit and run on Nov. 16 in Wesley Chapel

    • The driver of a dark-colored Toyota Forerunner is sought by authorities

    • Avena’s family has posted signs urging community help and awareness

    • Florida Highway Patrol has released surveillance photos of the suspect vehicle


    Daniel Avena was hit while walking on Boyette Road in Pasco County on Nov. 16.

    Florida Highway Patrol is investigating after they say the driver who hit him took off, leaving Avena to be found by someone driving by the next morning.

    Avena’s family is devastated, but they say the way the community has rallied around them is comforting. They’ve posted signs all over the area, warning everyone to be on the lookout for the dark-colored Toyota Forerunner that’s believed to have hit Avena.

    “He was the most amazing person. Anybody who knew him knew he was so infectious. He had the best laugh, the best smile, the best sense of humor,” said Erin Day.

    Day is the mother of two of Avena’s children. She says Avena was better known as Bernie Mac, though, because of his funny, outgoing personality. Day says that on Nov. 16, all of their lives changed.

    “Around 6 o’clock he was hit by what they assume is a Toyota Forerunner, dark color, they hit him and then proceeded to stop right here and check their vehicle, and not call 911 and not go to make sure it wasn’t an animal or a human being at first, you know, they just left him there,” she said.

    Florida Highway Patrol recently released pictures from a surveillance camera at a RaceTrack gas station less than a quarter mile from where Daniel’s body was found. Troopers are looking for the driver of the Toyota Forerunner in these photos.

    “We have to get the word out so everybody can see this car, we have to find these people,” said Day. “My kids, that’s the only Christmas present they need is to find the person that did this.”

    Avena’s kids, Daniel and Lyric, say their dad deserves justice, and they deserve peace to grieve, because now all they have are memories.

    “One thing I’m really grateful for is he gave us the same smile, that gummy smile he had, just that fills a room, fills the world honestly, that’s something I won’t ever forget and when I wake up and look in the mirror, that’s what I still see and I’m so grateful for that,” said Avena’s son Daniel.

    “I know him, he wouldn’t want us to stay sad all the time, he’d want us to laugh and he’s probably sitting up there laughing about how much attention he’s getting,” said Lyric.

    Erin says she’ll keep fighting for Bernie, and as for whoever is responsible for his death, “I know they’re watching. I know they see these posters. I know they know what they did now, turn yourself in, give us some peace please.”

    If you have any information about this investigation, you can call *FHP or Crime Stoppers.

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    Fallon Silcox

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  • UAB football player accused of stabbing 2 teammates before game against USF

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    BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — A University of Alabama at Birmingham football player stabbed two teammates Saturday morning, hours before the team’s game against the University of South Florida, the university said in a statement.

    Both wounded players were in stable condition, and the teammate suspected of stabbing them was in custody, the statement said. The university did not release the names of the players involved.

    The stabbing occurred on campus at the Football Operations Building.

    The team elected to play the afternoon game at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, where 29 players were being honored on Senior Day.

    “UAB’s top priority remains the safety and well-being of all of our students,” the statement said.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Deputy killed, 2 others injured in shooting while serving eviction in Vero Beach

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    INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, Fla. — Two sheriff’s deputies have been shot, and one killed while serving an eviction notice Friday in Vero Beach.

    What You Need To Know

    • Two sheriff’s deputies have been shot, and one killed while serving an eviction notice Friday in Vero Beach

    • The Indian River County Sheriff’s Office said that during the eviction, a suspect pulled out a gun and started firing as deputies entered the home

    • Officials identified the deputy that was killed as Terri Sweeting Mashkow

    The Indian River County Sheriff’s Office said that during the eviction, a suspect pulled out a gun and started firing as deputies entered the home.

    Officials identified the deputy that was killed as Terri Sweeting Mashkow. She was honored in the office’s quarterly report in 2023 for helping a local family during the Christmas holiday. 

    Deputies responded to the shooting Friday. (Spectrum News)

    “She is dedicated to serving her community and exemplifies what the role of a Peace Officer should be,” the report said.

    One other deputy and a locksmith were injured. The suspect is in custody and is in critical condition.

    This marks the second death in the line of duty for the department since its creation 100 years ago, according to a spokesperson with the sheriff’s office.

    The Melbourne Police Department reacted to the news in a statement. 

    “Our hearts are with the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office and the entire community this morning. We are deeply saddened by the tragic shooting that took the life of one deputy and injured several others. Our prayers are with their families, their fellow deputies, and everyone impacted by this loss.”

    The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office also reacted in the following statement. 

    “Sending condolences and prayers to Indian River County, where one deputy was fatally shot and two others were wounded while serving an eviction notice this morning. Praying that the family members and loved ones facing the worst news today can find the strength they will need to carry through another senseless tragedy.”

    Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey also responded. 

    “Please keep the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office and their entire community in your thoughts and prayers as their agency is dealing with a critical incident involving a Deputy Sheriff, who was shot and killed earlier this morning and a second Deputy that was shot and is in stable condition!!

    In response to the incident, our agency has sent various resources including Deputy Sheriffs and Supervisors to assist with responding to calls for service from the community, as their agency is focused on the critical incident!!

    Our law enforcement officers put their lives on the line each and every day, as they work to protect their communities and our hearts go out to Sheriff Flowers, his entire agency, and their entire community!!”

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • More charged in FBI investigation related to alleged Halloween plot in Michigan

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    OHIO — Authorities in New Jersey have charged two more young men in a sprawling federal investigation of an alleged terrorism-style attack planned for suburban Detroit.

    What You Need To Know

    • The allegations against Tomas Jimenez-Guzel and Saed Mirreh, both 19, do not specifically focus on Michigan, where three people were charged, but they have a connection

    • They had discussed “comprehensive plans” to travel abroad for Islamic State, the FBI said in a court filing in Newark

    • In Michigan, three young men have been charged with conspiracy and receiving and transferring guns and ammunition for an attack
    • The possible targets, according to the FBI, were LGBTQ+ bars in suburban Detroit
    • One man also scouted Cedar Point, an amusement park in northern Ohio

    The allegations against Tomas Jimenez-Guzel and Saed Mirreh, both 19, do not specifically focus on Michigan, where three people were charged, but they have a connection. Investigators said the two were poised to travel abroad and fight for the Islamic State group.

    Jimenez-Guzel and Mirreh were charged Wednesday with conspiring to provide material support to a designated terrorist organization. Jimenez-Guzel faces an additional charge of attempting to provide material support.

    The Montclair, New Jersey, man was arrested Tuesday while trying to fly to Turkey from the airport in Newark, the FBI said. Mirreh was arrested in Kent, Washington, where he lives.

    They had discussed “comprehensive plans” to travel abroad for Islamic State, the FBI said in a court filing in Newark, N.J.

    Those plans picked up speed after the Oct. 31 arrests of several people in the Detroit area with whom they had been communicating, the FBI said.

    Messages seeking comment from their attorneys were not immediately returned Friday.

    In Michigan, three young men have been charged with conspiracy and receiving and transferring guns and ammunition for an attack. Investigators said a group chat between the men indicated they were planning a Halloween attack with repeated references to pumpkins and pumpkin emojis.

    The possible targets, according to the FBI, were LGBTQ+ bars in suburban Detroit. One man also scouted Cedar Point, an amusement park in northern Ohio. Separately, The Detroit News reported Friday that a 16-year-old boy is in federal custody as part of the investigation.

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • St. Pete woman accused of using AI to create fake suspect

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — With artificial intelligence advancing every day, the FBI says the low cost, ease and lack of regulation around AI create opportunities for criminals.

    Investigators say one Tampa Bay area woman found, though, that law enforcement is aware of the issue and knows how to spot the fakes.

    What You Need To Know

    •  A St. Petersburg woman has been accused of calling police to report a burglary and sexual assault using an AI-generated photo of the perpetrator

    •  AI experts warn that as the technology gets better, law enforcement will see challenges they never have before

    •  Experts advise using ChatGPT and other products so you can understand how they work and what they can do


    On Oct. 7, Brooke Schinault called St. Petersburg police saying someone broke into her home and knocked her to the ground.

    “We took all the information we could at the time, she provided us with images as proof, and then nothing — we continued on with our investigation,” said Ashley Limardo, public information specialist with the St. Petersburg Police Department.

    Later that day, though, Limardo said Schinault called back.

    “Saying that oh, well, actually she forgot to let us know that she was also sexually battered by this person,” Limardo said. “So, our officers went out a second time.”

    She said the female detective assigned to the case realized there was something off with the photo Schinault provided. 

    “She received information on this case and was going through the evidence immediately when she saw that one picture,” Limardo said. “She was able to recognize it was part of the trend, and then that’s what completely changed the course of the investigation.”

    According to court documents, investigators say they found digital evidence that showed the photo was created by ChatGPT days before the alleged burglary and sexual assault took place.

    Police said Schinault tried to use a recent TikTok trend to her advantage.

    They say people are taking pictures of their living rooms and imputing the pictures into ChatGPT. From there, they ask AI to add someone else into the picture, and send altered photos to their loved ones to get a laugh.

    But this situation, police said, was no laughing matter. Investigators say Schinault allegedly used that tactic to create a photo of the suspect — a suspect who didn’t exist.

    St. Petersburg police said they’ve never seen anything like this.

    “It can be very dangerous,” Limardo said. “Especially in a sense of what if this person had matched the description of someone in our town or they tried to claim it was someone, now we’re going after that one person.”

    Schinault was arrested and charged with two counts of false reporting of a crime. She is currently out of jail on bonds totaling $1,000.

    Professor Dr. John Licato teaches at the University of South Florida’s Billeni College of AI, Cybersecurity and Computing. As long as technology has been around, Licato said there have always been bad actors on the internet.

    “When I hear that particular story, my immediate thought is, ‘What’s the motivation? Why would anyone actually do this?’” Licato said.

    But when it comes to realistic creations made by AI, Licato said the public needs a crash course in what’s possible.

    “We need to increase the amount of AI literacy amongst the general public for reason like exactly this case,” he said. “The cops, they saw the memes, they saw the TikTok trend and, in a sense, that was a form of AI literacy. Because now they realize this is possible, so they know to look for it in the future.”

    As artificial intelligence technology becomes better, Licato said that it’s important for people to try it themselves, so they know what’s possible. 

    Without recognizing that trend, police may not have been able to catch on to what Schinault allegedly did. 

    In Hillsborough County, deputies tracked down 19-year-old Sammarth Gautam after he transformed photos from social media of clothed girls he knew into AI generated nude photos.

    He posted eight of these photos online. The Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office provided Spectrum News with video of him being questioned.

    “Is there a specific reason why this happened,” the detective said in interrogation tapes provided to Bay News 9.

    “So, I was just really starting to hear things about AI and the different things that it could do,” Gautam said in his interrogation. “And I know I shouldn’t have, but I kind of got curious, and I just wanted to use the technology to see what it could do.” 

    Prosecutors ultimately charged him with 16 counts of promoting altered sexual depictions without consent. Gautam took a plea deal that landed him behind bars for 12 days.

    “We do have to watch out and make sure that we put proper safeguards to help protect people,” Licato said.

    Licato said that while the technology to do what Gautam did isn’t new, it’s advancing.

    He said society is being forced to address questions about what is considered acceptable use and acceptable regulation.

    Using regulations involving vehicles, Licato said, “They made it so there was the right level of balance between restrictions and guidance. I think that we need that with any new technology.”

    Bay News 9 attempted to contact Schinault for this story, but she did not respond to requests for comment.

    Officials said Gautam has since been picked by immigration enforcement officials and is currently awaiting deportation in an ICE holding facility in New Mexico.

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    Andy Cole

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

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    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.” 

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    Josh Rojas

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  • Pasco County mother, school employee accused of killing her son

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    LAND O’ LAKES, Fla. — A Land O’ Lakes mother is facing murder charges in the death of her child.

    The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office arrested 40-year-old Justine Mroz on Sunday night in connection to the death of her 6-year-old son.

    It all began when the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office got a call shortly before 10 a.m. Sunday.

    Deputies say the call came from Mroz herself.

    Mroz is employed by Pasco County Schools to provide ESE services, helping students with disabilities.

    The school district provided the following statement:

    “On behalf of the entire Pasco County Schools family, we extend our deepest condolences to all who are grieving. We are deploying crisis teams to provide care and support to those affected by this heartbreaking event.”

    Meanwhile, the sheriff’s office has not released how the child died, saying it’s still being investigated.

    A few neighbors who did not want to appear on camera said they were shocked by the news of what happened, saying this is a quiet neighborhood and that their neighbor seemed nice.

    They also said they were sad to hear what happened.

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    Spectrum News Staff, Calvin Lewis

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  • Florida’s top K9 units gather in Brooksville for statewide K9 tracking event

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    BROOKSVILLE, Fla. — K9 units from across the state of Florida recently gathered at Brooksville’s Chinsegut Hill for a unique competition: the 2025 Statewide K9 Tracking and Training Event.

    The Florida Department of Corrections hosted the event on Oct. 13 to showcase the abilities of the top-qualifying K9 tracking teams from across the state.

    What You Need To Know

    • Chinsegut Hill recently served as the host of the 2025 Statewide K9 Tracking and Training Event
    • Top-qualifying K9 tracking teams from across the state competed to come out as the top team in Florida
    • Cross City Correctional Institution came away with the top prize in this year’s competition 


    Public funding is helping these units make a difference.

    “It was a really good competition,” said Cross City Correctional Institution K9 Sgt. Mitch Osteen. “People here we were competing against are some of the best in the state — it is the best in the state.”

    Gathered Chinsegut Hill were Florida’s top K9 units. Coming out on top this year was Osteen and Cross City Correctional Institution.

    “These competition tracks, they lay them a mile and a half through the woods with two 90s,” said Osteen. “They drop four flags and we wait two hours to start them and run them. This year we ran a 16:30 and a 21:00 on both of our tracks.”

    Osteen has been on Cross City’s K9 team for 18 years — serving as K9 sergeant for the last 15 years and overseeing the growth and development of K9s throughout the years.

    “We got K9 Thunder over here on this side,” Osteen said, pointing to one of his team’s dogs. “He’s 7 years old. We’ve got K9 Cy right here — he’s won three competitions in a row. He’s 3 years old. So we got some really good dogs. We train them from puppies right on up to dogs.”

    It’s a job made possible thanks to both state and public funding.

    “We do get a lot of donations from Corrections Foundation and other things,” said Danny Rummel, special teams coordinator for the Florida Department of Corrections. “There is a lot of equipment — GPS tracking collars and just all the equipment they use to keep them safe in the woods and to help them track down children, women, elderly or suspects if necessary.”

    While the actual tracking during the event may only take minutes, Osteen said it takes countless hours of patience to prepare.

    “We train on eight hours a day,” says Osteen. “I mean, I love my job. I love working with the dogs out in the woods, training. I just love it.”

    He said the training is important, because when a situation arises, whether it be tracking escaped inmates or lost individuals, the K9 crew is ready to handle the job.

    “It’s the best job in the world,” Osteen said. “I love my job with the K9. I started out inside for seven years and promoted up out to K9 sergeant, and it’s just amazing. Best job there is.”

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    Calvin Lewis

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

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    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.

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    Jeff Butera

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  • Tampa fire crews contain blaze at former Pups Pub location

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Fire crews in Tampa contained a structure fire late Wednesday at West Kennedy Blvd and South Westland Avenue, according to Tampa Fire Rescue.

    The building that caught fire appeared to be the now-closed Pups Pubs location, which can be seen in images released by officials.

    Officials report no injuries at this time.

    The cause of the fire is under investigation by Tampa Fire Marshal Office investigators.


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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • 11-year-old arrested in Volusia for online threats, sheriff’s office says

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    VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — An 11-year-old was arrested in Volusia County on Sunday for making online threats against his school.

    The sheriff’s office says the FBI notified them about a comment the boy wrote on TikTok, which stated he was going to shoot up Campbell Middle School in Daytona Beach, and mentioned staff members.

    Deputies say he did not have access to any weapons at home.

    Spectrum News reached out to the Volusia County School District, but officials had no comment to share.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Florida’s “Trenton’s Law” brings tougher DUI/BUI manslaughter penalties

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    BELLE ISLE, Fla. — A new law is now in effect across Florida — one that could change the way people think about getting behind the wheel or the throttle after drinking. Belle Isle Police hope “Trenton’s Law” will save lives, both on the road and out on the water.

    What You Need To Know

    • “Trenton’s Law” took effect in Florida on October 1, increasing penalties for DUI and BUI manslaughter and doubling prison sentences for repeat offenders from 15 to 30 years

    • The law is named after 18-year-old Trenton Stewart, who was killed by a drunk driver in 2023

    • Belle Isle Police say the law won’t change how they patrol but hope stiffer penalties will deter impaired driving and boating


    On Lake Conway, the water is peaceful. But for Belle Isle Police, it’s very busy.

    “Our primary months of operation on the water, we start in May and we’re out here every weekend until from May until October. We just got through our busy season, if you will,” said Sgt. Allen Wasmund, with Belle Isle’s Traffic Marine Patrol Unit.

    Days spent under the sun, music in the air, and families making memories, but one bad decision can turn paradise into tragedy.

    “We try to stop that as soon as possible. We don’t need anyone getting hurt out on the lake,” Wasmund said.

    On Oct. 1, “Trenton’s Law” took effect, named after 18-year-old Trenton Stewart, who was killed in 2023 by a drunk driver.

    The new law delivers tougher penalties for DUI and BUI manslaughter, doubling prison sentences from 15 to 30 years for repeat offenders.

    And it goes even further making it a misdemeanor, in some cases, to refuse a breath or urine test on scene.

    “We’re hoping that with the penalties stiffer, people will think twice about actually committing these crimes,” Wasmund said.

    Wasmund says last year they handled about 15 DUI cases.

    While this new law won’t change how they enforce the rules on the water, they’ve already noticed a difference, more law enforcement agencies are out patrolling.

    “Our hope is that our presence deters the crimes that are occurring. We’ve been ramping up patrols,” Wasmund added.

    Along with Belle Isle’s marine unit, Florida Fish and Wildlife and Orange County deputies also keep watch on the lake.

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    Ashley Engle

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