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PRESS CONFERENCE

April 3, 2001

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department will be conducting a press conference on Thursday, April 5, 2001 at 10:00 a.m. at the front of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department in observance of the one-year anniversary of the death of Matthew Collins. Members of his family will be on hand to announce additional reward money and to again ask for the public’s help in any information on this case.

Collins was reported missing to the Plantation Police Department on April 4, 2000, and the following day his badly burned was found in a dumpster in the 100 block of NW 5 Street at 11:30 a.m. after Fire Fighters responded to a reported dumpster fire. Collins had died from blunt trauma. On April 9, 2000 Collins’s vehicle was found in a municipal parking lot located at the intersection of State Road A1A and East Las Olas Blvd. The vehicle had parking tickets on it dating back to April 7th.

There have been no suspects identified or a motive in the case.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Jack King at 828-5544, Detective Al Stone at 828-5512 or Crime Stoppers at 493-T.I.P.S.

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MISSING ADULT

April 4, 2001

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is attempting to find a missing Fort Lauderdale resident. James Cuddy, 03-31-51, had left his Fort Lauderdale home early Tuesday morning, April 2nd headed to a meeting in Palm Beach County. At approximately 10:00 a.m. he called a co-worker stating that his Jeep had broken down and was possibly out of gas, Cuddy’s location at this time was I-95 at Yamato Road. As Cuddy was speaking to the co-worker he stated that two men had stopped to help him. That was the last contact with Cuddy, and his Jeep was not found at that location.

Cuddy is described as a white male, 50 years of age, 5’10”, 140 pounds, short brown hair, thick gray mustache, and wearing wire rim glasses. Cuddy was possibly wearing a button down shirt and khaki pants.

The vehicle Cuddy was driving was a 1998 Jeep Cherokee, four door, forest green in color with a Virginia tag of ZCX-3102.

Anyone with information is asked to call Boca Raton Police Detective Kevin Rice at 561-338-1258, Fort Lauderdale Police Detective John Curcio at 954-828-5529 or Crime Stoppers at 954-493-T.I.P.S.

*** There is photo of Cuddy available in the lobby of the station to be copied***

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1973 HOMICIDE CASE SOLVED

April 3, 2001

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department has solved a 1973 homicide case through the use of DNA evidence. Vetta Turner, 07-11-38, was found dead in the 600 block of NW 22 Road on July 8, 1973 after she was reported missing from the night before. Turner had been sexually battered and strangled sometime between midnight and 3:00 a.m. on the 8th. No arrest had been made.

Detective John Curcio currently assigned to the Fort Lauderdale Police Departments Homicide unit began looking at several cold cases. It was found that there was in fact physical evidence collected at this homicide scene and that the evidence was still at the Broward County Medical Examiners office. Detective Curcio found that the original suspect in the case, Turners ex-husband Felton Lawton, had died in 1975. Tissue samples taken from Lawton’s autopsy were compared to the DNA samples from the original crime scene and it was found that those samples did not match. Curcio also requested that the samples be tested against two other suspects that had been active in similar crimes in this area at this time. Samples were tested against Jerry Frank Townsend and Eddie Lee Mosley; the DNA matched that of Eddie Lee Mosley.

Based on the biological evidence there is probable cause to believe the Eddie Lee Mosley sexually assaulted and murdered Vetta Turner on 07-08-1973. The case has been sent to the Broward County States Attorney’s Office with other cases pending on Mosley.

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2001 AIR & SEA SHOW PUBLIC ADVISORY

The 2001 Air & Sea Show is to be held on Fort Lauderdale Beach during the weekend of May 5-6, 2001. The show will extend along the four miles of beach between Oakland Park Blvd. and East Las Olas Blvd. Advisories will be issued to try and make commuting as easy as possible for spectators, and residents.

Traffic Restrictions for Spectators

• Traffic on A1A from East Sunrise Blvd. south to Vistamar St. will be one lane north bound, and one lane south bound from 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, May 2nd, until Tuesday morning May 8th.
• A1A will be closed to vehicular traffic at 12:01a.m. Monday, April 30th, from East Sunrise Blvd., north to the 1900 block of A1A, and will reopen Tuesday morning May 8th.There will be one lane north bound, and one lane south bound in this area for residents with passes. Residents in this area must enter from the north at N.E. 19 St., there will be no access from East Sunrise Blvd..
• A1A will be closed from Bayshore Drive to N.E. 19 St during the show.
• East Sunrise Blvd. will be closed to vehicular traffic between Bayview Dr, and A1A
• during the show.
• Access to the beach for vehicles will be limited, and can only be made by way of S.E.
• 17 St. East Las Olas Blvd., and East Oakland Park Blvd. during the show.
• There will be no eastbound traffic allowed on East Sunrise Blvd. east of Gateway from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, and Sunday. Traffic will be diverted north on US 1 at the Gateway intersection. This will expedite clearing the beach following the show.
• All businesses in the areas affected by the traffic restrictions will be open their normal hours during the weekend.

Residents and Business Employees

Vehicle passes will be issued to those individuals who live, or work within the restricted areas that will allow them to pass through the two checkpoints. Those checkpoints will be at East Sunrise Blvd and Bayview Drive, and at A1A and N.E. 19 St. Residents with questions about passes, or in need of passes can call (954) 828-6549.

Park & Ride Shuttle Service

A limited, continuous, Park & Ride shuttle bus service will be offered by the City of Fort Lauderdale and by Broward County Transit from downtown parking garages to East Sunrise Blvd, and the Intracoastal bridge. There will be a $6.00 charge for parking, and a $3.00 per person charge for round-trip shuttle service. Shuttle service will begin at 8:00 a.m. each day, and will end one hour after the event. (approximately 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, and 6:00 p.m. on Sunday) Please have exact change.

Downtown Parking: (Blue Line) The public may park in downtown city garages. Broward County Transit Buses will pick up, and drop off passengers along S.E. 1 Ave. between Broward Blvd., and S.E. 2 St.

Holiday Park: (Red Line) There will be limited parking available at Holiday Park, access to the park can be made at Federal Highway and Niniger Drive. Broward County Transit will pick up passengers at Parker Playhouse, located in the park. The shuttle will run between the park and the Sunrise Intracoastal area during show hours.

Beach Access and Parking

Spectators who choose to drive to the beach during show hours will only be able to do so along the 17th Street Causeway, East Las Olas Blvd., and Oakland Park Blvd.. No vehicles will be permitted to travel on A1A north of Bayshore Drive, nor will they be permitted south of N.E. 19 St.

Parking beachside will be limited, and parking lots are expected to fill early.

All parking laws will be strictly enforced. Violators will be ticketed, and towed. Use of the park, and ride shuttle service is strongly encouraged.

BICYCLES

Bicycles will be prohibited in the area of “Show Center” at East Sunrise Blvd., and A1A. Bicycle lock-up areas will be provided at three locations:

• West of Show Center: on the south side of Sunrise Blvd. east of the Intracoastal bridge
• South side of Show Center: A1A and Auramar Street
• North side of Show Center: west of A1A on NE 14th, 15th and 16th Courts

REMEMBER TO BRING A LOCK!

Boating Advisory

There will be a restricted safety zone four miles long, north to south, beginning north of Oakland Park Blvd., and extending south to the Port Everglades Inlet.. The restricted area will extend from shore, out 4,000 feet, and will be well marked with buoys. The port Everglades Channel will remain open to traffic; however, all vessels must proceed east past the 4,000 feet mark before heading north.

The restricted zone will be strictly guarded by the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Florida Marine Patrol, Fort Lauderdale Police Dept.’s Marine Unit, and Broward County Sheriff’s Marine Unit.

Health and Safety

Spectators should prepare for a day in the sun by wearing sunscreen as well as a hat, and sunglasses. They should also drink an adequate amount of water to avoid dehydration. There will be well- marked first aid stations along the three- mile viewing area, courtesy of the North Broward Hospital District.

ALL OPEN CONTAINER LAWS WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED. CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL ON THE BEACH IS PROHIBITED BY CITY ORDINANCE, AND WILL ONLY BE PERMITTED IN DESIGNATED FOOD COURTS. PLEASE, NO GLASS CONTAINERS.

Lost Children

Parents are advised to take extra care during the show. Last year there were numerous lost children. With the large crowds expected, and being along the water’s edge, a lost child can be very hard to find. If you are taking children tell them if they get lost to find a police officer, firefighter, or lifeguard. Efforts to reunite them with parents, or guardians will be coordinated through the Fort Lauderdale Police Dept.’s Command Center located at E. Sunrise Blvd, and Breakers Ave.

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SOLICITATION FOR MURDER CHARGES ADDED

April 16, 2001

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department has charged Harutyun Arutyunyan, 10/23/72, with Solicitation for Murder in an attempt to have Fort Lauderdale Police Officer John Curry murdered.

On March 22, 2000 at approximately 11:00 a.m. Officer Curry entered the Nations Bank at 100 Southeast 3rd Avenue responding to a call of a fraudulent check. Upon seeing Officer Curry, the suspect, Arutyunyan, produced a handgun and began firing at the officer. Curry returned fire striking the suspect several times. Arutyunyan was charged with several counts of Fraud and Attempted Murder of a Police Officer and is currently in the Broward County Jail awaiting trial.

In February of 2001 information was developed that Arutyunyan was attempting to hire someone to kill Officer Curry. Undercover Detectives from the Fort Lauderdale Police Department along with Agents from the Fort Lauderdale Office of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms posed as the “hired hit-men” and met with Arutyunyan over the next two months at the Broward County Jail. It was here that the plan for payment and details fo the murder were discussed. The plan was discussed personally, over the phone, with hand gestures, and with written notes from the defendant to the detectives. Arutyunyan agreed to make a down payment by using jewelry of his that was being held by police in evidence.

On April 17th, enough evidence had been compiled (including the “down-payment”) to charge Arutyunyan with one count of Solicitation for Murder

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ARREST-CULPABLE NEGLIGENCE (DOGS)

April 30, 2001

On Sunday morning, April 29, 2001 at approximately 0900 hours police were called to 1121 NE 6th Ave, Fort Lauderdale. Three persons had been bitten by three pit bulls; two of the victims were bitten while coming to the aid of the initial victim.

The initial victim, SAINFANE GERMINAL, had been walking north in front of 1201 NE 6th Ave., when the three dogs came out of the fenced yard. The victim began running and was knocked to the ground. All three dogs began biting the victim, SAINFANE GERMINAL. Two persons, FRERE PETIT and BELOSIER JOSEPH, attempting to assist GERMINAL managed to chase the dogs away and were also bitten. GERMINAL sustained dog bites to his arm, leg, foot and back, the most serious of which was to his right arm.

The owner of the dogs, TORY JOHNSON, was initially cited civilly by Broward County Animal Control. After further investigation, Officer Sam Pantaleo determined that this was not the first time that JOHNSON and the dogs had caused problems. Last September, JOHNSON was arrested by Fort Lauderdale Police Department for 2 counts of cruelty to animals, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, and corruption by threat of a public servant.

Officer Pantaleo charged JOHNSON with three counts of culpable negligence and while checking JOHNSON thru teletype discovered that JOHNSON had an outstanding capias for operating a vehicle without a driver’s license.

The dogs were taken by Animal Control. A hold has been placed on them.

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Homicide Update

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is now releasing the name of the homicide victim from Friday, April 27th, 2001. The homicide occurred at 1800 NW 23 Avenue.

The victim’s name is Patrick H. Graffan date of birth- 03/17/1951. The address we have is 1911 San Remo Circle, Homestead, Florida.

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