Author Archives: Jay Butchko
2 Adolescents Arrested for Burglary During Hurricane Irma Preparations
Two adolescents, a 17 and 18-year-old from Lake Wales, were arrested on September 9 for burglary while everyone in the region was preparing for and fleeing Hurricane Irma. A neighbor on Beverly Drive notified the Polk County Sheriff’s Office that they saw two boys crouching behind a home. When deputies approached them, the two… Read More »
Propane Can Lead to Dangerous Fires if Handled Improperly
A serious and unexpected accident in Florida was a tough reminder of the potential dangers of propane. On August 13, an SUV carrying a gas grill exploded when the passenger of the vehicle lit a cigarette. The Orlando Police Department determined the gas grill was on and the propane tank was open. When the… Read More »
Teens in Stolen Vehicles Cause Fatal Crash
Three teenagers were killed and another was injured after they stole a vehicle and collided with a car at U.S. 19 and Tampa Road. The driver of the other vehicle, Ricky Melendez, 29, was injured but is expected to make a full recovery. According to the Pinellas County Police, these teenagers were known to… Read More »
Kissimmee Woman Charged With Infant Son’s Death
Last year, Caroline Quiles Sánchez’s three-month-old son died due to a fentanyl overdose. The Kissimmee Police determined a member of Quiles Sánchez’s household lawfully used fentanyl patches for pain relief. Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid. It is a Schedule II prescription drug, known to be up to 100 times more powerful than morphine,… Read More »
Florida Resident Shoots at AT&T Vehicles and Workers
In mid-July, Jorge Jove was unhappy to see AT&T workers and vehicles in front of his home. He asked the workers to move the vehicles. They told him it would be a few minutes since they were working on nearby poles. The answer seemed to not satisfy Jove as he returned to his home… Read More »
Child Left Unsupervised at Florida Rest Stop, Leads to Arrests
Three adults from Columbus, Ohio were arrested and face multiple criminal charges after Florida police officers were called about a 6-year-old boy being left unsupervised at a rest stop on Interstate 95. The young boy approached a woman in her vehicle when he could not find his grandparents. The woman contacted the police. About… Read More »
Individuals Charged With Fraud After Posing Online as Federal Agents
In July, six Florida residents were arrested and charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud for posing online as Department of Homeland Security agents for nearly two years. These individuals created online dating profiles posing as adult women. Once they began communicating and exchanging photos with men, they would state they… Read More »
Fatal Crash Involving Tennis Star Illustrates the Importance of the Rules of the Road
Venus Williams, a celebrated tennis player, was involved in a fatal car crash in June. Witnesses state Williams ran a red light while in her Toyota SUV and was struck by a Hyundai sedan that had the green. The collision harmed Linda Barson, who was driving, and severely injured her husband and passenger, Jerome… Read More »
Florida Sees Multiple Dog Bite Claims This Summer
Dog bites and other animals attacks occur year-round in Florida and these cases are only two examples of the types of dog bite claims that head to court. In May, Arnaldo Daniel Rodriguez filed a suit against Jose and Reinaldo Montes alleging a violation of Florida’s dog bite statute and negligence. Rodriguez claims he… Read More »
Road Rage Can Lead to Criminal Charges
A man from Georgia was recently arrested for shooting at another vehicle while driving on the Florida Turnpike in Orange County. Kent Elkins, 52, was driving with his wife in their Chevy Equinox around 3:45 in the afternoon when a Mazda SUV driven by Reynold Sheltra, 48, and his family attempted to pass. Elkins… Read More »
