MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Devin D. Brown is pastor of Community of Faith Baptist Church in Liberty City. In addition to worship services, the church, which was founded just over a year ago, offers a number of other services. These include a food bank and clothing distribution services every Friday evening. Brown has also implemented economic education initiatives, and healthcare service efforts are underway. The church is at 4101 NW 7th Ave. in Miami. All of the church’s programs and services are open to the public. For more information, call 305-759-6716. Watch the video online at SFLTimes.com.
Palm Beach County
ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson is focusing his attention on the high number of people who have cancer in the Acreage area of Palm Beach County. An unusual number of children are afflicted with brain tumors. There is concern that this cancer cluster may be the result of something in the immediate environment. Nelson has asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention to join state health agencies to investigate and begin testing.
CRIME CRACKDOWN
Riviera Beach Police Chief Clarence Williams kicked off the department’s “Operation Safe Community” in the Riviera Beach Heights neighborhood on Monday, June 29. The move is in response to the wave of crime plaguing the community in recent months, including three killings. The effort will include a highly visible and increased police presence, mobile commands, drug sweeps and more. It will continue at least through July 8, when data will be released on the effort.
EX-WORKER ROBS OLD JOB
Three people raided and robbed the Five Guys restaurant in the 1000 block of North Congress Avenue in Boynton Beach on Sunday, June 28, according to investigators. At least one turned out to be a former employee, authorities have said. Shortly after closing time, the men attacked an employee who was emptying the trash, and then corralled four others inside. They then locked them inside a freezer before looting the place. A short time later, police arrested Junior Amose Luberisse, 18, and two 17-year-olds, police say. They were charged with five counts of armed robbery, five counts of false imprisonment, and one count of carrying a concealed firearm, police said. Luberisse is a former employee of the restaurant, but police have not released information about his last date of employment or the reasons he left that job.
Broward County
INTENTIONAL HIT & RUN
Sickening, but true: Jeremy Robert Davis, 19, was arrested on Tuesday, June 30, and charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, Hollywood police said. He intentionally drove onto the sidewalk in the area of Hayes Street and 70th Avenue in Hollywood, police said. He then allegedley ran over 24-year-old pedestrian David Castillo. The incident left Castillo with several broken bones, but he is expected to survive. Davis, of Pembroke Pines, fled but was apprehended a few blocks away, where his car sustained damage, including a shattered windshield, police said.
BUDGET BATTLE ROYAL
The budget standoff between Broward Sheriff Al Lamberti and county commissioners is not letting up, and there doesn’t seem to be any common ground between the sides. County commissioners say they want Lamberti to cut more money from his budget; Lamberti says he can cut no more without sacrificing the safety of residents. One way or the other, taxpayers will get hit. One example is the new, 100-percent increase in the cost for process servers to deliver eviction notices, summonses and subpoenas. The $20 charge has been raised to $40, and you can expect other costs for services to increase as well. Welcome to hard times.
EVICTION SUICIDE
As the landlord, movers and a locksmith arrived to oversee the eviction of 28-year-old Heather Newnam from the house she rented in the 6900 block of Northwest 79th Street in Tamarac on Monday, June 29, she committed suicide by gunshot, investigators say. Friends say Newnam had fallen on hard economic times, and was facing eviction for non-payment of rent. When she answered the door, she told the men she needed to put her dogs away. Some time later, a single gunshot rang out. SWAT units were called in, and surrounded the house. After a four-hour standoff, police forced their way into the home, where they found Newnam’s body.
VEHICULAR ARSONIST CHARGED
Anthony Sannizzaro Jr., 60, of Davie, owner of the Purgatory nightclub at 1000 State Road 84 in Fort Lauderdale, was arrested on Sunday, June 28 and charged with arson, police said. A passerby reported seeing Sannizzaro setting his Cadillac on fire outside the club, according to authorities. When police arrived, the car was engulfed in flames, and Sannizzaro had burns on his right arm and shirt, police said. No information has been released on the reasons behind the alleged arson.
Miami-Dade County
AIRPORT CASINOS COMING
Miami-Dade County Manager George Burgess is recommending that county commissioners consider a plan that will bring casino gambling to Miami International Airport. The plan would use revenue to offset the $600 million – and rising – annual cost to operate the airport. It would include placing 1,000 slot machines, and card tables placed on the flight side of the airport, where travelers wait after clearing security check points. According to the proposal, this would generate as much as $20 million in annual revenue.
SOCIAL SERVICES HONORESS
Miami Dade Public Defender Carlos J. Martinez and Miami-Dade County Commission Chairman Dennis Moss were honored recently by the James E. Scott Community Association (JESCA). During the social services organization’s 84th Anniversary Gala on Saturday, June 27, JESCA chairman Larry R. Handfield presented Martinez and Moss with JESCA’S Public Leadership Award.
FREE IMMUNIZATIONS
Miami-Dade County is offering free immunizations to children who are required to get vaccines before starting school in the fall. The event is part of the county health department's Special Immunizations and Vaccines For Children programs, and is open to children two months to 18 years old. For more information and locations where the vaccines will be administered, call 786-845-0550.
FAKE COPS
It has happened again. In the early morning hours of Tuesday, June 30, a dark sedan with flashing blue and red lights pulled over a car at the intersection of Northwest 79th Street and Northwest 17th Avenue in Miami. Instead of being police, the two men who exited the supposed police car robbed and pistol-whipped the motorist, who suffered undetermined injuries. Incidents of people posing as police officers to carry out robberies are on the rise, and the crime is happening throughout South Florida. This is very serious, and will undoubtedly lead to incidents of people not stopping for legitimate officers, which could prove disastrous.
STALLWORTH’S DRUG TEST
Attorneys for NFL star Donte Stallworth are neither confirming nor denying published reports that the Cleveland Browns wide receiver tested positive for marijuana and alcohol after the March 14 accident that left a man dead. Stallworth was charged with driving under the influence at the time of the accident on the MacArthur Causeway when he hit and killed 59-year-old Mario Reyes. Stallworth reached an undisclosed settlement with Reyes’ family in May. He is currently in the Miami-Dade County Jail serving a 30-day term after reaching an agreement with prosecutors to plead guilty to one count of DUI manslaughter. After his release, he must submit to drug testing, serve two years house arrest, and perform 1,000 hours of community service. He will also be on probation for 10 years, and has lost his driving privileges for life.
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