Quantcast
Channel: Top Stories
Viewing all 12140 articles
Browse latest View live

Local 10 News anchors, reporters share their back-to-school photos

0
0

In honor of the start of a new school year, members of the Local 10 News team are sharing their back-to-school photos with viewers. How many people do you recognize? 


Thief shatters front window of smoke shop, steals cash drawer

0
0

Police are searching for the person who burglarized a smoke shop in Hollywood overnight.

The owner told Local 10 News that this is the second time his business has been targeted in recent weeks.

In the latest case, the burglar used rocks to shatter the front window.

Surveillance cameras caught the incident at Carbon Glass Tech Smoke Shop on Sterling Road, and despite the alarm sounding, nothing seemed to scare the thief off.

"It seems like the same guy. The same outfit. The same exact time of night," the owner, who did not want to be identified, said. "He's really fast. He's really good and he's done this many times, and it's very evident."

Video shows the crook initially try to kick through the front door. When that didn't work, he used a handful of rocks to smash the glass.

The thief was in and out within a minute, clearing out the register and taking off with the cash drawer.

"He doesn't know anything about what products are worth, or anything else or he would've taken something worth $2,000 or $3,000, as opposed to fives and singles in the register."

The shop is open for business, but the owner is staying vigilant and has a message for the burglar.

"You're going to get caught and I'm sure someone knows who you are. We have a reward and they will want the money," he said.

The owner said he has another shop in Fort Lauderdale that hasn't been targeted.

Police said other smoke shops in the Hollywood area have also been burglarized in the middle of the night.

Anyone with information about the burglary is asked to call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.

Follow Local 10 News on Twitter @WPLGLocal10

 

Peter Whyte turns himself in after road-rage stabbing

0
0

A man accused of stabbing another man during a road-rage incident on Interstate 95 in Deerfield Beach turned himself in to the Broward County's Sheriff's Office substation in Deerfield Beach on Thursday morning.

Florida Highway Patrol investigators were called to the substation to speak with Peter Whyte, 42, who they said requested an attorney.

Whyte was taken to the main Broward County jail, where he is being held on charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and criminal mischief.

According to Florida Highway Patrol troopers, Whyte was involved in an altercation Monday with Tawny Grogin, 22, while traveling west on Southwest 10th Street.

FHP Sgt. Mark Wysocky said Grogin believed that Whyte, who was driving his friend’s car, was following her, so she pulled off the side of the onramp to I-95, believing that Whyte would continue driving south.

Wysocky said Whyte pulled over behind Grogin, got out of his car and approached her vehicle.

According to troopers, Grogin's boyfriend, Nolan Goad, 22, also got out of the car and got into a physical altercation with Whyte, and Goad was stabbed.

Goad was taken to Broward Health North, where he was treated for minor injuries.

The 2000 Grand Mercury Marquis that Whyte was believed to have been driving was found abandoned Wednesday in a Fort Lauderdale parking lot.

According to records, Whyte does not have an extensive criminal record other than a handful of traffic violations.

Follow Local 10 News on Twitter@WPLGLocal10

Desiray Strickland held without bond in Homestead death investigation

0
0

A woman arrested in the planned murder of a 17-year-old boy in Homestead is being held without bond.

Desiray Strickland, 18, the latest person to be arrested in the case, appeared in bond court Thursday morning.

At times, Strickland appeared to be bored in the hearing, rolling her eyes and slouching over.

She faces a first-degree murder charge in the death of Jose Santos Amaya Guardado, as well as charges of battery on a law enforcement office, resisting arrest with violence and criminal mischief.

According to police, Strickland kicked and hit officers Wednesday as she was being taken into custody. Police said she destroyed items inside the interrogation room and even tried to use a screw to pick at her handcuffs and escape.

Kaheem Arbelo, 20, Christian Colon, 19, and Jonathan Lucas, 19, were arrested last week by Miami-Dade police.

According to a police report, the suspects and victim were students at the Homestead Job Corps, a live-in school and vocational program. Police said the three men admitted to plotting the murder with Strickland.

They too are being held without bond.

Detectives said the suspects dug a hole in the woods two weeks before they killed Guardado on June 28 and buried him.

According to the report, Arbelo used a machete to slash Guardado after the group lured him into the woods and ambushed him.

Police said Arbelo's friends watched him kill Guardado, and said Strickland complained that she missed part of the attack because she left for a few minutes to urinate in the woods.

According to the report, as the victim was dying, he was instructed to lie in the grave. Police said Guardado made a final attempt to fight off Arbelo, but was struck by the machete multiple times until his face caved in.

A Miami-Dade police source told Local 10 News that Guardado was sodomized, tortured and buried alive.

According to the report, the suspects got rid of the shovel and murder weapon and attempted to burn their clothes and Guardado's belongings after the attack occurred.

Police said Strickland and Arbelo had sex in the woods until it was time for them to return to campus at the Job Corps.

Guardado's body was found by his brother on July 1.

"I found his two feet facing down to the ground with his socks," Fedis Amaya said. "I recognized him by the socks as the same ones that he has at the house. That's when we knew it was him."

Fedis Amaya said his brother was born in El Salvador and sold ice cream at the local flea market to help his family make ends meet.

The medical examiner determined the victim's cause of death to be trauma and ruled the death a homicide.

A motive for the attack remains unclear, but a police source said the victim had been bullied before by the group.

A fifth person is expected to be arrested in the case.

Follow Local 10 News on Twitter @WPLGLocal10

Former FHP trooper sentenced in bribery scheme

0
0

A former Florida Highway Patrol trooper was sentenced Thursday to more than four years in prison for his role in a bribery scheme.

U.S. District Court Judge Cecilia Altonaga sentenced Kirk Chambers to 51 months in federal prison after he previously pleaded guilty to participating in a "conspiracy to affect commerce through extortion under color of law."

According to court documents, Chambers and several other law enforcement officers were paid bribes by local towing companies to illegally solicit business from stranded drivers at accident scenes.

Guillero "Tony" Sepulveda, the owner of one of the towing companies, was sentenced Aug. 4 to 37 months in prison.

Court documents said Chambers and Sepulveda were also involved in a scheme involving a chiropractor with whom Sepulveda was acquainted. Prosecutors said the chiropractor purchased confidential accident information from Chambers to illegally solicit business from accident victims.

Authorities said Chambers was interviewed by FBI investigators in January and confessed to his role in the scheme.

Chambers was employed by the FHP between 2006 and 2015.

Follow Local 10 News on Twitter @WPLGLocal10

Hurricane Danny forms in Atlantic Ocean

0
0

Hurricane Danny has slowed down and is getting stronger as it churns in the Atlantic Ocean.

Danny formed Thursday morning, becoming the first hurricane of the 2015 Atlantic hurricane season.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Danny was traveling Thursday night west-northwest at 10 mph with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph. It was 970 miles east of the Windward Islands.

[RELATED: Subscribe for weather alerts | Hurricane Survival Guide | Track storms]

What began as the fourth tropical depression of the Atlantic season quickly developed into a tropical storm far from the United States, but it was forecast to strengthen as it made its way west across the Atlantic.

"It is definitely a small system when you consider just the cloud shield that makes up Danny," Local 10 News chief certified meteorologist Betty Davis said.

Davis said it measures about 130 miles.

"One of the things about these real small systems is that they can spin up quickly (and) they can spin down quickly," Local 10 News hurricane specialist Max Mayfield said. "It's a real challenging forecast."

Mayfield said the changing forecast is "actually good news" as it is projected to reach the Leeward Islands as a strong tropical storm.

It's too early to tell if the storm will affect the U.S., but Puerto Rico and portions of the Dominican Republic are now within the cone of error.

"When it goes over these big islands like Puerto Rico and likely, eventually, Hispaniola, that will really weaken a small system," Mayfield said.

Follow Local 10 Weather on Twitter @Local10Weather

Track Hurricane Danny

Woman claiming to be mistreated in jail flashes judge in Broward courtroom

0
0

A woman claiming she had been mistreated in jail flashed a judge Thursday in a Broward courtroom.

Susan Marie Surrette, who had been arrested on a disorderly intoxication charge, wanted to show the judge her injuries.

Judge John Hurley was presiding over the case. The questions are typical, but the encounter was not.

"I work," Surrette said.

"What do you do for work?" Hurley asked.

"I work as a hair dresser," she said.

But that's just one the things Surrette does. She then told the judge about her other job.

WATCH: Susan Marie Surrette's full court appearance

"Kayla Kupcakes. I'm an escort, too," Surrette said.

Surrette has a website to prove it. She calls herself Kayla Kupcakes and advertises that she's a porn star, escort and private dancer with a knack for some fetishes.

Surrette then started complaining about police brutality and said she has the evidence to prove it.

"I've been beaten up by police. And also this too," Surrette said, showing the judge her breasts.

"Oh, my Lord," Hurley said.

After flashing the judge, Surrette told Hurley she has medical condition.

"She's somebody that needs help," Surrette's attorney said. "She's not going to get the help that she needs at the jail."

The judge set Surrette's bond at $100 and ordered that she under a medical evaluation.

Homeowners in legal war allege retaliation by condo board

0
0

The Applegreen condos in Margate are a lot like other complexes, seemingly rundown with crumbling door frames, holes in the walls, cracks in the ceilings, lousy laundry machines and a lot of residents wondering what they are getting in return for their monthly maintenance fees.

"I call management, he never have a solution, never," said owner Jorge Calvet, who pays $214 a month in fees at the modest condo. "No money ... I don't understand that."

Calvet said that after he and another resident, Amparo Macias, began complaining about the board they still got no answers, but they did get lawsuits. The association's attorneys at the law firm Tucker & Tighe sued both for allegedly having unauthorized tenants in their units.

Macias said the association also began towing cars associated with her unit. She produces three towing receipts totaling $600, one for a tire over a white parking line and another for the crime of backing into a space instead of pulling in forward.

Perhaps most unsettling, though, were the letters, threatening, discriminatory and anonymous ones written in their native Spanish, some sent under the apparently bogus name "John Kelly."

"You are a blackmailer petty thief son of a [expletive] and I defend this country," read one in translation. "Don't say anything. Shut your mouth. I am going to report you to the police."

"Right now give this apartment to the state," read another. "I am going to make sure they take it from you and they put you in prison. Do not tell anyone. Colombians are sons of [expletive]. We do not want you around here ... I am going to make your life impossible."

It has never been established where those letters came from, and the board said it had nothing to do with them, but the attorney representing the residents, Lourdes Ferrer, said she believes it is part of a "pattern of retaliation."

"These board members are handling the money for the rest of the community," she said. "They are supposed to be looking out for the best interest of the community, not themselves. They are basically self-appointed dictators."

The man at the center of the conflict is Applegreen Vice President Abdul Sattar. Macias others collected more than 40 signatures seeking his removal from the board for allegedly harassing residents. Macias even called police and filed a restraining order against Sattar, claiming he followed her and cursed at her and that she "feared for her life that one day this will get out of hand."

In response, the association's lawyer, Sara Noonan, sent a letter threatening to sue Macias for libel, writing that her claims of discrimination and harassment against Sattar were "malicious fabrications" and warning her she would have to reimburse the association's legal fees.

Noonan said there has been no retaliation, that Calvet and Macias, who have admitted having visitors living with them, were sued legitimately for having unauthorized tenants, that the board wasn't involved in the anonymous letters. She also claimed that board members had nothing to do with towing the cars, that it was prompted by tow company patrols.

Ferrer said she's not buying it.

"That part is very clear and obvious that they are trying to shut them up based on the letters and the lawsuits, that's classic retaliation," she said.

The next court hearing in the legal war is scheduled for next month.


On this day: August 22

0
0

Teddy Roosevelt goes for a historic ride, tennis player Althea Gibson breaks racial barriers, The Supremes hit No. 1 for the first time, and Nolan Ryan notches his 5,000 career strikeout, all on this day.

Joe Philbin shows off singing, dancing skills

0
0

Miami Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin is showing off new sides to his personality.

Philbin canceled a walk-through Thursday and took the Fins to see "Straight Outta Compton."

On Friday night, at a coach talent show, Philbin cut loose in a way fans have never seen.

Several players posted video to their Instagram accounts of Philbin -- decked out in a white suit, top hat and cane -- singing and dancing.

Watch: Video 1 | Video 2

Philbin has been widely criticized for being quiet and soft-spoken.

If it's personality fans want, it's personality they got Friday night.

The Dolphins play at the Carolina Panthers on Saturday.

Follow Local 10 Sports on Twitter @Local10Sports

Peter Whyte released on $11,000 bond

0
0

A man accused of stabbing another man in a road-rage incident in Deerfield Beach earlier this week was released from jail on a $11,000 bond Friday.

Peter Whyte, 42, turned himself in to authorities Thursday. He faces charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and criminal mischief.

Broward County Judge John "Jay" Hurley set bond at $10,000 for the first charge and $1,000 for the second.

"It does seem that, if true, this is an isolated incident. Perhaps poor judgement, bad day," Hurley said.

According to Florida Highway Patrol troopers, Whyte was involved in an altercation Monday with Tawny Grogin, 22, while traveling west on Southwest 10th Street.

Troopers said Grogin and her boyfriend were driving home from the beach when Whyte cut them off. Trooper said Grogin believed that Whyte, who was driving his friend's car, was following her, so she pulled off the side of the onramp to Interstate 95, believing that Whyte would continue driving south.

Authorities said Whyte pulled over behind Grogin, got out of his car and approached her vehicle.

According to troopers, Grogin's boyfriend, Nolan Goad, 22, also got out of the car and got into a physical altercation with Whyte, and Goad was stabbed in the ribs with a screwdriver.

Goad was taken to Broward Health North, where he was treated for minor injuries.

According to an arrest report, Whyte told detectives that he suffered injuries to his eye, back, neck and left arm during the altercation and said he wanted to be medically evaluated.

Whyte's long-time girlfriend and daughter were in court Friday to support him.

"He's a good person. He does not look for confrontation with anyone. He stays to himself, goes to work, bother(s) nobody," the girlfriend said. "It's just unfortunate for him to be caught up in this. Some people look for trouble, (but) he does not."

The 2000 Grand Mercury Marquis that Whyte was believed to have been driving was found abandoned Wednesday in a Fort Lauderdale parking lot.

As he was leaving the Broward County Jail, Whyte told Local 10 News reporter John Turchin that he believes he was the victim in the altercation. He said Goad lied to detectives, claiming Goad was the person driving the other car.

According to Whyte, Goad was drunk and made racist comments to him before they got into a physical altercation.

"We were fighting. His girl came out of the car – she was in the passenger side. She come out, she grabbed my hair, ripped some of my hair out, he punched me in the face, he twist my neck. He got my head between his legs and tried to give me a head slam on the ground, so I got to fight for my life," Whyte said.

Goad told Local 10 News a different story.

"The black eye was in self-defense," he said. "If you have someone coming at you with some sort of weapon, you may understand that self-defense is the only way to stop it."

According to records, Whyte does not have an extensive criminal record other than a handful of traffic violations.

Follow Local 10 News on Twitter @WPLGLocal10

Suspected thieves in international burglary ring arrested at MIA, Bay Harbor Islands police say

0
0

Two people believed to be part of an international burglary ring were taken into custody after attempting to board an international flight Friday at Miami International Airport, Bay Harbor Islands police said.

After a year-long investigation, the Bay Harbor Islands Police Department and the Fort Lauderdale Police Department arrested two suspects while a burglary was happening in Key Biscayne.

Related: Police: Thieves target wealthy in Bay Harbor Islands

Two other suspects were arrested while attempting to board an international flight at MIA, police said. The suspects were identified as Venezuelan nationals.

An investigation consisting of video surveillance and numerous hours of surveillance by undercover detectives determined that the suspects would come to Miami and burglarize luxury condominiums along the waterway from Juno Beach to Miami, police said.

The group is responsible for an estimated $4 million worth of property stolen, according to Bay Harbor Islands police.

Multiple law enforcement agencies were involved in the investigation.

Follow Local 10 News on Twitter @WPLGLocal10

Hollywood police officer responding to call hurt in crash

0
0

A Hollywood police officer who was responding to a call was hospitalized after being involved in a crash, authorities said.

The crash happened around 7:45 p.m. Friday at South 20th Avenue and Jackson Street.

Police said the officer had the vehicle's lights and sirens on while responding to the call when the officer had a minor collision with another car.

The officer was taken to Memorial Regional Hospital as a precaution, authorities said.

The other driver was not hurt.

Follow Local 10 News on Twitter @WPLGLocal10

Homestead family struggles with officer's decision to kill Edward Foster

0
0

Some claim Edward Foster III was on his knees with his hands up when a police officer shot him. Others said he was going to shoot his gun when a police officer shot him dead.

Foster's twin sister, Andrina Foster, and other protesters said they want to know why a Homestead police officer killed him July 13. On Friday, she was shouting outside of the police department.

"My hands are up! Please don't shoot me," she said. "Please don't shoot me like you did my brother."

A memorial at the site where Foster was shot was full of items that were red and white -- the colors affiliated with the feared "Bloods" gang. Foster was linked to gang activity and was on probation for attempted murder when he died, police said.

Foster had a 9 mm Sig Sauer pistol, police said. Yet his sister is convinced that the gun wasn't his, because he had turned his life around.

"You won't give us any information," Andrina Foster said. "We are reaching out, reaching out, reaching out and no one is reaching back."

He wasn't pointing a weapon at police officer Anthony Green, his sister said. But she wasn't at the scene.  Toneric Collins and another witness claim they saw him on his knees -- just blocks away from his home.

Green was responding to reports that there was a gunman near a construction site near Southwest 187the Avenue and 328th Street, Miami-Dade police said. His life was in danger when he fired his weapon, police said.

"Get Officer Anthony Green Off The Streets," said a T-shirt Foster's sister was giving away.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement was investigating the shooting. And on Friday, Green was working at the police station, while on administrative duty, Detective Fernando Morales said.

This is the third time Green is under investigation for killing a man, police said. The Miami-Dade County State Attorney's Office determined Green was justified in using deadly force in the cases of Jason Williams in May 2005 and Anthony Cinotti in September 2007. 

Morales said Green killed Cinotti to save the life of a mother, whom Cinotti was stabbing.

"He is a highly decorated officer," Morales said. "He is very proactive and when you have a proactive officer, they are more prone to incidents."

Follow Local10.com reporter Andrea Torres on Twitter @MiamiCrime

Follow Local 10 News Anchor Shyann Malone on Twitter @ShyannMalone

Man attempts to entice mother, children to engage in incest, authorities say

0
0

A man from Deerfield Beach was charged Friday in federal court with using interstate commerce to attempt to entice a mother and her minor daughters to engage in incest.

Aaron Fink, 44, faces a mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison if he is convicted and faces up to life in prison.

According to prosecutors, Fink sent numerous sexually explicit messages via the Internet and text message to an undercover officer who posed as a single mother with two daughters who are 8 and 12 years old.

Authorities said Fink told the woman that he wanted to have sex with the mother and her daughters as part of an incestuous relationship.

According to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, Fink traveled to West Palm Beach on Aug. 13 in an attempt to meet up with the family, but was intercepted by detectives.

Investigators said Fink admitted to traveling to West Palm Beach in an attempt to "possibly" engage in sexual activity with them.

Fink is in custody in Palm Beach County and is expected to appear before a federal judge in two weeks. 

Follow Local 10 News on Twitter @WPLGLocal10


Cop threatens to knock out teeth, uses Taser on men at party

0
0

Cellphone video captured Miramar police Officer Anthony Pacetti cursing at and threatening a group of intoxicated young men at a birthday party, after insults and rocks were allegedly hurled at the officer.

Before it was over, Pacetti had tossed down his own badge and stunned two of the men with a Taser. The State Attorney's Office confirms it is reviewing the 2013 case that led to a one-day suspension for Pacetti.

"One of the little (expletive) around here was throwing rocks at my car," Pacetti yells at the men. "Because about three rocks have been thrown and I'm about to start throwing (expletive) teeth on the ground."

Pacetti's first mistake, according to internal investigators, was his decision to confront the men before back-up arrived. His next mistake was using profanity and threatening them. Another was throwing down his badge after one of the intoxicated men, David Burgos, 22, challenged him to take off the badge and fight him.

Much of the incident is on cellphone video taken by one of the men at the party. It shows Burgos, prior to his physical confrontation with Pacetti, questioning the officer, who asks him, "Are you a lawyer?"

"No," responded Burgos. "But you're threatening to knock somebody's teeth out?"

"Yes," said Pacetti.

"Who are you?" asked Burgos. "Get the (expletive) out of here."

Then off-camera Burgos allegedly challenged Pacetti to remove his badge and fight him. Pacetti tossed his badge to the ground, a move internal investigators wrote "signals to Mr. Burgos that he can now assault a police officer and he charges at Officer Pacetti."

Pacetti responded by using a Taser on Burgos and another man who was trying to restrain Burgos.

The video picks back up with Pacetti on top of Burgos ordering him to put his hands behind his back. Burgos, who is not threatening the officer at this point, does not put his hands behind his back and Pacetti stuns him again on the ground.

"You charged me!" screamed Burgos. "You charged me! I didn't do nothing."

"Stop resisting," said Pacetti.

"I'm not resisting," said Burgos. "You just threatened me!"

Pacetti received a one-day suspension for conduct unbecoming an officer and a uniform violation for removing his badge.

"Officer Pacetti faced difficult circumstances when encountering this hostile, threatening crowd of intoxicated men. His decision to take action by himself and confront the crowd with profanity and threats not only jeopardized his safety, but may have contributed to escalating the level of hostility towards him," Sgt. Jeff Armiento wrote in the investigative memo. "His behavior is a violation of Miramar Police Department Policy, as it relates to the treatment of the public in a professional manner that is absent of officious or overbearing attitude or language that may belittle, ridicule or intimidate an individual."

Burgos would plead no contest to misdemeanor assault and disorderly intoxication.

State Attorney's Office spokesman Ron Ishoy said the agency is reviewing the case, but has not begun a full-fledged criminal investigation.

Popular South Florida restaurants shut are in same shopping center

0
0

Restaurants which were ordered shut by state inspectors are some of the most highly rated and popular restaurants in South Florida, and they are in the same shopping center.

Missing Coral Springs woman found dead in wooded area, police say

0
0

A woman who was reported missing this week was found dead in a wooded area, Coral Springs police said.

Magdalena Weich, 38, was reported missing Wednesday by her boyfriend, who said that on Tuesday, Weich said she was going to Barnes & Noble at 2790 N. University Drive in Coral Springs to study.

Her boyfriend said Weich never returned home and he was further concerned because he had spoken to her boss, who said she did not show up for work, according to police.

The Coral Springs Police Department said it received a report Thursday of a woman's body lying in the heavily wooded area just east of Coral Springs High School along the north side of Sample Road.

Officers arrived and found the body, later identified as Weich, 30 feet into the wooded area, police said.

Pending results from the Broward County Medical Examiner's Office, detectives said they believe the death is suspicious due to the location of the body and the manner in which it was found.

Detectives are asking for the public's help, specifically information about any people seen walking in the area at an unusual time or vehicles parked or appearing to be broken down in the area.

Anyone with information is asked to call Sgt. Randy Rosenberg at 954-346-1794.

Follow Hatzel Vela on Twitter @hatzelvela

Follow Local 10 News on Twitter @WPLGLocal10

On this day: August 23

0
0

King George gets fed up with the rebelling colonies, a silent film legend passes away, the Earth is ready for its closeup, and an earthquake jolts D.C., all on this day.

Celebrities who have battled cancer

0
0

"Beverly Hills 90210" and "Charmed" star Shannen Doherty has confirmed that she is battling breast cancer. Click on to see her and other celebrities who have battled cancer.

Viewing all 12140 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images