KEEPING SILENT
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has advanced a proposal to legalize gun silencers when hunting. Critics say this could increase the risk of people being hit by stray bullets if they are unaware that hunters may be near. FWC Commissioner Brian Yablonski appears to be leaning toward supporting the measure. If approved, the cost of these devices would decrease, leading to the possibility of them being used in urban areas to commit crimes and acts of violence. For some reason opponents have been keeping quiet while it moves toward approval.
Palm Beach County
STUNT OR SUICIDE?
State Rep. David Kerner, (D-Lake Worth), is touting a bill that would legalize assisted suicide in Florida. His “death with dignity” bill would allow anyone with a terminal illness to visit a doctor to help him or her commit suicide. It’s not a stunt, but Kerner has little chance of getting even a vote on this.
PRISON TIME
John Goodman, the millionaire polo mogul from Wellington has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for the DUI manslaughter conviction. In 2010. Goodman crashed his Bentley in a car driven by 23-year-old Patrick Wilson that landed in a canal. Goodman, 51, left scene without attempting to help Wilson, who died. Palm Beach County Chief Circuit Judge Jeffrey Colbath denied a motion from Goodman’s attorney for a $4 million cash bond while he appeals the conviction.
Broward County
FACEBOOK IN ACTION
Ramon Fernando Rivera-Lopez, 35, of New Port Richey, is charged in the armed burglary and robbery of a Dania Beach woman who he followed as she left a store. Rivera-Lopez was captured on the store’s video, which Broward Sheriff’s Office detectives circulated seeking the public’s help to identify him. A tipster contacted them about pictures of Rivera-Lopez wearing the same shirt worn during the crime on a Facebook page, which led to his arrest. Book’em Danno!
HUNGER STRIKE
Jillian Pim is more than 30 days into a hunger strike in protest of the City of Fort Lauderdale’s ordinance banning feeding the needy in public places. The city has repeatedly issued citations to 90-year-old homeless advocate Arnold Abbott for violating the law. Pim, 30, of Dania Beach, has now dried up like a prune and her condition is deteriorating as Fort Lauderdale is being condemned for its ban from organizations from around the world.
PITIFUL PIMP
William General Jones, 43, has been arrested on 11 counts of human trafficking related charges. He is accused of having sex with a runaway teenage girl, videotaping the encounters and having her work as a prostitute. He was caught in a sting after Fort Lauderdale police responded to an ad on the Backpage.com website. Jones then brought the child to a home to have sex for $200 but the men he thought were customers were actually police, who placed him under arrest.
SUPER THEFT
Former Miami Dolphins player Bob Kuechenberg’s home was burglarized and suspect Ivy Peterson made off with two Super Bowl rings. Peterson was spotted exiting the home through a window. Police were called and a dragnet set up where a K-9 captured him fleeing through the parking lot of a nearby school. Peterson faces multiple counts of burglary, trespassing and possession of cocaine charges.
Miami-Dade County
A HEAT THANKSGIVING
Miami Heat is holding its annual Thanksgiving Day celebration where players and team officials will serve food baskets to 600 needy families. In its 23rd year, the event takes place at the Miami Rescue Mission from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. today.
HIGHER LEARNING
Miami Dade College is dealing with 18 students who have been charged in an identity theft scheme. The students are accused of stealing identities of students to open bank accounts, file fake tax returns and apply for social security. Reportedly, $1.9 million was fraudulently obtained through the scheme.
NO TURKEYS
Miami Gardens Councilwoman Lisa C. Davis sponsored the turkey giveaway at Cloverleaf Park, that got out of hand. After waiting for hours in long lines and enduring the rain, residents were told they had run out of turkeys. It was a mess, and people were understandably upset, but things happen and hopefully it will be a learning experience for organizers.
Monroe County
AGENT SUSPENDED
Kathy Smith, a Florida Department of Law Enforcement agent, is the target of a mortgage fraud investigation. According to sources, she and her former husband signed mortgage documents swearing that they were married, even though they had been divorced. Stay tuned.
CAPTURED
Horkene Cade, 36, of Marathon, was facing 15-years in prison over weapons, cocaine possession and other charges. A judge granted him a weeklong furlough to get his personal business in order on Nov. 12. He was supposed to return Nov. 17 for transport to state prison, but never showed. Warrants were issued and he was captured in Homestead and is now facing other charges.
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