Gunman fled from UCF police weeks before shooting Orlando officers
The gunman who shot two Orlando police officers Friday night was recently stopped by police at the University of Central Florida, but managed to escape in his car as UCF officers tried to arrest him on a series of warrants, court records uncovered by News 6 reveal.
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Marijuana-themed sandwich shop to offer ‘toasted’ subs near UCF
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A new franchise of the Colorado-based, marijuana-themed sandwich chain Cheba Hut is set to open its first Orlando location on Monday. The new Cheba Hut is setting up shop at 12100 E. Colonial Drive, not far from the University of Central Florida campus. This will be the second Cheba Hut location in the state, the first is in St. Augustine, but it will be the first for owner Tim Brashear. Brashear, 48, is originally from Jacksonville, but he has lived in Orlando for the past 20 years. Mural inside the new Cheba Hut location (Promotional Photo from Cheba Hut)“It’s a little bit of a counterculture.
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Bargoers head to downtown Orlando for St. Patrick’s Day
ORLANDO, Fla. – Downtown Orlando was a much different sight on Wednesday night compared to one year prior. Without local governments being able to issue fines for COVID-19 violations, some bar-goers said they are taking precautions themselves. “St Patrick’s Day is the perfect day of the year for the rest of the country to realize that people need to get out and enjoy themselves. “We are being careful because this is actually my first time being downtown since last year honesty. Despite not being able to issue fines, Orange County STRIKE teams said they will be out on Wednesday night, enforcing the mayor’s order.
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Central Florida bar owners holding on to ‘Irish luck’ on St. Patrick’s Day
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Bar owners in Downtown Orlando Wednesday spent the day loading up on beer and green St. Patrick’s Day beads for what they hope will be a better holiday than last year. Bars in Central Florida were ordered to close on St. Patrick’s Day in 2020 due to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a busy day today. “I think there is a fine line there,” Griffin said. Hey says they will be out on St. Patrick’s Day into the night.
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Officer left bloodied after attack outside downtown Orlando nightclub, police say
ORLANDO, Fla. – A man who had just gotten into a fight at a nightclub downtown grabbed a belt rope stanchion from outside the bar and hit an officer in the head, according to the Orlando Police Department. A security guard who saw what happened grabbed Calderon and pulled him away from the crowd so he could be placed into handcuffs, records show. The officer sustained a deep, long cut to his head and had to be taken to an area hospital for treatment, according to authorities. Calderon had cuts on his knee and redness on his face that he said were from the fight in the club but he denied hitting the officer, according to the affidavit. He’s facing a charge of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon and attempted murder of a law enforcement officer.
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A ‘safe’ New Year’s Eve means no drunk driving but also keeping your distance
ORLANDO, Fla. – As they do every year, Orlando Police want people to be safe as they ring in 2021, not just on the road but also staying safe from the virus. Officers don’t anticipate big crowds as they have in other years, there will still be extra patrol units in Downtown Orlando on Thursday night. The department collaborated with the Orange County business Strike Team to make sure businesses are doing everything they can to try and keep people safe on New Year’s Eve. “We’ve been going to all the businesses that are downtown all the bars and nightclubs that will be open tonight. To report a business to the Orange County Business Compliance Teams, residents should call 311 or go toOCFL.net/311.
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WATCH: News 6 presents 2020 Lake Eola Tree Lighting Ceremony
ORLANDO, Fla. – Lake Eola is about to be lit. Orlando city officials have installed downtown Orlando’s iconic Christmas tree. Crews have also decked the halls at Lake Eola’s Park Washington Plaza, but city leaders have decided to host its annual tree lighting ceremony online. To safely ring in the holiday season, the city of Orlando will host a live virtual tree lighting celebration of the 64-foot tree on Dec. 5. After the tree is officially lit, the Christmas Tree Show will play each night at Lake Eola Park starting at 5:45 p.m. each hour until 9:45 p.m.As the city’s token tree gives Lake Eola a festive glow, people can also enjoy the sounds of the season as the lights will musically sync with the lights at the Lake Eola fountain providing precise animation during the shows.
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Popular farmers market returning to Lake Eola with new COVID-19 safety precautions
Popular farmers market returning to Lake Eola with new COVID-19 safety precautionsPublished: November 6, 2020, 9:57 amThe weekly farmers market at Lake Eola will be returning this Sunday with new precautions in place to stop the spread of COVID-19, including fewer vendors and spaced out stalls.
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‘It just didn’t work out:’ Orlando leaders learn lesson after big Halloween crowds
ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer says a pilot program to help alleviate the expected big crowds in downtown Orlando on Halloween night didn’t work. Instead, he said tens of thousands of costumed crowds packed the downtown area in the midst of an ongoing pandemic. “We were trying to do what was right and it just didn’t work out better,” Dyer said Monday. “The situation in the data is very similar to where we were before Memorial Day and that concerns me,” Pino said. “Lesson learned is we did that kind of as a pilot and we won’t be doing it again,” Dyer said.
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Open containers will be allowed in certain areas of downtown Orlando Halloween weekend
ORLANDO, Fla. – In order to keep large crowds from gathering inside bars during what could be a busy Halloween weekend, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said open containers of alcohol will be allowed in certain high-traffic areas of downtown Orlando. Rolón said open containers will be allowed on the streets and sidewalks within the perimeter, not in parking garages or surface parking lots. Both Chatmon and Rolón said allowing open containers within a certain area of downtown will create more space for people to spread out. “The intent here is to not have everybody inside the establishments elbow to elbow, but to allow them to walk around freely in those specific defined areas,” Rolón said. There will also be increased security downtown with Orlando police officers, uniformed security and the ambassadors.
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Nonprofit makes cross country trip to help Orlando family
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. When veteran, Wiley Post, and his family were at their lowest point they reached out to an unlikely source for help. The family desperately needed transportation and an organization halfway across the country made a long haul donation just in time. So I checked it out and Mr. Larry here came through.Post, an Army veteran moved his family to Orlando a year ago to be closer to the Orlando VA Medical Center. To find someone out there who would help, Post said. Its pretty much like a natural high when you help a veteran.
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Streets of downtown Orlando empty as Fourth of July weekend begins
ORLANDO, Fla. – Downtown Orlando is usually bustling on Friday nights, but since bars shutdown following a surge of coronavirus cases statewide, it’s a standstill. The Orlando resident said because it’s all in an effort to be safe, he is OK with the eerie emptiness. When they’re going out and interacting during the Fourth of July, in a way they may not have been for Memorial Day,” DeSantis said. “I just hope that we have learned from Memorial Day, and we are ready to celebrate the Fourth of July,” Dr. Pino said. Health experts said data indicates Memorial Day celebrations may have contributed to the jump in coronavirus cases.
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Florida reports over 11,000 new cases of coronavirus
The state of Florida reported thousands of new cases as the Fourth of July holiday weekend kicks off. While Florida prepares to mask-up and barbecue, hopefully in small numbers, the state reported 11,458 new cases of the novel coronavirus on Friday. [RELATED: UPDATE: See Floridas curve when it comes to coronavirus cases]The Florida Department of Health data shows 244 additional people are now hospitalized statewide with serious cases of COVID-19. READ MORE: DeSantis urged to require masks as COVID-19 burdens some Florida hospitalsDowntown Orlando is usually bustling, but since bars shut down following a surge of coronavirus cases statewide, its a standstill. Eustis City Manager Ron Neibert said that they set up wash stations and signs reminding attendees of social distancing in Ferran Park.
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Businesses in downtown Orlando adapting to face mask requirements
ORLANDO, Fla. – “I think the message has gotten across all of the county areas, and even in Osceola and Seminole; they know, if they’re coming to Orange County, it’s required,” said Roger Wall. [RELATED: Orange County residents will be required to wear face masks under new executive order]Roger Wall is the owner of Embassy Irish Bar on Orange Avenue in downtown Orlando. While Wall’s bar is open, another bar owner made the decision to close. Will Walker is the owner of three bars in Orlando: Will’s Pub, Iil Indies and Dirty Laundry. [RELATED: Restaurants and bars temporarily close as COVID-19 cases rise in Orlando area]
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Bargoers head to downtown Orlando despite spike in COVID-19 cases
ORLANDO, Fla. Downtown Orlando is alive again after the 10 p.m. curfew was lifted and bars got the green light to reopen. Im tired of this I wanna go out and other people are like, but the second wave though, Acosta said. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said he wants people to be vigilant. I want the people of Orange County to know we need the collective help of the community to keep the numbers low. I came out for chicken wings, Im not going to lie, but were taking it to go and were going home, she said.
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UPDATES: Protests over George Floyd death continue across US, world
ORLANDO, Fla. – Here’s the latest on protests surrounding the death of George Floyd, a black man who died as a white police officer knelt on his neck. The agreements reached Friday are the first concrete steps that have been taken to remake the city's police department since George Floyd's death. BUFFALO, N.Y.Two Buffalo police officers were charged with assault Saturday, prosecutors said, after a video showed them shoving a protester in recent demonstrations over the death of George Floyd in Minnesota. He referenced Floyd, whose death in police custody has sparked protests across the world. ORLANDO -- A group of pastors marched through Orlando on Friday morning to protest the death of George Floyd.
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Thousands gather in downtown Orlando in response to George Floyds death
ORLANDO, Fla. More than 2,000 people joined a large demonstration Tuesday in Orlando calling for change after the death of a black man killed by a Minneapolis police officer. Protesters filled the streets of downtown near City Hall before the gathering headed toward Orange Blossom Trail. For more than an hour, protesters voiced their demands while Orlando police looked on surrounding City Hall with a bicycle barricade. 3:30 p.m. UPDATE: Crowd outside Orlando City Hall for protest. Orlando police closed down South Street at Orange Avenue and then State Road 408 as thousands of people carrying signs walked on.
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Here’s how the Orlando area reacted to President Trump’s acquittal
ORLANDO, Fla. – Dozens of protesters gathered outside Sen. Marco Rubio’s office in Downtown Orlando on Wednesday night, protesting his vote to acquit President Donald Trump. “I’m out here to let Sen. Rubio and Sen. Scott know that we are very disappointed in them,” Beckert said. “Shame on them for being oath-breakers.”POST IMPEACHMENT VOTE RALLY in Downtown Orlando Posted by News 6 WKMG / ClickOrlando on Wednesday, February 5, 2020The crowd’s message was very clear. Protestors are gathering outside of Marco Rubio’s office in Downtown Orlando — protesting the acquittal of President Trump. Protesters took to the streets of downtown Orlando after the U.S. Senate voted to acquit President Trump.
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Pestering vultures cost Orange County another $375,000
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – At the end of this month, Orange County officials will finish a project they hope could solve a 23-year-old problem plaguing the Orange County Courthouse in Downtown Orlando. According to county officials, since the new courthouse building opened in 1997, Turkey vultures have been landing on the roof, dropping their dead carcasses and pecking at the caulking costing the county thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars. County officials said the wiring prevents the birds from perching on the courthouse ledges. “We’ve had mold issues, drywall issues, flooring issues, the list goes on,” Davis said. Because of that, county officials approved to replace the deteriorated system installed in early 2000.
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Snow in Orlando? Downtown’s Church Street to become winter wonderland
It’s going to snow in Orlando. Downtown Orlando’s Church Street is hosting “30 Days of Christmas” and transforming the street into a winter wonderland every night in December. Snow will fall along with a music and light show nightly at 6, 7, 8 and 9 p.m. There will also be free horse and carriage rides Thursdays and Fridays from 6-10 p.m. Could it feel anymore like Christmas? And if you’re celebrating New Year’s Even downtown on Church Street, you can pop champagne under the snow flurry.
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Crimeline gets 10,000 tips per year
The caller is a tipster, one of 10,000 people to call Crimeline every year and one that may provide the big break a detective needs. Crimeline executive director Barb Bergin said when News 6 asks viewers to call Crimeline, they do, almost always. "Our phones are ringing at 5 and 6 p.m. when you're on the news so we know that that relationship is very important in getting valued tips," Bergin said. The tips often help solve cases both big and small, Bergin said. Bergin said Crimeline helped solve 39 crimes just last month.
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Shots fired outside Orlando pizza shop
ORLANDO, Fla. – Shots were fired outside an Orlando pizza restaurant, causing a woman to have a panic attack, according to police. The bullet also cracked the glass of a window at the Morgan & Morgan law offices on the 14th floor of the Wells Fargo building. The shooting happened around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday outside Planet Pizza near the intersection of Washington Street and Orange Avenue in downtown Orlando. "We know know it is foreseeable. Some people who visit downtown Orlando for the night life said they feel safe.