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Family Seeks Justice After Man Shot Dead in North Lauderdale Walmart Parking Lot

Family Seeks Justice After Man Shot Dead in North Lauderdale Walmart Parking Lot

The family of Bart Diguglielmo, a 62-year-old man who was shot and killed in late June following an argument over a parking spot outside a North Lauderdale Walmart, is seeking criminal charges against the woman responsible. Diguglielmo, a Lauderhill resident and a 30-year emergency room trauma nurse, Army sergeant, father of three, and twin brother, died after being shot in the stomach. The Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies stated that the woman claimed self-defense. However, Diguglielmo's daughter, Amanda Diguglielmo, and her attorney, Melissa Rodriguez, dispute this account, arguing that the shooting was not justified and that criminal charges should be filed. Nearly two months after the incident, no arrest has been made, and the Broward State Attorney’s Office continues to investigate the case.

Father Speaks Out After Son Shot at Jacksonville High School Football Game

Father Speaks Out After Son Shot at Jacksonville High School Football Game

A high school football game in Jacksonville, Florida, ended in gunfire on Friday night at Lonnie C. Miller Sr. Regional Park, resulting in two people being shot, including 20-year-old Zakyri Crews. His father, James Crews, learned of the incident when a parent came to their home to deliver the news. Zakyri was struck in the shoulder, and a 19-year-old woman was also shot in the leg; both sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Zakyri's injury is severe, requiring surgery to insert a metal rod in his arm, an ailment his father believes will affect him for the rest of his life, both physically and mentally. Investigators from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) believe the shooting stemmed from an ongoing dispute between two groups. One group was escorted out of the game between Young Kids in Motion Academy and Joshua Christian Academy but later returned, leading to the gunfire. JSO describes the two men responsible as being in their late teens to early 20s, who fled the scene. No arrests have been made...

ICE Lodges Detainer for Cuban National Charged with Child Abuse and Arson in Miami

ICE Lodges Detainer for Cuban National Charged with Child Abuse and Arson in Miami

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has lodged a detainer against Meliza Campos-Sanchez, a Cuban national, in Miami, Florida. Campos-Sanchez faces charges of child abuse and arson after allegedly pouring hot wax onto one of her two daughters and setting a fire in her home. Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call about an intentional fire on August 16, finding Campos-Sanchez at the scene. She was taken for a mental health evaluation before being booked into jail. Authorities discovered videos on her Instagram account depicting her pouring melted wax on herself and her daughter's hands, and another showing her singing and dancing before lighting clothes on fire. Campos-Sanchez, who entered the U.S. illegally in May 2022 under the Biden Administration, has been charged with two counts of child neglect, cruelty toward a child, and arson. ICE has requested that Miami officials not release her from jail, with the intention of removing her from the country after she faces justice.

Multi-Million Dollar Crane Crash in Vero Beach Sparks Resident Concerns Over Road Safety and Commercial Traffic

Multi-Million Dollar Crane Crash in Vero Beach Sparks Resident Concerns Over Road Safety and Commercial Traffic

A multi-million dollar, six-axle crane crashed into a ditch along 90th Avenue near Oslo Road in Vero Beach, Florida, on August 19th, prompting ongoing recovery efforts. This incident has intensified long-standing concerns among local residents regarding road safety and the increased volume of commercial truck traffic on this particular stretch of road. Residents, like Sally Rogers, who has lived in the area for 11 years, report that the road is narrow and has been the site of previous accidents. The surge in commercial traffic, including dump trucks and semi-trucks, is attributed to a recent detour caused by the closure of 82nd Avenue for the Oslo Road project. Residents claim that these commercial vehicles are using 90th Avenue as a shortcut to State Road 60 and I-95, despite the road not being designed for such heavy use and lacking adequate signage. Concerns also extend to a bridge at 4th Street, with residents questioning its structural capacity for the increased weight.

Burmese Pythons Cause Drastic Mammal Declines in Florida's Everglades

Burmese Pythons Cause Drastic Mammal Declines in Florida's Everglades

Burmese pythons, introduced to Florida's Everglades primarily through the exotic pet trade, have established a breeding population and are causing significant declines in native mammal populations. Since the mid-1980s, these invasive snakes have spread throughout large parts of the Everglades. A study based on over 35,000 miles of surveys, reported by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), revealed dramatic decreases in mammal sightings since the late 1990s. Raccoons have fallen by 99.3%, opossums by 98.9%, and bobcats by 87.5%. Rabbits have virtually disappeared from some surveyed areas. These declines are most severe in areas where pythons have been established the longest, indicating a direct correlation between the snakes' presence and the reduction in native wildlife. The pythons are opportunistic hunters, consuming a wide range of mammals, birds, and reptiles, and native species have little evolutionary defense against them.

Lee County Sheriff's Office Arrests Man on Drug Charges After Traffic Stop and Foot Chase

Lee County Sheriff's Office Arrests Man on Drug Charges After Traffic Stop and Foot Chase

A man was arrested by deputies from the Lee County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) in Lee County, Florida, following a traffic stop that escalated into a foot chase. The incident occurred near Palm Beach Boulevard and Marsh Avenue after an LCSO Narcotics Team Detective observed a traffic violation. During the initial stop, deputies discovered a suspected bag of marijuana and another baggie containing a white substance on the passenger, later identified as Jorge Valle Armijo, 41. Armijo then pulled away from deputies and attempted to flee on foot. Deputies pursued him and deployed a stun gun to apprehend him. Armijo was subsequently taken into custody with assistance from officers of the Fort Myers Police Department.

Carjacking Suspect Apprehended in Volusia County After High-Speed Pursuit and Crash

Carjacking Suspect Apprehended in Volusia County After High-Speed Pursuit and Crash

A carjacking suspect, identified as Scott Taylor, 41, of Connecticut, was taken into custody in Volusia County, Florida, following a high-speed chase and crash. The incident began when the Sanford Regional Communications Center issued a be-on-the-lookout for a reckless vehicle traveling southbound on U.S. Highway 1 near Ormond Beach. Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) and Volusia deputies attempted a traffic stop on a 2013 Ford Focus near S.R. 44 and County Road 415, but the vehicle fled. Taylor, who had reportedly entered Volusia County on I-95 after fleeing FHP, attempted one carjacking before successfully stealing a car from a woman at a red light near Destination Daytona. The stolen vehicle's license plate was entered into a hotlist, and Flock cameras detected it traveling eastbound on S.R. 44. During the pursuit, Taylor allegedly reached speeds of 137 mph, drove into oncoming traffic on S.R. 44, struck a dump truck, and then collided with a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado before attempting to flee on foot. He was ...

Man Fatally Shot During Card Game in Winter Garden, Florida

Man Fatally Shot During Card Game in Winter Garden, Florida

Shariff Simmons, a 49-year-old Winter Garden man, was fatally shot late Wednesday night outside a home on Bethune Avenue. Officers from the Winter Garden Police Department responded to the scene around 11:25 p.m. and discovered Simmons deceased on the ground. According to initial reports, Simmons and others were reportedly playing cards inside the residence prior to the shooting. The Winter Garden Police Department has launched an active homicide investigation and is currently seeking witnesses who may possess useful information regarding the incident.

Winter Garden Police Investigate Fatal Shooting After Card Game

Winter Garden Police Investigate Fatal Shooting After Card Game

A man identified as Shariff Simmons, 49, was shot and killed late Wednesday night in Winter Garden, Florida. Police responded to a home on Bethune Avenue around 11:30 p.m. and found Simmons with multiple gunshot wounds in front of the residence. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators believe the shooting was targeted. Simmons and others were reportedly engaged in a card game inside the home prior to the incident. No suspects are currently in custody, and authorities are actively searching for the individual responsible. Neighbors, including Yvette Kemp, expressed shock and grief, describing Simmons as a deeply loved individual. Kemp noted that the area has experienced similar tragedies in the past, highlighting a recurring issue of violence on Bethune Avenue. Simmons' mother also spoke to News 6, remembering her son as well-mannered and well-known in the community. Friends and family have shared tributes on social media, remembering Simmons as a mentor and a positive influence.

Florida Police Officer Fired and Arrested for Alleged Misuse of Law Enforcement Databases

Florida Police Officer Fired and Arrested for Alleged Misuse of Law Enforcement Databases

A former Sarasota Police Department officer, Cory Waiters, 38, has been fired and arrested following an investigation into the alleged misuse of law enforcement databases. The Sarasota Police Department announced that Waiters was arrested on August 19 and faces two felony charges and one misdemeanor charge. These charges include an offense involving computers, computer systems, networks or electronic devices; official misconduct; and violating Florida's public records law. The investigation began on August 6 after the department received information that Waiters had allegedly misused law enforcement-only search databases, specifically DAVID and Flock. An internal affairs investigation was initiated, followed by a criminal investigation. Waiters was placed on paid administrative leave on August 7 and was terminated on the same day of his arrest.

Florida Man Arrested in Maine for Wrong-Way Driving on I-95

Florida Man Arrested in Maine for Wrong-Way Driving on I-95

A Florida man was arrested in Maine after numerous reports of a box truck driving erratically and traveling the wrong way on Interstate 95. The Bangor Regional Communications Center received 14 calls around 5:32 p.m. regarding the truck, which was initially reported traveling south on I-95 in Old Town. Police stated the truck drove through a closed gate at a weigh station before continuing southbound. Troopers, along with Bangor and Orono police, were alerted and began searching for the vehicle. The truck later exited I-95 at Exit 187 on Hogan Road in Bangor, then re-entered the interstate heading north. At one point, it crossed the median and drove the wrong way in the southbound lanes before correcting its course. The driver, identified as 36-year-old Julio Matos of Orange City, Florida, was eventually located in a BJ’s parking lot in Bangor and taken into custody without incident. No injuries were reported during the incident.

Pinellas Park Fire Department Unveils New Training Tower to Combat Firefighter Shortage

Pinellas Park Fire Department Unveils New Training Tower to Combat Firefighter Shortage

The Pinellas Park Fire Department in Florida has constructed a new four-story training tower behind Fire Station 35. This facility is designed to provide firefighters with easier access to hands-on training for various emergency scenarios, particularly those encountered in multi-story buildings like condos and apartments. The tower features eight burn rooms, allowing crews to practice navigating obstacles and pulling hose lines in simulated real-world conditions. Previously, the department had to rely on facilities at St. Petersburg College or other fire stations, which required extensive scheduling. Officials state that this new, readily accessible training resource will be crucial for both recruitment and retention efforts, addressing a statewide firefighter shortage that the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association and the Florida State Fire Marshal identified in 2023. Lieutenant Bradley Rogers and Division Chief of Training T.J. Layfield emphasized the tower's role in enhancing skills and preparing firefighter...