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HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION

February 4, 2000

The Fort Lauderdale Police Dept. is investigating an apparent homicide that was discovered at approximately 8:00 am this morning. A resident at 2117 NW 8 Street was placing trash in the trash can at the front of the apartment complex when she noticed what looked like a clothed human foot inside the can. The resident called the Fort Lauderdale Police Dept., and officers and detectives responded to the scene. The decision was made to remove the entire can to the Medical Examiners Office and examine the contents there.

Inside the container was found the body of a black male, mid to late teens with trauma to the body. An autopsy will be performed to find the exact cause of death.

The identity of the victim is not know at this time, and there are no suspects or motive.

Anyone with information is asked to Detective John Curcio at 761-5529 or Detective Mark Breen at 761-5708.

PR # 2000-08
2000-15549

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TRAFFIC CHECKPOINT

February 7, 2000

The Fort Lauderdale Police Dept. will be conducting a traffic checkpoint on February 10, 1999, in the 2400 block of East Commercial Blvd., from 6:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Officers will be at this location checking for equipment violations, driver's licenses, motor vehicle registration registration and insurance.

PR # 2000-09

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HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION UPDATE

February 7, 2000

The Fort Lauderdale Police Dept. is releasing the identity of the homicide victim found on Friday, February 4, 2000. The body of John Pinnock, 09-07-84, was found in a trash can in front of 2217 NW 8 Street early Friday morning by a resident as she threw away the trash.

The investigation has revealed that Pinncok was in apartment #3 at the 8 Street address Wednesday night February 2, 2000 with three other subjects where there was reckless playing with a firearm. The gun went off striking Pinnock, and killing him. The subjects in the apartment decided to dispose of the body by placing it in the trash.

Two of the three subjects involved in the shooting are still at large. Jahmeil Manning 15 years of age of Lauderhill and Yakoub Levi, 08-07-80, Levi lived at the 8 Street address. The third subjects identity is not being released at this time.

The firearm has been recovered.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective John Curcio at 761-5529 or Detective Mark Breen at 761-5708.

VICTIM: John Pinnock, 09-07-84

PR # 2000-10
OR # 2000-15549

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HOMICIDE UPDATE

February 9, 2000

The Fort Lauderdale Police Dept. has obtained a warrant for the arrest of Yakoub Levi, 08-07-80, in connection with shooting death of John Pinnock. At this time Levi is being charged with one count of "Accessory after the fact" in connection with the shooting.

The second subject being sought, Jahmeil Manning has not been charged at this time, however a juvenile pick-up order is being sought. Those charged are not available at this time. Both subjects are still at large, there is a photo of Levi available to be copied in the lobby of the Fort Lauderdale Police Dept.

There is no photo or additional information available of Manning since he is a juvenile.

VICTIM: John Pinnock, 09-07-84

PR # 2000-11
OR# 2000-15549

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HOMICIDE

February 11, 2000

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is investigating a homicide at 1128 NW 3 Ave.

At approximately 6:51 P.M. on Friday, February 11, 2000 the police department received a call of a shooting. Upon arrival officers found one victim deceased as a result of multiple gunshot wounds and a second victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the head.

Paramedics pronounced Demetrious Townsend (B/M, DOB 4/21/71) dead at the scene. Townsend's mother, Janette Love (B/F, DOB 9-19-53), was treated on the scene and transported to Broward General Hospital.

Investigators are still trying to determine exactly what happened. At this point they believe that the victims and three black male culprits had a confrontation earlier during the day. The culprits and Townsend live in adjoining apartments. After the earlier confrontation the culprits left. The culprits returned in a car just before 7 P.M. Townsend, Love and Love's husband were standing in the parking area in front of the apartment building. As the culprits exited the vehicle one of them drew a semi-automatic pistol and fired several rounds killing Townsend and wounding Love. The culprits then fled on foot.

Police set up a perimeter around the entire area and initiated a search for the culprits. The SWAT team responded to search the apartment where the culprits live. After unsuccessfully attempting to reach anyone inside the apartment by phone the SWAT team made entry and found the apartment empty.

Detectives have several leads they are working at this time.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Detectives Al Stone or John Curcio at (954) 761-5496.

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HOMICIDE ARREST

February 12, 2000

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department has made an arrest in he murder of Demetrious Townsend.

Detectives arrested Brian Thomas (B/M DOB 5/15/73) and charged him with an open count of murder. Townsend was killed after a neighborhood dispute escalated. Thomas shot Townsend multiple time with a semiautomatic pistol. Townsend's mother, Janette Love, was also shot in the head. She is now at Broward General Hospital and is expected to recover fully after surgery last night.

Detectives quickly identified Thomas as the shooter and, after an anonymous tip, found him hiding in an abandoned house at 2761 NW 14 Ct. in unincorporated Broward County. With assistance from the Broward Sheriff's Office Thomas was taken into custody at approximately 1:00 A.M. today. Thomas was recently released from state prison where he was serving a sentence for Violation of Probation for Possession of Cocaine.

Police are looking for two other black males who fled with Thomas after the shooting. They are believed to be witnesses to the shooting. Police don't believe they were involved in the actual shooting.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Detectives Al Stone or John Curcio at (954) 761-5496.

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TRAFFIC CHECKPOINT

February 14, 2000

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department will be conducting a traffic checkpoint on Thursday, February 17, 1999, in the 2800 block of NW 19 Street. Officers will be out from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. checking vehicles for equipment violations, seatbelts, drivers' licenses, vehicle registration and insurance.

PR # 2000-14

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FRAUD WARNING

February 15, 2000

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department would like to remind the public of a very common fraud that occurs with more frequency this time of year with the influx of tourists and older part-time residents.

The fraud is known as the "Bank Examiner Scam". In this type of fraud mostly elderly residents are followed from a bank to their residence. The suspect then obtains the victims home phone number and calls the victim. The suspect will identify himself or herself as a police official, and explain to the victim that the police need their help in catching a teller from their bank suspected of theft. The victim is advised to go the bank and withdraw a large sum of money and that the police will meet them outside the bank afterwards. The victims are advised not to tell anyone, and if they would like to verify that they (suspects) are the police to hang up and call 911. The suspects do not hang up when the victim does creating an open line that the suspect is still on. When the victim picks up the phone to dial 911 the suspects use a recording of a dial tone to further convince the victim that the suspects are indeed the police. The victim dials 911, a different suspect answers, usually a female, and "transfers" the victim to the name the suspect used as the police official. Convinced that the suspects are the police the victim goes to their bank withdraws the money, and is met by the police official outside. The victim gives the suspect the money, and is told that the police will be in contact. The victim goes home and waits to hear from the "police.

The Fort Lauderdale Police Dept. would never use a citizen in this way, and anyone receiving this type of call is asked to call their local police department.

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PRESS CONFERENCE

February 18, 2000

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department and Crime Stoppers will be holding a press conference on Tuesday, February 22, 2000 at 10:00 a.m. to announce a $100,000.00 reward in reference to the hit and run death of Donald Morris.

The press conference will be held at the intersection of NE 6 Street and NE 13 Avenue in the City of Fort Lauderdale. It was at this intersection on February 12, 1997 that Donald Morris was walking his dog at approximately 10:27 p.m. when Morris was struck by a west bound vehicle on NE 6 Street. Morris was knocked to the swale and came to rest partially under the front of a parked car. Neighbors, hearing the impact, ran to render aid to Morris and heard the roar of a vehicle as it sped away westbound on NE 6 Street. Morris was transported to Broward General Medical Center where he died on February 18, 1997.

Evidence recovered at the scene indicates that the hit and run vehicle was white, and the latest information has revealed that the vehicle may be a Cadillac Cimarron.

For further information please call Detective M. Reed at 761-5464.

VICTIM: Donald Morris, 05-29-38

Crime Stoppers Reward Poster


The vehicle may look like this one

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TRAFFIC FATALITY

February 18,2000

The Fort Lauderdale Police Dept. is investigating a traffic fatality that occurred this evening, February 18, 2000, at approximately 6:50 p.m. in the 2900 block of NW 19 Street.

Sonya Moore, 11-09-75, had just exited a county bus with three small children on the north side on NW 19 Street, and was attempting to cross to the south. Moore and the children aged 4, 5 and 5 had crossed the westbound lanes, and stopped in the center lane for an approaching eastbound van. The van stopped in the left lane, and suddenly one of the children, Akira Lashay Jones, 05-08-95, ran into the eastbound lanes of traffic. A 1990 Ford Taurus driven by Maryann Russaw, 09-04-74, that was travelling east in the right lane struck the child.

Akira was transported to Broward General Hospital where she was pronounced dead upon arrival. Akira's mother Chiquita Madison was at the hospital with her.

The children with Moore were going to spend the night at her apartment, the other children and Moore were uninjured.

The investigation is continuing, there are no charges at this time.

VICTIM: Akira Lashay Jones, 05-08-95

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HOMICIDE UPDATE

February 18,2000

Jahmeil Manning, 15 years of age, has turned himself into the Fort Lauderdale Police in connection to the investigation of the death of John Pinnock. Pinnock's body was found in a trashcan in front of 2217 NW 8 Street on Friday, February 4, 2000.

Manning, accompanied by his attorney, turned himself into Detective John Curcio at approximately 10:45 p.m. at the Fort Lauderdale Police Dept. Manning will be processed and transferred to the Broward County Juvenile Intake Facility.

Manning has been charged in a juvenile pick-up order with one count of Manslaughter with a Firearm.

ARRESTED: Jahmeil Manning, 15 years of age

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TRAFFIC ADVISORY

February 25,2000

The Fort Lauderdale Police Dept. would like to advise all motorists to expect delays in the area of the SE 17 Street Causeway Bridge. Due to ongoing construction, and heavy traffic flow, traffic is expected to be extremely busy over the weekend. We are asking that persons travelling to the beach area use alternate routes to help alleviate the congestion.

East Las Olas Blvd, Sunrise Blvd, Oakland Park Blvd., and Commercial Blvd. are alternate routes that can be used to travel to Fort Lauderdale Beach.

Thanks for everyone's cooperation in advance.

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