The North Port Police Department is working 50 leads now concerning the March 29 shooting death of Manatee School For the Arts teacher Ken Ellis.
But if finding a killer is a numbers game where the more leads the police have, the better the chances at an arrest and conviction, Ellis’ colleagues are trying to make it attractive for people to call in and generate numbers.
Colleagues of Ellis at the school recently started a campaign called “Raise the Reward” to help motivate people to come forward with information.
The campaign has so far raised $2,000 toward a goal of $10,000, said Manatee School For the Arts staff member Kelly Hillman.
“We are reaching out to community members, businesses, and corporations in an effort to raise enough money to motivate anyone with information regarding Ken Ellis’ murder,” Hillman said. Callers can remain anonymous and are eligible to receive a cash reward if the information given leads to an arrest and/or conviction, Hillman said.
Ellis was shot and killed when he opened the door of his North Port home after someone had rung his doorbell.
Callers with donations can contact Hillman at (941) 504-4335, (941) 721-6800, ext. 1145, or khillman@msfta.org.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
What would you charge to let a scantily clad woman beat you up?
A recently filed lawsuit alleges a website paid homeless men $50 to let scantily clad women beat them up and then placed videos of the slugfests on the Internet.
The scheme, according to the plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed this month in St. Petersburg , violates Florida hate crime laws that specifically protect the homeless.
The Associated Press reports:
The scheme, according to the plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed this month in St. Petersburg , violates Florida hate crime laws that specifically protect the homeless.
The Associated Press reports:
Homeless advocates in Florida are suing the owner of a video company that they claim pays homeless men to be beaten up by scantily-clad women.
The lawsuit, filed this month in St. Petersburg, alleges that the videos sold on the website www.shefights.net violate Florida's hate crimes law that specifically protects the homeless.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of two homeless men, who said they were beaten by women while someone videotaped the assaults. One man said he suffered a dislocated arm, while another received a black eye and multiple lacerations.
Image taken from shefights.comState records show Jeffrey S. Williams is the owner of the website. In an email to the Associated Press on Tuesday, Williams wrote that his side of the story "will come out in court."
Sunday, April 10, 2011
If you see an accident, call it in
Next time an accident occurs in front of you while driving, pick up the phone, call the police and report it.
According to Cpl. Darrell Carroll, of the Florida Highway Patrol, that simple act can save a life or solve a case.
He urges drivers who see any accident to take the initiative to call police, rather than assuming someone else will.
In October, a Bradenton man, Mark Stern-Montagny, 52, was killed in a hit-and-run by an unknown driver headed southbound on 14th Street West. According to Carroll, there still haven’t been any solid leads as to what happened that night.
In a previous interview with the Herald, Capt. John Baumann said law enforcement often depends heavily on witnesses in these kinds of cases.
He stressed, “It’s very important to get the public’s support.”
Anyone with information about the Stern-Montagny accident can call Carroll at (941) 751-7647 or Crime Stoppers at (866) 634-TIPS.
According to Cpl. Darrell Carroll, of the Florida Highway Patrol, that simple act can save a life or solve a case.
He urges drivers who see any accident to take the initiative to call police, rather than assuming someone else will.
In October, a Bradenton man, Mark Stern-Montagny, 52, was killed in a hit-and-run by an unknown driver headed southbound on 14th Street West. According to Carroll, there still haven’t been any solid leads as to what happened that night.
In a previous interview with the Herald, Capt. John Baumann said law enforcement often depends heavily on witnesses in these kinds of cases.
He stressed, “It’s very important to get the public’s support.”
Anyone with information about the Stern-Montagny accident can call Carroll at (941) 751-7647 or Crime Stoppers at (866) 634-TIPS.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Authorities seeking 5 sexual offender fugitives from Manatee
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has information about the five sexual offender fugitives from Manatee County here.
They are:
Click on the links to see their photographs and information about their respective cases.
Anyone with information about their whereabouts can call the Manatee County Sheriff's Office at (941) 747-3011, ext. 1938.
They are:
Click on the links to see their photographs and information about their respective cases.
Anyone with information about their whereabouts can call the Manatee County Sheriff's Office at (941) 747-3011, ext. 1938.
Friday, March 18, 2011
American legal standards only apply here
Daniel Pye returned home to Bradenton on Thursday night after spending five months in Haiti on false charges of having a fake ID card.
The missionary, who cares for 22 children in Haiti with his wife at an orphanage, was initially jailed by an investigative judge, who -- by law -- had the option to hold him for up to 90 days as a case was being built.
During his time behind bars, Pye's wife Leann brought him meals and provided cleaning supplies. She brought medical aid for malaria, skin infections and digestive issues that put him in isolation.
“It’s fourth world ... they don’t have structure in their society to help them,” Boodhoo recently told the Bradenton Herald. “He would get good treatment there by Haitian standards, because he is an American. It’s very likely they would permit his friends and relatives to take meals to him.”
Pye, an American citizen and a Haitian resident, has worked in Haiti for the past seven years. But his legal status in the country doesn't make him different from any other American who travels overseas.
On its travel website, the U.S. State Department issues a warning: " ... while in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses."
The State Department encourages travelers to visit its travel site before planning any trip abroad. You'll find the latest travel alerts and embassy locations. It's best to be aware of the risks before getting that passport stamped.
The missionary, who cares for 22 children in Haiti with his wife at an orphanage, was initially jailed by an investigative judge, who -- by law -- had the option to hold him for up to 90 days as a case was being built.
During his time behind bars, Pye's wife Leann brought him meals and provided cleaning supplies. She brought medical aid for malaria, skin infections and digestive issues that put him in isolation.
“It’s fourth world ... they don’t have structure in their society to help them,” Boodhoo recently told the Bradenton Herald. “He would get good treatment there by Haitian standards, because he is an American. It’s very likely they would permit his friends and relatives to take meals to him.”
Pye, an American citizen and a Haitian resident, has worked in Haiti for the past seven years. But his legal status in the country doesn't make him different from any other American who travels overseas.
On its travel website, the U.S. State Department issues a warning: " ... while in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses."
The State Department encourages travelers to visit its travel site before planning any trip abroad. You'll find the latest travel alerts and embassy locations. It's best to be aware of the risks before getting that passport stamped.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Fla. House panel votes to repeal red-light camera law
The Palm Beach Post's political blog has the story:
Florida lawmakers did a U-turn Thursday on the red-light cameras they approved only last year — with a House committee approving a proposal to outlaw the devices being installed by dozens of cities.
Rep. Richard Corcoran, R-New Port Richey, told the Economic Affairs Committee the cameras intrude on the privacy rights of motorists, centering most of his argument on civil liberty issues.
Cities, including West Palm Beach, have been struggling with the new cameras. Some have not been drawing the significant revenue they’d hoped for through fine collections, with motorists successfully challenging citations in court.
West Palm Beach officials have lately landed more of the $150 fines from motorists accused of running red lights — but only after bringing in some top shelf attorneys to represent the city in court.
“When you have these kinds of technological advantages to police, it’s just not fair,” said Corcoran, first elected last fall but already tapped to become House speaker in 2017. “Let’s repeal this bill and look at all these technological issues from the bottom up.”
Corcoran’s bill narrowly cleared the committee on a 10-8 vote — with most Republicans supporting their rising leader. Democrats were opposed, saying the cameras deserve more time to work in cities — and that they do save lives.
Rep. Evan Jenne, D-Fort Lauderdale, acknowledged Corcoran’s freedom argument. “But you don’t have the freedom to break the law,” Jenne said.
The state’s Revenue Estimating Conference projected the red light cameras would bring in roughly $100 million into the state and $75 million into local governments over two years.
More on the Innocence Project of Florida
The Innocence Project of Florida is currently pushing for Derrick Williams to have his case retried.
The 47-year-old man was sentenced to life for the Aug. 6, 1992, kidnapping and rape of a woman in a Palmetto orange grove.
Williams claimed his innocence throughout his trial and, in 2008, his family sought help from the Innocence Project. It wasn't until July that the organization filed a motion with the Manatee County Clerk of Courts to have Williams exonerated. According to the Innocence Project, Williams' DNA was not collected from the collar of the assailant's shirt entered into evidence.
If the Innocence Project succeeds, Williams would become one of 267 people in the United States to have been exonerated by DNA testing since the organization was founded in 1992, according to the group's website.
The Innocence Project, founded in 2003, has exonerated 12 men in Florida since its inception, including James Bain, who was released in 2009 at 54 after serving about 35 years in prison for the rape of a young boy.
Also, Alan Crotzer, a St.Petersburg resident, was exonerated in 2006 after being convicted in 1981 for sexual battery, kidnapping, burglary, aggravated assault, burglary, robbery and attempted robbery and sentenced to130 years in prison.
"Sometimes the legal system gets it wrong," said Seth Miller, executive director of Innocence Project. "People can make mistakes."
More than 1,000 people write the organization each year for its assistance.
The 47-year-old man was sentenced to life for the Aug. 6, 1992, kidnapping and rape of a woman in a Palmetto orange grove.
Williams claimed his innocence throughout his trial and, in 2008, his family sought help from the Innocence Project. It wasn't until July that the organization filed a motion with the Manatee County Clerk of Courts to have Williams exonerated. According to the Innocence Project, Williams' DNA was not collected from the collar of the assailant's shirt entered into evidence.
If the Innocence Project succeeds, Williams would become one of 267 people in the United States to have been exonerated by DNA testing since the organization was founded in 1992, according to the group's website.
The Innocence Project, founded in 2003, has exonerated 12 men in Florida since its inception, including James Bain, who was released in 2009 at 54 after serving about 35 years in prison for the rape of a young boy.
Also, Alan Crotzer, a St.Petersburg resident, was exonerated in 2006 after being convicted in 1981 for sexual battery, kidnapping, burglary, aggravated assault, burglary, robbery and attempted robbery and sentenced to130 years in prison.
"Sometimes the legal system gets it wrong," said Seth Miller, executive director of Innocence Project. "People can make mistakes."
More than 1,000 people write the organization each year for its assistance.
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