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Murder Suicide Investigation

January 6, 2003

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is continuing to investigate an apparent murder/suicide that occurred this morning at approximately 9:30 in the parking lot of the Regal Trace Apartments, 540 NW 4 Avenue.

A witness reports seeing a male and female in the front seats of a 2000 Kia Sportage, the male was in the driver seat, female in the passenger. It appeared as both were involved in a conversation that did not appear violent or angry. The witness returned a short time later to find both occupants out of the vehicle, on the pavement next to the passenger side of the Kia. There was a large amount of blood around both subjects, the witness called Fort Lauderdale Police.

Arriving officers found both subjects deceased.

The driver of the vehicle has been identified as Johnny Jones, 02-13-81 of Lauderhill, and the passenger as Ramona Williams, 05-26-79. Williams lived at Regal Trace, building 1500, which was the building that the vehicle was parked next to.

According to friends and family members Williams and Jones had been involved in a relationship for approximately the last three to four years, and they were currently going through a rough break-up. Jones had arrived at the apartment early this morning to talk to Williams, but as to the motive for this mornings shooting, that is still unknown.

Both subjects appear to have died from single gunshot wounds to the head, and the weapon, a semi-automatic handgun was recovered next to Jones.

VICTIM: Ramona Williams, 05-26-79 (deceased)

SUSPECT: Johnny Jones, 02-13-81 (deceased)

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HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION

January 8, 2003

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is investigating the murder early this morning of 22-year-old Timothy Broadus.

Broadus was in the 500 block of NW 21 Avenue at approximately 12:30 this morning where he was seen talking to a black male in a light colored vehicle. According to witnesses they heard gunshots and then observed the light colored vehicle driving away. Broadus ran for short a distance and then collapsed.

Broadus was pronounced dead at the scene.

Broadus was dressed in woman’s clothing, including a wig, and is known to be a transvestite prostitute that works in the area of the shooting, however the motive for the shooting is unknown at this time.

The suspect is described as a black male, 30-40 years of age driving a newer model Honda Civic or Accord possibly silver, gray or champagne in color. The vehicle may be missing a hubcap on one of the driver’s side wheels.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Mark Breen at (954) 828-5708, Detective John Curcio at (954) 828-5529, or Crime Stoppers at (954) 493-T.I.P.S.

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BURGLARY ARREST

January 10, 2003

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department has arrested and charged 40-year-old Donna Welker in connection with a smash and burglary that occurred early Thursday morning, January 9, 2002.

Welker was arrested as the result of a surveillance being conducted by Fort Lauderdale Police Department Tactical Units in response to several “smash and grab” type burglaries that have occurred in the city since late September.

At approximately 3:15 a.m. Thursday morning Tactical Officers Brian Schaeffer, Eric Sweet, John Graul along with Sergeant Kevin Finn observed a black Ford pick-up park on the west side of “Florida Smoked Fish”, 820 State Road 84. The business was closed and unoccupied at this time. The suspect exited the truck and walked to the front window of the business and looked inside. She then returned to the truck, grabbed a large silver metal tire iron, and walked back to the closed business where she pulled the hood of her jacket over her head and face, smashed out the glass door with the tire iron and entered. Officers moved in and observed the suspect with the cash register box in hand. The suspect was ordered out of the business, she refused and had to be removed from the business and handcuffed.

The arrested Welker was taken to the Fort Lauderdale Police Department where detectives interviewed her. As a result of the interviews and the comparison of evidence from previous burglaries, Welker is going to be charged with as many as 22 “smash and grab” type burglaries in the City of Fort Lauderdale alone. Other jurisdictions with similar burglaries have also interviewed Welker and as a result she may be additionally charged with as many as 20 more within Broward County.

ARRESTED: Donna Welker, 11-30-62

CHARGES:

• Burglary
• Possession of Burglary Tools
• Possession of Cocaine
• Resisting arrest without violence
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

ADDITIONAL CHARGES TO FOLLOW

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FUGITIVE

January 21, 2003

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is investigating an incident in which it appears a robbery suspect was struck by a vehicle while eluding apprehension.

Fort Lauderdale fugitive detectives had learned that a robbery suspect may be in the area of the 2200 block of NW 6 Street. At approximately 7:40 PM, Detectives, accompanied by uniformed officers, converged on the area and located a vehicle they believed the suspect may be driving. The vehicle proceeded south on NW 22 Avenue and parked in front of an apartment at 534 NW 22 Avenue. A concrete wall obscured the officers’ view. A police canine unit approached the apartment to ascertain if the vehicle was there and, if so, if it was occupied. The officer located the vehicle and at first believed it was unoccupied. As the officer watched, the vehicle’s brake lights came on indicating that the vehicle was indeed occupied. The officer had stopped directly behind the suspect’s vehicle. The suspect’s vehicle began to backup towards the officer’s vehicle but stopped and proceeded forward driving over a parking bumper and striking the apartment building. The vehicle then began backing again and struck the officer’s vehicle. The vehicle then accelerated forward and struck the building again. At this time the driver exited the vehicle and fled on foot eastbound into the darkness. The officer gave chase on foot until loosing sight of the suspect. The officer returned to his vehicle and began a search for the suspect with his canine partner while other officer set up a perimeter to confine the suspect.

At 7:48 PM, while officers were still searching for the suspect, the Department received a call of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle on Interstate 95. Officers responding to the accident quickly determined that the pedestrian may be the suspect who fled.

The pedestrian was transported to Broward General Medical Center where he is currently undergoing surgery in critical condition. Because of his condition detective have not been able to positively identify the pedestrian.

The original robbery occurred on Christmas Day 2002. The suspect and an accomplice, while wearing ski masks, robbed three victims at gunpoint.

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PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT UPDATE

January 22, 2003

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is releasing the name of the pedestrian involved in Tuesday’s accident on I-95 at approximately 7:40 p.m.

Benjamin Jones, 02-11-85, was struck as he ran across the southbound lanes of I-95 approximately 1000 feet north of Broward Boulevard. Jones was transported to Broward General Medical Center where he remains in critical condition.

Anyone with information or who may have witnessed the accident is asked to call Traffic Homicide Investigator Dan Nanum at (954) 828-5754.

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FUGITIVE UPDATE

January 23, 2003

Benjamin Jones, the fugitive being sought by Fort Lauderdale Police on an armed robbery warrant, has died of the injuries he received after being struck by a vehicle on Interstate 95.

Jones was being sought by Detective Chuck Morrow of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department Fugitive Unit on an outstanding warrant for armed robbery. Morrow and other officers had been looking for Jones for several months when he was located in the 500 block of NW 22 Avenue on Tuesday evening, January 20, 2003. Upon approach of officers, Jones fled through the neighborhood and managed to break through the perimeter officers had set up and run onto I-95. Jones was struck by a vehicle as he attempted to cross the interstate. He was taken to Broward General Medical Center in critical condition. Jones died of his injuries on Thursday, January 23, 2003.

Jones was also being sought by the Broward Sheriff’s Office for violation of the court pre-trial release program for armed robbery and other armed robberies committed while on pre-trial release.

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HOMICIDE

January 23, 2003

Last evening, Wednesday January 22, 2003, at approximately 11:00 pm the Fort Lauderdale Police responded to a shooting at 1231 NW 18th Court. The victim had been shot once in the upper body. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene; the apparent victim of a home invasion robbery, as the interior of the home had been ransacked. The exact loss is unknown.

Homicide Detectives Art Carbo and Jack King advise that they are searching for two men as the possible assailants. No other information is available. The victim’s identity will be released at a later time.

Police are asking anyone with any information to call either Detectives Carbo at (954) 828- 6014 or King (954) 828-5544or Broward County Crimestoppers at (954) 493-TIPS.

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FUGITIVE ARREST

January 24, 2003

Fort Lauderdale Police Fugitive Unit Detectives Chuck Morrow and John Curry with assistance from Fort Lauderdale K-9 and Tactical Units took 26 year-old Reginald Bynum into custody late last night, Thursday January 23.

Morrow and Curry received information the Bynum was staying at the Windwood Motel located in the 500 block of SE 18 Street. Units set up around the motel and at approximately 10:00 p.m. Bynum was taken into custody without incident.

Bynum was wanted by the Broward Sheriffs Office in connection with at least 3 robberies that occurred in Lauderdale Lakes and another 3 that occurred in the County. In the Lauderdale Lakes robberies, Bynum snatched the gold chains and necklaces of three separate females, one being a 63 year-old woman sitting on a bus bench.

Bynum is being held at this time on four active warrants for Strong Arm Robbery, and an active warrant for traffic charges.

For previous booking photo and additional information on Bynum please see Broward Sheriffs Office press release 03-1-34 issued 01-23-03.

ARRESTED: Reginald Bynum, 12-30-76

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VIDEOTAPING OF CONFESSIONS

January 31, 2003

Effective immediately the Fort Lauderdale Police Department will begin videotaping interviews and confessions of homicide suspects.

This change in policy is as a result of extensive research by members of the Criminal Investigations Division of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department of departments both locally and nationally that do and do not videotape confessions. Detectives found that the advantages of taping far outweighed any perceived disadvantages. In a recent Department of Justice survey, 80% of departments that videotape confessions stated that it helped them make their case.

This change in policy will also allow juries to see the professionalism of our Detectives in conducting their interviews with suspects. Broward County State Attorney Michael Satz has stated that he favors Departments videotaping confessions and is pleased with Fort Lauderdale’s initiative in this area.

Although no confessions or interviews in recent homicide cases have negatively impacted a case, we feel that videotaping will enable this department to remain in the forefront of investigations and case presentation.

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department had been preparing and making the necessary equipment purchases and installations over the past months and is now ready to begin this latest technical advantage of prosecution.

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