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Tag: WPBF

  • Procession underway for Indian River Deputy shot and killed Friday morning

    Deputy Terri Sweeting-Mashkow was killed, and two others were critically injured after a shooting broke out during an eviction notice on Friday, according to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office. The suspect, Michael Halberstam, was being evicted from the home by his mother. Three deputies arrived at the home with a locksmith to remove him. However, once they arrived at the entry of the home, Halberstam began shooting toward the officials. “We’ve had seven calls to this residence all this month,” Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers said. “Almost all of them from the mother calling about him and her decision to ultimately evict him.” Sweeting-Mashkow, a 47-year-old deputy, had dedicated 25 years of service before losing her life. Halberstam and the locksmith are currently in critical condition and undergoing surgery. Sheriff Flowers stated that this marks the second line-of-duty death within the sheriff’s office in its 100-year history. A procession for Sweeting-Mashkow is expected to be underway at 5 p.m. on Friday. About the suspect Sheriff Flowers said Halberstam has a 2006 narcotic charge and a 2015 misdemeanor assault charge out of Virginia. Halberstam was allegedly fired from his job at UPS and previously made negative comments about the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office on his Facebook page. >>Watch the full news conference below

    Indian River County, FL, USA —

    Deputy Terri Sweeting-Mashkow was killed, and two others were critically injured after a shooting broke out during an eviction notice on Friday, according to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office.

    The suspect, Michael Halberstam, was being evicted from the home by his mother.

    Three deputies arrived at the home with a locksmith to remove him.

    However, once they arrived at the entry of the home, Halberstam began shooting toward the officials.

    “We’ve had seven calls to this residence all this month,” Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers said. “Almost all of them from the mother calling about him and her decision to ultimately evict him.”

    Sweeting-Mashkow, a 47-year-old deputy, had dedicated 25 years of service before losing her life.

    Halberstam and the locksmith are currently in critical condition and undergoing surgery.

    Sheriff Flowers stated that this marks the second line-of-duty death within the sheriff’s office in its 100-year history.

    A procession for Sweeting-Mashkow is expected to be underway at 5 p.m. on Friday.

    About the suspect

    Sheriff Flowers said Halberstam has a 2006 narcotic charge and a 2015 misdemeanor assault charge out of Virginia.

    Halberstam was allegedly fired from his job at UPS and previously made negative comments about the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office on his Facebook page.

    >>Watch the full news conference below


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  • 911 call shows fear, concern from couple trapped in car sinking in Florida canal

    A 911 call released Tuesday shows how frantic a couple was as they were trapped inside a car sinking in a canal in Florida.Listen to the 911 call in the video player above. Investigators said the couple was driving in a remote section of northwestern Martin County when they were hit by another car, sending them off the road where they landed upside down in the canal.The other car did not stop.The woman in the car was able to get to her phone and call 911.“Please! We need you!” she said to the dispatcher.The woman, whose name has not been released, explains the situation to the dispatcher who asks if the car is sinking.“Yes!” the woman replied. “That’s what it feels like. The car is sinking, sir.”“Where’s the water now?” the dispatcher asked.“We’re in the ditch outside,” she said.“Is the water in the car and how high is it?” the dispatcher asked.“It’s up to my stomach,” she said. “We don’t know how much time we have!”The woman explained to the dispatcher that the power in the vehicle was out, and they could not open the doors nor the windows.“How far in the water are you?” the dispatcher asked.“We’re deep in the water!”“And there’s no way to get that window down?”“No. We tried everything! We’re scared!”After about 10 minutes, the call appears to drop.“You still there, sir? Ma’am?” the dispatcher asked.There was no reply.Deputies arrived a short time later and were able to bust out the car’s windows and pull the couple to safety.Both people were injured, but investigators said both are expected to recover.The sheriff’s office said they are still looking for the other driver involved in the crash.

    MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. —

    A 911 call released Tuesday shows how frantic a couple was as they were trapped inside a car sinking in a canal in Florida.

    Listen to the 911 call in the video player above.

    Investigators said the couple was driving in a remote section of northwestern Martin County when they were hit by another car, sending them off the road where they landed upside down in the canal.

    The other car did not stop.

    The woman in the car was able to get to her phone and call 911.

    “Please! We need you!” she said to the dispatcher.

    The woman, whose name has not been released, explains the situation to the dispatcher who asks if the car is sinking.

    “Yes!” the woman replied. “That’s what it feels like. The car is sinking, sir.”

    “Where’s the water now?” the dispatcher asked.

    “We’re in the ditch outside,” she said.

    “Is the water in the car and how high is it?” the dispatcher asked.

    “It’s up to my stomach,” she said. “We don’t know how much time we have!”

    The woman explained to the dispatcher that the power in the vehicle was out, and they could not open the doors nor the windows.

    “How far in the water are you?” the dispatcher asked.

    “We’re deep in the water!”

    “And there’s no way to get that window down?”

    “No. We tried everything! We’re scared!”

    After about 10 minutes, the call appears to drop.

    “You still there, sir? Ma’am?” the dispatcher asked.

    There was no reply.

    Deputies arrived a short time later and were able to bust out the car’s windows and pull the couple to safety.

    Both people were injured, but investigators said both are expected to recover.

    The sheriff’s office said they are still looking for the other driver involved in the crash.

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  • ‘You need to be prepared to die’: Wife of Florida man killed during standoff tells her story

    ‘You need to be prepared to die’: Wife of Florida man killed during standoff tells her story

    The wife of a Port St. Lucie man, who was shot dead by police after threatening to blow up their house with her and their 6-year-old triplets inside, is now sharing her story.Amanda Fialho recounted to WPBF-25 News that on the afternoon of Sept. 28, her husband, Paul Simon Fialho, grabbed her and told her they needed to talk. “He had a blank look on his face,” Amanda Fialho said. “He told me, ‘You need to be prepared to die today because I’m prepared to die today.’”She described how he overturned the washer and dryer to barricade them in their converted garage and used zip ties to bind her hands, feet and neck. Her husband also gathered three propane tanks and gasoline.Police reports state that when officers entered the home, Paul Simon Fialho was holding a propane tank and a lighter. Upon his refusal to drop them, an officer was left with no choice but to disable the threat.”I turned, and there were cops with guns just two to four feet from my face,” Amanda Filaho said. “They told me to duck, and I did just as they shot him.”She said her husband was a good father, and Amanda believes it was the medication he was on that led to his drastic change in behavior. “I wanted to share my story to raise awareness about the dangers of some prescription drugs that caused the psychosis my husband suffered,” she said.Currently, she is attempting to return to her home but requires a contractor’s help to make it livable again for her and their five children. She hopes anyone who can help will reach out to her.”I have nothing,” Amanda Fialho said. “I didn’t ask for this, and I didn’t want this to happen. I’d do anything to change it, but I can’t.”She also mentioned that a GoFundMe account https://gofund.me/c3250b30 has been set up to assist her in rebuilding her life.

    The wife of a Port St. Lucie man, who was shot dead by police after threatening to blow up their house with her and their 6-year-old triplets inside, is now sharing her story.

    Amanda Fialho recounted to WPBF-25 News that on the afternoon of Sept. 28, her husband, Paul Simon Fialho, grabbed her and told her they needed to talk.

    “He had a blank look on his face,” Amanda Fialho said. “He told me, ‘You need to be prepared to die today because I’m prepared to die today.’”

    She described how he overturned the washer and dryer to barricade them in their converted garage and used zip ties to bind her hands, feet and neck.

    Her husband also gathered three propane tanks and gasoline.

    Police reports state that when officers entered the home, Paul Simon Fialho was holding a propane tank and a lighter. Upon his refusal to drop them, an officer was left with no choice but to disable the threat.

    “I turned, and there were cops with guns just two to four feet from my face,” Amanda Filaho said. “They told me to duck, and I did just as they shot him.”

    She said her husband was a good father, and Amanda believes it was the medication he was on that led to his drastic change in behavior.

    “I wanted to share my story to raise awareness about the dangers of some prescription drugs that caused the psychosis my husband suffered,” she said.

    Currently, she is attempting to return to her home but requires a contractor’s help to make it livable again for her and their five children. She hopes anyone who can help will reach out to her.

    “I have nothing,” Amanda Fialho said. “I didn’t ask for this, and I didn’t want this to happen. I’d do anything to change it, but I can’t.”

    She also mentioned that a GoFundMe account https://gofund.me/c3250b30 has been set up to assist her in rebuilding her life.

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  • Dozens gather to watch manatee released back into the wild

    Dozens gather to watch manatee released back into the wild

    A NEARLY 900 POUND MANATEE INJURED BY A BOAT ON THE TREASURE COAST IS RELEASED AFTER MONTHS OF REHABILITATION. WILDLIFE OFFICIALS SAY THE SEA COW, NAMED COCOA BEAN, IS VERY LUCKY. ANGELA ROZIER HAS THE STORY. THIS IS MANATEE POCKET. IT’S WHERE THAT INJURED MANATEE WAS DISCOVERED BACK IN MAY. WELL, SHE HAS RECOVERED, AND NOW SHE’S BACK WHERE SHE BELONGS. SEAWORLD ANIMAL RESCUE TEAM SHOWED UP WITH ITS PRECIOUS CARGO AT THE MANATEE POCKET BOAT RAMP IN MARTIN COUNTY AT AROUND 11 A.M. FWC OFFICIALS SAY THE MANATEE IS AN ADULT FEMALE NAMED COCOA BEAN. SHE WAS HIT BY A BOAT, SO SHE HAD BOAT STRIKE INJURIES TO HER BACK, AND SHE WAS FOUND EXCESSIVELY BUOYANT SO SHE COULDN’T DIVE UNDER THE WATER AND SHE WAS SIDEWAYS SO THAT SHOWS THAT THERE WAS INTERNAL TRAUMA DUE TO THAT BOAT STRIKE INJURIES. THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE AND THE FAU HARBOR BRANCH OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTE ASSISTED WITH THE RESCUE. SEAWORLD ORLANDO TREATED HER INJURIES AND CLEARED HER FOR RELEASE IN THE SAME WATERS WHERE SHE WAS FOUND. WE ALWAYS WANT TO PUT HIM BACK RIGHT WHERE WE FOUND HIM, SHE KNOWS THE AREA. SHE’LL KNOW WHERE TO FIND FOOD AND WHERE TO GO IN THE WINTER TO FIND WARM WATER. ONCE OUT OF THE TRUCK, SHE WAS PLACED ON A FOAM PAD WHILE ONLOOKERS WATCHED. WHEN I SAW THE VOLUNTEER SHIRTS, I STOPPED. TODAY TO WATCH THEM RELEASE THE MANATEE. I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING. IT’S NOT MY FIRST TIME SEEING HIM IN ACTION. AND AS CREWS TOOK MEASUREMENTS AND PHOTOS BEFORE HER RELEASE, 290 FOR THIS MANATEE IS VERY LUCKY AND SO ARE WE THAT WE HAD VERY CARING RESIDENTS THAT WOULD CALL HER IN, AND THAT WAY WE COULD COME RESCUE. KEEP GOING, KEEP GOING. SO SWEET. I LOVE IT SHOULD BE GOOD TOUCH. ALL RIGHT, SWEETHEART, YOU’RE FINE. IT’S NICE TO HAVE YOU.

    Dozens gather to watch manatee released back into the wild

    A nearly 900-pound manatee, injured by a boat on Florida’s Treasure Coast, has been released after months of rehabilitation. Wildlife officials say the manatee, named “Cocobean,” is very lucky.The injured manatee was discovered back in May Amber Howell, an assistant research scientist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, said Cocobean has recovered and is back where she belongs.The SeaWorld Animal Rescue Team arrived with Cocobean at a boat ramp near Palm Beach, Florida, on Thursday morning.Howell mentioned that Cocobean, an adult female, was struck by a boat.”She had boat strike injuries to her back and was found excessively buoyant, unable to dive underwater, and floating sideways,” Howell said. “This indicated trauma due to the boat strike.”The Martin County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Atlantic University Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute assisted with the rescue. SeaWorld Orlando treated her injuries and cleared her for release in the same waters where she was found.”We always want to return them to their familiar territory where they know where to find food and seek warm water in winter,” Howell said.The truck carrying Cocobean had her placed on a foam pad while onlookers, like Melissa Burke, watched.”When I saw the volunteer shirts, I stopped to watch the manatee release. It was really interesting,” Burke said.Crews took measurements and photos before releasing the manatee.”This manatee is very lucky, and we’re fortunate to have caring residents who reported her condition, allowing us to rescue her,” Howell said.

    MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. —

    A nearly 900-pound manatee, injured by a boat on Florida’s Treasure Coast, has been released after months of rehabilitation. Wildlife officials say the manatee, named “Cocobean,” is very lucky.

    The injured manatee was discovered back in May Amber Howell, an assistant research scientist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, said Cocobean has recovered and is back where she belongs.

    The SeaWorld Animal Rescue Team arrived with Cocobean at a boat ramp near Palm Beach, Florida, on Thursday morning.

    Howell mentioned that Cocobean, an adult female, was struck by a boat.

    “She had boat strike injuries to her back and was found excessively buoyant, unable to dive underwater, and floating sideways,” Howell said. “This indicated trauma due to the boat strike.”

    The Martin County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Atlantic University Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute assisted with the rescue. SeaWorld Orlando treated her injuries and cleared her for release in the same waters where she was found.

    “We always want to return them to their familiar territory where they know where to find food and seek warm water in winter,” Howell said.

    The truck carrying Cocobean had her placed on a foam pad while onlookers, like Melissa Burke, watched.

    “When I saw the volunteer shirts, I stopped to watch the manatee release. It was really interesting,” Burke said.

    Crews took measurements and photos before releasing the manatee.

    “This manatee is very lucky, and we’re fortunate to have caring residents who reported her condition, allowing us to rescue her,” Howell said.

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