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Burglar arrested
Port Orange police arrested a man who they said burglarized a business in their city and hit Daytona Beach College. Police said they got wind of suspect Ozell Knighton Jr. after stolen property was pawned at a store in Longwood. Several weeks later, a Port Orange business owner noticed a suspicious man in the area and police found Mr. Knighton and charged him with dealing in stolen property. Police said the suspect possessed burglary tools when he was arrested. Daytona Beach police also got involved and said Mr. Knighton is their suspect in the burglary at the college.
Father breaks baby's leg
A Port Orange man was arrested and charged with aggravated child abuse after police said he broke his baby's leg. Detectives said Benjamin Halpren, 28, was home with the 5-month-old who was strapped in an infant seat during a feeding. Mr. Halpren told police he got angry because the baby wouldn't stop crying. According to the police report, Mr. Halpren yanked the child from the seat without unfastening the belt. They said he did not tell the baby's mother about the incident until hours later when he noticed the baby's leg was swollen.
Teacher of the Year
Volusia County's Teacher of the Year is a standout from Cypress Creek Elementary School in Port Orange. She was honored by her peers at the Ocean Walk Resort. Jeanne Wright is a first-grade teacher and is an example of what is best about the area's schools as she influences students and inspires confidence in parents, according to district officials. In addition to her award, Mrs. Wright will have free use of a new car all year.
Chief honored
Port Orange has another outstanding employee to celebrate. Division Chief Christopher Weir from the city's Fire-Rescue Department was named Fire Marshal of the year for the entire state of Florida.
Body of young woman identified
A woman found dead in a vacant lot in Daytona Beach last October has finally been identified. She was Mamie Jameka Thomas, 18, of Augusta, Ga. Ms. Thomas was found by a passerby in a vacant lot on South Beach Street Oct. 21, but police don't believe her death is connected to a string of serial killings. They have already told WESH they don't believe the young woman was murdered, despite the fact that she was found only partially clothed. There was no sign of trauma to the body and police are still waiting on toxicology results to determine if Ms. Thomas's death was a drug overdose or due to some other medical condition.
Sergeant's son in need of help
Police are usually asked for help. In this case, they are asking on behalf of one of their longtime officers. The 20-month-old son of Daytona Beach police Sgt. Paul Barnett is undergoing open-heart surgery in Atlanta Feb. 11 after more than a year of procedures to assist with blood flow to his lungs. Fellow officers have set up a SunTrust account to help the Barnetts as they cope with the financial burden of the risky surgery for Baby Jacob. Donations in Jacob Barnett's name are being taken at any SunTrust location.
Hotline for serial killer case set up
Daytona Beach police said they have received hundreds of tips as they continue the search for a serial killer in their city. Police believe the same killer shot and killed three women in remote areas of the city in late 2005 and early 2006, then re-emerged, killing Stacey Gage, 30, last month. Her body was found Jan. 2. Police have said the killer is likely living, even working, in Daytona Beach and are asking the public to report anything suspicious because they don't think the killer will stop until he's caught. Police have set up a special hotline number to report information - (866) 619-5734.
Smart Car on the lookout
Daytona Beach police are more and more often using technology to catch wanted criminals. To that end, the latest weapon is the Smart Car. The department is outfitting two cruisers using drug forfeiture money, and they have already installed automated license tag readers. Several cameras on the car record parked vehicles and passing traffic, instantly capturing the tags and putting the information into a dashboard computer. Sgt. Mike Griffin said if the tag comes up in a state or national crime database, the system alerts the officer in one second. However, Sgt. Griffin notes, it's not big brother watching. He said the system ignores tags that are not wanted. It doesn't tell them anything about any motorist other than those who may have committed a crime. As more forfeiture money becomes available, police will also install a mobile finger print machine and an automated driver's license reader in the two vehicles to save patrolling officers time.
There's a problem down on the beach in Daytona, and this one is for the birds. The health department has posted a swim advisory at the Silver Beach approach on the shoreline, and birds are the culprits that have ruffled feathers. The number of migratory birds increases this time of year and so does the bacteria from bird droppings that get into the water. The swim advisories are typically lifted in a matter of days or a few weeks at most after water sample levels return to normal.
Business good at the airport
Business at Daytona Beach International Airport is really taking off with another airline setting up shop there. County and community leaders recently welcomed back US Airways, which operated there until 1997. More than 10 years later, air traffic is picking up, and now four major carriers - Delta, Air Tran, Continental and US Airways - are flying in and out of Daytona Beach. Customers told WESH 2 they welcome more choices and the chance to avoid driving to Orlando to catch a flight. US Airways will offer three daily flights to Charlotte and beyond, and during the racing season, with so many traveling between Daytona Beach and Charlotte, they'll make more available if necessary.
Curfew for youngsters?
The city of Daytona Beach is considering implementing a curfew ordinance. Police said while overall crime is down in the city because of community policing, juvenile crime is up with nearly one third of all crimes in 2006 committed by young people. Chief Mike Chitwood said police are seeing kids graduate from petty theft to more violent crimes, including aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and armed robbery. They are looking for kids 13, 14 and 15 years old who have been arrested dozens of times already, but are back out on the streets. Police said a curfew, aimed at juveniles 17 and younger, would work hand-in-hand with current efforts to corral school truancy because police said if kids are out at 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. committing crimes, they are likely not getting up to go to school.
Police said the curfew isn't trying to target teens coming home a little late from a friends house, and if a teen has legitimate business, such as work, they would not be time restricted. They said a curfew, with a fine attached, is just another tool to keep residents safe and perhaps keep juveniles bent on crime out of trouble. If adopted, a curfew would be in affect from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., weekdays, and from midnight to 6 a.m. on weekends.
A second chance
The Fifth District Court of Appeals in Daytona Beach threw out the 15-year prison sentence of a hit-and-run driver who killed a 14-year-old boy near Daytona Beach. When Wendall Maxwell was sentenced last June, he could barely talk or control his body after being diagnosed with life-threatening multiple sclerosis while in jail. The appeals court ruled that Mr. Maxwell should have been given another test for mental competency before a judge sentenced him. The appeals court has ordered a new sentencing hearing.
Mr. Maxwell was arrested in November 2005 after hitting Aaron Klothe as the teenager skateboarded, then leaving the scene of the accident, while driving on a suspended license.
Double robberies connected?
A pair of home invasions in the Ormond Beach area shook the victims and neighbors when the armed men broke into two homes within hours of each other and roughed up two homeowners. Investigators still aren't certain if the attacks are connected, but they suspect it's likely.
They have a lead in one of the two attacks after finding a stolen SUV they believe the suspects used in the home invasion in Ormond-by-the-Sea. A sheriff's deputy noticed the van at the Volusia Mall and put it under surveillance. Deputies arrested Jeremiah Holliday, 21, who they said later admitted to being one of three gunmen who burst into the John Anderson Drive home of Gordon McCarthy, 69, demanding money.
Mr. McCarthy was tied up, battered, then robbed, but managed to free himself once the gunmen left and called for help. With the arrest of Mr. Holliday, deputies now say one of Mr. Holliday's accomplices knew someone who was an acquaintance of the victim's and knew he had valuables at his home.
Days after Mr. Holliday was arrested, deputies nabbed the man they call the mastermind in the attack, Jibri Charles, 23, who was picked up on South Atlantic Avenue and Harvey Avenue. Authorities believe he planned the attack because he's related to an acquaintance of the victim's and was aware he had cash at his home.
The same suspects may have hit a home on China Moon Drive in Ormond Beach just a few hours before targeting Mr. McCarthy. Homeowner Rick Kranz wasn't seriously hurt, but the suspects made off with cash and jewelry, and police believe that if the crimes are connected, the suspects also had information about Mr. Kranz that led them to his home.
Seeing red for a good cause
Motorists in Ormond Beach saw red as they passed the intersection of Granada and Nova Road, but it didn't make them mad. Two dozen women from Florida Hospital were there, all dressed in red and holding signs to draw attention to women and heart disease. The Go Red for Women Day is a movement inspired by the American Heart Association to raise awareness that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women and February is American Heart Month.
Untimely death
A 20-year-old from Kissimmee was killed, likely electrocuted while working on exterior parking lights at a Lowes Home Improvement store in Ormond Beach. Ryan Vierra was doing contract work for a company out of Georgia, high up in a lift bucket at the West Granada Boulevard store, when someone noticed he had collapsed. He was pronounced dead at the hospital. The medical examiners office is doing an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
State of the county
Volusia County chairman Frank Bruno recently presented his state of the county address and said 2008 will be a year of partnerships. Chairman Bruno said it has to be! Several hundred community leaders met at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, the very people who will have to work closely together to streamline services as budget cuts impact government, the chairman said. Mr. Bruno pointed to commuter rail as a recent success story, with federal, state and local leaders getting it done.
In the coming year, the chairman told WESH 2 Volusia County leaders hope to create agreements through joint partnerships with other cities to limit growth, particularly in environmentally sensitive areas of the county. Mr. Bruno also confirmed to WESH 2 that he will seek another term on the County Council.
Resident honored
A gem of Volusia County was celebrated at the address. The county honored longtime community leader Dr. James Huger with a lifetime achievement award. Dr. Huger, "Jimmy" to those who know him and most everyone does, has had a significant impact on almost every organization in the area. Dr. Huger was the first African-American to serve on the County Council, a longtime civil rights activist and friend of Dr. Martin Luther King. He is not only a leader, but a dedicated husband, father and grandfather several times over. A wonderful plaque honoring Dr. Huger will be placed in the newly expanded Ocean Center.
Crime Stoppers names president
Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida, which includes Volusia and Flagler counties, has long pushed to get information for law enforcement. The organization recently inducted Brandon Perry as president and celebrated 2007's accomplishments. Organizers said the number of tips called in, or in some cases written, led to 238 arrests last year, more than double the year before. More than $555,000 in illegal drugs was confiscated due to Crime Stoppers tips and better than $77,000 in personal property was recovered. Crime Stoppers compensated for tips as well last year, giving out more than $49,000 in cash rewards. You can call Crime Stoppers at (888) 277-Tips.
Driver takes a break, gets written up
A Votran bus driver, on the job for nearly six years, was recently written up for leaving his bus unattended with passengers aboard while he ran into a Daytona Beach convenience store for cigarettes. Birch Sears was seen on camera, leaving the bus and returning minutes later, but he left the doors open, which is a violation of procedure. Votran officials said drivers are allowed to make bathroom breaks or get a quick drink, but the doors are supposed to be closed and the stop should be considered an emergency. From now on, they will require drivers to call in when they are leaving the bus and when they return to it to better monitor the safety of bus passengers.
Tolls back in business
Meanwhile, the free ride on the beach is over. Tollbooths have returned to beach approaches up and down the Volusia County coastline. February, with the races, is typically seen as the start of the local tourist season, which runs through November. During that time, motorists have to pay to drive on the beach. There is no charge in December and January. Tolls run drivers $5 a day, or residents can get a yearly $20 pass. Some officials in county government have suggested doing away with tolls, citing goodwill toward a free beach as more valuable than the toll revenue, but in a time when purse strings are tightening, officials said it's less than likely the county will do away with tolls this year.
Claire Metz is the WESH 2 News bureau chief for Volusia and Flagler counties.