Defendant: FAMU drum major underwent hazing willingly

Wed, 23 May 2012 21:39:55 GMT

A defendant says a Florida A&M drum major who died after being hazed got on a bus where band members were ritually beaten because it was a sign of respect to have survived such an encounter.

Jonathan Boyce, who's among the 11 people arrested in connection to Champion's death, says in a deposition released Wednesday that the 26-year-old Robert Champion had asked all season to go through the hazing ritual.

"He was wanting to do it all season," Boyce said in the interview. "He wanted to do it all season."

In another interview, Lissette Sanchez described the hazing ritual as "politics," when asked if she chose the hazing.

Boyce also described Champion's hazing, saying he tried to protect Champion.

"I see people are kicking him and so I stopped them from kicking him and I put my body around his body," Hollis said. "He was panicking and he was saying he was having trouble breathing."

Champions' parents have said their son was a vocal opponent of the routine hazing in the band.

The state attorney's office released more than 1,500 pages of evidence and 49 audio files against the 13 people charged in last year's hazing death of Champion. You can read the full evidence report here.

In one of the interviews, Keon Hollis says that he was kicked, punched, hit with a large comb and struck with straps last November. He said there were at least 15 people on the bus and the goal was to get from the front to the back.

"Basically you get on the bus and you have to take your shirt off and you basically have to make it from the front of the bus to the back of the bus," Hollis said in the interview. "They was using hands. Straps."

Hollis said he thought the hazing was to earn respect, according to the interview.

"I think you do it for acceptance. To be accepted," Hollis said. "And, like, to gain the respect of your peers."

He said Robert Champion was the next person to be hazed that November night. He said Champion seemed fine immediately afterward, but said he was thirsty. Hollis said he gave Champion some water.

An interview with Shawn Turner showed that Champion acted differently after the incident.

"I was like, "Robert, you straight?' I was like, 'Are you OK?' I was like, 'Are you alright?" And he's like, 'Yeah, yeah, I'm just tired. I'm just tired,'" Turner said in an interview.

Champion soon collapsed and later died.

Sanchez said she felt like she was unconscious from her hazing and she had trouble breathing like Champion.

"Only reason why I think he died is because he didn't have enough time to breathe or whatever. Cause I know when I finished I almost had a panic attack cause it gets really hot and you start to not be able to breathe anymore towards the back," Sanchez said. "And they had to literally hold me down and let me breathe cause I couldn't."

Autopsy reports revealed at least one fellow band member tried to perform CPR and that Champion had no other medical issues. Meanwhile, Pam and Robert Champion Sr. spoke at a news conference in Atlanta, saying they have a hard time believing other band members' statements to detectives that Champion volunteered to be hazed. They held the news conference to respond to the thousands of pages of detective interviews.

"It's unimaginable. It's something you don't even want to think about a student doing to somebody else," said Robert Champion, Sr.

Champion died in November following what authorities said was a hazing incident on a bus after FAMU's football game in Orlando. Eleven band members have been charged with felony hazing and two are charged with misdemeanors.

Champion's autopsy report listed his cause of death as a homicide as the result of repeated blows to his body.

FAMU's famed Marching 100 band was suspended shortly after the incident, and officials announced it will remain sidelined at least through the 2012-2013 school year.

Champion's family has filed a civil lawsuit against the bus line company and the bus driver, who they say knew the hazing attacks were occurring.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.

Report: Shaq to discuss Magic's GM position

Thu, 24 May 2012 02:14:14 GMT

Shaquille O'Neal may meet with Orlando Magic officials soon to discuss the teams open general manager position, ESPN.com reports.

O'Neal, who was drafted number overall by the franchise in 1992, led the Magic to the NBA Finals in 1995.

According to the report, O'Neal could meet with team officials as early as next week.

The Magic offered no comment Wednesday.

On Monday, head coach Stan Van Gundy and GM Otis Smith both left the organization.

Orlando-area mug shot hall of shame

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 16:11:24 GMT

UPDATED DAILY: Here's a look at some of the individuals who have been arrested recently in Central Florida.

Picture-Perfect Pets

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 18:25:19 GMT

Think your furry friend is cuter than these Central Florida pets? Submit your own Picture-Perfect Pets photos!

FHP: Doctor spit blood on trooper during DUI arrest

Wed, 23 May 2012 23:38:06 GMT

A Central Florida doctor is accused of spitting blood in the face of a Florida Highway Patrol trooper who was trying to arrest him on drunken driving charges.

Troopers say Zachary Charles Bird, 41, was pulled over by troopers on State Road 417 Sunday morning after he almost collided his BMW with a marked FHP patrol car. Troopers conducted field sobriety tests before arresting Bird, who is a doctor of anesthesiology for Team Health and is contracted at the Parrish Hospital.

Dash camera video caught Bird in the patrol car after he was arrested, as he "repeatedly striking his head against the cage partition and the right rear passenger door, which resulted in a large laceration that bled profusely," according to the FHP report. Bird also tried to kick open the right rear door, causing damage to the door.

You can view the video by clicking here, but warning, the video is graphic and contains profanity.

As Bird was thrashing around the car, he says in the video, "I see Officer Lynch and Officer Casselberry putting money into their pockets."

According to the report, the trooper then opened the door and tried to calm Bird down, who then spit a mouthful of blood in the trooper's face. Bird then tried to break away.

Troopers found $54,000, two guns and two prescription bottles with unidentified pills and liquid, according to the report. As authorities searched his car, he said "Document that money, (expletive). You officers are stealing my money."

Troopers believe Bird was upset authorities were confiscated his money and that's why he responded violently. He refused a drug and alcohol test and treatment at the hospital, according to the report.

Bird has been charged with driving under the influence, two counts of damage of property, one count of resisting an officer with violence and battery on an officer.

FDLE is testing the pills found in his car and results are expected back in a few weeks.

Parrish Hospital officials told Local 6 they have asked his employer, Team Health, to not allow Bird to return to the hospital because of the "seriousness of the allegations."

Watch Local 6 News at 11 p.m. for more on this story.

New audio shows George Zimmerman had previous issue with Sanford cops

Thu, 24 May 2012 00:10:45 GMT

It was January 2011, and the names George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin meant absolutely nothing to the people gathered at a community forum at Sanford City Hall.

Mayor-elect Jeff Triplett called on one of the speakers who signed up to voice his opinion about a controversy then swirling over the police department.

"George Zimmerman, Mr. Zimmerman," Triplett called.

An audio recording of the forum obtained from the city reveals what was heard next, as Zimmerman stepped to the microphone.

"Good afternoon. I would just like to state that the law is written in black and white. It should not and cannot be enforced in the grey for those that are in the thin blue line," Zimmerman said, criticizing the department for failing to arrest the son of a fellow officer for the videotaped beating of a homeless man.

By then, January 8, 2011, the chief had resigned and the city commission and incoming mayor wanted to hear what the community was concerned about as they looked forward, they hoped, to better days.

Little did anyone know that one year later, the department, its new chief and the city would be embroiled in a national outrage over the department's decision not to arrest another suspect: the speaker George Zimmerman.

Referring to the chief who resigned five days earlier, Zimmerman said, "I believe that he’s already forfeited his pension by his illegal cover up ... and corruption and what happened in his department."

Then he described what he said happened when he rode along with a Sanford officer.

"I also have had the opportunity to take ride-alongs with the city of Sanford police department and what I saw was disgusting," Zimmerman said. "The officer showed me his favorite hiding spots for taking naps, explained to me that he doesn’t carry a long gun in his vehicle because, in his words, 'Anything that requires a long gun requires a lot of paperwork and you’re going to find me as far away from it.' He took two lunch breaks and attended a going away party for one of his fellow officers."

In closing, Zimmerman spoke directly to Triplett: "I am aware of how vital it was for your election to secure the Fraternal Order of Police endorsement, but please don’t underestimate the most important endorsement is that of the residents and the constituents of Sanford." Zimmerman was eventually arrested and charged with second-degree murder after a special prosecutor was appointed. He has pleaded not guilty and is free on bond awaiting trial.

Police: 15-month-old drowns in pool

Wed, 23 May 2012 22:56:23 GMT

Palm Bay police are investigating the drowning of a 15-month-old boy on Wednesday afternoon.

Police said they received reports of an infant found in a backyard swimming pool in the 200 block of Nemo Circle at around 3 p.m.

When rescuers arrived, the boy was unresponsive, according to police. Police said the boy, identified as Jacob Whitley, was being airlifted to the hospital when he was pronounced dead.

Police said the mother of the boy was home alone with her two children, a 3-year-old boy and the victim. The great-grandparents returned home and found the mother in a back room of the home and the 3-year-old wandering about.

Police said the grandparents began searching for the boy when the mother found the boy in the pool, not breathing, and jumped in to get him.

Detectives are investigating what caused the boy to fall into the pool.

Watch Local 6 for more on this story.

OPD, FDLE to discuss cold-case review of Michelle Parker

Wed, 23 May 2012 20:18:47 GMT

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Orlando Police Department have announced they will conduct a cold-case review in the disappearance of Michelle Parker.

The 34-year-old was last seen in November 2011 dropping off two of her children at their father’s Orlando home.

FDLE and OPD said they are reviewing the evidence collected in hopes of developing additional leads. They will hold a news conference Thursday at 9:30 a.m. at the FDLE Orlando Regional Operations Center on West Robinson Street to discuss the review.

Watch Local 6 for more on this story.

Celebrities with only one name

Wed, 23 May 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Jewel, who is marking her 38th birthday May 23, is just one of several celebrities who go by one name. In honor of the Alaskan songstress, take a look at other stars who are too big for a last name.

Maxim's 25 hottest in 2012

Tue, 22 May 2012 15:48:57 GMT

Check out the world's 25 hottest women in 2012 as ranked by Maxim magazine.

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