Three teens charged with vehicle burglaries

Summerland Key – Three teens were arrested Saturday for vehicle burglaries on Summerland Key after a witness saw them committing the crimes.

Deputy Martin Harbin responded to West Caribbean Drive on Summerland Key just before 2 p.m. A witness told him he’d seen three people in a black Mercedes C300 burglarizing vehicles. He said a male was driving the vehicle; the two females would get out, one would enter a vehicle while the other acted as “lookout”; they would then get back into the Mercedes and go to the next vehicle. He said the Mercedes  just left the area, headed toward U.S. One. He was able to identify one of the suspects as 15 year old Sarah Bell who lives on Summerland Key.

Further investigation revealed at least four vehicles burglarized on West Caribbean Drive. Detectives assigned to the case contacted Bell’s father; Bell, 18 year old Oliver Vitale and 18 year old Brook Vanarsdel, both of Key West, were subsequently interviewed and arrested, charged with four counts of burglary and theft. 

Fire damages marina

Key Largo – Fire damaged a Key Largo marina Saturday night.

Deputies and Monroe County firefighters responded to Garden Cove Marina at 8 p.m. to reports of a boat fire. When they arrived, they found a fire which appears to have originated in the office of the marina; a vessel on the roof of the office was also damaged by the fire.

The Fire Marshall’s office was notified and will be investigating the cause of the blaze.

Surveillance video of business burglary in progress

Click this link to see the video: http://youtu.be/Z3_c0Bl6k1s

Islamorada – Detectives say they are investigating two business burglaries in Islamorada which may be connected. One at an optical shop and one at a print shop next door, both located at the 81 mile marker of Highway U.S. One.

They are hoping the release of this surveillance video depicting the crime in progress will help the investigation. The camera caught suspects inside Tropical Optical, which was burglarized just before 11 p.m. on February 14th . The print shop - Print Source of the Keys - is believed to have been broken into sometime the night of the 17th. Suspects took thousands of dollars worth of sunglasses and eye glasses from the optical shop; they took an office computer from the print shop.

In both cases, suspects forced entry through the front doors of the businesses.

Detective Yunier Galvez is lead investigator and anyone with information about this crime should contact him immediately at 305-853-3211. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers of the Florida Keys. If a tip to Crime Stoppers results in an arrest, the tipster would be eligible for a cash reward. Tipsters can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-346-TIPS or at www.tipsubmit.com.

Man arrested for threats to judge; deputies family

Stock Island – A Stock Island man is in jail, charged with making threats against a judge and a deputy’s family.

48 year old Michael Haggerty posted the threat on his Facebook page, saying “Judge Luis Garcia has denied my rights to a fair hearing can u people believe the bullshit the county n the Dowling family has made?? Time to go get my guns out of storage and even the score today people, it been fun see you in the next world!” The threat against the judge is believed to be in regards to a temporary injunction petition filed against Haggerty; the threats against Deputy Dowling’s family are believed to be related to a long standing issue Haggerty has had with Deputy Dowling’s wife.

Before making the threats, during the week of February 13^th, Haggerty reportedly called the Judge’s office, speaking with the Judge’s assistant; he was belligerent, demanding to know what was happening with the case. The assistant informed him a notice he filed was denied, and he began ranting on the phone, so the assistant hung up on him. Soon after this call, he posted the Facebook threats.

The Sheriff’s Office posted a protection detail for both Judge Garcia, and for Deputy Dowling and his family while detectives investigated the case. On February 17^th, Detective Sgt. Bobby Randolph had a conversation with Haggerty during which he asked him why he posted such comments on Facebook. Haggerty replied “Because I like causing you people problems, because sooner or later you are going to violate my civil rights and I am going to own you people.” During the same conversation, he tells Det. Sgt. Randolph “I want you people to be afraid.” And also, “There is only two ways that this will all end, violently or I win a Federal Lawsuit.”

Today, a warrant was issued for Haggerty’s arrest for two counts of making threats to kill or injure someone. He was booked into the Stock Island jail. There is no bond allowed on the warrant.

Islamorada Business burglaries under investigation

 Islamorada – Detectives say they are investigating two business burglaries in Islamorada which may be connected. One at an optical shop and one at a print shop next door, both located at the 81 mile marker of Highway U.S. One.

They are hoping the release of two photos from a surveillance camera will help the investigation. The camera caught suspects inside Tropical Optical, which was burglarized just before 11 p.m. on February 14th . The print shop -  Print Source of the Keys -  is believed to have been broken into sometime the night of the 17^th.  Suspects took thousands of dollars worth of sunglasses and eye glasses from the optical shop; they took an office computer from the print shop.

In both cases, suspects forced entry through the front doors of the businesses.

Detective Yunier Galvez is lead investigator and anyone with information about this crime should contact him immediately at 305-853-3211. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers of the Florida Keys. If a tip to Crime Stoppers results in an arrest, the tipster would be eligible for a cash reward. Tipsters can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-346-TIPS or at www.tipsubmit.com.

Trauma Star helicopter taking off

For those of you who have not had the opportunity to see the Monroe County Trauma Star helicopter, here is a short video clip of it taking off from Harry Harris Park yesterday. The helicopter was transporting a victim from the accident yesterday at the 92.3 mile marker of highway U.S. One. Video is courtesy of Sheriff's Deputy Matthew O'Neill.

Marathon man charged with burglary

Marathon – A Marathon man was arrested Monday afternoon after he was caught inside a woman’s house.

The victim called the Sheriff’s Office just before 2 p.m. She said she returned home to her residence on 6^th Avenue and found 20 year old Travis Leachman inside. She said he broke in to the home through a locked back door.

When Deputy Jeffrey Deluca arrived, Leachman was still on the premises. Leachman said he’d entered the home to get his belongings from inside. He had a screwdriver with him which may have been used to force open the back door.

Leachman was arrested and charged with burglary and possession of burglary tools. He was booked into jail.

Business burglary under investigation

Islamorada – An optical shop in Islamorada was burglarized Tuesday night with suspects taking thousands of dollars worth of sunglasses and eye glasses.

Deputies and detectives responded to Tropical Optical Wednesday morning and met with the owner who reported his business had been broken into. Investigations revealed suspects entered the business at about sometime overnight. by removing the lock from the front door and disabling the alarm system. They took over $30,000.00 worth of property from inside, including sunglasses and eye glass frames.

Detectives are investigating. Anyone with information about this crime should contact the Sheriff’s Office immediately at 305-853-3211. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers of the Florida Keys. If a tip to Crime Stoppers results in an arrest, the tipster would be eligible for a cash reward. Tipsters can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-346-TIPS or at www.tipsubmit.com.

Traffic stop leads to marijuana arrests

Deputy Whiteman with the Marijuana seized in this case.

Marathon – Two men were arrested for possessing marijuana after failing to stop at an intersection on Aviation Boulevard Wednesday night.

Deputy Nicholis Whiteman was on patrol when he saw a dark colored SUV fail to stop at 107^th Street and 6^th Avenue shortly after 10 p.m. When he pulled the car over, he found 22 year old  Giuseppe Melia of Marathon driving and 20 year old John Kornetti of Marathon riding as his passenger.

When Melia rolled down his window, Deputy Whiteman smelled the odor of marijuana coming from inside. He called back up officers to the scene. When Melia was confronted with the odor, he admitted to having marijuana in his vehicle.

At first, Melia handed over a  mason jar with one bud of marijuana inside; when the officers asked if he had any more, he admitted to having plastic bags of the illegal substance under the back seat. The bags were located, Inside were 472 grams of marijuana. A digital scale was also found in the truck. Kornetti admitted the scale was his.

Melia was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and possession of marijuana with intent to sell. Kornetti was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. They were both taken to jail.

Dogs rescued from burned trailer

 Stock Island – Stock Island Firefighters rescued two dogs from inside a burned trailer today on Stock Island.

Deputies and firefighters responded to Jerome Trailer park at 6633 Maloney Avenue at 1 p.m. to reports of a trailer on fire. When they arrived, residents of the park told them they thought there were dogs inside the trailer.

Firefighters were able to pull the two dogs out of the smoke filled structure, still alive. They administered first aid to them and, as of this afternoon, it appears the dogs will be fine. The trailer was severely damaged by fire and the Fire Marshalls Office is investigating the cause of the fire.

Photos show a Stock Island firefighter giving oxygen to one of the dogs and the burned trailer. Photos taken by Sheriff’s Detective Manny Cuervo.

Click here to see video of the dogs after they were rescued.

Observant citizen helps with burglary arrests

Big Coppitt Key – A Big Coppitt resident saw a crime taking place on his street Tuesday afternoon and called the Sheriff’s office. Two men are now in jail for burglary.

The man who reported the crime lives on Dolphin Road. He told Deputy Richard Wang he was walking by an lot at #2 Dolphin Road at 12:45 a.m. when he saw two men carrying large rolls of copper wire from a storage shed on the property. When they saw him, they dropped the wire and fled. The witness said he saw them get into a grey colored Ford Escape and flee southbound. He was able to describe the vehicle in detail, and gave dispatchers the vehicle’s license tag number as well.

Deputy Wang contacted the owner of the storage shed, who told him she did not give anyone permission to be in her shed or to take the copper wire.

The vehicle was located at U.S. One and Cross Street on Stock Island by Detective Dave Chavka. Inside the vehicle were 29 year old Fernando Lopez and 31 year old Tommy Morales, both of Key West. The witness identified both the vehicle and its occupants as the ones he saw at the crime scene.

Both men were charged with burglary and grand theft and they were booked into jail.

Escaped inmate Donald Cook was apprehended near 26th Street in Marathon just before 4 p.m. He will be returned to jail and charged with escape.

Inmate on work detail escapes

Sheriff’s deputies and detectives are looking for a Monroe County jail inmate who walked away from a trusty job he was working for Monroe County Public Works at the Marathon Government Center.

48 year Donald Cook was in jail on charges of battery and resisting arrest. He was arrested on December 12^th. He was last seen at 2:45 p.m. at the Government Center. He is described as a white male, 6 feet tall, 146 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes. His inmate uniform was located a short distance away so it is unknown what he might be wearing, although he may have on the pair of blue shorts and a light blue t-shirt he had on under the uniform.

Anyone who knows where Cook is, or who has information which could help the Sheriff’s Office locate him should call 911 immediately. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers of the Florida Keys. If a tip leads to an arrest, the caller is eligible for a cash reward. Tips can be submitted to 1-800-346-TIPS or www.tipsubmit.com.

Few agencies follow Monroe sheriff's lead on cop-chase reforms

This is a terrific article from the Orlando Sentinel today. Check it out! Few agencies follow Monroe sheriff's lead on cop-chase reforms