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BODY FOUND IN WATERWAY

January 8, 2004

Earlier today, the body of 44 year-old Scott Gregory Frye was recovered from the Middle River waterway in the area of 2500 N. Federal Hwy. It is believed that the body had been in the water for approximately a day and there were no obvious signs of trauma.

Just before 11:00 a.m. a 911 caller reported seeing what they believed to be a body floating in the river near 2500 N. Federal Hwy. When Police and Fire personnel arrived they notice an object drifting in the river and was able to determine that it was human as it drifted to the shore just north of the 2500 Building on North Federal Hwy.

Of course, at this point of the investigation the cause of death is unknown. Investigators may learn more from the Medical Examiner’s report. If anyone has information regarding Scott Frye’s actions and whereabouts over the passed two days they are ask to call the Fort Lauderdale Police Department at (954) 828-5511.

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FATAL CRASH

January 9, 2004

Shortly after 9 a.m. today, 67 year-old Ruth Rivas Goebel was killed after she drove her car off of the fifth level of a Fort Lauderdale parking garage at SE 1st Avenue at 1st Street. The garage services the Broward County Main Library where Goebel was employed.

Police and Fire-Rescue Units were called to the scene immediately after the crash. Ms. Goebel’s 1998 GMC Suburban was found upside-down and crushed on the southeast corner of 1st Avenue and 1st Street. Ruth Goebel died on scene. It is unknown what led to Goebel’s car crashing through the exterior wall of the garage.

Investigators examined the fifth level of the parking garage in the area where Goebel’s car hit the wall. They found no obvious skid marks or any other evidence that would point to the cause of the crash. The Fort Lauderdale Police Traffic Homicide Unit will continue its investigation into this matter.

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HOMICIDE UPDATE

January 12, 2004

On December 24, 2003, Willie Montgomery, a 28-year-old Ft. Lauderdale resident was stabbed to death in front of a convenience store at 106 NW 11 Avenue. At the time of the incident, the culprit had fled the area and remained unidentified.

Homicide Detectives were able to produce a photo of a subject from a store surveillance tape, who may possibly have information about the incident. A flyer with the photograph of the unidentified person was created and distributed in the area of the incident.

This morning, at approximately 9:35 a.m., Homicide Detectives Mark Shotwell and Al Stone returned a phone call from a message left on their work answering machine. The caller identified himself as the person in the photograph and who ultimately stabbed Montgomery. Homicide Detectives were able to meet with the caller, who cooperated with Law Enforcement, and subsequently take him into custody without incident.

The suspect is identified as Thomas Henry William, date of birth 5/8/57, of Fort Lauderdale Florida. William was charged with one count of Second Degree Murder and is currently being held at the Broward County Jail.

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POLICE INVOLVED SHOOTING

January 17, 2004

Fort Lauderdale – At 9:19 pm, officers were summoned to 810 Southwest 27th Street in response to a report of a disturbance. The officers were able to make contact with the reportee, who informed the officers that her boyfriend, Timmy Retcher, W/M, DOB 12/18/61, had been drinking and was causing a problem.

As Retcher stood outside of the residence, he told the officers that he had a gun and the officers saw what appeared to be a gun in his hand. They ordered him to drop the weapon several times, but he refused to comply, and told the officers that they would have to kill him.

During the confrontation Retcher pointed the gun at the officers, which prompted them to fire their weapons, striking him at least two times. He was transported to Broward General Medical Center, where he was listed in stable condition. Retcher is being charged with two counts of Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer.

The officers are on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

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ROBBERY WITH INJURIES

January 20, 2004

On January 9, 2004, 55 year-old Joyce Lichtenstein was injured after two men robbed her of her purse as she was walking through the parking garage of the Galleria Mall near Saks Fifth Avenue. Lichtenstein had parked her car and was walking toward Saks Fifth Avenue when two young men walked up beside her. One of the suspects grabbed her purse and when she resisted both of the suspects began punching her. As she fell to the ground she released the purse. Both suspects fled east toward NE 26 Ave. Following the incident, Lichtenstein was taken to Holy Cross Hospital with injuries to her face. She lost $600.00 in cash and credit cards.

One of the culprits was described as a black male, possibly of Latin descent, who appeared to be 20 years old; 5”7’ and 180 lbs. He was wearing a white jersey with white shorts and a white dew rag. The other culprit was described as a black male in his 20’s, 5”8’ and 160 lbs. He was wearing a white sleeveless shirt and black pants.

The culprits were captured on surveillance video and a limited number of copies will be made available in the lobby of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, 1300 W. Broward Blvd. If anyone has any information in this case they are asked to call Det. Rod McGowan at (954) 828-6329.

Joyce Lichtenstein, DOB: 09/08/48, of Fort Lauderdale

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ARMED ROBBERY

January 22, 2004

On November 21, 2003, 41 year-old Mohammed Abdul-Hakim was robbed at gunpoint as he was working the sales counter of Food Plus, a convenience store at 3031 W. Davie Blvd. There were two suspects involved in the robbery and both were captured on the store’s surveillance video.

The robbery occurred around 9:30 p.m. on November 21 when two young men walked into Food Plus where Mr. Abdul-Hakim was working alone. One of the assailants went behind the sales counter and confronted Abdul-Hakim with a handgun. The gunman forced him to empty the cash register as the second assailant stood as a lookout. The robbers soon left the store taking $250.00. Abdul-Hakim was not injured during the ordeal.

The gunman in this case was described as a black male who appeared to be 25 years-old, 6’ tall and weighed approximately 205 lbs. He was wearing a black shirt, jeans and a Nike ball cap. The lookout was a black male who appeared to be 18 years old, 5’7” tall and may have weighed 150 lbs. He was wearing a dark shirt, jeans and a plaid ball cap. Anyone having information on this incident is asked to call Detective Charlie Stack at (954) 828-5515.

***COPIES OF THE SURVIELLENCE VIDEO MAY BE PICKED UP IN THE LOBBY OF THE PD***

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TRAFFIC ACCIDENT FATALITY

January 22, 2004

Shortly before 5 p.m., the Fort Lauderdale Police Department received a call, advising that a vehicle had just gone into the Intracoastal Waterway, from Hugh Taylor Birch State Park. The caller was unable to advise if the vehicle was occupied or not, however that it had now become completely submerged.

Fort Lauderdale Police and Fire Rescue both responded by land and by water. Divers from Fire Rescue and the Police Department located the vehicle in approximately 18’ of water. Within a few minutes, the divers were able to remove the sole victim from within the vehicle. The victim was brought to shore and turned over to a waiting EMS crew. He was then transported to Broward General Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The victim is a white male, approximately 45 years of age; whose identity is unknown at this time.

Presently, there are no witnesses or information that could specify the vehicle’s actions prior to plunging into the water. The Police Department’s Traffic Homicide and Forensic Units are conducting an investigation to determine the circumstances that lead up to the vehicle ultimately entering the water.

The vehicle is described as a late 1980’s Chevrolet conversion van, two-tone brown in color.

It is requested that any persons with information about this incident or if they saw this vehicle earlier in the day in this area, to please call Traffic Homicide Investigator Jill Hirsch @ 954-828-5753, or the Fort Lauderdale Police Department @ 954-828-5700.

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BANK ROBBERY

January 23, 2004

Shortly after 9 a.m. this morning, the Bank of America at 2300 E. Sunrise Blvd. was robbed, the suspect leaving the bank with approximately $5000 in cash.

At 9:12 a.m., a white male, possibly Latin, entered the bank and approached a teller at the main counter. The suspect handed a note to the teller, demanding money, and no dye pack to be put into a plastic shopping bag, and that no one would get hurt. The bank teller complied with the robber’s demands and placed approximately $5000 in the bag. The suspect then calmly left the bank.

The suspect is described as a white male, possibly Latin, approximately 6’-00”, 175-200 pounds, dark hair under a ball cap, unshaven, dark blue jacket, and blue jeans with multiple patches. See attached photos.

The suspect was caught on bank surveillance video. Still photographs will be attached to this Press Release and e-mailed for better quality.

Fort Lauderdale Police Department Robbery and Forensic Detectives are conducting the investigation. Any persons with information regarding this incident or to the identity of the suspect are urged to notify the Fort Lauderdale Police Department by contacting Detective Jack Dicristofalo @ 954-828-6096, or Broward County Crimestoppers.

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TRAFFIC FATALITY UPDATE

January 23, 2004

Shortly before 5 p.m., the Fort Lauderdale Police Department received a call, advising that a vehicle had just gone into the Intracoastal Waterway, from Hugh Taylor Birch State Park. The caller was unable to advise if the vehicle was occupied or not, however that it had now become completely submerged.

Fort Lauderdale Police and Fire Rescue both responded by land and by water. Divers from Fire Rescue and the Police Department located the vehicle in approximately 18’ of water. Within a few minutes, the divers were able to remove the sole victim from within the vehicle. The victim was brought to shore and turned over to a waiting EMS crew. He was then transported to Broward General Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The victim is a white male, approximately 45 years of age; whose identity is unknown at this time.

Presently, there are no witnesses or information that could specify the vehicle’s actions prior to plunging into the water. The Police Department’s Traffic Homicide and Forensic Units are conducting an investigation to determine the circumstances that lead up to the vehicle ultimately entering the water.

The vehicle is described as a late 1980’s Chevrolet conversion van, two-tone brown in color.

It is requested that any persons with information about this incident or if they saw this vehicle earlier in the day in this area, to please call Traffic Homicide Investigator Jill Hirsch @ 954-828-5753, or the Fort Lauderdale Police Department @ 954-828-5700.

*Update* The victim in this incident has been identified as a 45 year old Miramar resident, Timothy Dean Moore; a white male, born on December 10, 1958. The investigation is still on going, however there is no additional information available at this time.

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SUSPICIOUS FIRE

January 23, 2004

Last night, at approximately 8:20 p.m., the Fort Lauderdale Police and Fire Departments responded to 2908 East Sunrise Blvd. to the report of a fire at a business, Hot Scooters. Fire Rescue ultimately extinguished the fire without any injuries incurred.

At that time, it was unknown what may have caused the fire and it appeared to be suspicious in nature. This prompted the Fort Lauderdale Police Department Arson Investigators and Fire Inspectors to initiate a joint investigation as to the cause. The owner of the business is claiming nearly $70,000 in damages to property within the business and to the building itself.

The investigation is currently on going, and Detectives may have a better idea of the cause upon the completion of laboratory results.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call Detective Gee @ 954-828-5897, the Fort Lauderdale Police Department @ 954-828-5700, or Broward County Crimestoppers.

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HOMICIDE

January 31, 2004

At approximately 6:24 p.m., the Fort Lauderdale Police Department received a 911 call, advising that there had been an accident, involving a pedestrian in the 600 block of E. Sunrise Blvd.

Upon arrival, a victim was found on the north side of the roadway. The victim had a laceration to the torso, and had apparently been a victim of a stabbing, and not that from an automobile accident.

Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue responded and transported the victim to Broward General Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased from his injuries.

Witnesses advised Police that the victim was involved in a verbal altercation with an unknown black male, who left the area on a bicycle, shortly before the victim was found. This person’s identity and any possible involvement is unknown.

The victim’s identity is also unknown at this time. He is described as a black male, possibly Jamaican, in his mid 20’s.

Anyone with information regarding this incident or as to the identity of the two mentioned persons is encouraged to call the Fort Lauderdale Police Department Hot Line (954-828-5511), Detective Stone (954-828-5512), Detective Shotwell (954-828-5517) or Broward County Crimestoppers

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