Treasure Coast Police and Sheriff News Headlines

Lockdown at Samuel S. Gaines Academy lifted
A lockdown is in place for Samuel S. Gaines Academy on Jenkins Road in Fort Pierce

Okeechobee man, 70, shot in the buttocks leads deputies to marijuana grow house
A shooting involving a 70-year-old-Okeechobee man led Sheriff's deputies to seize more than $200,000 in marijuana plants, according to a press release Thursday.

Stuart Gators fan loses $500 trying to buy tickets to BCS game
Stuart resident Michael Ciferri called Martin County Sheriff's Office deputies Wednesday after he opened up a UPS package to find no Gator tickets and his $500 long gone.

Palm Beach Commissioner McCarty resigns amid corruption scandal
In her resignation letter, County Commissioner Mary McCarty said she accepted free and discounted hotel rooms and services. She also said she failed to recuse herself from bond issues that benefited her husband's employers and "through them both my husband and me." "I am disgusted with myself for, once again, placing the commission that I respect so much in an untenable situation." The resignation takes effect at 5 p.m. Thursday.

2 fake officers awaken Stuart man in search for vehicle
Deputies, called Wednesday night to a home on Southeast Bridge Road, were told by the victim that on Dec. 28 around 4 a.m., two men dressed in dark clothing, wearing stocking caps and badges around their necks woke him up after banging on his door, according to the report. The victim said he didn't call authorities immediately because he didn't know the men were fake officers.

S. Florida man accused in 100-crime spree linked to con in Indian River County
Derrick Lewis, 31, of North Lauderdale, is accused of presented himself as a Florida Lottery official at a 7-Eleven convenience store to make off with $1,820 in scratch-off tickets. Throughout southeast Florida, Lewis is accused of committing about 100 crimes after his release from prison in July.

Visitor defecates on Fort Pierce woman's porch
A 31-year-old woman on Wednesday found a likely unwelcome surprise on her porch -- a human bowel movement with an "overwhelming" stench, according to a police report released Thursday. The victim told investigators the doorbell to her home in the 700 block of Beach Court rang, and she saw a red Jeep Cherokee blocking the driveway. However, she didn't recognize the vehicle, so she didn't answer the door.

Leekin to accept plea deal in Port St. Lucie child abuse case
Judith Leekin, 63, was arrested in July 2007, accused of forcing her 11 adopted children to sleep on the floor of a utility closet, binding them with plastic ties and handcuffs, beating them and keeping them away from school and medical care.

Bullets don't injure fleeing man, but tree does
Early morning gunfire at an Avenue D establishment didn?t injure the 25-year-old man. Running from the scene at Wilson?s Game Room, however, proved a different matter, according to a recently released police report.

Ron White plea deal accepted in Vero Beach
California comedian Ron White won't serve time in jail on drug charges as a judge has accepted his plea deal.

Jury finds Chaney guilty of bank robbery
Sebastian area resident James Chaney Jr. is guilty of all charges in connection with a Roseland bank robbery in 2007, including using a fake pipe bomb, a jury ruled Wednesday.

Sebastian businessman's trial on grand-theft charges could start in February
Sebastian businessman Damien Gilliams' trial on state grand-theft charges could start in February or March, his attorney, Nicole Menz, said Wednesday.

Man nabbed after woman says he performed oral sex on her as she slept
Detectives charged a man with sexual battery after a woman said the man performed oral sex on her while she was sleeping, according to an arrest affidavit.

Port St. Lucie man charged with sexual battery, resisting arrest
A Port St. Lucie man accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl was arrested Tuesday afternoon in Indiantown, according to an affidavit released by the Martin County Sheriff's Office.

Indian River County Sheriff Loar names Elder as second in command
A longtime state law enforcement agent and assessor was named Wednesday as second in command for Indian River County Sheriff Deryl Loar's new administration.

Stuart man, two juveniles arrested in connection with burglary
A Stuart man and two male juveniles have been arrested in connection with an attempted armed burglary that happened Wednesday morning, according to an affidavit released by the Martin County Sheriff's Office.

Stuart man, two juveniles arrested, accused of using shotgun to break into concession stand
A Stuart man and two male juveniles have been arrested in connection with an attempted armed burglary that happened Wednesday morning, according to an affidavit released by the Martin County Sheriff?s Office.

Indian River Sheriff Loar names undersheriff
A longtime state law enforcement agent and assessor was named Wednesday second-in-command for Indian River County Sheriff Deryl Loar?s new administration. As undersheriff, Tim Elder brings a work ethic that will enhance the overall operation of the Sheriff?s Office, Loar said.

Officials: Polk man went singing, dancing after murdering father
Robert Farley was singing and dancing to the Temptations classic "Papa was a Rollin' Stone" soon after he shot and killed his elderly father on New Year's Eve, officials said Wednesday. "This was an unfortunate and bizarre murder from the beginning," Polk Sheriff Grady Judd said in a statement, "and, when you see Robert Farley dancing and singing this song, after having just murdered his father, it just becomes even more bizarre."

Indian River County News Headlines

Vero Beach officials will look at possibility of revamping utilities advisory commission
An upcoming rate study and a switch to a new power provider is more likely to lower electric bills and make sure customers in and out of the city are treated equally than creating a new authority to take over the city?s utilities would, according to city officials.

Traffic rerouted after dump truck turns over in accident on 58th Avenue in Indian River Co. | Video
Traffic is being diverted from the intersection of 58th Avenue and 49th Street where a dump truck turned over on its side Thursday, spilling several concrete blocks onto the road. The accident happened at 4:10 p.m.

Plea deal keeps former Sebastian River High teacher from facing molestation charges
A former Sebastian River High School teacher won't face molestation charges after a judge accepted a settlement deal Wednesday.

S. Florida man accused in 100-crime spree linked to con in Indian River County
Derrick Lewis, 31, of North Lauderdale, is accused of presented himself as a Florida Lottery official at a 7-Eleven convenience store to make off with $1,820 in scratch-off tickets. Throughout southeast Florida, Lewis is accused of committing about 100 crimes after his release from prison in July.

Russ Lemmon: Name fits teen on path to Obama
Should she one day aspire for the highest office in the land, her name will be as much an asset as Barack Obama's was a hindrance.

FCAT bonus money may be redistributed in Indian River County
Thanks to their students' progress on the FCAT, many teachers had a little extra money for the holidays.

Ron White plea deal accepted in Vero Beach
California comedian Ron White won't serve time in jail on drug charges as a judge has accepted his plea deal.

Vero Beach utility customers may see 5 percent reduction in electric bills
Customers of Vero Beach Municipal Utilities should see about a 5 percent decrease in their electric bills this month as a result of the declining fuel prices.

Indian River County Sheriff Loar names Elder as second in command
A longtime state law enforcement agent and assessor was named Wednesday as second in command for Indian River County Sheriff Deryl Loar's new administration.

Sebastian businessman's trial on grand-theft charges could start in February
Sebastian businessman Damien Gilliams' trial on state grand-theft charges could start in February or March, his attorney, Nicole Menz, said Wednesday.

Man nabbed after woman says he performed oral sex on her as she slept
Detectives charged a man with sexual battery after a woman said the man performed oral sex on her while she was sleeping, according to an arrest affidavit.

Melbourne man treated, released from hospital after being ejected from van in Vero Beach
A Melbourne man was treated and released from a hospital Tuesday, the same afternoon he was ejected from a Federal Express van.

Hatch's trial to be on March 11 docket call in Indian River County
The criminal trial of disbarred attorney Ira C. Hatch Jr. will be discussed at a docket call on March 11. No trial date was set was set at Wednesday's docket call but his attorney, Greg Eisenmenger said he would be ready for trial in 60 days.

Florida?s School Recognition Program bonuses to end?
Thanks to their students? progress on the FCAT, many teachers had a little extra money for the holidays. But they might not be able to count on bonuses from Florida?s School Recognition Program again and raises aren?t likely either.

Indian River Sheriff Loar names undersheriff
A longtime state law enforcement agent and assessor was named Wednesday second-in-command for Indian River County Sheriff Deryl Loar?s new administration. As undersheriff, Tim Elder brings a work ethic that will enhance the overall operation of the Sheriff?s Office, Loar said.

Vero Beach power customers to see bills drop thanks to cheaper fuel
Customers of Vero Beach Municipal Utilities should see about a 5 percent decrease in their electric bills this month as a result of declining fuel prices. For a customer using about 2,500 kilowatt hours a month, the monthly bill could drop from about $368 to about $350.

Ruling announced in Ron White marijuana case
In November, White?s attorney, Jeff Battista, and prosecutors reach a plea deal, which Wild accepted: six months probation along with fines and fees and suspension of his driving privileges for two years.

Man charged with sexual battery on sleeping Vero woman
The woman told the Sheriff's Office that Negron had stayed at her home after a night of drinking among friends. At 5:15 a.m. Tuesday, the woman was sleeping in her bed when Negron, who she assumed initially was her boyfriend, took off her pants and performed oral sex on her.

Florida News Headlines

Palm Beach Commissioner McCarty resigns amid corruption scandal
In her resignation letter, County Commissioner Mary McCarty said she accepted free and discounted hotel rooms and services. She also said she failed to recuse herself from bond issues that benefited her husband's employers and "through them both my husband and me." "I am disgusted with myself for, once again, placing the commission that I respect so much in an untenable situation." The resignation takes effect at 5 p.m. Thursday.

Funeral today for John Travolta's son
A private memorial service for Jett will be held Thursday afternoon for family and close friends in Ocala, his publicist said. Doctors in the Bahamas performed an autopsy on Jett on Monday but did not release results. A Bahamas undertaker said the teen's death certificate had "seizure" as the cause of death. The teen had a history of seizures; his body was cremated Monday and flown to the United States. the same night.

S. Florida man accused in 100-crime spree linked to con in Indian River County
Derrick Lewis, 31, of North Lauderdale, is accused of presented himself as a Florida Lottery official at a 7-Eleven convenience store to make off with $1,820 in scratch-off tickets. Throughout southeast Florida, Lewis is accused of committing about 100 crimes after his release from prison in July.

No jackpot winners in Wednesday's Powerball; PSL ticket winner in Fantasy 5
There were no jackpot winners in Wednesday's Powerball drawing, although more than $8.3 million in prizes were awarded across the nation. However, two winners of Florida's "Fantasy 5" game will collect $112,317.03 each, the Florida Lottery said Thursday. The winning tickets were bought in Ormond Beach and Port St. Lucie, lottery officials reported.

Teacher to be sentenced in hand slamming incident
Teacher who slammed student's hand in door to be sentenced for battery

Disney?s Space Mountain to close for renovations
Space Mountain ? one of Walt Disney World?s most iconic attractions ? will be closing this spring for a makeover. Disney said Wednesday the ride in Orlando, Florida, will close April 19 so the 34-year-old attraction can be refurbished. Park officials expect the ride to reopen later in the year, but no date has been set.

Florida's quality of education ranks No. 10 in nation
Today, pigs fly.

Florida ranks No. 10 among states in education quality, according to the latest annual report card from the highly regarded Education Week newspaper.

The rankings, released Wednesday, are based on six broad categories -- including student achievement, standards and accountability, and funding -- and dozens of specific indicators, such as licensing requirements for teachers and scores on Advanced Placement exams for high school students.

State says Citizens Property Insurance rate freeze should end
Citizens Property Insurance should be allowed to end its three-year rate freeze and start hiking homeowner insurance rates as soon as next January, a state task force recommends.

Magazine ranks Florida 10th in education quality
Even while Florida?s schools struggle financially, a report card issued Wednesday by Education Week magazine shows them making academic progress and ranks the state 10th nationwide.

Disney World's Space Mountain to close in April for renovations
Space Mountain ? one of Walt Disney World?s most iconic attractions ? will be closing this spring for a makeover.

Ticket just 15 mph over speed limit to pop you for $233
Next time you feel the urge to put the pedal to the metal, think twice. Getting caught cruising 15 mph over the speed limit will come with at least a $233 ticket, according to a new traffic fee schedule tentatively endorsed by Florida legislators.

Officials: Polk man went singing, dancing after murdering father
Robert Farley was singing and dancing to the Temptations classic "Papa was a Rollin' Stone" soon after he shot and killed his elderly father on New Year's Eve, officials said Wednesday. "This was an unfortunate and bizarre murder from the beginning," Polk Sheriff Grady Judd said in a statement, "and, when you see Robert Farley dancing and singing this song, after having just murdered his father, it just becomes even more bizarre."

Gainesville teen sexually assaults girl in special-needs class
The teen was charged this week with sexual battery and false imprisonment. Another boy is accused of helping hold down the girl, who is also 14.

Potential jurors in turnpike slayings grapple with death penalty question
As jury selection for the federal trial of the 2006 Florida's Turnpike killings entered its second day Wednesday, grappling with the ability to impose the death penalty remained an overriding issue in the case. Nearly all jurors interviewed had expressed strong feelings about the death penalty, both for and against.

Shooting suspects escape after standoff at Pinellas home, but were suspects ever inside?
A shooting Wednesday morning in St. Petersburg sent a man to the hospital and led to a standoff between three suspects and police. However, a woman who lives at the home where the standoff occurred said the suspects were never inside the house.

Florida may shut off free orange juice welcome centers
Florida may shut down its welcome centers that serve free orange juice and could also sharply curtail television ads that beckon snow-weary Northerners to the Sunshine State. Lawmakers are considering steep cuts to Visit Florida, the public-private program that promotes tourism, to help avoid a budget deficit of at least $2.3 billion.

How would you spend your Powerball winnings?
As wannabe millionaires line up for their shot at the $105 million Powerball, we got to thinking. How would you spend that kind of money? Tell us here.

Sales for $105 million Powerball continue until 10 tonight
It's like Christmas in January -- and not just for Florida gamblers with visions of Powerball millions dancing in their heads. The Florida Lottery hit it rich because the game launches tonight in the Sunshine State with a supersized prize of $105 million. Powerball sales continue today until 10 p.m., 40 minutes before Lotto sales are cut off.

Nursing homes face Medicaid cuts as lawmakers face budget gap
For the 79,000 Floridians who live in a nursing home, life is going to get worse, according to advocates who warned Tuesday that the Florida Legislature is going too far in its rush to close a $2.4 billion budget gap. The proposal -- which would cost the state's 680 nursing homes as much as $220 million this year and next -- would be a severe blow, said Tony Marshall, spokesman for the Florida Health Care Association. The cuts during the current fiscal year that ends on June 30 would amount to about $70 million.

United States & World News Headlines

N.Y. man in divorce wants kidney back he donated to wife, or $1.5M
A Long Island surgeon embroiled in a nearly four-year divorce proceeding wants his estranged wife to return the kidney he donated to her, although he says he'll settle for $1.5 million in compensation.

Funeral today for John Travolta's son
A private memorial service for Jett will be held Thursday afternoon for family and close friends in Ocala, his publicist said. Doctors in the Bahamas performed an autopsy on Jett on Monday but did not release results. A Bahamas undertaker said the teen's death certificate had "seizure" as the cause of death. The teen had a history of seizures; his body was cremated Monday and flown to the United States. the same night.

IRS tax compliance costly for individuals, businesses
The nation's tax code is so complex that taxpayers spend nearly $200 billion a year on the work required to comply with requirements, the government's taxpayer advocate said in a report released Wednesday. The report also said the Internal Revenue Service should do more to help financially strapped taxpayers meet their obligations, an issue addressed by the IRS on Tuesday.

Gas prices could hit $3 by summer
"It is reasonable to think that fuel prices for much of 2009 will be trading between $2 to $3 a gallon," said Gregg Laskoski, Tampa-based AAA Auto Club South spokesman.

Social Security goes online just in time for the Baby Boomer rush
The Social Security Administration, envisaging the near-future prospect of 10,000 baby boomers applying for benefits every day, has put together a new online service that will allow people to get their benefits without ever traveling to a Social Security field office.

Freshman congressmen from Treasure Coast prepare for new jobs on Capitol Hill
U.S. Congressmen-elect Tom Rooney, R-Tequesta, and Bill Posey, R-Rockledge, are stepping into a job this week that requires their immediate attention on a deepening global financial crisis.

What are crushed bugs doing as ingredients in food, makeup?
Got bugs? Got waffles, lipstick, yogurt or strawberry milk? How about candy, shampoo and nail polish? An array of products contain either carmine, a vivid red dye, or cochineal extract, an orange dye; both are from the same female beetle.

Freshmen congressmen settling in ahead of swearing-in Tuesday
U.S. congressmen-elect Bill Posey, R-Rockledge, and Tom Rooney, R-Tequesta, are stepping into a job this week that requires their immediate attention on a deepening global financial crisis. However, for a few moments on Tuesday they will get to bask in attention drawn their way as the 111th Congress is sworn into office.

Oregon kids alone 3 days as parents lay dead in locked room
A couple who hadn't been seen since New Year's Eve have been found dead inside their locked bedroom with their crying 9-month-old daughter, and three older children had been left out on their own. The bodies of Hannah Crowe and Julian Wallulatum were discovered Saturday after the older children asked a neighbor to help.

Richardson withdraws bid to be commerce secretary
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson on Sunday announced that he was withdrawing his nomination to be President-elect Barack Obama?s commerce secretary amid a grand jury investigation into how some of his political donors won a lucrative state contract.

Travolta, wife 'heartbroken' over 16-year-old son's death
John Travolta said Saturday he and his wife Kelly Preston are ?heartbroken? over the death of their chronically ill 16-year-old son, who collapsed at the family?s vacation home on Grand Bahama.

Woman drowns retrieving dog from frozen pond
New Jersey authorities say a woman drowned trying to retrieve her grandson's dog from a frozen pond. Authorities say 61-year-old Janet Howard was walking a German Shepherd named Apollo on Saturday when it wandered onto the ice covering Plainsboro Pond. Police speculate that Howard went after the dog but the ice broke, plunging her and the animal into the water about 25 feet from shore.

Cops: Dad ordered to pay child support kills son
A man who initially told police gunmen kidnapped his 2 1/2-year-old son was arrested Saturday, accused of committing an "extremely hideous" murder because he was ordered to pay child support, New Orleans Police Superintendent Warren Riley said. Danny Platt confessed, told police where to find the child's body and will be booked on a charge of first-degree murder in the death of Ja' Shawn Powell, Riley said at a news conference.

John Travolta's 16-year-old son dies in Bahamas
John Travolta?s teenage son, Jett, died in the Bahamas after falling ill and hitting his head at his family?s vacation home, police said Friday.

9 Muslims removed from flight get AirTran apology
One of the passengers says the confusion started at Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., when his brother was talking about the safest place to sit on an airplane.

Louisiana dispatcher calls Fort Pierce police to report buried body call
The dispatcher, from the Lafayette, La., police department, told a sergeant that the caller told her he ?killed a person? in Jupiter, Fort Pierce, Yuma, Ariz.; and Lafayette.

9 Muslim passengers kicked off flight from Washington, D.C. to Florida
AirTran Airways spokesman Tad Hutcheson called the incident on the New Year's Day flight from Reagan National Airport to Orlando, Fla., a misunderstanding, but defended the company's response. He said the airline followed federal rules and did nothing wrong.

There is bad news with lower gas prices
Motorists are driving less and buying less gasoline, which means fuel taxes aren't raising enough money to keep pace with the cost of road, bridge and transit programs. That has the federal commission that oversees financing for transportation talking about increasing the federal fuel tax by 50 percent.

Vero man dies in S. Carolina ATV accident
Thomas Copeland of Vero Beach, died about 11 p.m. on New Year's Eve of multiple head and chest trauma after the all terrain vehicle he was driving flipped on a South Carolina road.

Panel: Increase fuel taxes 10 cents a gallon to fund highways
A 50 percent increase in gasoline and diesel fuel taxes is being urged by a federal commission to finance highway construction and repair until the government devises another way for motorists to pay for using public roads. Members of the infrastructure financing commission say they will urge Congress to raise the gas tax by 10 cents a gallon and the diesel fuel tax by 12 to 15 cents a gallon.