BREAKING: Broward County, There Is Poo in the Water

Categories: Breaking News
A Broward County water plant serving Pompano Beach, Deerfield Beach, Lighthouse Point, and Coconut Creek has tested positive for "fecal indicators," according to a statement just sent out by the county. The affected well has been shut down, but authorities are telling residents in those areas to not drink tap water without boiling it first:
Bring all water to a rolling boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using it. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water. You may also use bottled water. Use boiled or bottled water for drinking, making ice, preparing food, and washing dishes until further notice.
More >>

Portion of Fort Lauderdale International Airport Evacuated for "Unknown Substance" (Update: We're good.)

Categories: Breaking News
A section of Fort Lauderdale International Airport Terminal 2 has been evacuated and HAZMAT investigators are on the scene, according to Broward Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Dani Moschella. At least three four victims have reported respiratory issues after being exposed to an "unknown substance/irritant." More to come.

(UPDATE: All clear, per the Miami Herald. Authorities have determined a passenger had an aerosol can in a piece of luggage, and it burst at a TSA checkpoint. All back to normal.)

Craig Ferguson, Thompson Academy Administrator, Leaves Under Cloud of State Investigation

Thompson cover image-thumb-200x214.jpg
Ferguson left after the state began investigating the allegations.
One year after Thompson Academy settled a federal lawsuit alleging a 14-year-old boy was twice sexually assaulted by a counselor at the lockup, the head of the Pembroke Pines juvenile detention center is facing scrutiny. Administrator Craig Ferguson has left his post amid allegations that he took residents home with him, bought them new clothes, and allowed them to shower at his house.

Thompson is an all-male, "moderate risk" detention center for teenagers, funded by the state and run by the for-profit company Youth Services International. Local attorney Michael Aaron Hoffman represents three former Thompson Academy employees -- Kamal Warren, Farouto Austin, and Marcus Blue. In March, Hoffman called the state Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) to report a troubling incident described by the ex-employees.

More >>

Third Whistle-Blower Suit Filed Against Mavericks Charter Schools

Thumbnail image for Palm Springs small.jpg
maverickshigh.com
A former special-education teacher at Mavericks High in Palm Springs has filed a whistle-blower lawsuit alleging that the charter school is inflating enrollment records and fabricating grades.

Angenora Mechato's suit is the third whistle-blower case to be filed against Mavericks in Education Florida, a for-profit, West Palm Beach-based company that manages eight charter schools in the state. Two former employees at Mavericks High in Homestead made similar allegations last year, and their suits are still pending.

In her legal complaint, Mechato says she began working as a special-ed "lead teacher" and
More >>

Breaking: John Goodman Guilty on All Counts (UPDATED)

Scott Wilson.jpg
courtesy of scottpatrickwilson.com
Scott Wilson, 23, was left to drown after the crash.
A Palm Beach County jury this afternoon found Wellington polo mogul John Goodman guilty of DUI manslaughter, failure to render aid, and vehicular homicide. The conviction comes two years after Goodman sped through a stop sign in Wellington, causing a car crash that killed 23-year-old Scott Wilson. (Read our feature story about the accident here.)

Multimillionaire Goodman prayed, hands clasped together before his head, right before the jury reentered the courtroom. He's still in court at the moment, as the lawyers are discussing the presentencing schedule.

Update: Goodman is about to be taken into custody, facing a possible 30 years in prison.

Update #2
: Lili Wilson, Scott's mother, was in tears after the verdict. "Justice has been served," she said. "It's time for the healing process to begin."

Update #3: Not surprisingly, Goodman is going to appeal. His lawyer, famed defense attorney Roy Black, just issued this statement:
More >>

DJJ Supervisor Thought Eric Perez Was "Faking" As He Died in Juvie Lockup, Officer Testifies

Thompson cover image-thumb-200x214.jpg
As an 18-year-old vomited, lost control of his bowels, and died slowly in a West Palm Beach juvenile jail cell last July, guards refused to call 911 for more than six hours. A supervisor on duty allegedly thought Eric Perez was faking his illness, although the teenager had twice injured his head before the vomiting began, according to a grand jury report released yesterday on the incident.

"It is indisputable that, given the conduct of the detention officers, Mr. Perez never had the chance to survive," the report says.

Perez died July 10, 2011 of a cerebral hemorrhage. But  the grand jury declined to charge anyone involved with homicide, because experts could not determine exactly what caused
More >>

Body Discovered by Jet Skier in Pompano Beach Lake

Categories: Breaking News
bso-diver.JPG
Mike Jachles/Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue
A diver searches for the missing man Thursday night.
Update, 5:47 p.m.: The Broward Sheriff's Office just released a statement identifying the body found as the man who was missing Thursday, but his name is Cleudson DaSilva, age 37, not "Douglas Johnson."

Original post, 4:24 p.m.:
​A body believed to be a man who disappeared while swimming on Thursday was discovered by a person riding a wave runner this afternoon, according to Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue spokesman Mike Jachles.​

The body was found in Crystal Lake, in Pompano Beach at the intersection of Sample Road and Military Trail.

A man whom a witness identified as Douglas Johnson disappeared while swimming with a friend Thursday evening, according to Local 10. Witnesses said he was a Brazilian immigrant...
More >>

Lawrence Hunt Pleads Guilty to Killing Middle School Teacher Calvin Williams

lawrence hunt mug.jpg
PBSO
Hunt said he heard Williams had HIV.
Two years ago, Lawrence Hunt told police he killed his lover, Calvin Williams, because he feared Williams was about to rape him and give him HIV.
 
If the case had gone to trial, family and friends of both men would have been dragged through a public airing of intimate secrets. Did the 41-year-old Williams have the disease that causes AIDS? Did he hide it from Hunt and other lovers? Did he try to rape Hunt the morning of his death in May 2010?

We may never know. Hunt, 21, pleaded guilty to manslaughter today, avoiding a trial. He was sentenced to nine years in prison and two years of probation.

Williams was a special-ed teacher at L.C. Swain Middle School in Greenacres. Some of his close friends knew he was gay, but it wasn't something
More >>

Boynton Beach Mayor Jose Angel Rodriguez Arrested on Corruption Charges

Categories: Breaking News
Mayor_Rodriguez.jpg
Jose Angel Rodriguez
Boynton Beach Mayor Jose Angel Rodriguez was arrested today on three charges -- one of them a felony -- alleging he used his power as mayor to prevent authorities from investigating an abuse incident he was allegedly involved in.

"The probable-cause affidavit states and alleges that Boynton Beach Mayor Jose Angel Rodriguez used his position as mayor to obstruct an ongoing criminal investigation against him," Palm Beach State Attorney's Office spokeswoman Teri Bramhall says. "The investigation involved allegations of abuse and was being investigated by the Department of Children and Families and the Boynton Beach Police Department. It is alleged that Mayor Rodriguez contacted both the Boynton Beach Chief of Police and the Boynton Beach Interim City Manager for the purpose of obstructing the investigation."

Read the police report after the jump:

More >>

Palm Beach State Attorney Michael McAuliffe Won't Seek Reelection

Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for McAuliffe[1].jpg
Editorial cartoon from the Palm Beach Sun
Was it the West Palm Beach cop-beating scandal? The steady exodus of prosecutors from his office? Or perhaps his spotty luck prosecuting corruption in the Riviera Beach Police Department?

Michael McAuliffe cited none of these setbacks in his official statement this morning saying he won't be seeking a second term as Palm Beach state attorney. But inquiring minds will certainly be gossiping for months about why the ambitious prosecutor bowed out of the race.

"Just announced McAuliffe will not seek reelection.... there is a god..... now it's Ric's turn," More >>
Sign up for free stuff, news info & more!

Tools

General

Services

Browse Voice Nation
  • Voice Places

    Voice Places

    Discover restaurants, nightlife, travel, shopping...

  • VOICE Daily Deals

    VOICE Daily Deals

    Get 50 to 90% off every day on restaurants, movies, massages...

  • Best Of

    Best Of...

    More than 10,000 of the BEST things to eat, drink, and experience

  • My Voice Nation

    My Voice Nation

    Join the Village Voice community and get exclusive deals and info

  • Happy Hour

    Happy Hour

    Your local Happy Hour guide at your fingertips

or

Log in or Sign up

Social Connect:

Use your favorite account to access My Voice Nation.


Use your My Voice Nation account to log in:





Forgot password?
or

Sign Up or Log in

Social Connect:

Sign up for My Voice Nation with your preferred network.


Sign up for a My Voice Nation account:



Privacy policy