Fighting Back
Amid increasing calls for an independent investigation into allegations by former Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald Bailey that he was fired for refusing to work on Gov. Rick Scott reelection campaign, the governor is firing back. Scott is adamant Bailey resigned, a claim Bailey denies. He says he was fired for refusing to target a county official who had done nothing wrong. Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam are calling for an investigation.
Palm Beach County
Billionaires Sex Scandal
Virginia Roberts, is the woman who has filed a sworn court affidavit alleging she was a sex slave for music industry billionaire Jeffrey Epstein. Roberts says she was having paid sex with Epstein since she was 15 and also was paid to have sex other people, including attorney Alan Dershowitz and Great Britain’s Prince Andrew. Both have denied the claims. Epstein has settled more than a dozen lawsuits filed over similar allegations that he is a pedophile and paid underage girls for sex at his various mansions.
Not Smart
Deondrae Hall, 38, is facing charges after allegedly going to the Boynton Beach Police Station and asking two officers to loan him their guns to get revenge on people who supposedly robbed him. The officers determined he was drunk or high on something and placed him under arrest. They also found a bag of cocaine on in his pockets. He is facing corruption by threat against a public servant, disorderly intoxication and possession of cocaine.
Wireless Wars
AT&T has installed another 240 cellular phone towers throughout Palm Beach County, which will enable the company to handle more traffic on its mobile 4G LTE network. Expect a new round of price wars as Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile are all competing against AT&T for customers.
Broward County
Wawa Is Here
Wawa, the Pennsylvania-based convenience store chain is making the big move into the South Florida market. Wawa stores are opening in Palm Beach and Broward counties and will compete against 7 Eleven, Race Trac and others. Wawa is known for its fresh hoagie sandwiches and coffee. The stores also sell gas and other items.
Community Summit
Bethel AME Church’s 2015 Men’s Day Celebration will feature a powerhouse lineup for its “Real Talk: Our Community and Law Enforcement.” Panelists for this no-holds barred discussion will include attorney Benjamin L. Crump, Broward Sheriff Scott Israel, Broward Public Defender Howard Finkelstein, Broward State Attorney Michael Satz, Broward NAACP President Marsha Ellison. Law Enforcement practices; the Ferguson, MO., and Eric Garner decisions; North Miami Beach Police Department’s use of Black suspect’s mug shots for target practice, community involvement and more will be discussed. It will take place 1 p.m. Feb. 14 at Bethel AME Church, 405 N.W. Third Ave. in Pompano Beach. For more information, call 954-943-6220.
Miami-Dade County
Teacher Stalked
Jordan Sotomayor, 18, is charged with stalking a teacher for more than a year. He is a student at Miami Sunset Senior High School. The teacher tried unsuccessfully to keep Sotomayor, who reportedly has a reputation for aggressively pursuing female students, away from her. He has been charged as an adult. Book’em Danno!
Assault Suit
Susan Ganz, 61, a physician, and Marla Geltner, 49, are claiming in separate lawsuits filed against the University of Miami that Vice Chair of Administration Rafic Warwar physically assaulted them during a staff meeting. They allege the attacks, which consisted of a karate chop, were witnessed by dozens of employees and was done in response to their raising concerns of personnel shortages, poor training and other workplace deficiencies. Attorney and former state legislator Dan Gelber, who spoke on behalf of UM, said the college investigated the allegations and they were unfounded. UM has not released any details about any investigation.
Principal Resigns
Dr. Lucia Cox, principal of Sunset High School, has resigned. She stepped down after students circulated pictures on social media sites depicting filthy conditions at school. Some of the photos showed mold infested juice coolers, dirty bathrooms and discolored tap drinking water from faucets.
Monroe County
Loving Attack
William Roberts, 63, of Tennessee is charged in bizarre assault in Islamorada. A woman called police to report Roberts knocked on her back door and was wearing only a sweater she had left inside her car. He allegedly began attacking her with a stick saying it was because he loved her. She managed to wrestle free and ran into her house to call police. Roberts fled and was captured a short distance away. The victim says she never saw him before and has no idea who is he is.
Frightened Tourists
A family visiting from North Carolina barricaded themselves inside the at the Upper Matecumbe Key resort where they were staying after hearing gun shots. Robert Wells, 54, his wife Ruth grabbed their children, ran inside their rooms, and called 911. Sheriff’s deputies arrived and determined the shots came from Jeffrey Spencer Bennett, a doctor whose property is across the street. Bennett said he was shooting at a large iguana that was sitting on his seawall and not in the direction of the family. They did not want to press charges after learning what had taken place.
No Comment