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1 dead after police say man pointed flare gun at officers

A Hialeah man who police say fired a flare gun at officers was shot and killed by police Saturday afternoon. At around 3 p.m. in the 1300 block of West 49th Place, a woman called police because she said her husband was acting erratically. When officers arrived, they said the man was in the hallway, on the third floor with a flare gun. At some point the flare gun was fired and three officers opened fire. It is unclear who shot first. "They murdered my brother, they shot him eight times in the chest," said Elsa Nunez. She said her brother, Luis Enrique Nunez, 48, has a long history of drug and alcohol abuse and was under the influence Saturday. She said he called family members before police arrived. Nunez came to the apartment to try to reason with her brother. She said police would not let her talk to him. Then she heard a barrage of bullets being fired in the hallway. Nunez said police should not have killed her brother because he only had a flare gun. Hialeah police say flare guns can be extremely dangerous. "A flare gun will kill you," said Hialeah Police Chief Mark Overton. During the incident one Hialeah officer hurt his hand; it was either from a bullet ricochet or from the flare gun. He is expected to fully recover.

Published: Sat, 18 Feb 2012 23:52:43 GMT

Cyclists ride in memory of Aaron Cohen

Cyclists ride Saturday morning in memory of fellow biker, Aaron Cohen and trying to make sure a tragedy like this never happens again.

Published: Sat, 18 Feb 2012 21:38:52 GMT

Will Manso heads to Rio's Carnaval

Saturday 5:45 p.m. The day was long in Rio De Janeiro, but the night is young. The streets of Ipanema are overflowing with people. Locals tell us police were even a bit startled by crowds exceeding two million people partying all over the city. Speaking of parties, it's 8:45 p.m. local time and it's time to head to a private party at a sprawling estate in a beautiful home in Santa Theresa. That's a quaint town about an hour outside of the center of Rio. I think I'll call it a night and go enjoy it with our crew. We have big day tomorrow with the official start of the Carnaval parades. Meantime, I hope you enjoy the story we just filed that will air on Local 10 news at 6:30 and 11 p.m. Good night. We'll talk tomorrow from Rio. Saturday 12:30 p.m. Our crew is back at the hotel to work on our story for Local 10 news at 6:30, and what a story we were able to get. With the start of Carnaval just over 24 hours away, we got a rare behind-the-scenes look at the final preps going on for the first parade.PHOTOS: Behind-the-scenes parade preparations I even got to get on the floats where all the samba will be happening Sunday night. I would call it a controlled chaos! Workers were still gluing, sawing, nailing and doing everything possible to get the floats ready. Meantime, upstairs in the costume area, we saw hundreds of costumes being finalized by dozens of workers. It was amazing to see the detail of each piece in the parade. No detail is missed in the production. The floats look larger than life with bright colors and movement. To think, we're not even seeing the final product of how they'll be once Carnaval starts. Miami artist Romero Britto will be honored with his own parade, and his bright colors were evident everywhere. Many parts of the city showcase his work, and we stopped at two spots with him this morning to see some beautiful art he has created for his native country. Now, after we edit our package, it's time to head to the beach. Yes, let the Rio madness continue! Feb. 18, 2012: 5:21 a.m. Good morning from a sunny and beautiful Ipanema. I look outside and the view of the water is stunning! Believe it or not, while my body says it's only 5 a.m. (it is in South Florida), it's 8 a.m. here in Rio De Janeiro, so that means it's time to get back to work. We're set to meet Romero Britto at his hotel close by here in Ipanema. We have numerous stops this morning where his art work is being displayed. We plan on seeing that and also have some time saved to check out the beaches. Don't worry, I'll snap plenty of good pictures and video. Meantime, our crew had an "eventful" evening last night around this neighborhood. The plus was we saw some great Carnaval parties and people. We also had an amazing dinner at a local steak and fish restaurant. The bad news was the pick pocket who snatched the iPhone out of the hands of one of our crew members. Call it a lesson learned. Fun can be had here, but the opportunists are everywhere. Okay, I'll be blogging more later. It's now our opportunity to see some amazing things today. Friday 9 p.m. We are already crime victims in the crazy street crowds of Rio. Pushing and shoving crowds got us boxed into a corner. Lots of opportunists pounced when they saw the television equipment. They tried to get our cameraman's wallet and telephone. He made it through the other end of the crowd with his belongings. Another member of our crew, not so lucky. His iPhone was snatched right from his hand, never to be seen again. Not a good way to start our weekend, but crime is real in Rio, like so many other big cities. At least it wasn't the much more expensive TV camera we lost. We won't let it ruin our adventure. Friday 7 p.m. Not sure what to compare it to. Enormous crowds have overwhelmed Rio de Janeiro. The streets are packed. Traffic is not budging as tourists and locals who have had way too much to drink start their Carnaval celebrations. We are heading out into the crowds. Don't have to go too far to find great pictures and stories. More to come! Friday 5 p.m. Welcome to Rio. We have arrived. What a memorable journey so far, and it promises to get even better. Carnaval here we come. We will navigate through the gridlocked streets of Rio de Janeiro to our hotel in Ipanema, then hit the streets looking for tonight's story. I have a feeling plenty of stories will find us! If all goes according to plan, we will see you on Local 10 News at 11 p.m. Friday 2:05 p.m. Five hours into our flight and it's nap time. Need to conserve energy for tonight in Rio. Romero is taking a short snooze too. I have a feeling we won't get much sleep this weekend, so good idea to catch some Z's when we can. Heard some incredible stories from Romero on the flight so far. He's currently painting a picture of Queen Elizabeth and will be presenting it to her soon. Amazing stories, amazing trip. And have you ever wondered what the bathroom looks like in a $50 million jet. Well here's a picture. How will I ever go back to commercial flights again? Friday 12:55 p.m. It's about 12:30 p.m. local time back home in Miami and we're about 45,000 feet in the skies over Brazil. We're still a good four hours away from Rio De Janeiro. Our first stop tonight will be the street parties that accompany the start of Carnaval. I'll be filing a report as soon as I get in and send it back for Local 10 news at 11 o'clock. PHOTOS: Slideshow: Romero Britto PHOTOS: Destination Rio PHOTOS: Rio de Janeiro, Carnaval (Updated throughout the weekend) I'm told to expect literally thousands of people on the streets everywhere. Tomorrow morning we have a tour of some of the local spots in Rio and then a visit to a samba school. We also plan on hitting the beaches to see the real beauty of Brazil; the people! Romero Britto has a busy day and night planned, including a special party in his honor in the evening. He'll also tour a number of spots where his art work is being displayed. Meantime, I don't think I'll ever want to fly commercial again! Flying in a private G-550 plane sure is nice. Okay, I can stop dreaming. I'll be hitting the connecting commercial flights come the NBA playoffs, but no complaining from me. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience I'm making sure to enjoy. More to come from Rio... Feb. 17, 2012: 8:35 a.m. It's time to head to Rio De Janeiro. Needless to say, I'm beyond excited for this trip to Carnaval. It's cliche to say something is on your bucket list, but this truly has been on mine since a young age. Our Local 10 crew is set up on a private jet with Miami artist Romero Britto and ready for the 8-hour ride. Britto is sitting next to me right now, and I doubt he's ever been more anxious. While he's painted for presidents, actors, singers and even royalty, being honored in his native Brazil is a dream come true for him. So, here we are, both preparing for an experience of a lifetime. Like I mentioned in an earlier video post, I wish we could bring all of you along, but I'll make sure to send some great pictures and video to give you a taste of the experience. OK, it's time for liftoff. Next stop; Rio! We'll talk next from Carnaval. Feb. 14, 2012 South Florida's most famous artist is about to be honored in a very big way. Romero Britto, now known around the world for his art, will share it with an even bigger audience as his art comes to life at Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro. His art decorates our landscape. You can't escape the color.PHOTOS: Slideshow Romero Britto has left his mark on South Florida and the world -- paintings, sculptures, cars, even a line of collectables now sold at Bed, Bath & Beyond. Britto is wildly successful. His art is now sold in galleries in more than 100 countries. He has painted presidents, celebrities, even royalty. But with all of his successes so far in his life, his greatest achievement is about to be realized. This weekend, Britto will be celebrated in Brazil, at the country's biggest celebration: Carnaval. "I got an invitation from the school of samba. They said they wanted to make homage of my work," Britto said. "I was thrilled, and I couldn't believe it. Carnaval in Brazil is the biggest cultural event in the country." It will truly be full circle for Britto. He was born in poverty in Brazil, one of nine children raised by a single mother. The once-struggling artist who gained fame in Miami, now returns to Brazil as a pop art icon and will watch as 4,000 performers bring his art to life. It will be a spectacular production -- big, bold and bright. "There will be thousands of people dressed up. There will be huge floats," Britto said. "It's hard to describe in words. I'm very appreciative. I'm very thankful." Britto has worked for more than a year getting ready for this weekend's event. No detail has been overlooked. And Sunday night is show time! "To do this in Brazil is, like, wow -- incredible," Britto said. Here are some more incredible numbers to consider: In Brazil alone, 100 million people will watch the Carnaval parade on television. In addition, the parade will be broadcast in 137 countries. Britto will be there in person at Carnaval to take in the experience. Local 10's Will Manso will be in Rio to document the event. "This is truly one of my bucket list items," Manso says. You can keep up with his travels on Local10.com, where we will publish all the photos and videos he will be sharing from Carnaval.

Published: Sat, 18 Feb 2012 22:49:10 GMT

Art, boats bring thousands to So. Fla.

Don't say there is nothing to do this weekend in South Florida. Four big events are drawing hundreds of thousands of people to the area, filling hotel rooms and pumping millions into the local economy. "I thought it would be easy to get a hotel room in Miami and I didn't book ahead. Lesson learned for next year. I forgot the boat show was going on too," said artist Jennifer Ivory. Ivory drove here from Oregon to showcase her work at the Coconut Grove Arts Festival. The event is expected to bring more than 100,000 people to the Grove. Art lovers can also enjoy the Art Wynwood show in Midtown Miami. Art lovers aren't the only ones with plenty to see this President's Day weekend. Boat lovers will be in their glory. There is the Yacht and Brokerage show along Indian Creek in Miami Beach, featuring hundreds of breath taking yachts. The Miami International Boat Show has also sailed into town and organizers expect more than 100,000 visitors will be checking out all of the latest boats and accessories. Exhibitor George Sawley says the show has a huge international appeal. "You get lots of people from Central and South America, Europe, coming here to see the latest and greatest," said Sawley.

Published: Sat, 18 Feb 2012 21:43:45 GMT

BSO: Theft suspect calls Rolex 'gift from God'

Broward Sheriff's Office deputies said they arrested the man caught on surveillance video stealing an expensive watch from a plastic bin at Transportation Security Administration checkpoint at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Igor Ramos, 37, was arrested at his home in Sunny Isles on Friday morning, and detectives said he was wearing the watch when he opened the door. "When we asked him about the watch, he said it was a gift from God," said Lt. Brian Montgomery. Deputies said Ramos had no idea he made big news earlier this week when BSO released surveillance video that they said shows him swiping the pricey Rolex. "Even the security guard at his building in Sunny Isles came up to him and said, 'Hey, you're all over TV,' and he thought everybody was joking with him," said Montgomery. It happened Jan. 18. The $6,500 timepiece belonged to the woman in line ahead of him. She removed her belongings from the bin after walking through the body scan machine, but she accidentally left the watch in the bin. Surveillance video showed the man in line behind her taking the watch after she walked away, BSO said. By the time the victim realized the watch was gone, detectives said Ramos was well on his way to New York. Investigators requested the passenger list from the airline and were then flooded with tips after they released the video Wednesday. Detectives said Ramos frequently travels between Florida and New York, buying and selling cars, and was actually heading back to the airport Friday when deputies caught him at home. "As our guys were standing outside his condo, he opened the door, and surprisingly, he was wearing the victim's watch," Montgomery said. The woman who owns the watch lives in Honduras. She wrote a letter to Local 10 that reads: "I am writing from my home in Central America and am thankful to you for your coverage of the news which lead to the arrest of the man who stole my watch. Let this experience serve to encourage people to always do the right thing."

Published: Sat, 18 Feb 2012 11:20:09 GMT

Coast Guard seizes 1,100 pounds of marijuana

A Coast Guard crew off the coast of Cuba seized about 1,100 pounds of marijuana and took six smuggling suspects into custody earlier this month. On Feb. 9, the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Confidence spotted a cigarette boat. Passengers on the boat were seen tossing bales of marijuana into the water, the Coast Guard said. A second crew recovered the dumped drugs. Six suspected smugglers were detained.

Published: Sat, 18 Feb 2012 02:04:52 GMT

Roads closed for Coconut Grove arts festival

Several roads in Coconut Grove will be closed all weekend as thousands head to the annual arts festival. The roads will be closed until 11 p.m. Monday. McFarlane Road from Main Highway to Mary Street, and Mary Street from Grand Avenue to South Bayshore Drive is closed. Bayshore Drive is also be closed from Mary Street to SW 27th Avenue, and SW 27th Avenue between Tigertail and South Bayshore Drive. Also closed: South Bayshore Drive from Chart House Road to Mary Street, and Pan American Drive from South Bayshore to Chart House Road. To help traffic flow, the Miami Police Department has planned detours on South Bayshore Drive at Aviation Avenue and on Tigertail between Aviation Avenue and SW 27th Avenue.

Published: Sat, 18 Feb 2012 13:43:34 GMT

Man arrested on 144 child porn counts

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement on Friday announced the arrest of a Davie man on 144 counts of possession of child pornography. Orville Bullitt, 44, of Davie, was arrested earlier this week at his mother's home in Osceola County. Bullitt because a suspect during an undercover investigation by the FDLE's Cyber High-Tech Crime Squad. During the investigation, agents were able to trace images that had been shared online back to Bullitt's home computer, investigators said. "He was one of those individuals that we, during our normal undercover investigations, isolated his particular computer in South Florida," said FDLE Case Agent Will Hernandez. The FDLE said Bullitt spent most of his days at the computer, selling, trading and sharing images of children. "The images we found show child victims in various sexual depictions," said Special Agent in Charge Addy Villanueva, of the FDLE. "What I would be comfortable telling you is, they were at least children under the age of 10," Hernandez said. "There's males. There's females. There are so many images that we have to go through," Villanueva said. Investigators said dozens of images were found on computers at Bullitt's homes in Davie and Pembroke Pines. Bullitt also documented his Disney World visits on Facebook. According to one investigator, Bullitt had drawers full of pictures of Disney characters. "The crimes allegedly committed by Bullitt are unspeakable and unforgivable," Villanueva said. Bullitt was booked into the Osceola County Jail. He is being held on $1.4 million bond. Agents suspect there are other victims who had contact with Bullitt. FDLE's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces in Florida were created solely to investigate Internet crimes against kids that include the online sexual exploitation of children and child pornography. To review tips for keeping your children safe online, click here.

Published: Fri, 17 Feb 2012 22:44:32 GMT

Turchin's Take: No excuse for child porn

I’ve held my tongue long enough. There is no excuse for child pornographers. I don’t want to hear they had a bad childhood, or they grew up in a bad neighborhood, or they couldn't help themselves. All that may be true, but if it were your kid that was exploited or violated, I bet you wouldn’t be so understanding. My tirade comes as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested a man on 144 counts of child pornography -- a man agents say left a trail of young victims throughout south Florida. Orville Bullitt. He’s 44 years old. You might recognize his name. If you do, call the cops and tell them why. If not, he is yet another example, another alleged example (don’t want to forget that), of sickos that prey on kids -- our kids -- your kids. I have come to realize the treatment of children as sex objects has existed for decades -- as has the production of erotic materials involving children. What's more, it’s something that is probably not going to go away anytime soon. The advent of the Internet in the 1980s dramatically changed the scale and nature of the child pornography problem, and has required new approaches to investigation and control. Thankfully, many police departments have made it a priority. Sadly, it may not be enough. Law enforcement agencies need more funding, more investigators and examiners. Sex offenders -- in any form -- are a growing and dangerous threat to our children. There are more than a half-million sex offenders listed on various state registries, but because of poor federal and state laws, at least 150,000 of them are missing. On the positive side, the Adam Walsh Act is the most comprehensive piece of child protection legislation Congress has ever considered. That bill created, among other things, new state and federal regulations, community notification requirements, as well as new federal criminal penalties for sex offenders. It also gave law enforcement new resources. These people, those who "get off" looking at children, or are involved in trading, selling or taking pictures of kids naked or in sexually explicit positions, like agents suspect Bullitt was, deserve to be thrown in a jail full of the most violent criminals. People who are sexually attracted to children are bottom-feeders, the scum of the earth. I've long heard every other criminal can’t stand them. So, it is my hope that they will always get what they deserve. I say drop them all off on some deserted island with a crap load of alligators. You can throw in the rapists and child abusers, too. This world has no room for any of them... my opinion, of course. Forget about cruel and unusual punishment considerations, too. Just let them suffer -- and direct our tax dollars towards taking care of the victims. After all, it’s our responsibility as parents, as a community, to protect those who can't always protect themselves... our children.

Published: Fri, 17 Feb 2012 20:51:56 GMT

Is Mexican Coca-Cola better than regular Coke?

An American classic may be getting upstaged by its Mexican counterpart. More places are starting to offer Mexican Coca-Cola. It is made with pure cane sugar, while here in the U.S., it is produced with corn syrup. Sweetness Bake Shop in Miami has been selling Mexican Coke for about 10 months now, and exmployees say customers can't get enough of it. "I mean, it's a more natural flavor," said manager, Jonathan Braswell. "People love it because it gives them a more natural taste." Local 10 wondered if people could really tell the difference, so it set up a very unscientific experiment at the station. One cup was filled with regular Coke, and another cup was filled with Mexican Coke, and employees were asked which one they liked better and why. In the end, the American version won, but by only 1 vote. Mexican Coke is a little more expensive, which is why the company switched the corn syrup in the 1980s; sugar prices got too high. Click here to check out some bloopers from Local 10's taste test!

Published: Fri, 17 Feb 2012 19:11:38 GMT

Mullet mania, part II: The mullets strike back

They're baaaaack... and crazier than ever! Mullet Mania makes a return with a whole new batch of some of the worst (or best) haircuts on the planet.

Published: Fri, 21 Jan 2011 22:42:23 GMT

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