Local News

NOAA predicts active 2013 Atlantic Hurricane Season

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:36:32 GMT

The 2013 hurricane season begins June 1 and the government predicted on Thursday it will be a very active season.

The outlook from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says there is a 70 percent likelihood of 13 to 20 named storms.

NOAA predicts 7 to 11 of those storms could become hurricanes, including 3 to 6 major hurricanes.

"It's not all about the numbers," said Local 10 Hurricane Specialist Max Mayfield. "It only takes that one hurricane over our community to make for a bad year. We need to be prepared."

These ranges are well above the seasonal average of 12 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes.

“With the devastation of Sandy fresh in our minds, and another active season predicted, everyone at NOAA is committed to providing life-saving forecasts in the face of these storms and ensuring that Americans are prepared and ready ahead of time.” said Kathryn Sullivan, NOAA acting administrator.

This year's names: Andrea, Barry, Chantal, Dorian, Erin, Fernand, Gabrielle, Humberto, Ingrid, Jerry, Karen, Lorenzo, Melissa, Nestor, Olga, Pablo, Rebekah, Sebastien, Tanya, Van and Wendy.

Three climate factors are expected to produce this active season, including a climate pattern responsible for an era of high activity that began in 1995; warmer-than-average water temperatures in the tropical Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea; and, El Niño is not expected to develop and suppress hurricane formation.

Police: Home invasion turns into a shootout in Miramar

Fri, 24 May 2013 11:46:21 GMT

A home invasion turned into a shootout Friday morning in Miramar.

According to investigators, at least two people tried to break into a home inside a gated community along Southwest 44th Street and 126th Avenue.

Police say the homeowners were not at home, but there were house sitters inside.

At some point during the break in, police say the shooting began and at least one person was injured.

There was a second crime scene nearby on Flamingo Road and Miramar Parkway. Police roped off a bus stop and some clothes could be seen on the ground in that area.

Officers are on high alert because there was another home invasion reported in Miramar on Thursday.

Watch Local 10 and refresh Local10.com for updates on this developing story.

Police impersonators rob homeowner

Fri, 24 May 2013 04:57:58 GMT

Investigators are looking for four police impersonators who robbed a homeowner in Miramar early Thursday morning.

The robbery happened in the 2000 block of Southwest 117th Avenue about 1:15 a.m.

"Just very nightmarish," said Rick Estrada, the homeowner. "[I'm] about to go to sleep. I get a knock on the door."

Estrada said the foursome was wearing tactical gear.

"They were all in SWAT team outfits with the bulletproof vest with the police on the back," he said.

"They were not wearing the standard police uniform that you see of officers working the road," said Tania Rues with the Miramar Police Department. "However, they were wearing what we describe as tactical gear -- bulletproof vests -- and the police insignia across the vest."

"They tried to tie me up. The guy ties me up -- I didn't let him tie me up totally," said Estrada. "The guy had a gun to my head. He put me on my knees."

The robbers then stole an undisclosed amount of cash, weapons, and other items from Estrada, who suffered cuts to his face and burns on his wrists.

"I had such an adrenaline flow that it could've gone either way for me," he said.

Descriptions of the robbers are:

A man who is 5-feet 7-inches tall and heavy set with facial hair.A second man who is 5-feet 9-inches tall with a slim build, dark complexion, and short hair.A third man who is 5-feet 11-inches tall with short, cropped hair.A woman who is 5-feet 5-inches tall with blue eyes, dirty blonde hair, and a medium build.

Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.

Police prepare for Urban Beach Weekend

Fri, 24 May 2013 04:40:34 GMT

The first round of tourists for Urban Beach Week arrived Thursday morning.

The city estimates 200,000 people will make their way to South Beach through Memorial Day. Officers patrolled Ocean Drive ahead of road closures on Friday.

The Miami Beach Police Department says 400 officers will be on the streets at night.

"Everyone who is going to be here for the weekend is typically here by Saturday," said Detective Vivian Hernandez.

Police will have a DUI checkpoint as well as license plate readers on the MacArthur Causeway. Scanners will also record tags on the Julia Tuttle Causeway.

Drivers will only be allowed to drive north and south on Washington Avenue and Collins Avenue. The traffic loop begins on 5th Street and runs through 23rd Street.

The east and west streets between Washington Avenue and Ocean Drive will be restricted. Only residents with the proper zone decals will be allowed to enter.

Starting at 7 a.m. Friday morning, Ocean Drive from 5th to 15th Streets will be shut down to vehicular traffic. They will reopen at 7 a.m. Tuesday morning.

READ: Memorial Day weekend traffic plan on South Beach |

"This is not my first time here, but it's my first Memorial Day weekend, so I hear a lot of good things about it," said Keisha Major.

Officers will also have a new, high-tech tool to keep tourists safe. The police department has on loan a $140,000 all-terrain vehicle used in the military. The vehicle can detect body heat nearly a mile away.

Officers will use it at night on the beach.

Police: Landlord fatally shoots tenant

Fri, 24 May 2013 03:49:24 GMT

Police in Hialeah are investigating after a landlord shot and killed his tenant early Thursday morning.

It happened along the 5700 block of West 10th Avenue about 2 a.m.

The landlord, Williams Arteaga, was evicting Yasmany Puentes when they got into an argument, police said. Puentes had lived there six months without paying rent and Arteaga paid for the utilities.

After the county removed his property on Wednesday, Puentes returned with a baseball bat, police said. Arteaga then shot him in the chest.

"It's sad. There has got to be a way to work things out," said Charles Pollok, who lives nearby. "Coming to violence should be a last resort."

Arteaga was questioned and released. No charges have been filed.

Detectives are reviewing home surveillance video.

"Disconcerting is a good word," added Pollok. "Last thing that happened here was like over a year and a half ago. There was a robbery way down on the other end of the block."

Investigator handling child neglect case fired

Fri, 24 May 2013 03:42:40 GMT

The Department of Children and Families on Thursday fired an employee who was investigating a couple whose son died last week.

Officials with DCF said Shani Smith, who was investigating Catalina Bruno and her husband, falsified records. Both parents have a history of domestic violence and Bruno was charged with DUI.

Records show Smith said that counseling and treatment services were ordered by DCF, but those records were bogus, officials said.

"Our computer systems don't show that any of these services were ever ordered electronically or received through the computer system, so we've reached the conclusion that a crime has been committed," said DCF Secretary David Wilkins. "What it potentially save that mom, made her think differently about the types of indulgences she was doing, and that little boy have been saved -- we'll never know -- but, definitely, that's the intent of services, to help a family during a time of trauma."

Smith conducted more than 100 investigations for DCF in the last year, officials said. She now may face charges herself.

"Falsifying records is a third-degree felony," said Wilkins.

Bruno was arrested last week after her 11-month-old died. She is being held on no bond after she was charged with aggravated manslaughter.

Defense attorneys told a judge this week that she was diagnosed with postpartum depression nine weeks after her son was born.

Officials with DCF previously said they had a history with the family.

Police: Boy found unresponsive in car

Bruno placed her son, Bryan Miguel Osceola, in a child seat in the rear passenger side of the vehicle and drove home on May 16, according to investigators. When she got home, she left Bryan in the car.

A while later, the boy's father, Amos Osceola, asked about the boy. Bruno then recalled leaving him inside the vehicle, police said.

Investigators said Osceola immediately ran outside and found Bryan unresponsive in the car seat. He took him to a nearby Miami-Dade Fire Rescue station for medical attention.

Byran was then taken to Kendall Regional Hospital. He had a body temperature of 109 degrees.

Bruno charged before

Bruno was out on bond for a charge of child neglect when she was arrested.

According to an arrest affidavit, in Nov. 2012, a Florida Highway Patrol trooper found Bruno passed out behind the wheel of her sport utility vehicle on Southwest 8th Street about seven miles west of Krome Avenue. The SUV was still in gear, reported the arresting officer, and her then 5-month-old boy was found face down between the front seats. The boy was uninjured in the incident and released to Bruno's sister.

Bruno was charged with child neglect, driving under the influence while accompanied by a minor, and a seat restraint violation. Since 2007, she has also been arrested for battery, cocaine possession, and driving on a suspended license.

During her bond hearing Saturday, the judge ruled Bruno have no contact with her 10-year-old and 4-year-old children, who were in custody of their father.

In July 2012, one month after Bryan was born, Bruno and Osceola got into an argument, according to police records. Osceola appeared drunk, pushed her against a wall, and began hitting her. Police arrested him and charged him with battery.

Broken elevator traps man in apartment

Fri, 24 May 2013 03:41:22 GMT

A broken elevator has trapped a wheelchair-bound man in his North Miami apartment for more than three weeks.

Mark Merrian, 42, said he's been unable to go to the doctor or work because of the elevator. He lives on the second floor.

"I feel real trapped, discouraged, disappointed," he told Local 10's Ross Palombo. "This is the worst thing in my life because, you know what, I'm disabled, I work -- I had a doctor's appointment today and I missed it."

Electricians were working to fix the elevator on Thursday evening. An inspector didn't expect the elevator to be up and running by the end of the day.

Classes cancelled at Miami Dade College campus due to city water issues

Fri, 24 May 2013 03:25:46 GMT

Classes and activities at Miami Dade College's North Campus will be cancelled again Friday due to problems with the campus' municipal water supply that began on Thursday.

According to the college, the Campus leadership anticipates classes will resume as normally scheduled Tuesday, May 28.

Officials said the campus is having water pressure issues with the City of Opa-locka.

Classes and activities at the Carrie P. Meek Center are unaffected and operating under regular schedules Friday, May 24, and elsewhere at MDC.

The campus would like to thank the community for its patience and cooperation.

Detectives seek missing elderly Pompano Beach man

Fri, 24 May 2013 01:39:57 GMT

Detectives are asking for the public's help finding an 81-year-old man who went missing recently.

According to the Broward Sheriff's Office, Fred Betts, 81, was last seen Sunday at his home on Northeast 1st Avenue in Pompano Beach.

Authorities said Betts has trouble walking, but he left his walker at home. Detectives said he does not have a car or cell phone.

Anyone who sees Betts is asked to call the Broward Sheriff's Office non-emergency number at 954-765-4321.

Retired BSO deputy accused of strangling wife reaches deal

Fri, 24 May 2013 01:29:22 GMT

A retired Broward Sheriff's Office deputy who was shot in the head during a traffic stop in 2007 has reached a deal that could lead to his domestic violence charges being dropped.

Former BSO Sgt. Maury Hernandez was arrested in February for allegedly strangling his wife. He was ordered to stay away from her son and their son.

Hernandez was charged with felony battery by strangulation.

On Thursday, Hernandez agreed to enter a domestic intervention program for 6 months and submit to tests.

According to authorities, Hernandez qualified for the Pre-Trial Intervention Program. At his request, Hernandez was allowed to enter the program with some special conditions.

Hernandez will be required to complete the 26-week domestic intervention program, be screened for mental health issues and receive treatment, said authorities.

Hernandez is currently receiving treatment through his own doctor. Authorities said he will be required to be screened and receive any appropriate treatment for alcohol dependency, and he will be required to attend and complete parenting classes.

Additionally, officials said Hernandez is required to continue to stay away from Ms. Linen, the victim.

Upon the successful completion of all the special conditions, and if he is not arrested again, authorities said the case will come back on calendar in no fewer than six months.

At that time, authorities said if he has successfully completed the program and meet all of the conditions, the charges would be dismissed.

Bomb squad investigates suspicious package in Miami

Fri, 24 May 2013 01:29:10 GMT

The Miami Police Department's bomb squad detonates a suspicious backpack in Brickell.

According to Miami police, witnesses saw a man drop the backpack off near Brickell Bay Drive and 8th Street.

The bomb squad then detonated it.

Embed map

No further information has been given at this time.

Watch Local 10 News and refresh Local10.com as this story develops.

Rotary Club of Weston honors 'prom heroes'

Thu, 23 May 2013 22:36:52 GMT

When a group of Western High School seniors put prom on hold to rescue a family involved in a serious roll over wreck, Bob Harms was listening to the radio.

"I heard the story of these 20 wonderful kids that were on their way to the prom and really put service above self," he said.

The teenagers reacted like heroes, and so the Rotary Club of Weston member reacted, too.

The club decided to pay tribute to the high schoolers with plaques and a standing ovation at their annual scholarship breakfast on Thursday morning.

"Some of these kids had blood on their prom dresses as they were going to the prom," said Harms. "It was just such a fantastic story."

The honor meant so much to Peter Kim and Ashley Wolf.

"I'm just grateful," said Kim.

"It makes me realize that we did do something good," said Wolf.

Both reacted like pros during the crisis, and they say it only reaffirms what they already knew -- they're heading off to college this summer to study medicine.

"It was so real that it makes me realize that I can actually do it and pursue it," said Wolf.

Detective breaks down while testifying in robbery trial

Thu, 23 May 2013 22:34:17 GMT

A Miami-Dade police detective broke down while testifying again in the trial of a man accused of shooting him during a gold chain robbery.

Tears forced Wislyn Joseph out of the courtroom Thursday as he testified against Willie Barney.

Joseph testified in the first trial, but Barney was granted a retrial over an issue with a juror. He also testified in an earlier hearing.

The emotional testimony caused defense attorneys to question whether he was crying for sympathy.

"The fact that the detective broke down and cried, you have to put it out of your mind," Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Jorge Rodrigez-Chomat told jurors.

Barney shot Joseph in the chest outside a church in Miami's Little Haiti neighborhood on Sept. 22, 2012, according to prosecutors. Barney and two others robbed Joseph of his gold bracelet and his gold chain his late grandmother left him.

Jurors heard Joseph had his dad do first aid.

"It exited through my ribcage, lifted my shirt, [I] realized blood was pumping out like this," he said.

Jurors also heard the 911 calls Joseph made after the shooting, as he gave the descriptions that led to the arrests.

Investigators have linked Barney and two others to several other gold chain robberies.

"Two days after the incident, you described all three of these fellows as light-skinned black males, correct?" asked Barney's defense attorney.

Barney is dark skinned. Joseph testified he gave that description, but later identified Barney as the man who shot him.

Closing arguments begin Friday.

George Zimmerman attorneys release pictures from Trayvon Martin's cellphone

Thu, 23 May 2013 22:25:06 GMT

Attorneys for George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watchman who shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, released another round of evidence Thursday, including the teen's cellphone records and pictures.

Eight reports, totaling more than 20 pages, of Martin's cellphone records were released, including 25 pictures and videos. The evidence also includes school records and videos from the school, a handwritten letter from Witness 8, Zimmerman's medical report from Feb. 27, 2012, and pictures of Witness 25.

READ: 3rd Discovery | Martin phone record: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |

In one of the records, Martin tells someone his mother kicked him out of the house.

"My mom just told me I gotta mov wit my dad [sic]," read one text.

Some of the texts have been redacted so it's not clear who Martin is texting.

Photos include ones of Martin posing with friends, a handgun, a marijuana plant, and what appears to be a fight scene.

SEE: Photos |

Attorney Mark O'Mara also included alerts and emails from the neighborhood Retreat at Twin Lakes, where Martin and Zimmerman's altercation occurred on Feb. 26, 2012.

In one of the records, Zimmerman sent an email regarding a burglary and a prowler. Sanford Police Department also gave someone a trespassing warning days before the shooting, according to the evidence released.

"The only photos or videos that are relevant or admissible at trial are those of Trayvon taken the day he was shot and killed by George Zimmerman," read a statement by Ben Crump, an attorney representing Trayvon Martin's family. "The pre-trial release of these irrelevant red herrings is a desperate and pathetic attempt by the defense to pollute and sway the jury pool."

READ: Ben Crump's full statement |

Jury selection in Zimmerman's second-degree murder trial is slated to begin June 10. Zimmerman has pleaded not guilty, claiming self-defense. The next hearing in his trial is slated for Tuesday.

3 wanted for robbing woman

Thu, 23 May 2013 22:19:28 GMT

Police are looking for three men who robbed a woman as she left a supermarket in Miami.

The robbery happened outside Bravo Supermarket, located at Northwest 2nd Avenue and 67th Street, on April 28.

Three men riding bicycles followed Andria Ducasse after she left the supermarket, police said.

"Definitely we could say that she was targeted from inside the store," said Willie Moreno with the Miami Police Department. "When she walked outside, they took that opportunity."

When they reached the end of the block, one man pulled out a gun and demanded her purse. Another man grabbed her purse, then slapped her. The trio then got back on their bicycles and rode off.

"They did get away with her purse and the contents inside," said Moreno. "This is extremely dangerous, extremely scary."

One robber is described as having a dark complexion, a thin build, short black hair, and a mustache. He was last seen wearing dark pants and a red shirt with the words "I GOT RATED."

The second robber is described as having a dark complexion and a medium build. He was last seen wearing a white tank top, knee-length shorts, and a purple and white skull cap.

The third robber is described as having a dark complexion, a medium build, and long dreadlocks. He was last seen wearing a dark long-sleeve shirt with white sleeves and blue jeans.

Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call the Miami Police Department's Robbery Unit at 305-603-6370 or Miami-Dade Crimestoppers at 305-471-TIPS.