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AUTO THEFT PREVENTION PROGRAM

June 5, 2001

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department will be conducting an auto theft prevention program on Saturday June 9, 2001 at the Coral Ridge Mall, 3000 N. Federal Highway from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Detectives will be located in the northeast corner of the mall parking lot offering tips on how to prevent becoming a victim of auto theft along with offering free V.I.N. (vehicle identification number) etching and free steering wheel locking devices.

Over the past few years’ auto theft in the City of Fort Lauderdale has decreased as much as 34% due mainly to the pro-active and preventative programs that have been made available to vehicle owners that work and live in the City of Fort Lauderdale.

Please make plans to be apart of this very popular and successful program.

For more information please call Detective Edward Robinson at 828-5519.

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PRESS CONFERENCE

June 7, 2001

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department will be holding a press conference at 2:00 p.m. Monday, June 11, 2001 at the front of the station in reference to the disappearance case of 53-year-old Colleen Wood.

Wood was reported missing to the Fort Lauderdale Police on April 16, 2001 by family members but has most likely been missing since mid December of 2000. Family members are concerned with her disappearance since she has always been very close to her family and it is extremely unusual for her to be out of touch with them for so long.

Family and friends of Colleen will be present at the press conference announcing a reward of $10,000.00 leading to information as to the whereabouts of Colleen Wood.

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MISSING PERSON

June 11, 2001

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is actively investigating the disappearance of 53-year-old Colleen Wood. She was reported missing to the Fort Lauderdale Police Department on April 16, 2001, however she has been most likely missing since mid December, 2000.

Approximately 14-16 months prior to her disappearance Wood met a subject by the name of John Paul and eventually moved onto Paul’s boat. Both had planned to take an extended trip on the boat. According to Paul in early December he and Wood became involved in a dispute and Wood left the boat but returned in mid December to gather her belongings, at this time two large white males accompanied Wood. This was the last time that Paul had contact with Wood, and Paul has been co-operating with detectives in the investigation.

No one has seen or heard from Wood since this time.

The only activity on her credit/ATM card has been in December through early February where money was withdrawn from an ATM in the Fort Lauderdale area. Detectives have been working with those financial institutions to gather as much information as possible about those transactions and have evidence that has been, and is continuing to be followed up.

This is the sailboat that she was living on with John Paul (the boyfriend) prior to her disappearance.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Al Stone (954) 828-5512, Detective Mark Shotwell at (954) 828-5517, or Crime Stoppers at (954) 493- T.I.P.S.

**THERE IS CURRENTLY A $10,000.00 REWARD FOR INFORMATION THAT LEADS TO THE WHERABOUTS OF COLLEEN WOOD**

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TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT OPERATION

June 12, 2001

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department will be conducting a Traffic Enforcement Operation from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Friday June 15, 2001 in the 2200-2400 block of South Federal Highway.

Officers will be monitoring vehicle speed, equipment and moving violations along with checking vehicles and drivers for current and valid motor vehicle paperwork.

There are no traffic delays expected in this area as a result of the additional enforcement.

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AWARDS BANQUET

June 13, 2001

The Fort Lauderdale Black Police Officers Association recently held its’ second annual awards banquet on May 27, 2001, at the Marriott North in Fort Lauderdale. The event recognized several members for their outstanding accomplishments and community service. Below is a list of those recipients and their awards.

AWARD RECIPIENTS

• Human Diversity Award: Chief Michael D. Brasfield
• Leadership Award: Detective Sergeant Donnell Bryan
• Administrative Excellence: Hyacinth “Randy” Bailey
• Educational Excellence: Officer Mary Gillis, Officer Nina Justice and Officer Ivory Nelson
• Certificate of Appreciation: Dr. Robert Ingram
• Officer of the Year: Detective Stan Ragin

The Association also presented three $1,000.00 educational scholarships. Those recipients were: Maya Gibbs, April Jones and Randy Washington.

In addition to the annual awards banquet the organization has had a long history of community involvement including; donating $5,000.00 to the African American Research Center and Library, monetary donations to several athletic departments of area schools, bicycle donations to area residents and youth, and the distribution of food baskets to local residents at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Congratulations to all of our award and scholarship winners and to the Association for their continued community involvement, support and accomplishments.

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BURN VICTIM

June 18, 2001

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is investigating an incident where a white female was severely burned.

At approximately 11:40 A.M., Monday, June 18, 2001, the police department was dispatched to the 1600 block of East Sunrise Blvd. Upon arrival officers found a female suffering from severe burns on the front of her body. The victim stated that she was thrown from a car and “He sat me on fire.”

The victim, Sharee Frazer, white female DOB: 10-31-58, was treated by Fort Lauderdale Fire/Rescue personnel on the scene and transported to Broward General Medical Center where she is listed in critical condition. At this time there are no witnesses to the incident and detectives are trying to determine exactly what happened.

Sergeant James Wright will be available for an on camera interview in front of the Police Department at 4:00 P.M.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Detective Mark Shotwell at (954)828-5517 or Detective Al Stone at (954) 828-5512.

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BURN VICTIM UPDATE

June 19, 2001

Sharee Frazer, the burn victim found in the 1600 block of East Sunrise Blvd was pronounced dead at approximate 9:00 P.M., yesterday, June 18, 2001, at Jackson Memorial Hospital Burn Center.

At approximately 11:40 A.M., Monday, June 18, 2001, the police department was dispatched to the 1600 block of East Sunrise Blvd. Upon arrival officers found a female suffering from severe burns on the front of her body.

Frazer was treated by Fort Lauderdale Fire/Rescue personnel on the scene and transported to Broward General Medical Center. She was later transferred to Jackson Memorial Burn Unit where efforts to save her failed.

Detectives still have not located any witnesses to the incident and are still trying to determine exactly what happened.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Detective Mark Shotwell at (954)828-5517 or Detective Al Stone at (954) 828-5512.

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GOVERNOR TO SIGN BRYANT PENEY ACT

June 19, 2001

Bryant Peney

On Wednesday, June 20, 2001, Governor Jeb Bush will sign into law the Bryant Peney Act. The act is named in honor of Fort Lauderdale Police Officer Bryant Peney who was killed in the line of duty on January 6, 1996, while investigating a suspicious person. Officer Peney was a six-year veteran of the Department known for his dedication to the community and love of law enforcement when he was murdered at age 27.

The Bryant Peney Act was drafted by the office of Broward County State Attorney Michael J. Satz. The act was introduced by Senator Skip Campbell in the Senate and Representative Jack Seiler in the House. This act redefines felony murder by adding the felony of “Resisting an Officer with Violence” to the list of those criminal acts for First-Degree Felony Murder.

The purpose of this act is to protect Officers from inherently dangerous situations occurring during the commission of this violent felony. Where there is intent to commit violence and the violence results in murder the offender should be held accountable for the death.

This act will allow prosecution for murder in the first degree (Felony Murder) when a perpetrator unlawfully kills a law enforcement officer or another individual when they are committing, attempting to commit or escaping from the immediate scene of the felony resisting an officer with violence.

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OFFICER ARRESTED

June 21, 2001

Since April of 2001, the Fort Lauderdale Police Department and the Broward County LEACH TASK FORCE (Law Enforcement Against Child Harm) have been assisting the St. Lucie County Florida Sheriff’s Office with an investigation involving the sending of child pornography by Fort Lauderdale Police Detective Byron Matthai to an undercover officer posing as a fourteen (14) year old female on the Internet.

Detective Matthai has been with the Fort Lauderdale Police Department since November 1976, most recently assigned to burglary investigations. He has been suspended pending an internal investigation.

After on-line correspondence and undercover recorded telephone conversations, Detective Matthai was arrested by the St. Lucie County Florida Sheriff’s Office when he traveled to Port St. Lucie Florida to meet with the undercover officer posing as a fourteen (14) year old female.

Detective Matthai was taken into custody without incident and is being held in the St. Lucie County Florida Sheriffs Office jail charged with four (4) counts of promoting a sexual act by a child and one (1) count of computer child exploitation.

Any inquiries in regards to the arrest or investigation should be directed to the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office.

Briefing Room

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Chief's Office