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MISSING PERSON

May 2, 2001

Fort Lauderdale Police are actively investigating the disappearance of a 53 year old white female, COLLEEN WOOD. Her disappearance was reported to Fort Lauderdale Police on April 16, 2001. Her disappearance is considered to be extremely suspicious.

Colleen is originally from Ohio and was last seen in the Fort Lauderdale area.

Colleen was last heard from in the later part of December, 2000. Colleen has always been very close to her family and it is extremely unusual for her to be out of touch. Fort Lauderdale Police are requesting help in locating Colleen. Anyone having contact with her since December, 2000, no matter how seemingly insignificant, could be of assistance.

Should you have any information regarding the whereabouts of Colleen Wood, please contact Fort Lauderdale Police Department Detective Mark Shotwell at (954) 828-5517 MarkSh@fortlauderdale.gov or Al Stone at (954) 828 5512 AlanS@fortlauderdale.gov .

Note: Should media personnel wish to contact Colleen’s family members, please contact Detectives Shotwell or Stone for those numbers.

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ARMED ROBBERY VIDEO

May 3, 2001

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is seeking anyone with information as to the identity of the armed robbery suspect captured on surveillance video. The robbery occurred on April 25th, 2001 at the Texaco Station, 3350 Davie Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale at 7:12 p.m. The suspect, armed with a blue steel semi-automatic pistol, entered the business and ordered the female clerk to the floor. He then stole the money from the register and fled in a large, older model beige vehicle.

 

Anyone having information as to the identity of this suspect please contact Fort Lauderdale Police Detective Steve Palazzo at 954 828-5540 or StephenP@fortlauderdale.gov.

Note: Video tapes for media distribution are available for pickup at the Fort Lauderdale Police station.

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TRAFFIC FATALITY

May 3, 2001

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is investigating the death of a pedestrian killed while jogging on S. R. AlA.

At 6:24 AM, on Thursday, May 03, 2001 an unidentified white male was struck and killed by a brown Ford Aerostar van as he jogged on the side walk in the 800 block of North S. R. A1A. The van was driving erratically in the area for several minutes before striking the pedestrian.

In preparation for the upcoming Air and Sea Show numerous barricades have been erected in the area to control the flow of traffic. According to witnesses the van was first seen southbound on A1A from Sunrise Boulevard striking several barricades. Approximately 5 to 10 minutes later the van returned northbound again striking several barricades and the curb on the eastside of A1A. Approximately 100 feet south of NE 9 Street the van went out of control onto the sidewalk and struck the victim who was jogging southbound on the sidewalk. The victim was thrown approximately 70 feet by the impact and came to rest on the beach. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. The victim carried no identification and is described only as a white male in his 40’s.

The van continued approximately 1 block to Sunrise Boulevard where it was stopped by officers assigned to the Air and Sea Show. Witnesses told the officers about the accident, which the officers did not witness.

The driver of the van, Jacob Luke Cutrell, (white male DOB: 8-28-80) was arrested for DUI Manslaughter and Leaving the Scene of an Accident resulting in a Death. Blood tests were taken from Cutrell to determine if he was under the influence of alcohol or a control substance. Cutrell stated he lives locally but does not know his address. He had no driver’s license with him. A records check revealed Cutrell has a valid Iowa driver’s license.

Anyone who has any information about the case or knows the identity of the victim can call Traffic Homicide Investigator Dan Nahum at (954) 828-5754.

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ARREST MADE IN HOMICIDE

May 4, 2001

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department has made an arrest in the murder of Patrick Graffam. Graffam was fatally shot on Friday, April 27, 2001, at the Coach USA bus depot where he worked as the maintenance manager.

Based on the victim’s and witnesses’ statements and forensic evidence Detectives Mark Breen and John Curcio obtained a warrant charging Joshua Shawn Willingham with Graffam’s murder.

On the morning of May 4, 2001 Willingham was taken into custody without incident in the apartment complex where he lives at 1441 NW 2 Street.

The investigation is continuing and Willingham’s photograph is not being released at this time.

Arrested: Joshua Shawn Willingham, black male, DOB: 8-22-79
1441 NW 2 Street, Apt 2, Fort Lauderdale

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HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION

May 10, 2001

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is investigating an apparent homicide that occurred early this morning at the Tiffany House, 2900 Rio Mar Street.

72 year old Felix Freed had approached the staff at Tiffany House at approximately 6:30 a.m. today and stated to them that he had “killed Bess” and then led them to room 405 where 90 year old Bess Kleinman was found deceased. Officers arrived a short time later and did in fact confirm that Kleinman was deceased and made contact with Freed. Both Kleinman and Freed were residents of Tiffany House.

Homicide and Forensic Detectives responded to the scene and began their investigation. There were no visible signs of trauma to the body, no signs of a struggle, or forced entry into the room. The Broward County Medical Examiner responded to the scene and in fact confirmed that the death appeared to be a homicide

Freed was taken to the Fort Lauderdale Police Department where he was charged with one open count of Murder and immediately transferred to the Broward County Jail.

There is no motive in the Homicide and the Medical Examiners Office will be conducting an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

VICTIM: Bess Kleinman, 06-01-10

ARRESTED: Felix Freed, 09-19-28
CHARGE: one open count of Murder

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TELEPHONE SYSTEM UPGRADES

May 16, 2001

On Monday, May 21, 2001 the Fort Lauderdale Police Department telephone system will undergo routine maintenance and system upgrades. All non-essential lines will be down approximately an hour and a half from 4:00 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. This maintenance will also effect the voice mail system.

****This maintenance will not effect emergency and 911 phone lines ****

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HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION

May 22, 2001

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is investigating a homicide that occurred at approximately 8:30 this morning in front of the Cradle Nursery, 1301 NW 6 Court.

The victim, nineteen year old Labertha Bedford had driven to the nursery with her three children, two girls age 2 and 3 and a 5-year boy. Bedford entered the nursery with all three children and exited a short time later with only the boy, leaving the girls for the day. As she walked to her car with the 5 year old at her side she was approached by a black male who fired several shots striking the victim in the upper body, the victim collapsed and was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later. The five-year-old was not injured. The suspect fled on foot in a southwesterly direction from the scene. Police quickly set up a perimeter and began searching for the suspect.

Witnesses on the scene were giving detectives a possible name of Clifford Jackson as the suspect. Detectives began checking known addresses for the suspect and any known relatives that may live in the area. An address of 1531 NW 3 Street was found and this address was not only in a southwesterly direction but also in the same direction that a K-9 officer and his partner had tracked shortly after the shooting. Detectives were let into the apartment and the suspect was found hiding in a closet a short time later. Jackson was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Fort Lauderdale Police Department for questioning where he was charged a short time later with one count of First Degree Murder. The gun used in the shooting was recovered in the apartment where Jackson had been hiding.

VICTIM: Labertha Bedford, 11-10-81

ARRESTED: Clifford Jackson, 11-29-69

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ROBBERY SURVEILLANCE TAPE

May 24, 2001

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is releasing a surveillance tape of a robbery that occurred at the Radio Shack 2724 East Commercial Blvd. on Wednesday May 23, 2001 at 11:52 a.m.

The video shows the three suspects “shopping” in the store when suddenly one of the suspects grabs the store clerk from behind in a choke hold. The clerk is taken into a back room where the manager is working and both are held there until after the suspects open the cash register and flee.

There were no injuries to the clerk or manager and there was no weapon seen however there was a threat of one.

The suspects are described as three black males, late teens, 5’9’ to 6’, medium build, all wearing beige pants and blue or white shirts. All three fled east from the store and then south possibly into a gray older model Pontiac Grand Prix.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Dave Jenkins at 828-5263 or Crime Stoppers at 493-T.I.P.S.

***There are copies of the tape available in the lobby of the station***

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SPECIAL TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT

May 29, 2001

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department will be conducting special traffic enforcement in the area of Federal Highway between Broward Blvd. and the Henry Kinney Tunnel on Friday June 1, 2001, from 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Officers will be concentrating on unlawful speed, equipment, and other moving and non-moving violations.

There are no traffic delays expected in this area due to the additional enforcement action.

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