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Employees Help FBI capture bank robber who was customer of bank posted on 8/19/2010
People in Central Florida charged with DUI, assault and battery, felonies, drunk driving or check fraud often seek the help of a qualified Orlando criminal law attorney for help with their case instead of relying on a public defender. Hiring a qualified criminal lawyer can mean the difference between paying a fine or serving jail time.
A man recently charged with bank robbery in Galloway, Ohio, however, will probably be serving jail time regardless of who he hires for help after one of the dumbest crimes of the year. He robbed his own bank.
43 year old Alan Garrett entered an Ohio bank last week wearing a hat and sunglasses, then gave a teller a note with demand that she turn over cash. Bank workers thought he looked somewhat familiar, and as he fled they were able to get his license plate number. The number was traced to him and a warrant was issued.
After the FBI got involved, Garrett turned himself in last Friday for the crime. It was then that bank employees noticed that he was actually a customer of the bank, and held an account there.
Garrett has been charged with one count of aggravated robbery and is being held on a bond of approximately $50,000.
Officers Arrest Suspect in Central Florida Convenience Store Robbery posted on 8/13/2010
A man who was arrested this week by police for the armed robbery of an area convenience store will likely be needing the help of an Orlando criminal law attorney. He is facing robbery charges after he was nearly caught red handed fleeing the store he had just finished robbing.
According to police reports, 23 year old David Veaudry of Titusville entered a 7-Eleven store at the corner of Hopkins Avenue and Garden Street in Titusville just after 5:30 pm on Wednesday. He threatened the clerk by saying he had a knife and demanded cash.
After robbing the store, Veaudry tried to flee the scene on a bicycle heading west on Garden Street. When the clerk called 911, two undercover deputies who happened to be patrolling only one block away were able to respond immediately and spotted the fleeing suspect. They confronted Veaudry and arrested him after a short chase on foot.
Veaudry was booked at the Brevard County Jail and charged with armed robbery, resisting an officer and possession of controlled pharmaceutical pills. His bail was set at $8,500. Anyone with any further knowledge of the crime is urged to contact Titusville Police.
Orlando Criminals Target two Radio Shack Stores posted on 8/3/2010
Police are looking for two robbery suspects who will need the help of an Orlando Criminal Law Attorney if caught for the burglary of two area electronics stores this week. Criminal defense attorneys help clients with similar charges everyday, as well as DUI, assault and batter, drunk driving and domestic violence.
The burglaries happened early Tuesday morning on the west side of Orlando. At just before 4:00 am, suspects broke into a Radio Shack store on South Kirkman Road through a window, then escaped with some electronics. Police are investigating the broken store front for clues.
A few moments later, police received an alarm call from another Radio Shack, this one on Town Center Boulevard at John Young Parkway. Criminals at this store also broke in through a front glass door and made off with some stolen electronics. It is unclear whether the incident was caught on video or what exactly was stolen.
Police are continuing their investigation into both crimes and suspect they are related. They are asking anyone with information to contact them as soon as possible. Anyone with information that leads to an arrest may be entitled to a reward.
Security Cameras Around Orlando Meant to Reduce Crime posted on 7/23/2010
Orlando Criminal Law Attorneys may be defending more people caught in public crimes such as assault and battery, theft and trespassing due to the amount of security cameras installed in public places since 9/11. However, law enforcement authorities are hoping the increased surveillance will reduce crime as people realize they are being watched before they break the law.
People expect to be monitored on cameras when theyre at a bank, ATM, convenience store or at a busy intersection. However, few know that there are enough cameras in Orlando now to watch you almost everywhere you go. In downtown and along Orange Avenue, approximately 40 cameras operated by the city monitor building entrances, streets, intersections and parking garages. The city laso plans to add several cameras to the Lake Eola area within weeks. These are all designed to help police keep an eye on suspicious activities.
The federal government has helped fund much of the increased surveillance by providing cities with millions of dollars to install complex video systems after 9/11. But an increasing number of the cameras are installed by business owners or even homeowners hoping to protect their property.
With the increased viewing capability, police have been better able to solve crimes in hospitals, stores and on the streets. Homeowners have also caught criminals in the act, or in the case of a Polk County search last year, caught government agents playing video games during the search of a house.
Most people are willing to give up some degree of public privacy for the increased protection. Criminal law experts, however, warn of the increased monitoring as an erosion of our privacy rights.
Orlando man charged with criminal DUI after he crashes into House posted on 7/19/2010
A man who went for a wild ride last week may be looking for help from Orlando criminal law attorneys and Orlando DUI lawyers as he awaits charges for his crimes. Police suspect that alcohol may have been a factor in his accident and subsequent behavior.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol and Orange County deputies, the incident happened Thursday in Pine Hills, just outside of Orlando. 47 year old Earlis Dixon was driving his Ford pickup truck there when he crashed into a home.
He was heading North on Hastings Terrace when he lost control and crashed into a home around the 1800 block. It is unclear whether he was injured in the accident. Fortunately, no other people were reported injured when he struck the house.
After the accident, Dixon tried to flee the scene on foot but was tracked down by a police canine just after 3:00 pm. He remained in Orange County jail on Friday pending charges.
It is unclear so far what the amount of damage was to the house. The accident remains under investigation.
Orlando Police Searching for Robbers who used Expectant Mother as Shield posted on 7/12/2010
Orlando Criminal Law Attorneys often assist those who have been charged with robbery DUI, assault and battery. A few suspects will need legal help if police catch up to them after a strange bank robbery this week which put a pregnant woman at risk.
According to police, the robbery occurred Wednesday afternoon at the Wachovia Bank on Orangewood Boulevard in Orlando. Two men entered the bank around 4 pm and one drew a gun as he approached the teller counter. The other seized a bank manager who is pregnant and used her as a shield as he directed several other tellers with instructions.
One of the suspects then walked toward the counter to grab a bag of money while the other covered him with the gun. All of the tellers were behind a glass screen. The entire incident was captured on surveillance video.
Although the pregnant manager was shaken up in the incident, fortunately she was was not injured.
Investigators are not sure which way the two fled after they left the bank and have little information to go on, but did say they are seeking two black males aged 20 to 25 for questioning.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Orlando Police. An award is likely offered.
New Law will let multiple DUI offenders drive again with use of device posted on 6/30/2010
Orlando Criminal Law Attorneys and DUI lawyers have always defended their clients with the hope that they can move beyond the charges they face and someday lead a normal life again. For those convicted of DUI this was often difficult because of the tremendous limitations placed on them.
A new Florida law, however, and the device that enables it, will let those with as many as four DUI convictions drive again so that they can work and lead a normal life. That is, at least, if they can prove they are not attempting to drive while intoxicated.
The premise behind the Interlock device is that people with multiple DUI convictions may continue to drive, and do so while intoxicated, even after they have been stripped of their license. Although the old penalty served as a punishment to the offender, it did little to protect the public.
Once installed on a persons vehicle, an Ignition Interlock system will not allow a car to start until the driver blows into a tube. In order to keep other people from blowing for a driver to help them start their car, the device requests additional random breath samples during the time the car is traveling.
Surprisingly, members of M.A.D.D. have actually voiced their support of the program, even though it will set certain repeat DUI offenders free to drive again. Proponents of the law point to thr potential for safer roadways above all else.
Based on figures from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, there are approximately 17,000 drivers across the state that have four DUI convictions. About a third of those could be eligible to get a permit to drive for employment purposes only.
Police Searching for Suspects in Orlando Store Robberies posted on 6/23/2010
Police investigators in Orlando, Florida are looking for suspects in two convenience store robberies that happened this week. One of the crimes involved violence on an employee, though police believe the two are related. Orlando Criminal Law Attorneys are urging the suspects to turn themselves in to face charges.
The robberies both happened early Monday morning. In the first, four men wearing masks entered the Cumberland Farms on Bumby Avenue at around 3:30 am. And made off with cash from the store. Fortunately, no one was hurt.
Soon afterward, at just after 4:00 am, three men invaded the Kangaroo Express store on East Colonial Drive. In the course of the robbery, one of the men pistol-whipped a clerk. They then made off with her purse and the cash from the store.
Investigators believe the two crimes may be related, since it would only take 18 minutes to get from store to store. The cases are being handled by the Orange County Sheriff's Office with help from the Orlando Police Department.
According to OPD, this was only the 36th time a commercial store was robbed this year, compared to 56 over the same time period last year. So far, Orlando is experiencing a 35 percent decrease in these types of crimes.
Investigators may release surveillance video of the first robbery to aid in the search.
New FDLE Program helping Orlando Police catch criminals posted on 6/17/2010
A new evidence testing program being studied by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for Orange County and Orlando crime investigators may keep your local Orlando Criminal Law Attorney busier this summer. The agencies are reporting a stark improvement in investigation times and more arrests for related crimes.
Prior to the programs launch, there was a 6 to 18 month wait at the FDLE ballistics lab to test whether bullet casings found at crime scenes were used in other crimes. This resulted in nearly 1200 cases backlogged per year. Officers complained that criminals were being freed to commit more crimes while they struggled with investigations.
Under the new program, which is modeled after a similar test by the Los Angeles Police Department, investigators from Orange County and Orlando can have the Department test bullet casings immediately upon submission. Officers are crediting this with increased, but more importantly, faster arrests, which keeps violent criminals off our streets.
So far, the two Police Departments estimate the program has led to 12 additional arrests. While it is currently only open to those two, FDLE plans to open it to additional law enforcement agencies in the State later this year.
Orlando Martial Arts Instructor Arrested for stalking, sexual battery posted on 6/8/2010
An Orlando karate teacher will need the help of an Orlando Criminal Law Attorney after he was arrested last week for sexual battery on one of his students. Police this week are notifying parents of students at the Black Belt Center in Orlando about the arrest and details of charges raised against him.
25 year old Matthew Murgia was originally arrested on April 21st after the victim complained to her parents that he was stalking her. According to police Murgia was showing up at her job and calling her incessantly.
The victim later disclosed to police that Murgia also forced her into sex 5 years earlier, when she was only 13 years old. That led officers to re-arrest him on June 1st and charge him with sexual battery on a minor.
Murgia was fired from the karate studio as soon as he was first arrested. Police are hoping this was isolated to only one student. According to the arrest affidavit the victim told police that Murgia took advantage of the fact that she had a crush on him as an early teen.
Murgia is being held at the Orange County Jail. In a hearing Monday, the presiding judge denied bond.
Florida man with poor driving record causes South Florida Car Accident posted on 6/7/2010
Florida Personal Injury Attorneys and police are looking into an accident that occurred Friday in Delray Beach, when a man with several previous DUI arrests ran onto a sidewalk and into a group of people. Fortunately no one suffered wrongful death, however several were injured.
51 year old Laurence DeRook will be needing the help of a criminal law attorney after his arrest. Around midnight Friday, he ran his 1997 Ford Mustang onto the sidewalk at 16 E. Atlantic Ave., near Delux nightclub, struck a light pole, then ran down seven people who were standing in the area.
According to police all seven people were injured in the accident and later taken to Delray Medical Center with serious injuries. DeRook was not injured in the accident but was booked on seven counts of DUI causing serious injury.
Witnesses said DeRook was stumbling when he got out of the car. According to records from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, he has been charged with DUI several times before.
Orlando Electronics Stores Vandalized by Criminals in Attempted Robberies posted on 5/26/2010
Following two attempted robberies in Orange County today that appear to be related, Orlando Police and Orange County Sheriffs deputies are searching for a group of men they think are responsible. If found, the suspects will certainly need the help of an Orlando Criminal Law Attorney.
According to police, the two incidents happened about an hour apart. In the first, a group of men used a white van to knock down the front of a Sony Electronics store around 6:00am near International Drive. Soon after, witnesses were able to scare off the group and nothing was stolen.
The second attempted burglary happened soon after at a Rent-A-Center on Oak Ridge Road. Security cameras showed a group of men backing a similar van up to the store, busting down the front door and entering the store. The premises were left in disarray with the front smashed into the showroom.
Fortunately nothing was stolen in the second attempt either as all of the stores electronics are bolted down.
Investigators are waiting for further surveillance video which may help identify the suspects. Total damages by the group are estimated at more than $10,000.
Florida man charged with DUI Manslaughter after girlfriend dies in accident posted on 5/21/2010
A young man from Clearwater will need the help of a DUI Lawyer or criminal attorney to defend charges filed this week for DUI Manslaughter stemming from an accident that occurred last summer.
25 year old Karl Jeckel was allegedly driving under the influence last July in Pinellas Park with his girlfriend, 20 year old Angela Gaskin. He told authorities she was hanging out of the passenger side window when he accidently veered into a gutter. As a result, her head struck a mailbox, killing her.
Following the crash, Jeckel registered a blood alcohol level of 0.12 percent. The legal limit in Florida is 0.08. Investigators are now saying the accident would not have occurred had Jeckel not been impaired.
He was arrested and charged with DUI Manslaughter Monday.
Clerks struggle with suspect in Central Florida grocery store robbery posted on 5/18/2010
Daytona police are searching for a suspect in the robbery of an area grocery store over the weekend. If caught, the man will need help from a Daytona or Orlando criminal law attorney to defend the charges against him.
According to police, the incident occurred Saturday at a Publix in North Daytona Beach. A man jumped over the counter in the customer service department and grabbed $60.000 from an open register.
Clerks from the store wrestled with him to try to prevent the theft, which can be seen on the store’s surveillance. Unfortunately, however, he was able to break away and ran out of the store with the money.
Police are continuing their investigation based on the description of the man from clerks and on video. Anyone with information is urged to contact Daytona Beach police.
Orlando man arrested for DUI after driving slow, threatening officer posted on 5/11/2010
A Central Florida man will need the help of an Orlando DUI Lawyer after criminal charges were filed against him this weekend. What got him into trouble? He was driving too slow, then reportedly threatened the arresting officer.
According to Marion County police, Ronald Moff, 54, of Oviedo was pulled over Sunday after officers observed him driving so slow that vehicles were backed up behind him on County Road 25 in Belleview. He reportedly told officers he had drank one or two beers and was driving slow to save fuel.
Police found at least five beer cans in his car after the arrest. Records show this is Moffs third DUI charge.
Moff was asked by deputies to perform a field sobriety test but refused, claiming one leg is shorter than the other. As he was being transported to jail he made threats to arresting officer Gary Miller.
Police looking for suspect in downtown hotel shooting posted on 5/3/2010
Police are hoping a shooting suspect will take the advice of an Orlando criminal law attorney and turn himself in after a deadly shooting Sunday morning. There is currently a warrant out for 19 year old James Brandon Combee Jr. for first degree murder.
The shooting took place at around 4 am Sunday morning at the Downtown Orlando Marriott Hotel. After responding to a call, police found Christopher Gomez, 20, suffering from a gunshot wound. He later died at the hospital.
Investigators say Gomez was part of a group staying at the hotel for a birthday and that he got into a fight with Combee. Gomez apparently was shot during the struggle after which Combee fled the scene.
Anyone with information on Combee’s whereabouts is encouraged to contact police.
Florida Woman sentenced for DUI which killed her boyfriend posted on 4/26/2010
A Florida DUI lawyer last week saved a woman several years of jail time in defending her DUI manslaughter case. A judge in Clearwater sentenced her to three years in prison for an accident that occurred last year killing her boyfriend. She had faced as much as 14 years for the crime.
29 year old Melissa Daddio was charged in relation to an accident that occurred in February of 2009. According to police she had been drinking and taking drugs before racing her car around with some friends. While driving at 85 miles per hour she lost control and ran into a building.
20 year old Ryan King, Daddio’s boyfriend at the time, died in the accident. Another passenger was seriously injured as well. She was charged and pled guilty to DUI manslaughter and DUI with serious bodily injury.
Criminal defense lawyers in Orlando, Jacksonville and Ft. Lauderdale often defend drivers for similar offenses.
Police searching for robbers of local 7-11s posted on 4/22/2010
At least two robbery suspects will need the help of an Orlando criminal law attorney if police catch up to them for the suspected robbery of two area 7-11s. Both crimes happened Monday night and investigators believe they may be related.
The two thefts occurred within a three hour span Monday night at the 7-11s on West Colonial Drive and Edgewater Drive. The stores are separated by only a mile or so. The details of each crime are only slightly different.
The first, which occurred at about 8:37 pm Monday, was the most violent. That was when a man in a white hooded sweatshirt entered the Colonial Drive store and held a gun to the clerk’s head while he demanded that another clerk empty the register. He then fled on foot across Edgewater Drive.
The second robbery occurred at the Edgewater store around 11:33 pm when two suspects, who were dressed in black, entered the store and went behind the counter to empty the register themselves. They also fled on foot.
Only a small amount of money was taken in each robbery, however, investigators are having trouble finding the suspects since no vehicle was used in either getaway.
Fortunately, no one was injured in either theft.
Police and Defense Lawyers gear up for Magic Playoffs posted on 4/19/2010
As the Orlando Magic begin another run in the NBA playoffs, Orlando police as well as your local Orlando criminal law attorney and DUI lawyer are gearing up as well. Fortunately, if the past is any indication, fans will behave as before and none of the above will be needed.
Due to the increased police presence, Orlando criminal attorneys are also cautioning residents who may be targets for offenses such as drunk and disorderly behavior and DUI.
Orlando police are hoping the calm behavior of Magic fans last year will continue. During the adrenaline crazed playoffs of 2009, there were no murders or other violent crimes in the downtown area. That is a good mark for a city that hosted 12 postseason games last year.
Police and Arena officials aren’t disclosing any details of their plan for the postseason but assured fans that they will be safe. The Arena hires off duty officers and additional security, therefore no police will be pulled off the streets to help with the games.
Orlando Police catch man accused of robbing bank today posted on 4/16/2010
A man caught by police today will no doubt be needing the help of an Orlando criminal law attorney if accusations hold that he robbed an Orlando area bank.
Orlando police arrested a man charged with robbing a Chase bank late today.
Reports from police indicate the suspect went into the branch on South Kirkman Road at approximately 4:30 in the afternoon and threatened a teller saying that he was carrying a weapon. It is unclear how much money he made off with however, fortunately no one was injured in the incident.
The suspected robber has been described as an African American in his 50s who was wearing a black t-shirt, jeans and a red hat and carrying a small red bag.
He fled the bank after the robbery heading towards L.B. McLeod Road.
Wife of Central Florida Mayor arrested for DUI posted on 4/13/2010
The wife of an area mayor may be in need of the help of an Orlando criminal law attorney or Orlando DUI lawyer after her recent arrest. The wife of Tavares Mayor Robert Wolfe was arrested last week after a minor accident.
According to police, Sharon Wolfe was driving while intoxicated when she struck a speed limit sign on Orange Avenue.
She then fled the scene and drove to a hospital close by where police found her passed out in her car. She was given a field sobriety test which she failed. Officers discovered alcohol and prescription drugs inside her car.
Man shot by criminal during robbery attempt at car wash near Orlando posted on 4/5/2010
Orlando criminal attorneys and police are looking into an attempted robbery in Sanford that left a man with serious injuries from a gunshot wound. Any help from witnesses could lead to an arrest.
The shooting occurred Sunday according to police. The victim was at the Xtreem Kleen car wash on U.S. 17/92 around 4:30 p.m. when a man wielding an assault rifle reportedly jumped over a fence to the car wash and shot the victim. It is unclear what his motive was or what was stolen, though police did indicate the attack was a robbery.
Fortunately, the victim was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center in Orlando with non life-threatening injuries according to police.
An investigation into the incident and the search for the attacker continues.
Man killed in shooing at Orlando gas station posted on 3/31/2010
Central Florida and Orange County police are looking for several suspects they believe are responsible for a drive by shooting in west Orlando early Sunday morning. The suspects will need the help of an Orlando criminal law attorney.
The shooting took place at a Shell gas station on John Young Parkway near the 408 at about 3:15am Sunday. The victim, Deonta Williams, had pulled into the station with his family and friends behind him in another car when a green Ford Expedition pulled in and began circling the lot.
The SUV then stopped in front of the parked cars, then someone from inside the SUV opened fire on Williams, killing him. Surveillance cameras caught the incident as well as the suspects fleeing the scene in the SUV moments later. The entire scene took around 40 seconds.
Detectives are releasing a composite sketch and the surveillance video in the hope that someone may be able to help solve the crime.
Williams was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center via ambulance where he was later pronounced dead.
Man shot in attempted robbery near Orlando wanted for outstanding warrants posted on 3/29/2010
A man who was shot during a robbery this weekend may now need the help of an Orlando criminal law attorney after police discovered he himself was wanted for outstanding warrants.
46 year old Robert Hyers was waiting at a bus stop near Kissimmee Sunday when he was approached by two men in a silver car who pointed a gun at him and demanded money. When he ran away he was shot in the back.
Hyers was driven to the emergency room at Florida Hospital Celebration then later transferred to Orlando Regional Medical Center where he was treated for minor injuries and released to Orlando police.
He was reportedly wanted on arrest warrants from St. Johns County for petty theft and Indiana for possession of stolen property.
Police are still searching for the shooting suspects.
Police shocked to find reckless DUI driver with seven children in car posted on 3/25/2010
An Orlando criminal law attorney is seldom shocked to see the behavior their clients are being accused of, however, a recent story of a DUI suspect will make everyone think twice about getting behind the wheel after having a few drinks.
Police officers in Williston, Vermont last weekend pulled over Mary O’Neil, who was suspected of DUI after a 911 caller reported she was forcing oncoming traffic to pull out of the way.
When they confronted her they found seven children with her in the car. O’Neil was given a breathalyzer which showed her blood-alcohol level at 0.379. Police said any more alcohol could have killed her. She was arrested on the scene.
Football player arrested on criminal DUI charge posted on 3/23/2010
Professional football player Ronnie Brown of the Miami Dolphins in South Florida will be needing the help of DUI attorneys soon after he was arrested last Friday, suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol.
The DUI arrest reportedly took place while Brown was visiting his hometown of Cartersville, Ga.
Investigators indicated Brown was arrested after being pulled over for making an improper lane change without signal. Reports also indicate he was given a field sobriety test, which he failed. After being arrested he was released from jail early Saturday morning.
Neither the Dolphins nor Brown’s agent have issued a comment.
Man arrested at his DUI sentencing hearing for being too drunk posted on 3/19/2010
Criminal defense and DUI attorneys in Orlando and other Florida cities always recommend to their clients that they show up for their hearings dressed appropriately and acting in a respectful manner. A recent case in Nebraska is a perfect lesson of what not to do.
Authorities in Papillion, Nebraska report that a man showed up so for his DUI sentencing hearing so intoxicated that he missed the hearing and may now have to serve even more time behind bars.
According to police and courthouse staff, 30 year old Jason Botos was driven to the Papillion courthouse last Thursday by his father for the hearing, but was so drunk that his father had to ask for help from deputies to get his son out of the vehicle. He was facing sentencing after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor DUI charge from a collision with 5 other vehicles in September of last year.
Prosecutor Ben Perlman said Botos was so drunk he couldn't attend the hearing, so the judge issued an arrest warrant. Deputies then arrested him in the parking lot.
Botos remained in custody pending his sentencing.
Orlando woman arrested on multiple counts after taunting police posted on 3/16/2010
Police last weekend responding to a battery call arrested a woman which no doubt saved her from needing the help of Orlando DUI lawyers after she repeatedly taunted officers, acted drunk and disorderly, then called 911 on police officers themselves.
24 year old Kelly Petersen first called police after she was asked to leave the nightclub Pulse on Orange Ave. Although she claimed to have been slapped by a male patron, police found no evidence of that having occurred but found she had been asked to leave by staff for being drunk and disorderly.
According to police, she then made obscene gestures and demanded several times to go inside to get her keys. Officers repeatedly told her she could not return to the club and asked her to leave. So she dialed 911, the report said.
At some point Peterson escaped from handcuffs, told officers she had a weapon hidden in a bodily orifice and called an officer an “idiot.” She was eventually arrested on misdemeanor counts of resisting an officer without violence, disorderly conduct, misuse of 911, escape and trespassing.
Two men arrested in string of robberies on Orlando students posted on 3/11/2010
Two men arrested this week who are accused of robbing students of a nearby university will need the help of Orlando criminal attorneys as they are facing serious jail time.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office made the arrests after conducting a long investigation into at least 11 robberies and attempted robberies on students of nearby Full Sail University. Police believe the suspects targeted those particular students because their degree programs required they carry expensive laptops and electronic equipment.
According to the Sheriff’s Office the robberies ranged from simple theft to violent attacks where victims were tackled from behind or punched in the face.
The two men were originally arrested in connection with home invasions, but deputies believe they and others are the ones that targeted the Full Sail students. At least 11 attacks have taken place since December 3 of 2009. Police believe there were at least two others involved who are still at large.
Orlando fugitive smashes into police car, targets officer then gives chase posted on 3/2/2010
Orlando criminal defense attorneys have a new client after Orlando Police Department officers arrested a suspect they claim rammed a police cruiser, tried to run over an officer and then took police on a reckless pursuit.
Police had been searching for 27 year old William Maurice Rockemore earlier last Sunday when they spotted his vehicle around 8:30 a.m. in the parking lot at the Home Suite Homes near the intersection of Primrose and Colonial Drive.
According to the police, Rockemore, upon being approached, rammed an OPD marked vehicle and intentionally tried to run over an officer. The officer was standing to the side of her car after it was struck when the suspect reportedly turned his car towards her and gunned it. She had to jump out of the way to avoid being injured.
A police pursuit followed, during whichtime officers trailed the suspect through various neighborhoods until he finally crashed into a car in Baldwin Park.
Police say two parked vehicles were struck and damaged by the assailant during the pursuit, and an OPD officer received minor injuries during the arrest. Rockemore was wanted for crimes out of Seminole and Orange counties, including charges of grand theft and burglary.
Orlando Police Chief announces high tech ideas to lower crime posted on 2/24/2010
Orlando criminal attorneys will hopefully see a drop in new clients as the Police Chief unveiled her new ideas to lower crime. It has been almost 2 years since a much-publicized triple murder occurred at The Palms apartments, and police are going to the source, setting lower crime in these areas as their benchmark.
Orlando Police Chief Val Demings presented her plan to city council members this week. It relies heavily on the use of technology and the proactive efforts of all citizens.
Among other things, the plan will use Iris cameras in high crime areas, which will allow an officer to track a crime taking place several blocks away from a notebook computer in their patrol car. Other officers monitoring the area from a central station will have a view as well.
The plan also utilizes mobile cameras which are there to track crimes 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, even when officers are off duty or on holiday.
Another suggestion is that apartment complexes share data on those evicted for criminal activity. This will allow other complexes to turn away people with a history of crime at previous properties.
Chief Demings claims that both the murder and robbery rate have dropped by more than 46% since 2008, much of the improvement due to help from the public. With continued awareness from residents, our city hopes for even less crime.
Police looking for Orlando bank robbers caught on tape posted on 2/22/2010
Police in Winter Park, Florida, near Orlando, are looking for a man who is accused of robbing the Chase Bank at 301 S. New York Ave. this weekend. Orlando criminal attorneys have seen a steady amount of such crimes with the current economy.
According to Police Chief Brett Railey, an African American man between the ages of 25 and 35 years old entered the bank at about noon on Saturday and passed a note to the teller which demanded money.
After the teller complied with the instructions on the note, the suspect exited the bank and was last seen traveling west through the parking lot on foot.
Witnesses described the robber as being approximately 6 feet 2 inches tall and wearing an ash-colored hooded sweatshirt with the words "Orlando" and "Florida" across the front. He also wore a black and yellow baseball cap with the Pittsburgh Steelers logo above the brim and a dark pair of sunglasses.
Criminals rob man and woman at Orlando Outlet posted on 2/18/2010
Orlando criminal attorneys will be defending several individuals if Orlando police find three suspects they are searching for who they say robbed a man and woman after pulling a gun on them Sunday night at the Orlando Premium Outlets.
According to criminal report from the Orange County Sheriff's Office, the couple, who were visiting from Gainesville, were loading packages into their car after shopping when two men approached them. Both of them struck the man, knocking him to the ground. One suspect then pointed a gun at the woman's head. They stole her purse then fled the scene.
Police continue to search for the robbery suspects.
Man robs Orlando Sunday School teacher posted on 2/9/2010
Orlando police and criminal attorneys are looking into a robbery at the Callahan Center in the Parramore area in which a man robbed a Sunday School teacher.
According to authorities, a local church was using the Center for Sunday School classes when 49 year old Willie Tullis walked in , assaulted a teacher, then stole the church offerings.
According to the arrest report Tullis is a transient. Police say he took about $10 in the robbery and was charged with robbery, petty theft, resisting an officer and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Luckily no one was injured in the crime.
Police arrest suspect in Central Florida Lotto winner’s murder posted on 2/4/2010
Police in Plant City, just west of Orlando, FL, last week arrested a woman they believe was connected with the murder of a recent Florida Lottery winner a few weeks ago. Orlando criminal attorneys are looking into her charges, though it is not clear yet who will represent her.
Officers arrested Doreece "Dee Dee" Moore after the body of Abraham Shakespeare was found in Plant City last week. He had recently won $31 million in the lottery. Moore is accused of scamming Shakespeare out of his winnings then planning and assisting with his murder.
Moore denies carrying out the murder. Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee so far has only charged her with accessory to first-degree murder after the fact.
Authorities say that for now, they can show that Moore buried the body, paid someone else to take the blame and then pretended she knew the victim was alive and well. Gee said Moore even used the victim's cell phone to text his family to say he was OK half a year after he disappeared.
Investigators also allege that Moore paid someone to dig a hole and bury Shakespeare under a concrete slab.
The investigation in this strange tragedy continues.
Woman robbed at gunpoint at ATM North of Orlando posted on 2/1/2010
Orlando criminal attorneys and Volusia County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating an armed robbery that took place in Deltona last week. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident.
The female victim was depositing money into a drive through ATM at a Bank of America in Deltona last Tuesday when a man approached her car. He held a gun to her head and demanded cash. After she handed it over he fled, at which time she called 911 withher cell phone.
Approximately 15 deputies, K9 units and a Sheriff's Office helicopter conducted a search of the area, but did not find the suspect. Authorities believe he took off in a car.
New Orlando program may cut crime in apartment complexes posted on 1/27/2010
A new program sponsored by the Orlando Police Department may help keep the criminal element out of area apartment complexes, however lawyers may question its constitutionality. Area apartment managers are trying to fight the recent trend in crime by evicting people convicted of felonies.
On Tuesday, the Orlando Police Department held a class to discuss a new program which partners the police with property managers and people living in the complex. In order to participate, complexes must become certified by meeting certain safety requirements like lighting and door locks. They are then able to use a nationwide database cataloging problem tenants and crime figures.
Crimes committed in apartment complexes have skyrocketed across America. Local properties have noticed this as well but so far have been unable to do anything to remove the trouble makers.
The program utilizes new leases which allow eviction if a tenant or guest breaks the law. Once a tenant is kicked out of a safe community, they are never allowed into another, no matter where it may be. Due to constitutional constraints about discrimination in housing, some lawyers may take issue with this part of the program.
Regardless, Jacksonville has already implemented the program, and has noticed nearly an 80% drop in crime at participating complexes.
Men suspected in Orlando hotel robberies nabbed by police posted on 1/26/2010
Orlando criminal attorneys may have two more people to defend after Orange County robbery detectives last week apprehended two men who they suspect robbed several area hotels.
According to police, Thomas Davis, 23, was arrested on January 20 when Polk County detectives connected him to a restaurant robbery. Upon questioning he eventually admitted to being involved in seven other robberies in Orange County, authorities say.
Investigators say six of those robberies occurred at local hotels that stretched from the Beachline to International Drive.
Police also arrested Jason Brown, 30, on January 22 in connection with those robberies.
Both men were charged with armed robbery with a firearm, however, more charges are pending.
Central Florida car accident kills one, injures five posted on 1/18/2010
A teen from Lake County, west of Orlando, suffered wrongful death, and five others suffered personal injury Saturday when two cars collided in Lake County. Lawyers and authorities from the Florida Highway Patrol are looking into how it was caused.
According to FHP, a 16 year old girl from Clermont was heading south on C.R. 561 with three friends in the car when she missed a curve in the road. The car swerved over the double yellow line into oncoming traffic.
The 2007 Acura the teens were driving in was struck by a car coming the opposite way. As it spun, the rear half of the auto ripped off, ejecting two of the passengers onto the shoulder of the road, FHP said.
15 year old Melissa Guman from Clermont was killed in the accident. Jimmy Nardeo, also in that car, was critically injured and Scott Ketchersid, 46, who was driving the oncoming car, was seriously injured in the crash.
A passenger in Ketchersid's car as well as the teen driver and a third passenger in her car received minor injuries in the collision.
Authorities indicated that alcohol was not a factor in the crash. Charges are pending as the investigation continues.
Cold Florida weather may be keeping Orlando crime down posted on 1/13/2010
The recent cold weather may be having a positive effect on crime in Orlando and Orange County. Orlando criminal attorneys and law enforcement are noticing a 51 percent decrease in crime during last week’s record cold as compared to a year earlier.
Officials at the Orange County sheriff's office are hesitant to attribute the downturn to the weather. They indicate it was down already in recent months, but admit the weather could have had an effect. For example, robbery is down 41 percent and car thefts have decreased 67 percent during the cold snap. Overall, crime is down more than 50 percent.
Officials at the Orlando Police Department noticed similar reductions.
Orlando, Florida man admits to killing wife posted on 1/11/2010
Orlando criminal attorneys will soon be defending a man who admitted to police Friday that he accidently killed his wife. He had initially told police she was shot by a home intruder.
Authorities were initially summoned to Robert Ratliff's home on Sanderlin Avenue last week after a call from Ratliff saying his wife had been shot in the chest after their home was ransacked.
As the investigation unfolded, Ratliff admitted that he accidentally pulled the trigger himself, according to police.
Neighbors in the family’s East Orange County suburb said they were shocked at the death of the young mother.
Sarah Ginec said, "She seemed sad sometimes when I saw her."
Orlando teenager charged in triple homicide crime posted on 1/6/2010
Orlando criminal attorneys may be defending an Orlando teen who was charged Monday with killing two people in a triple homicide in Brandon last week.
18 year old Prentiss Earl Jackson was arrested by Osceola County police on Friday. He remains in jail this week with two counts of first-degree murder and one count each of aggravated battery and aggravated assault.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Department, deputies responded to a 911 call of gunshots at a Brandon home on December 29. When authorities arrived, they discovered the bodies of three men in the backyard. A fourth man was found injured a few blocks away.
Officers are still searching for more suspects. Investigators are attributing the shootings to gang violence.
Orlando murder rate drops 38% in 2009 posted on 1/5/2010
Orlando criminal law attorneys and lawyers are experiencing a welcome drop in business in one area – while the number of DUIs, robberies and drug arrests holds steady – the amount of murders in Orange County and Orlando fell by about 38 % last year. This comes as a relief after the area experienced record breaking deaths for three straight years.
According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the amount of murders reported in Orange County dropped 40 %from 2008, while murders in Orlando slid by about 35 percent.
Law enforcement experts and police are crediting crime-fighting strategies and federal initiatives that were launched in recent years to quell the mid-decade surge in crime.
As the recession continued through 2009, leaders feared that the Orlando area would face another year of high crime. That fear, however, did not materialize.
In 2009, overall violent crime fell in city limits by about 34 percent, and unincorporated Orange County has dropped by about 21 percent, according to the most-recent data available.
Other cities across the country also saw a decline in killings, and experts are working to understand whether nationwide factors have played a part.
Store clerk shot during Orlando robbery posted on 12/22/2009
Orlando criminal attorneys may get a new client to represent if the gunman in a recent robbery is apprehended. A worker at a popular video game store was shot Monday, surprisingly after he had given a thief the money he asked for.
The Game Stop on Hiawassee Road, probably not the safest place to work, was robbed this week for the fourth time this year. Surveillance video obtained by Orange County police show a man coming inside and demanding money. After the clerk hands over the drawer, the suspect shoots him.
According to authorities from the Orange County Sheriff’s department, the clerk was likely shot because the thief was aggravated by the safe which had a ten minute delay. He told the victim after shooting him that he would come back to kill him if he was lying. Although he didn’t get into the safe, the robber made off with cash and several games.
There was no update on the clerk’s condition at the time of this story.
Judge holds hearing on release of records in Orlando Isleworth murder case posted on 12/16/2009
Orlando criminal lawyers representing the state and the man accused of killing his wife in their Isleworth mansion in September of this year argued at a hearing this week over the release of thousands of pages of the family’s cell phone and laptop computer records.
The judge has given the attorneys for the accused man 30 days to review nearly 500,000 pages of records to decide which ones they object to releasing. Lawyers for the state and media will then argue for their release.
61 year old James Robert Ward has been charged with second-degree murder from the shooting of his wife, Diane Ward, on September 21. He maintains that his wife shot herself.
His attorneys are arguing that privileged information, including legal, medical and business records, could be contained in the files and should not be released.
Police remove explosive device from man’s neck in Orlando robbery posted on 12/14/2009
Orlando criminal attorneys will be stepping in to help a man police will be questioning after they found him at a crime scene in an a bad position. Authorities this weekend said they unattached an explosive device from around the man's neck after a robbery attempt in Orlando.
The Orange County Sheriff's Department reported that someone attempted to rob a check-cashing store Sunday morning. The suspect fled, but according to Captain Angelo Nieves, another man was left behind with the device fastened around his neck.
Fortunately, officers were able to get the man outside of the store, where they removed the device and disarmed it.
Authorities were still not sure whether the man was a customer, a worker at the store or another suspect at news time. Nieves indicated the investigation is ongoing.
Tiger Woods won’t face any Criminal Charges posted on 12/11/2009
Four points on his license and a $164 traffic citation for reckless driving is all Tiger Woods will face. No criminal charges have been filed and none are expected in relation to the single-car crash outside his Windermere, FL mansion Thanksgiving night.
"With the issuance of this citation, the Florida Highway Patrol has concluded the investigation," FHP troop commander Cindy Williams announced.
Said spokeswoman Kim Montes, "The FHP is not pursing criminal charges in this matter, nor is there any testimony or any other evidence to support any other charges of any kind, other than the charge of careless driving."
These announcements bring to a close the legal portion of an incident that has snatched the attention of the public because of its curious circumstances and Tiger’s refusal to appear or speak in public.
Florida lawyer suspected to be running a $1B ponzi scheme posted on 11/20/2009
A South Florida lawyer who is accused of running a $1 billion Ponzi scheme is asking for his own disbarment.
The Florida Bar committee has approved the disbarment request submitted by attorney Scott Rothstein. A spokeswoman for the committe said Thursday the ultimate decision must be made by the state Supreme Court.
Apparently Rothstein had been selling investments in legal settlements that did not exist. The total amount missing could top $1 billion. No criminal charges have been filed at this point but they are expected.
Once disbarred, Rothstein would no longer be allowed to serve on a panel that nominates appeals court judges. Gov. Charlie Crist appointed Rothstein to that panel in 2008. Rothstein was a major contributor to Crist and many other high-profile politicians nationwide.
A South Florida lawyer suspected of operating a $1 billion Ponzi scheme is asking for his own disbarment.
A Florida Bar committee has approved the disbarment request submitted by attorney Scott Rothstein. A spokeswoman said Wednesday the final decision must be made by the state Supreme Court.
The FBI says Rothstein sold investments in legal settlements that did not exist. The total amount lost could top $1 billion. No criminal charges have been filed yet.
Once disbarred, Rothstein would no longer be allowed to serve on a panel that nominates appeals court judges. Gov. Charlie Crist appointed Rothstein to that panel in 2008. Rothstein was a major contributor to Crist and many other high-profile politicians nationwide.
Madoff's boats seized and sold for $2M posted on 11/20/2009
Four boats seized by United States authorities from convicted swindler Bernard Madoff and his right-hand man, Frank DiPascali, sold for close to $2 million at auction on Wednesday, the U.S. Marshals Service has reported.
A 61-ft Viking motor yacht that once belonged to DiPascali, Madoff's CFO, brought the highest price at $950,000.
Madoff's 55-ft restored 1969 Rybovich fishing boat "Bull" went for $700k. "Sitting Bull," his 38-ft 2003 Shelter Island Runabout, sold for $320,000 and "Little Bull," a 23-ft Maverick, brought in a measly $21,000.
The money will be returned to investors in the ponzi scheme but this $2 million will hardly make a dent in the estimated $100 billion scheme.