Miami, FL

Now it’s the defense’s turn in the lengthy civil trial of Miami City Commissioner Joe Carollo

Published

1 year ago

May 15, 2023

Now it’s the defense’s turn in the lengthy civil trial of Miami City Commissioner Joe Carollo

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The defense team began calling witnesses on Monday in the case against Joe Carollo, the Miami City Commissioner, accused of using his power to target two business owners who supported his political opponents.

The first defense witness called was Asael “Ace” Marreo, the director of Miami’s building department. Marreo told jurors about an extensive list of violations found at properties owned by Bill Fuller and Martin Pinilla.

Marrero said that Fuller had been working to bring his Ball & Chain nightclub up to code for years and that many properties of Fuller’s have had significant work done without proper permits. He cited a pineapple stage, outside bar, interior bar, restrooms, deck, and storage where work was done without permits.

The Miami businessmen filed a lawsuit against the commissioner after they say he violated their first amendment rights, allegedly using code compliance and other city departments to harass them and their companies simply because they supported his political opponent in 2017.

The plantiffs’ attorneys brought into evidence a text Marreo sent, which read: “Just had a lengthy meeting with the manager and almost the entire city attorney office plus Adele talking about Bill Fuller. The manager wants us to revise and update our policies to be more stringent when it comes to work without a permit, clearly define unsafe conditions, and shut down all structures that don’t comply.”

Under cross-examination, Marreo said he received complaints about Fuller’s properties from both Miami City Manager Art Noriega’s office and Carollo’s staff.

Defense attorneys are trying to convince jurors this wasn’t targeted, and are instead attempting to focus on the number of violations the plaintiffs’ properties have had over the years.

But attorneys for Fuller and Pinilla maintain that increased scrutiny began after Carollo took office, and that there were even full city laws created to target them specifically.

The lawsuit asks for more than $2 and a half million from Carollo plus punitive damages. This is the beginning of the sixth week of the trial and it will likely take at least the rest of this week and continue into next week.

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Miami, FL

Police: Video shows driver of a stolen car in Miami-Dade jumping from expressway ramp

Published

60 mins ago

May 18, 2024

Press Room

Police: Video shows driver of a stolen car in Miami-Dade jumping from expressway ramp

DORAL, Fla. – Florida Highway Patrol troopers released dash cam video of a recent police chase related to pending cases in Miami-Dade County court.

The 19-minute-long video shows Melina Logan’s reckless maneuvers in Miami-Dade while trying to get away from police officers in a stolen car.

Logan, 27, of North Carolina, was in a 2024 Honda Civic that the South Miami Honda dealership on South Dixie Highway had allowed her to test drive.

Logan was involved in hit-and-run crashes.

The high-speed chase affected drivers on the Palmetto Expressway.

Logan stopped near 25th Street. She jumped out of the damaged Honda Civic, ran, and dived into a pond in Doral. She was topless when police officers rescued her and arrested her on May 9.

County inmate records show Logan was at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on Saturday in Doral facing charges in two pending cases and five warrant cases.

In one of the pending cases, she is facing two counts of battery on a police officer and third-degree grand theft of a vehicle. In the other, she is facing charges of aggravated fleeing to elude a law enforcement officer, leaving the scene of a crash, and resisting arrest.

The five warrant cases are for charges of leaving the scene of an accident with property damage.

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Miami, FL

Toxicology report to help solve mystery in Miami and Miami-Dade

Published

8 hours ago

May 18, 2024

Press Room

Toxicology report to help solve mystery in Miami and Miami-Dade

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Two police departments and the medical examiner’s office were working together to figure out how a man died.

While a toxicology report was pending on Saturday, Local 10 News sources believe a body found in a wooded preserve area in western Miami-Dade was connected to a missing person’s case further east in Miami.

Miami-Dade and Miami police officers worked together on Wednesday north of Eighth Street and west of Southwest 137 Avenue when a Dade police dog found the body shortly after 1 p.m., in an early stage of decomposition.

According to detectives familiar with the search near the Tamiami Bike Trail area, the white man was 30 to 40 years old, he was only wearing sweatpants, he was “lying supine on the ground” — and his body did not show any signs of trauma.

Detectives involved in the city and county cases were waiting. On Thursday, the medical examiner, Dr. Nicholas Barna, decided he needed toxicology to determine the man’s cause of death.

Detectives asked anyone with information about this or other cases to call Miami-Dade County Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.

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Miami, FL

Is Tua Tagovailoa Playing Hardball – The Splash Zone 5/18/24

Published

15 hours ago

May 18, 2024

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Is Tua Tagovailoa Playing Hardball – The Splash Zone 5/18/24

The Miami Dolphins and Tua Tagovailoa have been a big talking point this offseason as the team tries to get their quarterback an extension. Tua is currently playing on the fifth-year option but would love to be rewarded with a new contract. Last month, Tua stated he would show up to OTA’s and let his agent deal with contract details. The Dolphins began their offseason program last month and while Tua showed up, he has decided to sit out most of it. It is voluntary though but perhaps the quarterback is protesting his contract status. We’ll have a better understanding of how Tua feels when he decides whether or not to show up for Dolphins OTA’s next week.

You can check out that story here, and the rest of the day’s round-up below.

Is Tua Tagovailoa Playing Hardball With Miami Dolphins?
Tua Tagovailoa’s resolve to get a new contract this offseason has apparently stiffened. The QB has sat out much of the Miami Dolphins’ offseason program.

Dolphins Quarterbacks

Kelly: Tagovailoa should skip Dolphins offseason work until a deal gets done | Opinion – Yahoo Sports
As quarterbacks continue to land mega extensions, the Dolphins and Tua Tagovailoa continue to drag out negotiations on his extension.

Dolphins Wide Receivers

Why Odell Beckham Jr. Was ‘Hesitant’ To Team Up With Miami Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa
Odell Beckham Jr. has caught passes from all kinds of QBs in his 10-year NFL career — but never from anyone like Miami Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa.

Dolphins Defensive Line

Dolphins UDFA With Best Chance To Make Roster: Grayson Murphy
Former UCLA defensive end Grayson Murphy finds himself in an excellent position to make the Dolphins’ 53-man roster.

Dolphins Roster

Miami Dolphins Breakout Candidates for 2024
The Miami Dolphins have plenty of big names on the roster, but who could emerge as a contributor next season?

Phinsider News You May Have Missed

Toughest games on Dolphins schedule – Miami Dolphins News 5/17/24 – The Phinsider
Welcome to the Splash Zone, the quickest way to get your day started off right. We bring you a rundown of Miami Dolphins news from the last 24 hours.

How many miles will the Miami Dolphins travel in 2024? – The Phinsider
The Dolphins will spend a lot of time in the air next season.

Tua Tagovailoa ‘mostly absent’ from Miami Dolphins offseason training program – The Phinsider
Miami Dolphins Pro Bowl quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is entering the final year on his rookie contract.

Phinsider Victory Of The Week Open Thread Vol. 587 – The Phinsider
Join us every (almost every) Friday evening to share your VOTW!

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