Local 10 Investigates

North Miami man, 85 and legally blind, recovers $28,000 after Local 10 News investigation

An 85-year-old North Miami man who is legally blind has gotten all his money back after paying for a roof that was never completed.

4 rodents found in one restaurant, 3 found in another! Plus sleeping quarters in an ice cream shop and maggots!

Rodent found in restaurant ordered shut for 6th time; Roaches found in pasta at another!

Inspectors were busy in South Florida last week!

Miami Gardens pastor faces new civil fraud suit while serving sentence in separate criminal case

Miami Gardens pastor Eric Readon is once again accused of fraud, this time in a civil lawsuit that recently came to light even though it was filed months ago.

79-year-old retired postal worker forced to start over after Miami Gardens pastor betrays his trust

For the first time since the Miami Gardens pastor he trusted went to jail, Edward Fuller is speaking out. The retired postal worker should be living in his dream home with his daughters.

Texas woman mistakenly jailed on Christmas Eve wins court battle: Suit against BSO can go forward

A Texas woman who was mistakenly arrested and jailed for three days over Christmas in 2022 has won a key victory in her federal lawsuit against the Broward Sheriff’s Office and several of its deputies.

Father, son strike again: North Miami police seek scammers after Local 10 investigation

Police are actively searching for a father-and-son team that was recently exposed by Local 10 News for allegedly scamming elderly residents. According to neighbors, the duo has struck again, this time targeting an 85-year-old legally blind man who says he was defrauded out of $28,000 for a roof that was never properly installed.

Hawaii man scammed out of $275,000 in luxury car deal has been fully refunded after Local 10 investigation

A Hawaii man who lost his entire life savings in a luxury car scam has finally been made whole 16 months after a Local 10 News investigation exposed the fraud.

How biotech helps Florida Keys prevent mosquito-borne diseases

Biologists with the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District (FKMCD) are releasing lab-modified mosquitos twice a week in the Middle Keys. It’s part of a pilot program to reduce the population and help stop people from getting bitten.

Miami-Dade schools use tech to deal with students’ growing vaping problem

With back-to-school approaching, Miami-Dade County Public Schools is prepared to use technology to deal with students’ growing vaping problem.

Local 10 News rides along on Secret Service skimmer bust across South Florida

They’re small. They’re sneaky. And in seconds, they can drain your bank account.

‘Where does it end?’: Residents push back on religious bathhouse planned for Hollywood neighborhood

A quiet residential street in Hollywood has become the center of a growing controversy as plans to tear down a home and replace it with a religious bathhouse face fierce opposition from neighbors.

Pastor Eric Readon taken into custody despite last-minute plea withdrawal

Miami Gardens pastor Eric Readon was taken into custody Friday morning after a judge declined to delay his surrender or rule immediately on his last-minute motion to withdraw his guilty plea.

Pastor tries to back out of fraud guilty plea, blames Local 10 coverage

Just days before he is scheduled to begin serving a 364-day jail sentence, Miami Gardens pastor Eric Readon has filed a motion to withdraw his guilty plea, asking the court to reverse the deal that spared him a possible 65-year prison term.

May Fu Chinese remains closed after 3rd failed inspection following Local 10 Dirty Dining report

May Fu Chinese Restaurant remains shut down after state health inspectors returned for a third follow-up visit and, once again, found serious sanitary issues just feet from where food is prepared and served.

Dirty Dining camera catches employee removing rats from local Chinese restaurant

Just days after being allowed to reopen following a state-ordered shutdown for rodent activity, May Fu Chinese Restaurant has been shut down once again, this time after a Local 10 Dirty Dining investigation caught employees on camera removing three dead rats from the kitchen.

Unlicensed engineer faces millions in fines after Local 10 investigation uncovers forged inspections

The Florida Board of Professional Engineers has filed a 724-count administrative complaint against Enrique Fernandez Jr., a South Florida man accused of forging his late father’s name and license number on dozens of building inspection reports across Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

Pastor takes plea: Embattled Miami Gardens minister headed to jail for fraud

A Miami Gardens pastor who just last week rejected a plea deal in a high-profile fraud case did a complete about-face in Miami-Dade court on Monday.

Miami Gardens pastor rejects plea deal in high-profile fraud case, faces up to 65 years behind bars

Miami Gardens Pastor Eric Readon appeared in a Miami-Dade courtroom Wednesday, where he rejected a plea deal offered by the State Attorney’s Office in a high-profile elder exploitation and fraud case that stems from a Local 10 News investigation.

Neighbors claim Miami Gardens home is noisy, unlicensed takeout restaurant: ‘A nuisance’

From the outside, it looks like any other single-family home on Northwest First Court in Miami Gardens. But neighbors say what’s happening behind the fence has transformed their quiet residential street into something that resembles a busy takeout restaurant.

High-profile Fort Lauderdale detective fired after internal affairs investigation

Detective Henry Lockwood, once a face of the department and mentor to youth, is accused of abusing his authority, misusing police databases, and tracking his ex with a GPS device.

Florida Highway Patrol faces staffing crisis amid political tug of war over funding

It’s a full-blown crisis on Florida’s roads with dangerously low numbers of state troopers, reckless drivers running wild, and a highway patrol agency that critics say is barely hanging on.

Railway not changing a thing after Local 10 investigation on tankers parked near FLL runway

Despite public concern, expert warnings and a Local 10 News investigation exposing hazardous rail tankers parked just beyond the perimeter of a major commercial runway at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, the railway says it has no plans to modify its operations.

Embattled pastor back in custody after Broward judge says he violated terms of pretrial release

Miami Gardens pastor Eric Readon was taken back into custody Thursday after a Broward County judge revoked his bond, citing a violation of the terms of his pretrial release.

Railcars parked near Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport raise serious safety concerns

Just yards away from a major runway at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), dozens of rail tankers marked with hazardous material warnings sit parked in plain view — and some say it’s a disaster waiting to happen.

Dirty Dining follow-up: DBPR confirms Miami restaurant was open, operating at time of inspection

Earlier this week, the owner of Lovely’s in the City publicly disputed our report about her kitchen being shut down due to a rodent infestation.

Rodent trouble at Family Dollar — pet food area shut down

A Family Dollar store in Fort Lauderdale is facing serious sanitation concerns after a state inspection revealed rodent activity in the area where animal food is kept.

Owner disputes rodent report at Lovely’s in the City, says Miami location has been closed for years

Local 10 News recently published an article on its website based on public records from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation regarding a recent restaurant inspection.

No charges filed in Platemakers probe: State attorney says evidence doesn’t meet criminal threshold

A Local 10 News investigation that sparked a criminal probe into a South Florida license plate customization business has now reached a turning point: the Broward County state attorney has declined to file charges.

Ex-Hollywood car dealer accused of high-end rip-off arrested before flight to Cuba

A South Florida man accused of taking nearly $300,000 from a Hawaii car buyer and never delivering the luxury vehicle was arrested by federal agents just before boarding a flight from Miami to Cuba — with Russia as his final destination.

No Proof, Just Blame: Salt 7 owner accuses ex-bartender after social media blast

The unraveling of Salt 7, once a buzzy hot spot on Las Olas Boulevard inside the ICON building, continues with another twist—this time involving a former bartender and the restaurant’s embattled owner.

Job fair brings relief to displaced Salt 7 team after restaurant’s sudden closure

What started as heartbreak for Salt 7 employees has taken a hopeful turn. Days after being abruptly locked out of their workplace, former staffers gathered at the Seminole Casino Coconut Creek on Friday for a job fair created just for them.

Employees claim upscale Fort Lauderdale restaurant owes them thousands: ‘They don’t pay anyone’

Some employees at the high-end Las Olas restaurant Salt 7 say they have not been paid, accusing the owner of issuing excuses and bouncing checks while the restaurant faces imminent eviction.

Behind-the-scenes exclusive: How targeted enforcement helps U.S. Border Patrol catch wanted migrants in Florida Keys

U.S. Border Patrol agents recently detained the driver of a blue Mitsubishi in the Florida Keys.

Florida man who claims he owns land underwater loses another court battle

William Swaim, the man notorious for claiming ownership of submerged lands across Florida, has lost yet another legal battle. In a major ruling, a Florida judge rejected his latest attempt to claim public land, marking yet another courtroom defeat for the developer.

State shuts down Homestead assisted living facility over neglect, unqualified staff

A South Florida assisted living facility has been shut down by the state following alarming allegations of neglect and unqualified staff.

South Florida cities generating big money with speeding cameras in school zones

The report card is in on school speed zone cameras.

Buyer beware: Car dealership facing accusations of fraud from past customers

A South Florida car dealership, Kars2Go, is under fire following multiple allegations of fraudulent activity, including unauthorized loans, inflated prices, and forged signatures.

Disturbing video shows unsanitary food preparation at South Florida restaurant

A shocking video captured by a delivery driver inside China Yan in Homestead has sparked outrage after it revealed unsanitary food preparation practices.

Videos show timeline of fatal 2019 police shootout gone wrong in Broward after burglary in Miami-Dade

As a group of police officers are awaiting trial, a series of videos helped investigators put together the timeline of a police shootout gone wrong after a chase from Miami-Dade to Broward County in 2019.

Employee sentenced to probation after caught-on-camera luggage theft at Fort Lauderdale airport

Broward County Judge Michael Usan sentenced 29-year-old Junior Bazile to two years of probation following his arrest for grand theft.

Controversial South Florida pastor loses church property

A Miami Gardens pastor, Eric Readon, who has been the subject of multiple Local 10 News investigations, has lost his church property following foreclosure proceedings.

Hurricane Milton hurts roofers trying to keep up with demand, shortages

This year’s hurricane season has been challenging for roofers in South Florida.

Videos show burglars targeting same car, home in Miami’s Coconut Grove

Arseni Varabyeu said his surveillance cameras show the trail of burglars parading in and out of his property in Miami’s Coconut Grove.

Woman pleads for Miami Lakes mausoleum elevator repair to visit late husband

A 90-year-old woman is pleading for repairs to a broken elevator that has kept her from visiting her late husband’s grave in a Miami Lakes mausoleum.

Car dealership settles with Attorney General over lease buyout fees following Local 10 News investigation

Consumers who paid dealer fees when buying out a leased vehicle shouldn’t have, and they may be entitled to get their money back after a Local 10 News investigation.

Fines dropped against South Florida homeowner whose neighbor complained about plants, rocks

After months and months of trying to figure out what she did wrong, it’s now case closed for a South Florida homeowner following a Local 10 News investigation.

South Florida neighbors’ feud over rocks, plants escalates to fines: ‘She just keeps calling code’

There’s a “rocky” situation in one South Florida community where neighbor has been pitted against neighbor.

State suspends Hollywood car dealer’s license amid criminal probes

A South Florida car dealership is no longer allowed to operate in the state of Florida following a Local 10 News investigation.

Customer complaint leads to inspection that temporarily closed longtime Coral Gables Chinese restaurant

Coral Gables restaurant Canton Chinese has been a fixture in the Miami-Dade city for 28 years.

Fired Pembroke Park police chief under investigation for taking confidential documents

Local 10 News has learned that the former Pembroke Park police chief is now under investigation by her former department for entering town hall unauthorized and taking documents.

North Miami residents’ graphic images put focus on killing spree of about 45 birds

Kim Marchena said she feels heartbroken after a killer targeted dozens of ducklings and ducks in her North Miami neighborhood.

Miami-Dade blind woman says Uber driver refused her a ride over service dog

An Aventura woman shared a video showing the Uber driver who refused to give her a ride.

Broward accountant accused of scamming clients out of lucrative tax returns

A Wilton Manors accountant is accused of scamming more than 20 of his customers out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

After just 6 months, Pembroke Park police chief could end up out of a job

Mayor Ashira Mohammed and Commissioner Geoffrey Jacobs, typically bitter rivals on the dais in the small south Broward town of Pembroke Park, appear to agree on one thing, sources say: They want the town’s police chief out.

South Florida police departments experience hiring crisis amid nationwide shortage

Police Departments across South Florida are struggling to recruit and retain police officers.

Undercover operations lead to citations, arrests of illegal rideshare drivers at South Florida airports

Fake Uber and Lyft drivers were busted last weekend at Miami International Airport soliciting rides.

South Florida driver part of class action suit claiming State Farm wasn’t there for them; failed to foot repair bills

Some South Florida drivers are learning the hard way that just because you pay for full car insurance coverage, it doesn't mean your insurance company will have your back.

North Miami Beach condo residents still not allowed in their homes, association won’t answer questions about delay

It's been nearly three years since residents of a North Miami Beach condo building were forced out of their homes because it was deemed unsafe.

Griselda archives: Cocaine dirty money affords foreign brutal killers luxury in Miami

Luis Garcia-Blanco, a Cuban who had arrived in Miami on the Mariel boatlift, was accused of shooting his ex-girlfriend Maricel Gutierrez in the head with a machine gun in 1980, in Miami-Dade. He had allegedly also cut off her finger and kept it in a Bible.

Griselda archives: War on drugs leaves trail of cold case cases in Miami-Dade

When an assassin in Miami-Dade killed Oscar Piedrahita — who had allegedly betrayed Colombian cocaine trafficker Griselda Blanco — he used a submachine gun. The hitman put more bullets in Piedrahita’s garage door than he put in him.

Griselda archives: Colombian mothers face true cost of cocaine business after families turn into crime rings

Federal agents with the Drug Enforcement Agency waited for guests to arrive for a baby shower at a restaurant in Miami’s Little Havana. When they moved in to arrest a woman, two men who were near her ran away holding cases for what appeared to be a violin and a guitar.

Illegal, fake rideshare drivers are potential dangerous problem at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport

Illegal activity at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport has been caught by Local 10 News’ hidden cameras.

After charge filed, Pembroke Park commissioner turns tables on town with $10M planned suit

Pembroke Park Commissioner Geoffrey Jacobs is the defendant in a civil — and now a criminal — court case connected to his time on the dais in the south Broward town of about 6,000 people. Now, he plans to be a plaintiff.

Griselda archives: Cocaine wars in Miami came with wild-west-style shootouts amid competition for crown

In northern Bogotá, Colombia, in a posh neighborhood, a woman clad in soft beige walked in high heels out of a two-story house with armed guards to investigate who was spying on her in the 1980s. Detectives identified her as Veronica Rivera de Vargas, better known as Bogotá's “Queen of Cocaine.”

Mayor steps in after Hallandale property manager smashes resident’s legal security camera

A Broward County woman says she is living in fear and claims she is the target of an out of control property manager.

New Florida bill aims to help families of murder victims with unsolved crimes

The Florida lawmakers who are pushing for The Decker-Backmann Act to become state law in July have the families of Marilyn Decker and Clifford “Cliff” Backmann in mind.

Inmate deaths in Broward County lead to distraught families demanding answers

A Broward Sheriff's Office employee has been placed on administrative leave following the death of an inmate.

Broward man receives stolen tax refund of $24,500 with help from congresswoman, Local 10 News

An early Christmas present arrived for a Broward County man after his tax return check was stolen.

Hallandale Beach ex-HOA prez cuffed after leaving gun drawing on resident’s doormat, cops say

Police arrested the former president of a Hallandale Beach co-op building — the subject of multiple Local 10 Investigates stories — after they said he left a hand-drawn photo of a gun on a resident’s doormat.

More photos surface of Pembroke Park commissioner doing extensive renovations without permits

Local 10 News has obtained pictures of Pembroke Park Town Commissioner Geoffrey Jacobs doing extensive interior renovations to his home without permits.

Miami car rental company accused of charging customers for damage they didn’t cause

The Florida State Attorney General's office is looking into complaints that a Miami-based car rental business is forcing people to pay for damages they claim they didn't do.

‘All you need is an ID’: Man caught red-handed selling forged disabled parking permit

A Local 10 News hidden camera investigation discovered disabled parking permits are being sold online without any required doctor authorization.

Body scanning technology helps Monroe County Sheriff’s Office detect contraband before it enters jail

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office gave Local 10 an inside look at the department’s body scanning technology that detects potential contraband before it enters the jail.

Staggering number of migrants attempted to come to South Florida last fiscal year

Federal agents and other law enforcement officers encountered a staggering number of migrants attempting to come to South Florida last fiscal year, often in unseaworthy, homemade vessels.

Pembroke Park Town Commissioner Geoffrey Jacobs goes on attack following Local 10 News investigative report

Pembroke Park Town Commissioner Geoffrey Jacobs went on the attack following a Local 10 News investigative report on his actions.

Look-alike patrol cars causing confusion for South Florida drivers, but are they legal?

State Troopers stop the driver of a Dodge Charger wrapped to imitate a Florida Highway Patrol vehicle. Now the driver is facing misdemeanor charges.

South Florida woman sues Enterprise after mother’s ashes go missing from rental car

A South Florida woman says her mother’s ashes are gone, possibly discarded by a car rental company following a crash on Interstate 95.

Detectives search for ‘evil’ driver who killed beloved grandfather in Broward

Shannon Johnson said she is missing her beloved 61-year-old father, Alton Johnson, a former college football player who had worked as a forklift operator on a shipping dock in Fort Lauderdale.

WATCH: Pembroke Park commissioner goes on profanity-laden tirade from dais

F-bombs flew at Pembroke Park Town Hall Wednesday night as outspoken Commissioner Geoffrey Jacobs went on a profanity-laced tirade directed towards his colleagues on the dais. Local 10 News has learned that Jacobs may now be under investigation by Broward County’s chief watchdog.

Police: Man steals from Miami condo residents while serving as association president

A former condo association president stands accused of stealing from the residents of the Blue On The Bay, a gleaming curved 34-story tower overlooking Biscayne Bay, in Miami’s Edgewater neighborhood.

Public health officials in Florida issue mosquito-borne illnesses alerts

Public health officials have been warning Floridians about the increased risk of mosquito bites during this very active hurricane season.

Student’s $17,600 graduation gift turns into nightmare in Broward

A couple said that what was supposed to be a graduation present for their daughter turned into a nightmare. They paid a car dealer $17,600 in cash. Now the car is gone and the dealer is out of business.

State house candidate raises eyebrows by not campaigning, raising a cent — is he another shill?

There are new questions being raised about an independent candidate running in the special election to fill a southwestern Miami-Dade County-based seat in the Florida House of Representatives.

Miami-Dade car dealership’s sales manager under investigation over street racing videos

Miami-Dade police officers said a special task force monitors social media and their findings have led to several arrests after dangerous street takeovers.

Report accuses Pembroke Park official of laundry list of ‘hostile, volatile, toxic’ behaviors

An outside firm hired to investigate a Pembroke Park commissioner — who was once the town’s mayor — found the official engaged in an extensive series of “threatening, humiliating, or intimidating behaviors,” according to a report obtained by Local 10 News on Friday.