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7/5 -
Boat Theft Ring Broken 7/9 - Abduction 7/12 - Arrest - Sexual Battery on a Child 7/13 - Arrest - Home Invasion Robbery 7/20 - Marine Advisory 7/26 - Armed Robbery Arrests 7/30 - Traffic Checkpoint |
BOAT THEFT RING BROKEN
July 5, 2000
After a rash of boat thefts in southern Fort Lauderdale, the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, Broward Sheriff's Office and the Miami-Dade Multi-agency Auto Theft Task Force conducted surveillances of boat ramps and marinas in the area. At approximately 12:50 AM, Tuesday, July 4, 2000, the surveillance paid off. While officers watched from concealed locations seven Cuban born males attempted to steal a 1997, 25 foot Sportcraft boat tied up to a dock at 1700 SE 15 Street in Fort Lauderdale.
The culprits arrived in two pick-up trucks, one towing a trailer. They loitered in the area of the 15th Street boat ramp for more than an hour waiting for the area to clear out, as the area was unusually busy due to the Fourth of July holiday. Believing they were undetected the gang of thieves went to work. Two subjects went into the water and untied the 25' Sportcraft boat while another backed the trailer into the water. The others acted as lookouts. As the thieves were loading the boat onto the trailer the task force of officers moved in, assisted by uniformed officers and canine units. Four subjects were taken into custody without incident. One of the culprits tried to escape in one of the trucks but was blocked by officers. Another culprit fled on foot into the surrounding area. After an exhaustive search, he was apprehended. He received a bite from a police canine dog after he was tracked to a shed several blocks from the crime scene.
Based on information gained from the arrests, officers obtained a search warrant for a farm in unincorporated Miami-Dade County south of Homestead. Upon serving the warrant, officers found two stolen cars, 2 altered trailers, a stolen backhoe, a stolen outboard boat motor and three altered outboard boat motors.
All subjects were booked into the Broward County jail for Grand Theft Vessel. Two were charged with resisting arrest and one was charged with several outstanding warrants.
Arrested: Charge: DOB: Address: Lazaro Rodriguez Grand Theft VesselResisting ArrestWarrants (three) 7/15/77 19998 SW 380 Street, Homestead, FL Julio Fregel Grand Theft Vessel 4/20/68 6680 W 2nd Ct., Hialeah, FL Angel Figueroa Grand Theft Vessel Resisting Arrest 4/12/76 19998 SW 380 Street, Homestead, FL Alberto Dominguez-Ruiz Grand Theft Vessel 8/22/78 1430 SW 34 Terr., Ft. Lauderdale, FL Osmani Castaneda Grand Theft Vessel 4/15/81 1430 SW 34 Terr., Ft. Lauderdale, FL Yoamis Mirval-Garcia Grand Theft Vessel 4/15/81 19998 SW 380 Street, Homestead, FL The Fort Lauderdale Police Department and Broward Sheriff's Office will hold a joint press conference in front of the Police Department at 1300 West Broward Blvd, at 3:00 PM, 7/5/00.
Broward Sheriff's Office public information office will make pictures of the arrestees available as soon as possible.
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ABDUCTION
July 9, 2000
The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is investigating an abduction and car jacking which started at approximately 9:30 AM, Sunday, July 09, 2000.
The victim, Leonard Frank Crocco, was staying at the Howard Johnson's, 700 N. Atlantic Blvd. As Crocco went to his car in the parking garage at the Howard Johnson's he was assaulted by three white males who beat him with fists and a handgun. Crocco was then forced into the trunk of his car and abducted.
At approximately 10:45 AM Crocco managed to open the trunk of the car from the inside and escape as the vehicle was northbound on SR 7 in the area of Prospect Road, in North Lauderdale. Witnesses who saw Crocco crawl out of the trunk came to his aid. Other witness observed the victim's vehicle pull into the parking lot of Our Lady Queen of Heaven Church at SR 7 and Boulevard of Champions and watched a white male flee from the vehicle.
Upon arrival of police a perimeter was set up and officers from Fort Lauderdale, North Lauderdale, Broward Sheriff's Office and the Florida Highway Patrol, conducted an exhaustive search of the area.
At approximately 12:15 PM a white male matching the description of one of the suspects was located at NW 31 Ave and NW 62 Street. He was in possession of a small amount of marijuana and was taken into custody on drug charges. Charges in connection to the abduction and robbery are pending further investigation.
Crocco told police he was a car salesman from Pennsylvania and that he had a briefcase containing approximately $40,000 in the trunk of the car.
Anyone with information about this crime is requested to call Detective Rod McGowen at (954) 759-6069.
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ARREST IN SEXUAL BATTERY ON A CHILD
July 12, 2000
The Fort Lauderdale Police Department has arrested a registered sexual offender for sexual battery on a child and kidnapping.
DARRELL MIKLER
DOB: August 16, 1960On Tuesday, July 11, 2000, Darrell Mikler forced an eleven-year-old victim into an apartment in the 800 block of NW 13 Terrace where he held her against her will and forcibly committed several acts of sexual battery.
The victim told detectives that she had sold the perpetrator mangos and that he had told her to come back for the money. When she returned to collect the money Mikler pushed her inside the back door of the apartment and committed several acts of sexual battery. The victim begged to be released to no avail. She was in fear for her life. The victim was finally allowed to dress and leave. The victim went straight home and told family members, who called police.
The victim identified Mikler from a photo line-up. Mikler does not reside at the location of the crime. The victim described her attacker as a black male in his forties wearing blue work pants with white paint splotches and a white T-shirt. A lookout was broadcast for Mikler. At approximately 1:30 AM on Wednesday, July 12, 2000, detectives received information that Mikler was in the area of West Sunrise Blvd. A uniformed officer located Mikler and took him into custody without incident in the area of West Sunrise Blvd and NW 10 Terrace. Mikler was wearing blue work pants with white paint splotches and a white T-shirt.
Mikler was booked into jail on four counts of Sexual Battery on a Child under 12 and one count of Aggravated Kidnapping of a Child under 13.
Department of Corrections records indicate Mikler was released from prison on June 16, 2000, after serving part of a 20-year sentence for Attempted Sexual Battery on a Child under 12.
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HOME INVASION ROBBERY ARREST
July 13, 2000
The FBI Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force has arrested Robert Cassels on a federal warrant for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution and Attempted First-Degree Murder.
On May 29, 2000, Cassels forced his way into the home of Minnie Balthaser, at 1700 SW 13 Court, Fort Lauderdale. Cassels beat Balthaser severely and left her for dead. Fort Lauderdale Police Detective John Curcio identified Cassels through witnesses. Cassels also attempted to use Balthaser's stolen ATM card at a Hollywood bank just hours after the crime. Detective Curcio obtained a warrant for Cassels arrest for Attempted First Degree Murder.
Fort Lauderdale Police Fugitive Unit detective Chuck Morrow learned that Cassels had fled the state and may be in North Carolina. Detective Morrow solicited the assistance of the FBI Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force. The FBI obtained a federal warrant for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution and set up surveillance on four or five location in North Carolina where they believed Cassels may be taking refuge.
On Wednesday, July 12, 2000, the FBI located Cassels at his brother's home at 3350 Cole Springs Road, Concord, NC. Cassels was taken into custody on the warrants and is awaiting extradition back to Fort Lauderdale to face charges for Attempted First-Degree Murder for the attack on Balthaser.
Detective Morrow credits the FBI with putting their full resources behind the efforts to obtain the federal warrant and spending countless man-hours surveilling several different location in order to apprehend this violent fugitive.
Arrested: Robert Cassels, W/M, 08-14-68
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MARINE ADVISORY
July 20, 2000
The Fort Lauderdale Police Department Police Department's Marine Unit has initiated a sixty-day education and enforcement program along the Middle River, both north and south of the Sunrise Blvd. Bridge.
Officers will be out day, as well as evening hours, seven days a week looking for violations along this stretch of the Middle River. This program went into effect July 15th and will be evaluated weekly until the 14th of September.
It is the hope that through this education and enforcement that we can have a safe and enjoyable summer for not only the participants of the many water sports that take place in this area but also for the many visitors and residents along this popular waterway.
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ARMED ROBBERY ARRESTS
July 26, 2000
The Fort Lauderdale Police Department has arrested two suspects in and armed robbery that occurred Monday, July 24th, at Sara’s Market, 3911 SW 16 Street at approximately 9:30 p.m.
Fort Lauderdale Police Department Tactical Officers Todd Hill, Pat Hart, Eric Sweet, and Sgt. Kevin Finn observed two suspects enter the store wearing ski masks, one of the suspects was armed with a handgun. A short time later the subjects exited the store running and the officers gave chase. A perimeter was quickly set up and Fort Lauderdale Police K-9 officers took the suspects into custody.
Arrested were Jebron O. Maxwell, b/m, 06-24-80 and Anthony J. Abrams, b/m, 05-31-80.
Both subjects were questioned about several other robberies that have occurred over the past several months in the City of Fort Lauderdale and are co-operating with detectives. Other jurisdictions in Broward County that are working similar robberies have been contacted and will also be interviewing the suspects as well.
ARRESTED: Jebron O. Maxwell, 06-24-80
CHARGES:- Armed Robbery
- Possession of cannabis
- Resisting without violence
ARRESTED: Anthony J. Abrams, 05-31-80
CHARGES:- Armed Robbery
- Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer
- Resisting with violence
- Fleeing/Eluding Police
** Booking photos are not yet available pending line-ups**
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TRAFFIC CHECKPOINT
July 30, 2000
The Fort Lauderdale Police Department will be conducting a traffic checkpoint from 8:00 p.m. to Midnight on both Friday August 4th, and Saturday, August 5th, 2000. The checkpoint will located at Riviera Isle (2400 block) and East Las Olas Blvd.
Officers will be checking for driver licenses, proper vehicle registration, insurance, and equipment violations.
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