Latest news with #Ethan'sLaw
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
Police say 1 tool could have prevented runaway boat in Sarasota Bay
SARASOTA, Fla. (WFLA) – A Sarasota officer jumped from the agency's marine unit onto an unmanned vessel to bring it to a stop Monday after the operator of the boat was thrown overboard while trying to navigate the wake. At the time, the boat was traveling at around 40 mph. Police said the operator broke two fingers upon impact with the water. WATCH: Unmanned boat circles at high speed in Sarasota after boater thrown overboard 'When he came and got his wits about him, he noticed that the boat was actually circling towards him, and according to him, passed within five feet of him, so almost getting struck by his own boat,' said Officer Ron Dixon. Officer Dixon is a Captain with Marine Patrol, who responded to the scene, finding the boat circling out of control. Until backup arrived, he worked to keep other boaters away from the unmanned vessel. Other agencies responded and eventually, Lt. Bruce King found himself jumping onto the unmanned vessel to bring it to a stop. 'There really was no anxiety in that job. I calculated it. Ron had it perfectly set up, Mike was holding me, I took the jump,' said Lt. King. 'It wasn't until afterwards that you get the adrenaline dump and say 'Wow, that was pretty neat' and I'm glad we were able to do it without colliding with his boat, with me going overboard, or between the boats. It all worked out really well.' Officers said one tool could have prevented all of this. It is known as a kill switch or an engine cut-off switch. There is a federal law that requires boat operators to use the device, but because it is the Coast Guard's jurisdiction, local and state officers cannot enforce it. FWC says boat operator is 'cooperating'; 'no alcohol' found in his system after ferry crash Lt. King said they work to encourage and educate boaters about the importance of the tool every chance they get. 'I would probably say over 90% of the people don't wear that cut-off switch,' he said. In this case, nobody was hurt by the unmanned boat. But responding officers said a case five years ago was in the back of their minds as they responded to this call. In 2020, 10-year-old Ethan Isaacs' life was cut short after he was struck by his sailing instructor's unmanned boat. Since then, his parents have advocated for boater safety. Man dies, 10 hurt in Clearwater ferry crash The family helped pass Ethan's Law, which requires water sports instructors in Florida to wear the engine cut-off switch. The Isaacs' hope to see lawmakers pass another bill requiring all operators to wear the device. 'There were 16 other kids in the water that day that Ethan lost his life and he was doing exactly what he was supposed to be doing. He was wearing his life jacket, he was in his sailboat, he was following instructions and yet he still lost his life because someone was not wearing the engine cut-off switch. We can all think it is not gonna happen to me, we didn't think it was going to happen to our son and yet it did,' Ethan's mother, Mindy Isaacs, said. She hopes to see the engine cut-off switch prioritized when it comes to boater safety, like a seatbelt is in cars. His father wants to remind boaters that the tool not only protects boat operators, but everyone around them. 'In the video, you can see the danger that law enforcement was in just to bring this boat to a stop. That is not necessary. It is not just your own life you are protecting, it is many other people,' said Greg Isaacs. The Sarasota Police Department wants to remind all boaters to always wear a life jacket and properly utilize the emergency engine cut-off switch to prevent accidents and injuries on the water. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
10-04-2025
- General
- CBS News
Elk Grove honors dog touring U.S. to raise awareness of animal abuse
ELK GROVE — The city of Elk Grove honored a humane hero. Ethan, a 4-year-old Presa Canario, is touring the nation to raise awareness of animal abuse cases. Elk Grove's mayor presented him a special proclamation at the city council meeting Wednesday night. In 2019, Ethan was found abandoned outside a Kentucky animal shelter — 50 pounds underweight, dehydrated, and near death. "When the person found him and brought him into the vet area, they thought he was dead," Ethan's owner Jeff Callaway said. "And then he took a breath." Veterinarians were able to nurse Ethan back to life, and he was adopted by Jeff and Dana Callaway. "When we come to things like this, it's like he kind of knows his purpose and his mission," Jeff said. It's a mission that includes meeting with lawmakers to strengthen protections against animal cruelty. Kentucky recently passed Ethan's Law, which increases the penalty for animal abuse to a felony. "Now that that law has passed, our job now becomes to give a name to all those other cats and dogs that have been abused or tortured or killed, Jeff said. Ethan's tale is also inspiring people to adopt shelter pets. "When you see him in person and you see the love he radiates, it's really been amazing," said Penny Forseth-Andrews, an animal advocate. Ethan's journey has been shared on social media, where he has 44,000 Facebook followers. "There are so many people that have a personal connection to him that have never met him," Jeff said. The American Humane Society even named this good boy an "American Hero Dog" in 2022. "When we come around, people are always happy to see him and they want to talk to him," Jeff said. "They want to pet him, and he seems to enjoy all of it." Ethan will be taking a walking tour of Elk Grove's historic main street Friday afternoon, and he will be the guest of honor at fundraisers in Folsom and Sheldon later this week.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Vasquez commits to working with police following Las Cruces shooting, points to federal legislation
U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez speaks in Las Cruces following a mass shooting on March 23, 2025 in Las Cruces that left three dead and 15 injured. (Leah Romero / Source NM) U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) committed to continue working with local enforcement in Las Cruces in the wake of a mass shooting Friday evening, as well as supporting legislation at the federal level to address gun violence. Vasquez held a press conference in Las Cruces Sunday where he discussed the shooting that took place during an unsanctioned car show in Young Park, part of his former Las Cruces City Council district, which left three people dead and 15 injured. Las Cruces police announced arrests over the weekend: – a 15-year-old, two 17-year-olds and 20-year old Tomas Rivas all face charges of three open counts of murder. 'This is my community, this is my city, this is my county,' Vasquez said during the conference. He said the act of violence was a 'painful reminder' that the issue of public safety is a systemic challenge. 'We need to know how it happened, what signs were missed and how we can close those gaps that allowed this violence to unfold,' Vasquez said, adding that more needs to be done to support parents and teens during 'this new age' of gun violence. 'It's simple – 16 and 17-year-olds in Las Cruces should not be riding around with firearms, unregulated, nearly in the middle of the night. And yes, the question is where are their parents. But the most important thing as well is: Why do they have access to these firearms in the first place?' He pointed to legislation he introduced at the federal level called Ethan's Law, which would establish requirements for safely storing firearms on residential premises if a minor is likely to gain access to the weapon without permission. It would create criminal penalties for violations of the law and would also require the U.S. Department of Justice to award grants to implement requirements for safe firearm storage at the state and tribal level. New Mexico enacted a similar law in 2024, called the Bennie Hargrove Gun Safety Act, which requires gun owners to safely store firearms. When asked about supporting the car community following the shooting, Vasquez told members of the media that city and county law enforcement need to work together to ensure sufficient security at events like the one that preceded the shooting, despite being unsanctioned. He said Las Cruces' budget funds over 200 officers in the city now, but recruitment efforts need to increase. 'Our police department here is stretched very thin. They have a lot of places to be and they have high priority calls that they need to attend to, and these car meetups unfortunately are not something new, they happen all the time.' He noted the Invest to Protect Act he introduced in Congress, which would direct the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services to award grants to local governments with fewer than 200 law enforcement officers to improve recruitment and retention as well as fund deescalation training. Las Cruces police announced the department will host another news conference on Tuesday with an update on the investigation. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Yahoo
Gun violence advocate ‘infuriated' by shooting death of 8-year-old
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — The circumstances surrounding the 'accidental' shooting death of an 8-year-old boy in New Haven on Sunday night are still under investigation but one local mother does know the pain and anger. 'It's heartbreaking,' Kristin Song, President of the Ethan Miller Song Foundation said. 'For me, I take it personally. It's infuriating to me it really is because I understand that journey. It's an unimaginable journey and it could have been prevented with 30 seconds of prevention.' Yale police mourns officer who died during shift Chief Karl Jacobson also calling this tragedy, 'preventable and senseless.' Police said they found the 8-year-old boy unresponsive on the kitchen floor of his Dewitt Street home just before 11 p.m. He was rushed to Yale-New Haven Hospital where he was pronounced dead. 'He was shot in his house with his family inside,' Assistant Police Chief David Zannelli said. 'We are waiting on other pieces of information like the medical examiner report and other information from the state lab but incredibly heartbreaking and tragic.' Mayor Justin Elicker said the boy was a New Haven Public School student. His name is not being released at the time. Officers recovered a gun at the residence and said at this time the shooting appears to be accidental — a term Song cannot stand. 'The word accident drives me crazy because the word accident implies there was nothing the gun owner or that parent could have done to protect that child and we know that's absolutely incorrect unless there's extenuating circumstances,' Song said. In 2018, her 15-year-old son Ethan accidentally shot and killed himself with an unsecured gun at a friend's home. 'The day after he died, we were supposed to go to New Haven to feed the homeless,' Song said. 'His compassion and his empathy for the vulnerable and marginalized.' To honor his memory Kristin has been volunteering and advocating for seven years to prevent incidents like Sunday night's. Ethan's Law requires Connecticut gun owners to secure firearms if a minor is in the home or could gain access to them. Kristin said her work isn't done. 'There was no way we were going to create a cultural shift in this country,' Song said. 'We need put the accountability on the adults who actually bring the gun into the home. It's your job, not your children's job to make sure those guns are secure and that only your hands can access them.' Kristin said you can buy a gun safe on Amazon for under 75 dollars and storing a firearm takes 30 seconds. New Haven Police said criminal charges are possible in this case. They asked anyone with any information to call (203) 946-6316. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Connecticut senators renew push for Ethan's Law on a federal level
CONNECTICUT (WTNH) — Connecticut lawmakers will be in Washington, D.C. Tuesday in hopes of reintroducing Ethan's Law. Named in honor of Guilford teen Ethan Song, the bill would create federal requirements for safe gun storage and strong penalties for violations. The gift of life: Ethan's Law re-introduced for Guilford's inaugural blood drive Lawmakers and gun violence advocates are renewing their push to pass Ethan's Law on the federal level. The law, already in effect in Connecticut, would mandate the safe storage of guns across the U.S. The bill honors the memory of Ethan Song, a Guilford teenager who was killed with an unsecured gun in early 2018. U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, and Ethan's mother, Kristin Song, will be joined by gun violence advocates Tuesday at their press conference. The bill passed the House of Representatives in 2022 as a part of the Protecting Our Kids Act but failed in the U.S. Senate. Tuesday marks a new effort to try to get it passed on the federal level. Under Ethan's law, gun owners would be required to secure their firearms in a 'secure gun storage or safety device' if a minor is likely to gain access to the firearm without permission, or if a resident of the dwelling cannot legally possess a firearm under existing law. The bill also includes incentives for states to pass and enforce their own safe gun storage laws. Congresswoman DeLauro said she has secured the support of over 60 of her colleagues ahead of the bill's reintroduction in Congress. She said the goal is to help prevent unintentional shootings, suicide and even crime-related gun violence. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
