Crime Drops In Brevard County (DeLand, FL) -- FDLE numbers released this week show crime in Brevard County is down four percent from last year. Sheriff Wayne Ivey tells "Florida Today" the public has been receptive to crime prevention talks the department has held. While crime in the county overall is down, crime was up in Palm Bay and Melbourne.
Attempted Kidnapping Reported At Broward School (Deerfield Beach, FL) -- A man is facing charges for trying to kidnap children at a school in Broward County. Milor Michel was arrested after the incident yesterday morning at Deerfield Beach's Park Ridge Elementary School.
Deputies say Michel grabbed four kids before he was scared off by a teacher. The incident happened around 7:00 a.m. and 'CBS4 News' reports the school sent a letter to parents asking them to not drop their kids off until 7:30 when there is supervision available.
Search For Missing Cruise Passenger Suspended (Fort Myers, FL) -- The search for a man who went overboard from a Tampa cruise ship is now suspended. The Coast Guard made that announcement last night after looking for a North Carolina man who was reported missing the day before.
The 50-year-old was on a Carnival Paradise ship that left Tampa on Monday on its way to the Caribbean. The Coast Guard says suspending a search is one of the most difficult decisions it ever makes, and it is never made lightly.
School Official And Teacher Suspended For Inappropriate Conduct (Groveland, FL) -- A school leader and a teacher are suspended for getting a little too romantic on campus. Lake County school officials took the action against Groveland Elementary School dean Alan Rosier and teacher Katie Lassen after they admitted to kissing each other.
They were caught in the act when the principal found them in a darkened classroom closet. The superintendent wants them fired, but the two have appealed that decision, and Channel 9 reports a hearing is set for next month.
Police: Gun Stored In Oven Explodes, Man Shot (Warren, OH) -- An Ohio man is expected to make a full recovery after getting shot by his own gun that was too hot to handle. Warren police say Robin Garlock kept his gun hidden in the oven and his girlfriend didn't know it was there until it fired.
She turned the appliance on last Sunday and the weapon discharged, shooting a bullet in Garlock's hand. He was pretty badly injured but is on the road to recovery. The woman was not hurt.
Mannequin Leaning Against Fence Prompts Woman To Call 911 (Santa Rosa, CA) -- The suspect in an unusual California 911 call is free but not exactly a human. The call was made earlier this week by a woman who reported seeing an unresponsive and shirtless man leaning against a fence in Santa Rosa.
She said she saw a man standing there and that sent fire crews and an ambulance to the scene to find out he was actually a mannequin. They say it was a life-size mannequin propped up against the fence.
TODAY IN HISTORY:
1995, Hollywood Madam Heidi Fleiss was sentenced to three years in prison for running a call girl operation which catered to the rich and famous.
1935, the Cincinnati Reds defeated Philadelphia in the first baseball game to be played under the lights.
1913, the United States Department of Labor entered into its first strike mediation.
1883, New York City's Brooklyn Bridge opened, linking Manhattan and Brooklyn.
1844, Samuel Morse demonstrated the telegraph with what is now known as Morse Code. The message "What hath God wrought" was sent from Washington, D.C. to Baltimore, Maryland.