Former Police Officer Accused Of Bilking Mother
(Port Orange, FL) -- A former police officer in Volusia County finds himself on the wrong side of the law. Former Port Orange Sergeant Steven Braddock surrendered this week after he was accused of stealing more than 300-thousand dollars from his mother. Prosecutors say the 49-year-old Braddock forged power of attorney documents to take over his mother's finances two years ago. She has dementia and wound up getting evicted from her assisted-living facility for unpaid bills.
PPD Fire Officer Who Shot Crawford
(Pensacola, FL) -- A police officer involved in a deadly shooting is out of a job. Pensacola Police Chief Tommi Lyter announced yesterday that Detective Daniel Siemen was fired for shooting and killing Tymar Crawford three months ago. Police say an internal investigation found Siemen violated the department's use-of-deadly-force policy. The 28-year-old Crawford was shot after police say he disarmed an officer during an arrest.The results of an FDLE investigation have not been released.
Clearwater Coast Guard Aids In Rescue After Plane Crash
(Fort Meade, FL) -- A Coast Guard crew from Pinellas County is responsible for rescuing two people after a plane crash in Polk County. A gyrocopter made a hard landing yesterday in a swamp in Fort Meade and so did a sheriff's office helicopter responding to the scene. Both pilots survived, but they were up to their chests in mud. Coast Guard crewmembers from Air Station Clearwater flew to the scene, and the pilots were airlifted in rescue buckets that were lowered from a helicopter.
Lockdowns Lifted At Three College Campuses
(Davie, FL) -- A toy is responsible for causing a scare at three college campuses in Broward County. FAU reported a man with a rifle was seen last night near the baseball fields at its Davie campus, and a lockdown was ordered. Lockdowns were also ordered at Broward College and Nova Southeastern. About two hours later, just before midnight, the lockdowns were lifted, and Davie Police announced they seized a toy rifle from a man walking on Stirling Road.
Bay Area Company Behind Halloween Tree Trend
(South San Francisco, CA) -- A Bay Area company is behind the latest trend of Halloween trees. The founder of South San Francisco's Treetopia.com says people are adorning their homes with Christmas-like artificial trees, but they're orange, black, or purple. Folks are hanging pumpkins and spooky ornaments on the trees. He adds that people who like to entertain and host parties typically own at least two trees that they specifically decorate for holidays. Treetopia even has a candy corn-colored tree. Prices start at 80-dollars.
NC Woman Accused Of Selling Daughter To Couple For Car
(Thomasville, NC) -- A North Carolina woman is accused of giving her baby to a Thomasville couple in exchange for a vehicle, and now all three of them are facing charges. Authorities say 45-year-old Alice Todd swapped her child for a 1993 Plymouth Laser in 2018. They became aware of the situation this week when the two-year-old girl was brought to a hospital with bruises. The biological mother and the couple, Tina Chavis and Vicencio Romero, were arrested without incident. They all face charges of unlawful sale, surrender or purchase of a minor.
TODAY IN HISTORY:
1990, "Beverly Hills 90210" debuted on the Fox Network. The show continued on for a decade, finally ending its run in 2000.
1989, Art Shell was appointed coach of Oakland Raiders, making him the first black coach in modern NFL.
1957, "Leave It To Beaver" debuted on CBS.
1957, the first man-made satellite was launched into space by the Soviet Union. The craft was named "Sputnik One."
1931, Chester Gould's comic strip, "Dick Tracy" debuted.
1905, Orville Wright flew the first flight that was longer than 30 minutes. The flight covered 21 miles in 33 minutes and 17 seconds.