WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — Read the top stories with the most viewed videos from this week.
‘Seek and Ye Shall Find Out’: Record-breaking child predator sting nabs 48 in Florida
A record-breaking undercover child predator operation dubbed Seek and Ye Shall Find Out has resulted in the arrest of 48 people, including six foreign nationals with ICE detainers in Florida.
“As a father, I am outraged by the heinous crimes we spoke about today. As Attorney General, I’m proud of the brave officers behind this record-breaking operation,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier.
This six-day operation, coordinated by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), resulted in the highest number of arrests for this annual initiative.
The report states that during the sting, undercover officers interacted with these people who believed they were communicating with children aged between 13 and 15.
Click here to read more
Sheriff wants execution carried out
The state of Florida is on pace to carry out a double-digit number of executions this year.
Nearly 300 inmates are sitting on Florida’s Death Row.
The Indian River County Sheriff says one of them needs to be put to death, and there’s no reason to put it off any longer.
“The death penalty is pretty much useless if we just have people who aren’t actually getting executed,” said Eric Flowers, Indian River County Sheriff.
Sheriff Flowers says Death Row inmate William Reaves should’ve been executed a long time ago.
Click here to read more
Operation Sun Burn nets 60 arrests, 14 lbs of drugs, 23 guns, 3 luxury cars
Sixty people were arrested, over 14 pounds of drugs and over $70,000 have been seized as part of a month-long investigation in Florida aimed at tackling drug-related crime, dubbed Operation Sun Burn.
“This team doesn’t play; and if you think for a second you’re going to push poison, commit crimes, and deal firearms in Lee County, MARK MY WORDS: YOU WILL BE SOUGHT,” said Sheriff Carmine Marceno.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) said that its initiative focused on putting an end to the activities of drug dealers who contribute to addiction and violence.
According to LCSO, this operation specifically targeted both street and mid-level dealers who directly supply drugs to those struggling with addiction.
Click here to read more.
Suspect identified in deadly Okeechobee shooting that claimed 3 lives, including gunman
New details were released on Wednesday after a deadly shooting that claimed three lives, including the gunman, in a quiet neighborhood in Okeechobee on Sunday evening.
The Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) said on July 27, at around 1:35 p.m., deputies responded to multiple 911 calls reporting gunfire and a man dressed in black carrying a rifle through the 2822 SE 47th Terrace. Witnesses described the suspect firing approximately 15 rounds before law enforcement arrived.
The sheriff’s office said its deputies found the suspect — identified as 51-year-old Paul Scott Wier — and issued repeated commands to drop his weapon. Wier refused and opened fire on deputies. Deputies returned fire, striking and incapacitating him. He was airlifted to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center, where he later died from his injuries.
Click here to read more.
‘You have no rights’ Border Patrol tells teenage U.S. citizen during Florida traffic stop
An 18-year-old U.S. citizen who was detained by Border Patrol and Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) during a traffic stop on Singer Island is speaking out on his experience, claiming he was detained due to being Hispanic.
“Um, I don’t know. It hurts me, hearing them saying that I have no rights here because I look like, um, you know, Hispanic,” Kenny Laynez told CBS Miami.
On May 2, Kenny, a high school senior, was on his way to work as a landscaper with his mother and two coworkers when they were pulled over for having too many passengers in the front seat of their vehicle.
During the stop, officers began conducting immigration enforcement and detained several individuals.
Click here to read more.
