Around South Florida with Elgin Jones 11-21-13

FREE RIDE?
Jude Dumel, 27, was arrested by Boca Raton police who said he was riding the Tri-Rail commuter train without a ticket receipt showing that he had paid the fare. They could have issued him a warning but, instead, hauled him off to the county’s main jail, where a judge released him pending a court date.

NEW CEO
Boca Raton-based Office Depot is finalizing its merger with OfficeMax and, after an exhaustive search, Roland Smith has been named the new company’s CEO. Smith, who was selected over more than 150 candidates, is known for restructuring companies that have been in trouble, including Wendy’s, Arby’s, American Golf Corp. and AMF Bowling. He has been holding town hall meetings with employees.

MORE SHOOTINGS
Palm Beach County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating two separate shootings in Belle Glade this week. The first occurred in the 1500 block of Northwest Avenue G, where a man and teenage boy were shot. Another shooting happened in the 200 block of Southwest Third Street, where a man was shot. The condition of the victims, who were taken to area hospitals, is not known. The gun violence in black neighborhoods continues.

Broward County

MANAGER CHARGED
Aiman Adnan Asad, 26, of Pembroke Pines, a manager at the Community Check Cashing Store, 3214 W. Broward Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, and another man who works there were arrested on dealing in stolen property and other charges. Fort Lauderdale police said they raided the business after an investigation revealed they were purchasing stolen items. Police, who acted on tips, said the business was an alleged go-to place to offload stolen goods.

HOLIDAY FEAST
Elder Joshua Andrews and his congregation at the House of God Church are again giving away free turkeys for the holidays. It will take place Saturday, Nov. 23, at the church, 441 NW Seventh Ave., Fort Lauderdale. Recipients must be at least 18 years old and must take along valid identification. The lines are usually long at this annual event, so those who may not be able to stand for long periods of time are being urged to take a chair along. Those wishing more information are asked to call 954-583-1756 or 954-261-2085.

NEW JUDGE
Gov. Rick Scott has appointed another Republican former prosecutor to the bench. This time it is Giuseppina Miranda, who has been a general magistrate since 2007.  Miranda is a County Court judge who worked for the Broward State Attorney’s Office from 1999-04. She went into private practice and was hired as a magistrate in 2007. She graduated from the University of Florida and earned a law degree from Nova Southeastern University Law School. The courts in Florida are now overwhelmingly occupied by former prosecutors, giving rise to questions about fairness and balance.

Miami-Dade County

ANTI-VIOLENCE RALLY
The Rev. Richard P. Dunn, pastor of Faith Community Baptist Church, organized a rally and vigil against the violence that has gripped Liberty City for years. The shootings continue, with innocent bystanders being wounded or killed by the senseless violence. Dunn, a Miami City Commission candidate, is being criticized for organizing the rally during the campaign in which he is in a runoff against Keon Hardemon.

THE SOSA MANSION
Former major league baseball player Sammy Sosa has purchased a 7,273-square-foot ocean-side mansion in Golden Beach for $7.6 million. The home sits on a half acre of land just blocks away from the Intracoastal Waterway. The two-story estate was built in 1998 and has a pool, seven bedrooms, eight and a half bathrooms and more. This is nice living.
Monroe County

MACHETE FIGHT
Douglas Ney, 46, of Key West has been charged after a fight with friends in which he is accused of using a liquor bottle to break a car windshield. He left the home where the fight took place but returned and attacked several people, one of whom grabbed a machete and cut Ney on the arm, police said. When officers arrived, they arrested Ney, who suffered non-life threatening injuries. The investigation is continuing and additional arrests could be made.

HISTORIC HONOR
A fast response Coast Guard cutter has been commissioned in the name of Charles W. David Jr., who was a black World War II decorated hero. David died at 26 years of age after he contracted pneumonia following his role in rescuing 230 sailors from the frigid waters of the northern Atlantic Ocean after their ship was sunk by enemy torpedoes. Coast Guard Cutter Charles W. David, Jr. is a Sentinel Class, designed to conduct drug and illegal migrant interdictions. It is also a search-and-rescue vessel and is based in Key West.

PLEA DEAL
Dennis Zecca, a former commander of U.S. Coast Guard Station Islamorada, has been charged in a murder-for-hire scheme and will appear in federal court next week. He is accused of hiring someone to kill Bruce Schmitt, a realtor. He is also charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and providing a firearm to a convicted felon.