Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Social Media Content May be Used as Evidence in Criminal Cases
Social media use has grown dramatically in recent years. At this point, it is rare for individuals to not have at least one social media profile. Most people use multiple platforms, including but not limited to Facebook, YouTube, Snapchat, Twitter, and Instagram. While this has led to an ever-connected world, it has also changed… Read More »
Florida Lawmakers Try to Reduce Number of Hot Vehicle Deaths
Every year more than three dozen children around the U.S. die after being left in hot vehicles. The children pass away due to severe hyperthermia, which occurs when their bodies’ temperature reaches above 104 degrees Fahrenheit and are unable to cool themselves. This risk is particularly high in Florida, which experiences hot temperatures throughout… Read More »
Workers Face Injuries in Aftermath of Hurricanes
Various regions of the U.S. are suffering various levels of damage after multiple hurricanes that made landfall in August and September. Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma, and Hurricane Maria have caused damage in Texas, Louisiana, Florida, and Puerto Rico. With parts of the U.S. facing flooding, lack of electricity, and extensive damage to infrastructure, all… Read More »
FBI Releases US Crime Statistics for 2016
On Sept. 25, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) released the 2016 crime statistics from across the country. The data showed the estimated number of violent crimes rose for the second year in a row, increasing 4.1 percent in 2016. The estimated violent crime rate was 386.3 offenses per 100,000 individuals, which was 3.4… Read More »
Fatal Semi-Truck Crash in Florida
The Florida Highway Patrol announced a fatal crash involving a semi-truck and Honda took place on I-10 near mile marker 167 on Monday, September 18. According to the FHP troopers, the semi, traveling eastbound, drifted into the inside lane coming into contact with a second vehicle, a Honda Civic, which may have been attempting… Read More »
Eighteen-Year-Old Faces Firearm and Murder Charges in Kissimmee
Kissimmee, Florida police announced on September 3 they arrested Nicolas Rincon, 18, for the shooting death of Tyanna Milagros Velasquez, 19. Officers initially found Rincon with a firearm near the young woman’s home and considered him a person of interest. After detectives interviewed Rincon, he was arrested and charges. He faces charges for possessing… Read More »
Woman Arrested After Leaving 2 Children in Hot Car
In late August, an officer discovered Larissa Rivera, 28, left her two children alone in a hot vehicle while she was inside a bar. The officers found a boy and girl, roughly 3 and 6 years of age, inside a Ford Focus parked near Butikin Bar on International Drive. The vehicle was left running,… Read More »
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 »
