Viera public defender’s office secretary reclaims $5K lotto prize lost to overpayment issue
The secretary for the misdemeanor division of the public defender’s office in Viera lost a hefty $5,000 lottery prize to pay part of an unemployment overpayment issued by the Department of Economic Opportunity.
Brevard Public Schools continues student discipline discussion
As Brevard school board members continued debating the district's student discipline policies, Interim Superintendent Dr. Robert Schiller reported so far this year, there have been more than 200 major misuses of electronic devices resulting in 66 suspensions.
‘Fog bow’ spotted in Central Florida; what is it?
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Have you ever heard of a “fog bow”? According to the U.S. National Weather Service in Melbourne, someone recently spotted one in Viera. Forecasters said the cloudlike arch is similar to a rainbow, but the smaller water droplet size means the color separation is weaker and more smeared. That means the fog bow appears mostly white – like a rainbow zapped of its color. Read: Mount Dora police investigate suspicious death of couple at senior living communityCentral Florida started the New Year with foggy conditions, making the conditions prime for the fog bow.
wftv.comVideo shows police officer firing weapon during standoff, deputies say
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — A law enforcement officer is accused of firing shots outside of a Viera home after a domestic incident Thursday, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office said. According to an arrest report, suspect Patrick Michael Kelly, 39, a member of the Cocoa Police Department, was taken into custody by Brevard County deputies on charges of aggravated assault and domestic violence with a deadly weapon. Kelly had fired multiple rounds in the home, but no injuries were reported during the standoff, Brevard County deputies said. Read: Hurricane Ian insured losses near $12.6 billion in FloridaA video provided to Channel 9 from The Space Coast Rocket blog shows Kelly firing at law enforcement. Video shows law enforcement officer firing weapon during standoff, deputies say (The Space Coast Rocket)Kelly was transported to the Brevard County Jail on a no-bond status.
wftv.comHappening at 9 a.m.: Parents of Florida Tech student killed by police to speak out
VIERA, Fla. — The parents of a Florida Tech student who was killed by police plan to speak out for the first time. People held a vigil on campus Tuesday night to try to heal after Friday night’s attack. Officers said 18-year-old Alhaji Sow was chasing students with a knife before police confronted him. READ: Police: Knife-wielding Florida Tech student shot and killed by officer on campusThe parents will speak at the courthouse in Viera. READ: Florida Tech holds vigil for dead student, community safety; parents announce investigationThey said they have hired an Orlando attorney to conduct an independent investigation.
wftv.comNearly $2 million worth of marijuana found in Viera storage facility, deputies say
Nearly $2 million worth of marijuana found in Viera storage facility, deputies say Brevard County deputies are working to identify the owner of hundreds of pounds of marijuana found in a Viera mini-storage facility (Brevard County Sheriff's Office)BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Brevard County deputies are working to identify the owner of hundreds of pounds of marijuana found in a Viera mini-storage facility.
According to a Facebook post by Sheriff Wayne Ivey, the 770 pounds of high-grade marijuana has a street value of approximately 2-million dollars.
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Brevard County schools vote to make face masks voluntary at end of year
Brevard County schools vote to make face masks voluntary at end of year At a special meeting in Viera Friday, the school board voted to change its mask policy with one catch: It will not take effect until the end of this school year. Fla. — For months, the Brevard County School board has heard from parents opposing masks in schools. At a special meeting in Viera Friday, the school board voted to change its mask policy with one catch: It will not take effect until the end of this school year. READ: Fauci: COVID-19 booster shot will likely be needed within year of being vaccinatedThe CDC suggests schools continue masking up until the summer. The last day for Brevard County schools is June 3.
wftv.comTrial dismissed for Sebastian officer charged with hot car death of K-9
VIERA, Fla. - A verdict was reached Thursday in the animal cruelty trial of a Sebastian officer charged with the death of his K-9 partner. New details how a police dog died in the care of a Sebastian police officer revealed now during day 2 of Officer Eric Antosia's trial. Officer Antosia will continue to work as a road patrol officer which he has been doing since June 22, 2018 after the conclusion of the Internal Affairs investigation and grievance process for discipline." Due to these policy violations, Officer Antosia was issued a 120- hour suspension without pay. Antosia reported the discovery to the Sebastian K-9 officer who trained him.
Trial of Sebastian police officer charged in K-9's death begins
VIERA, Fla. - The trial began Tuesday for Sebastian police Officer Eric Antosia, who is charged with the death of his K-9 partner Diesel. State investigators said the Sebastian police officer was working in a courthouse on April 28, 2017, when Diesel died of heatstroke inside a hot patrol car parked outside the courthouse. The outside temperature when Diesel died was 88 degrees, which set a heat record for that date. "Diesel died after being left in a closed vehicle for several hours," according to Assistant State Attorney Michael Hill. But Antosia's attorney, Greg Eisenmenger, said the state doesn't know when, where and why Diesel died.
Viera residents weigh in on teen drivers after golf cart crash
VIERA, Fla. - Residents in Viera are sharing their thoughts and concerns about teenagers driving golf carts in their community after two teens were seriously hurt during a crash Friday. Katelyn Cushey and her family took a quick drive on their golf cart to the grocery store Saturday morning. But she is concerned about teenagers driving golf carts in their community. He tells News 6 he is looking into installing bollards to prevent golf carts from driving over the overpass. Residents said they ultimately want all golf cart drivers to be safe.
Brevard eye doctor arrested on DUI charge
VIERA, Fla. - A Brevard County eye doctor was arrested over the weekend on DUI charges. Dr. Nicholas Pefkaros, 46, was arrested Saturday after Brevard County sheriff's deputies received a call about a reckless driver near Stadium Parkway and Windsong Way, west of I-95. According to an arrest report, Pefkaros told deputies that he took a Xanax and had one drink after meeting with patients. Pefkaros works at Space Coast Opthalmology in Titusville and also has an office in Viera. Pefkaros performed field sobriety tests, and deputies determined that his faculties were impaired, according to the arrest report.
Hurricane, storm surge watches in effect for Brevard
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. - Both hurricane and storm surge watches have been issued for Brevard County ahead of Hurricane Dorian, an "extremely dangerous" storm that is expected to be near Central Florida in the coming days. A hurricane watch means hurricane conditions can be expected within the next 48 hours. A storm surge watch means there is a possibility of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, in the indicated locations during the next 48 hours. Residents should also be aware of the potential for life-threatening storm surge. The storm was about 205 miles east of West Palm Beach and was moving west toward Florida at 7 mph.
Dorian preparations: Brevard residents wait for hours for sandbags
The sheriff also acknowledged a different fear with Dorian because of its projected track of possible making landfall on Florida's east coast. "That's one of the things that we always ask everyone to do -- is to take the storm seriously," Ivey said. [HURRICANE PREP: Where to find sandbags in your county | What Brevard County residents need to know before a storm]Brevard County emergency management leaders reported that the sand was all gone by 4 p.m.at the Viera site. The county also distributed sandbags Thursday and will continue to distribute Friday at locations in Titusville, Merritt Island and Palm Bay. News 6 was told by residents who went to those distribution locations that the lines and wait times were very long as well.
Tree trimming service prepares for Tropical Storm Dorian
VIERA, Fla. - A few days before the threat of Tropical Storm Dorian, the phones started to ring at tree trimming services in Brevard County. The owner of Tree Tech Pro's said McClure made a good call. "Especially with the storm coming, it could crack down easily," James Falvey, the owner of the tree trimming service said. Falvey advised other homeowners who need services before the storm to call a tree trimming service immediately. "There's only so many tree services in the area, so the sooner the phone call goes in, the better," he said.
Titusville murder suspect accepts 40-year sentence in plea agreement
VIERA, Fla. - In a Brevard County courtroom Friday, a 41-year-old convicted felon was ordered to return to prison for the next 40 years. Prosecutors said Blair was familiar with Johnstons Titusville house before March 21 when on that morning, Blair broke in and demanded Johnston withdraw money for him. Prosecutors said inside the Kirby Drive house, Johnston fought back but Blair strangled him. Johnstons Titusville church, St. Gabriels Episcopal, said Johnston dedicated his life to helping recovering addicts and he helped each week with the churchs food pantry. Blair does not have the possibility of parole and his 40-year sentence on the murder charge will run concurrent with other charges in his plea agreement.
Brevard teachers overwhelmingly vote against school district's pay raise plan
VIERA, Fla. - With the highest turnout for a vote in Brevard County's teachers union history, teachers voted against the deal offered by the school district for teacher raises. The results of a union vote over a deal to raise Brevard County teacher salaries were announced Tuesday at a school board meeting after months of negotiations between the teachers union and the school district. On Tuesday, the results revealed that 3,886 teachers voted against the plan and 160 voted for it. He told school board members on Tuesday night that teachers will continue to vote down any proposal that doesn't pay them fairly. Brevard County currently has 26 openings for elementary school teaching positions and 25 openings for middle and high school teacher, according to school district officials.
Brevard teachers expected to vote on new contract
VIERA, Fla. - Hundreds of teachers in Brevard County will vote on a new contract Friday, and many of them are not happy with the deal. The president of the Brevard Federations of Teachers said the average teacher pay on the Space Coast is among the lowest in the state. "Brevard County teachers are the third-most experienced workforce in the state, and yet we are 30th in the average teacher pay in the state. However, the school board voted against the recommendation, opting instead for raises up to $1,100. We believe a piece of that can be used to pay for teachers," Colucci said.
New judge assigned to Palm Bay corruption cases
VIERA, Fla. - A judge from Indian River County who has been on the bench for less than a year will try two of the biggest corruption cases Brevard County has seen in years, which have ruptured the political landscape in Palm Bay and beyond. Michael J. Linn, of the 19th Judicial Circuit in Vero Beach, has been assigned to preside over the Dave Isnardi and Jose Aguiar Palm Bay corruption cases, News 6 partner Florida Today reported. "I think this was done in the abundance of caution," said Michelle Kennedy, spokeswoman for the 18th Judicial Circuit. Dave Isnardi, former Palm Bay deputy city manager, is the husband of Brevard County Commissioner Kristine Isnardi. It's unclear at this point whether the case would be tried outside of Brevard County and the 18th Judicial Circuit.
Driver critically injured when car slams into tree, transformer in Viera
VIERA, Fla. - A driver was critically injured in an overnight crash in Viera, officials said. The crash was reported in the 5000 block of Stadium Parkway. According to Brevard County Fire Rescue, a car crashed into a tree and transformer. Officials tweeted photos of the crash, showing the car badly damaged and a tree lying across the top of it. Copyright 2019 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.