June 27, 2003
Big Pine Key man charged with fondling young girl
( .wav 37sec)
Big Pine Key – A Big Pine Key man was
arrested Thursday. He is accused of fondling a young girl.
The girl, now 18, told her mother that 46 year old Mark
Kresser fondled her several times when she was between the ages of 9 and 15.
After hearing the allegations, her mother called to report them to the
Sheriff’s Office. On May 22nd, detectives from the Crimes Against
Women and Children’s Unit were assigned to investigate.
On Thursday afternoon, Kresser was placed under arrest
for Lewd and Lascivious acts on a child, a second degree felony. He was
booked into the Monroe County Detention Center.
June 26, 2003
Man charged with battery, false imprisonment
( .wav - 57 sec)
Tavernier – A 46 year old Tavernier man
forced his way onto a boat Wednesday night, battered the occupants and
refused to allow them to leave.
Robert Therrien climbed on board a boat belonging to his
ex girlfriend at 11 p.m. without permission. The boat was docked at a Marina
on Florida Avenue. Therrien lives in a boat docked nearby. He forced his way
inside, damaging a door in the process. The victim told Deputy Lyle Agins
she told Therrien to leave numerous times, but he refused. He also refused
to allow her to leave, pushing her down several times. At one point, he also
punched the victim’s 14 year old son in the chest and kicked her dog.
The victim was finally able to escape. She jumped on a
neighboring boat and asked the occupant to call 911 for help. Deputies
arriving on the scene found Therrien walking away from the boat. They placed
him under arrest for burglary, false imprisonment and battery. He was taken
to the Monroe County Detention Center.
June 25, 2003
Crime Stoppers 4th of
July Run/Walk
(.wav.40secs)
Runners and walkers can
win big prizes, have fun and help fight crime in the ninth annual Crime
Stoppers Fourth of July Run and Walk at 7:30 a.m. at Smathers Beach in Key
West. The first 200 entrants will receive tee shirts donated by First State
Bank and designed by a local artist. This year’s event features a
partnership with the Sheraton Suites Resort on S. Roosevelt Boulevard. The
race course will start and end on the Smathers Beach side of the Boulevard,
directly across from the Resort. The Sheraton is also featuring pre and post
race events. On July 3 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. registrants can pick up
their race packets and enjoy a special pasta dinner buffet for $9.95 and two
for one drink specials. The Sheraton will also sponsor the post race party,
featuring prize drawings, free beer, refreshments and presentation of awards
to winners in the various race divisions. Trophies and medallions will be
awarded to the first and second place winners in the various runner and
walker categories. The Sheraton is also offering special room rates for out
of town runners, who can enjoy the Key West experience during race week and
the holiday weekend. For reservations, call the Sheraton toll free at
1-800-BEACH and ask for the “Crime Stoppers” rate. The Southernmost Runners
Club handles the race and has set up the certified race course, which is a
flat three stretch flanked by palm trees and the Atlantic Ocean.
The Crime Stoppers’
fundraiser always features great prizes, and this year is no different.
Giveaways include airline tickets, car rentals, gift certificates from local
merchants, weekend getaway vacations and special prizes for the youngest and
oldest winners.
Entry forms can be picked
up at the Sheraton Resort, Key West City Hall, local fitness centers, Key
West Police Station and the Sheriff Office’s substations throughout the
Keys. There will also be a registration booth on race morning at Smathers
Beach, starting at six a.m. Runners and walkers can obtain registration
forms or more information by calling the Sheriff’s Office Community
Relations Division at 305-292-711, 1-800-273-COPS or the Race Coordinator,
Barbara Wright at 305-296-7128. Cost for entering the race is $15 for
pre-registration and $20 the day of the run/walk.
All proceeds benefit the
anonymous tip reward fund of Crime Stoppers of the Florida Keys, a
non-profit corporation that assists law enforcement. So far this year, The
Crime Stoppers 24-hour hotline (800-346-8477) has resulted in 20 arrests, 32
criminal cases cleared and the seizure or recovery of over thirty-seven
thousand dollars worth of property, drugs and cash. The Crime Stoppers’
civilian board raises money to pay rewards to tipsters who provide the
anonymous crime information.
June 13,
2003
Roommate charged with murdering Islamorada man
The roommate of an Islamorada man has been
arrested for murder.
35 year old Victor Cohen is accused of
killing 72 year old William Davis at their apartment in Islamorada Tuesday
morning. Davis' body was found by a friend shortly after noon. The friend
called 911 to report finding the body. The friend said he'd spoken to
Davis at approximately 10 a.m. that morning on the phone.
A short time after the body was discovered,
Cohen was found at a nearby bar. He was inconsistent in his stories about
what had taken place that morning. At one point he told detectives he'd
found his roommate dead at around 10 a.m., had showered, taken Davis'
wallet and left the apartment. He said he made no effort to report the
death. Davis' wallet, ID and ATM card were found in Cohen's pockets. Cohen
said he'd taken Davis' pulse to make sure he was dead. When asked to
demonstrate how he did this, he held out both hands in what investigators
describe as a "choking hold" type move. Cohen told investigators Davis had
"irritated" him earlier in the morning by asking him ro do chores and run
errands for him.He repeatedly said he thought "the mafia" had killed
Davis. He also repeatedly said he knew he was "going to prison for this".
An autopsy showed multiple rib fractures,
head trauma and signs of strangulation. The Medical Examiner told
investigators he believes those injuries were the cause of Davis' death,
although Davis had a number of serious health problems as well. Davis was
retired, and worked part time at the library in Islamorada. Investigators
have not been able to find any of Davis' family, or anyone who knows if he
has any family.
Cohen was charged with homicide. He is
currently being held in the Monroe County Detention Center.
June 12, 2003
Updates on Marathon and Islamorada deaths
The Islamorada man who was found dead in his apartment Tuesday has been
identified as 72 year old William Davis. An autopsy was performed on his
body yesterday and revealed signs he had been beaten. Detectives are
continuing their investigation into his death.
The Marathon woman found Monday morning floating, dead, in Vaca Cut
channel has been identified as 47 year old Ellane Bartholemew. An autopsy on
her body showed preliminary results indicating she may have died of
drowning, although toxicology results are still pending. Detectives are
still investigating the circumstances of her death.
June 9, 2003
Search warrant leads to arrests
Marathon – A search warrant, served in
Marathon Friday, resulted in the arrest of four people for drug possession.
Deputies Chuck Kellenberger, Louis Rivera and Iscandel
Perez received information that there was ongoing drug activity at a
residence on Washington Street in Marathon. They obtained a search warrant
for 3901 Washington Street and served it at 8:30 p.m. Friday. There were ten
people in the house at the time the warrant was served. The search turned up
20 grams of crack cocaine and 46 grams of marijuana, along with drug
packaging and items of drug paraphernalia.
Three people were arrested. 32 year old Calvin
Washington, 20 year old Tommie Donaldson and 22 year old Katina Tubbs were
all charged with possession of cocaine. Donaldson and Tubbs were also
charged with possession of marijuana. A 17 year old girl in the house was
issued a notice to appear in court for possessing a small amount of
marijuana and she was released to her mother.
Assisting in the search warrant were detectives from the
Special Investigations Division and the Sheriff’s Office Special Weapons and
Tactics Squad.
Key Largo man charged with kidnapping and aggravated domestic battery
Key Largo – A Key Largo man was arrested
Friday, charged with kidnapping his wife and injuring her.
According to the victim she was in a car with her
employer Friday just after 11 p.m. when her husband stopped them and dragged
her out of the car. He forced her into his vehicle, at one point putting a
knife to her neck and also injuring her neck by ripping her necklace off.
The employer, also a witness to the kidnapping, called the Sheriff’s Office
to report the incident.
Deputies found the two at their home in Key Largo Ocean
Resorts. They spoke with the victim, photographed her injuries, then
arrested 42 year old Bernabe Rivandeneira, charging him with kidnapping and
aggravated battery. He was booked into the Monroe County Detention Center.
Tennessee man charged with carrying sharp items in carry on luggage
Key West – Airport security deputies
arrested a Tennessee man for carrying concealed scissors and a box knife in
his carry on luggage at the Key West International Airport today.
Deputy Tom Tobin was called to the luggage screening
area where security officers x-ray carry on baggage at the airport. The
screeners had found two pairs of scissors and a box knife concealed in
luggage belonging to 59 year old Michael McCahill of Southbend, Tennessee.
One pair of scissors was hidden inside a sealed box of
anti-diarrheal medication. Another pair of scissors and a box knife were
hidden in a package which was wrapped in tape.
McCahill was arrested and charged with carrying a
concealed weapon and he was booked into the Monroe County Detention Center.
June 3, 2003
Key Largo man charged with fondling child
( .wav file, 23 sec.)
Key Largo – A 45 year old Key Largo man
was arrested Monday, charged with fondling a 10 year old girl.
45 year old Wayne Scaturro was charged with lewd and
lascivious acts on the child. He admitted to fondling the girl numerous
times over the past two years.
Scaturro was booked into the Monroe County Detention
Center.
Key West man charged with sexual battery on a child
( .wav file, 22 sec.)
Key West – A Key West man was arrested
Friday and charged with sexually battering a young girl.
41 year old Jeffrey McGuirt is accused of sexual battery
on a 12 year old girl. The victim told detectives McGuirt raped her numerous
times prior to October of 2002.
He was booked into the Monroe County Detention Center.
Deputies investigating rock throwing incidents
( .wav file, 73 sec.)
Marathon – Sheriff’s deputies are
investigating several incidents of rocks being thrown at passing vehicles
near the vicinity of the Bonefish Bay Motel in Marathon.
The latest incident was reported this morning (Tuesday)
at approximately 1:15 a.m. The driver of a tractor-trailer truck reported a
group of young teens ran out into the road as he was traveling northbound on
the highway, near the 54 mile marker. He said the teens began throwing rocks
at his truck. He had to lock up his brakes to avoid being hit, a dangerous
maneuver for a fully loaded tractor trailer truck.
Throwing rocks at vehicles is an extremely dangerous
activity. It could cause a vehicle to have an accident, and could result in
serious injury or even death. The crime, throwing a deadly missile at a
vehicle, is a second degree felony, punishable by up to 15 years in prison
and by a fine of up to $10,000.00.
Anyone with information about these incidents should
call the Sheriff’s Office. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can call
Crime Stoppers of the Florida Keys. If a tipster’s information leads to an
arrest, he or she would be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.00. The
Crime Stoppers hot line number is 1-800-346-TIPS. |
