Palm Beach County
CASE SETTLED
A $250,000 settlement has been reached in the Fiddie Mae Hollis wrongful death lawsuit. Hollis, a mother of five, was suffering from pneumonia and called paramedics. She was having trouble breathing and had a temperature of 102 degrees. Paramedics would not transport her to the hospital. Her condition worsened and paramedics were called back to the home again, the following day. This time Hollis was taken to a hospital, but it did not save her life. Hollis died from complications due to pneumonia. Her family filed suit alleging negligence on the part of Palm Beach County paramedics.
BURGLARY BOYS
Boca Raton police responded to a report of a stolen vehicle at 1900 South Conference Drive. Once there, the victim told them he awakened to hear his truck being backed out of his driveway. He went outside and confronted the pair of thieves. A struggle ensued and the men fled on foot. One of them, Brandon Bayer, was located hiding in a nearby backyard. The other, his brother Gavin Bayer, was captured after employees at an area Starbucks restaurant called 911 to report a dirty man had run into the store. An investigation has linked the siblings to numerous thefts and break-ins around the area. They are facing numerous charges. Book’em Danno!
TAKE THAT!
City of Riviera Beach officials have renamed a section of Old Dixie Highway that runs through the predominantly black municipality in honor of President Barack Obama. It’s fitting that a roadway that was constructed in honor of Confederate slave owners, is now named in honor of this nation’s first black president.
Broward County
SPINOSA SENTENCED
Frank Spinosa, 54, a former TD Bank vice president and one of the crooks involved in the Scott Rothstein $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme, is going to prison. Spinosa accepted a plea deal in October and has now been sentenced to 30-months in federal prison and one year of probation. Spinosa convinced Rothstein’s investors that their money was being held in a special TD Bank account, when it was not. The account was a fake and led investors to dump more money into the scheme.
SEEKING DOZIER
Rev. O’Neal Dozier, founder and senior pastor of the Pompano Beach-based Worldwide Christian Center Church, is in vogue once again. A number of the U.S. presidential campaigns are seeking Dozier’s support, but that of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is not one of them. In 2006 Bush removed Dozier from his post on the Judicial Nominating Commission over comments Dozier made about Islam. Ironically, Bush is trailing businessman Donald Trump in the contest for the Republican presidential nomination. Trump has also gained media attention for his own positions on Islam.
THIEVING DIVA
Davie police are seeking a woman who they believe preys on wealthy, middle-aged men at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood. One of the victims took the woman to his Davie home, where they had a few and then he passed out. The next day, the victim woke up to find the woman gone and so was his Rolex watch, $850 in cash and a handgun. She is described as black and in her twenties. The victims may have been drugged. Any other victims are asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.
Miami-Dade County
CITY OUTRAGE
Opa-locka Mayor Myra Taylor and her colleagues could face an unprecedented recall effort. As the city’s financial woes worsen and the potential ramifications surface, there are increasing calls for Taylor’s ouster. At the same time, federal agents are pouring over city documents and deals dating back years.
ANOTHER SHOOTING
16-year-old Jamal Pieze was shot seven times in an Allapattah neighborhood. Two teenagers who adorned hoodies to conceal their faces, were walking down NW 17th Avenue at 39th Street. They opened fire on Pieze, who is a Miami High School football player. He survived and now police are asking anyone with information to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.
BRIBERY CHARGES
Miami city building inspector Jose Fabregas has been indicted on bribery charges. He allegedly pushed contractors to allow a certain food truck company to serve workers at their construction sites. He was paid in cash for his misdeeds and has confessed to the crimes.
Monroe County
SUPPLIER SOLD
All Keys Gas Service, on Big Pine Key, has been sold to New Jersey-based Suburban Propane Partners. The company operates Propane USA, which has service locations throughout South Florida and is headquartered in Margate. It is not clear how many outlets will remain in the Keys, which concerns some Monroe County residents about propane availability.
MISSING FUNDS INVESTIGATED
The Monroe County School Board has agreed to conduct a forensic audit to determine what happened to over $22,000 that is unaccounted for at Horace O’Bryant School in Key West. School Board Vice Chairman John Dick demanded that Superintendent Mark Porter bring discipline recommendations to the board for everyone and anyone involved.
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