Law and public safety

The Florida Highway Patrol is continuing its investigation into the cause of a single-vehicle crash that killed three men and critically injured two early Saturday morning.  The accident report says all five men were riding in a 2008 Honda Civic going eastbound on County Road 464 also known as Maricamp …

An Alachua County inmate on work release has escaped custody after not showing up to work on Wednesday night. Florida’s 89.1WUFT-FM’s Fernanda Ponce says the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office is asking the community for help. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/news/files/2012/02/ESCAPEDINMATEWRAP.mp3]

State Attorney Bill Cervone in Gainesville will seek the death penalty for a man accused of killing a 78-year old  northwest Gainesville man. Authorities allege Paul Quandit was beaten, stabbed, and tied up by cousins Maranda Martin and Austin Jones. State Attorney Bill Cervone says Jones’ involvement is part of the …

The Alachua County Sheriff’s office has received criticism for not displaying mugshots of those caught through the sex sting operation. It was a decision made by one captain and Florida’s 89.1, WUFT-FM’s Katiana Krawchenko talks with PIO Art Forgey on these ramifications. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/KKSheriffMessUpWRAP.mp3]

North Florida Law enforcement has captured nearly two dozen sex offenders in a special operation. As Florida’s 89.1, WUFT-FM’s Katiana Krawchenko reports, the combined effort from various operations made it a success. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/KKSexStingWrap.mp3]

State Representative Keith Perry held a press conference this afternoon to discuss plans for making the roadways safer in lieu of the horrific multi-car accident last week on Interstate-75. As Florida’s 89.1, WUFT-FM’s Maria Tridas reports, Perry wants to see new technology utilized on signs on both ends of Payne’s Prairie. …

By Florida Associated Press A 26-year-old man has pleaded guilty in the abduction and killing a 7-year-old Florida girl who was found in a landfill in 2009.  Jarred Harrell pleaded guilty Friday in the death of Somer Thompson and was sentenced to life in prison.  Somer disappeared in October 2009 …

Expenses from Sunday’s crash on I-75 are increasing for those involved. WUFT-FM’s Brittany Bassler says one organization is giving aid to those affected. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/news/files/2012/02/CrashVictimFundWrap.mp3]

The Florida Highway Patrol has released the names of the last three victims from this past Sunday’s deadly Interstate 75 pile-up.  Investigators says it was a family of three from Pensacola. According to a family member with knowledge of the situation, Michael Hughes, along with his wife Lori and his daughter, …

Lidiane Carmo, 15, from Marietta, Georgia remains in Shands Hospital because of the serious injuries she sustained in the I-75 accidents this past weekend. Her entire family died in the crash including her mother, father, sister and uncle. The family members moved to the U.S. from Brazil and are undocumented. Some reports have …