Bomb Squad Investigates Opa-Locka Mail Facility (Opa-Locka, FL) -- A post office facility in Miami-Dade County is now the subject of a nationwide investigation. The investigation into pipe bombs mailed to some critics of President Trump led the bomb squad to a USPS distribution center in Opa-Locka yesterday. Several of the bombs sent to Trump's critics around the country were processed in that facility. The FBI will be looking at surveillance video from the facility to try to identify a suspect.
Harris Corp Exec Reveals Details Of L3 Merger Talks (Melbourne, FL) -- Throughout merger talks with two big defense industry companies, a key player says there was one aspect that was non-negotiable. Harris Corporation CEO Bill Brown says he was adamant throughout the negotiations the new company formed with L3 Technologies would be based in Brevard County. Harris has been in Melbourne for decades, but L3 was based in New York. The merger of what will be called L3 Harris Technologies was finalized two weeks ago, and Brown recently told Florida Today he told L3 execs from day one how important it was to him to remain here.
Fiery Crash Shuts Down Road For Hours (Wedgefield, FL) -- A fiery crash is responsible for shutting down a road for hours in Orange County. It happened yesterday morning on SR 528 at Exit 24 near Wedgefield. FHP says a semi truck driver lost control, hit a guardrail, flipped over and caught fire. No other cars were involved, and the driver was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
Mother Charged With Child Neglect (DeLand, FL) -- An anonymous tip is credited with exposing a possible case of child neglect in Volusia County. Deputies this week arrested 39-year-old Shirlisa Hodge for leaving her three-year-old son, who has Down syndrome, alone at times in their home near DeLand. According to the tip, Hodge also keeps the boy in a dog cage. Hodge says she only left the boy home alone once when she went to pick up her daughter from school, and a family friend tells Fox 35 she believes Hodge is being set up.
Caretaker Arrested For Stealing From Elderly Woman (Daytona Beach Shores, FL) -- A woman is facing charges for stealing from the elderly woman she was caring for in Volusia County. Police arrested 52-year-old Christine Goeke this week for stealing almost 50-thousand dollars from the victim, who has dementia. The woman lives in Daytona Beach Shores, but Goeke has worked as a caretaker throughout the county. Police believe there could be more victims.
Canadian Woman Charged With Witchcraft (Toronto) -- A Canadian woman is being charged with witchcraft after allegedly running a scam pretending to ward off evil spirits. Police in Toronto say 27-year-old Samantha Stevenson conned a 67-year-old man out of 450-thousand dollars in what they call an "evil spirit blessing scam." Stevenson allegedly called herself a psychic who could rid the victim of evil spirits if he transferred large sums of money into her account. Police say she also got the victim's house and car. Stevenson is facing charges of fraud and pretending to practice witchcraft.
Church Burglar Arrested After Stripping Naked (Springdale, AR) -- An Arkansas man is in a jail cell after stripping down naked after trying to rob a church. According to police in Springdale, Hector Alcantara initially tried to turn off the Friendship Baptist Church's alarm system but ended up shutting down the air conditioners before busting in through a window. Officers responded to the scene and say the 48-year-old took off his clothes in an effort to evade police dogs. It didn't work and he was soon taken into custody. Alcantara was booked into the Washington County Detention Center and is considered the prime suspect in another church robbery.
TODAY IN HISTORY:
1996, former security guard Richard Jewell was cleared as a suspect in Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park bombing.
1990, Washington, D.C. Mayor Marion Barry was sentenced to six months in jail and fined five-thousand dollars following his conviction on drug charges.
1984, "The Terminator" opened in theaters across the United States.
1972, guided tours of California's Alcatraz Prison began.
1881, Sheriff Wyatt Earp and his group of lawmen defeated the Clanton Gang in the "Shootout at the O-K Corral."