State
HBCU MESS
Gov. Rick Scott accepted a legacy award from Bethune Cookman University despite outrage from alumni, protests and stiff opposition to his being selected for the school’s highest honor. Scott says he has provided over $50 million in funding to black universities since first being elected. But the honor may come with other expectations. A group of alumni is seeking to have the Board of Trustees formally request Scott to order a forensic audit of the HBCU’s books to determine how an alleged $5.6 million was spent without knowledge of the board. Some alumni are even considering filing a petition with the Internal Revenue Service to get to the bottom of the issue.
Palm Beach County
OFFICER IN CRISIS
The F. Malcolm Cunningham Bar Association hosted an informational town hall meeting at the Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church in West Palm Beach to discuss the Corey Jones shooting by Palm Beach Gardens Police Officer Nouman Raja. It was reported that in the past, Raja punched Angela Polchlopek, who tried to flee from a psychiatric unit at JFK Medical Center. The FBI also announced it is joining the investigation into the shooting death of Jones.
KICKING CARSON
Donald Trump still leads national polls for the Republican presidential nomination, but he has slipped to second place in Iowa. West Palm Beach resident Ben Carson has taken an eight point lead over Trump in the Hawkeye state. Trump vowed to attack Carson and he has, calling Carson “super low energy” and questioning why he is even in the race. Carson responded by reiterating that he would not crawl into the mud with Trump.
Broward County
DIRECTOR SENTENCED
Delvis Demaine Rogers, 28, of Hollywood, the former assistant band director at Plantation High School, has been sentenced to more than five years in federal prison. Rogers admitted to stealing the identities of students and filing $750,000 in fake tax returns. He must also pay back more than $129,000 in refunds he received.
BIG ENDORSEMENT
Patrick Jabouin is a licensed realtor who works for the Broward Sheriff’s Office as a liaison for Sheriff Scott Israel’s Community Outreach Team. Jabouin is in the race to represent Florida House of Representatives District 95; which consists of portions of Lauderhill, Lauderdale Lakes, Sunrise, Tamarac, North Lauderdale and Margate. Incumbent Rep. Hazelle Rogers is term limited and cannot run for re-election. Other announced candidates are Robert Lynch and Roxanne Y. Valies, however, Jabouin has emerged as the front runner after receiving an endorsement from Sheriff Scott Israel.
NEIGHBOR ARRESTED
Debra Kincy, 63, is in custody for the death of her 64-year-old neighbor, Charlotte Nicholas. Kincy was wearing a blood stained dress and provided several interviews to the media where she explained details of the crime scene that could only be known by the suspect. She also pawned several rings that belonged to the victim the same day of the murder. Sheriff’s detectives say the victim was stabbed numerous times.
Miami-Dade County
HOME INVASION
Eduardo Duran answered a knock on the door at his home located in unincorporated Miami-Dade County. Then two armed men forced their way inside the home and robbed Duran, who was shot in the stomach before the men fled in a black-colored sedan. Duran was taken to Kendall Regional Trauma Center and is in stable condition. Anyone with information about the shooters is urged to contact Crimestoppers at 305-471-8477. There’s a cash reward for help leading to an arrest.
SUSPECTS CAPTURED
Luis Jimenez, 18, and Sadiel Iglesias, 19, are charged in the residential burglary in Hialeah, where the victim family’s pet dog was also killed. Police suspect the pair was involved in other burglaries around the city. They are charged with burglary, animal cruelty, grand theft and criminal mischief.
BODYBUILDERS CHARGED
The husband-and-wife bodybuilding team of Milagros Cowan, and Alex Paez are facing new animal cruelty charges. Paez was previously arrested on charges of animal cruelty. Now the couple is facing new counts for allegedly starving their horses and failing to provide care. The emaciated animals were rescued from a ranch in Southwest Miami-Dade County.
THIEF SURRENDERS
Daniella Martinez, 27, went into the Avante Hair Salon in Miami and asked to use the bathroom. A short time later, a salon employee realized her purse was missing. A look at surveillance video footage showed the pregnant Martinez taking the purse. Police noticed it was the same woman wanted in several other thefts in Miami. A relative saw the news reports and convinced Martinez to turn herself in, which she did.
Monroe County
TECH SUSPENDED
A CVS pharmacy technician, who was caught stealing pills from her employer in Key West, has had her license suspended by the state. Amy Catherine Topolski, 37, worked at the CVS Pharmacy on Truman Avenue. Topolski admitted to stealing, over five months, about 500 Tylenol No. 4 pills and 500 Soma pills. She was arrested in June and charged with two felony counts of drug possession and one misdemeanor petty-theft count. In addition to the license suspension, she also received probation.
HOUSE FIRE
Lamar Bailey, 30, died when the kitchen in his Key West home caught fire at 3:30 in the morning. The house is located in the historic Bahamas Village community, had no smoke alarms and Bailey lived alone.
WANTED
Timothy Thomas, 25, is considered armed and dangerous. He is wanted in the Oct. 5th armed robbery of Merrill Sands, which led to the lockdown of Key West area schools. During the commission of the crime, Thomas allegedly shot Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputy Josh Gordon, but the bullet did not penetrate the bullet proof vest he was wearing. Anyone with information about his whereabouts should call 305-481-8060.
[…] Around South Florida […]