Latest news with #HillsboroughCountySheriff'sOffice
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
NEW FLORIDA LAW: Underage drug dealers involved in fatal overdoses could face murder charges
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)— The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office holds a news conference about a Florida law that is going into effect on July 1, 2025. Under the new law, juveniles who distribute narcotics that cause a fatal overdose could now be prosecuted for murder, HCSO said. This update is a direct response to the deaths caused by individuals unknowingly consuming narcotics that are laced with deadly substances. According to HCSO, the new law was sparked by the death of Devin Ramos, 17, who died after unknowingly ingesting a fentanyl-laced pill given to him by a juvenile who could not be held accountable at that time. Sheriff Chad Chronister is joined by Devin's mother, Amy Olmdea, and State Attorney Suzy Lopez. They will speak about the development and importance of Senate Bill 612. Florida Representative Traci Foster and Senator Danny Burgess shared the following statements: 'The tragic death of a young person in our community due to fentanyl poisoning served as a devastating reminder of the lethal consequences tied to illegal drug distribution. In the wake of that loss, Sheriff Chad Chronister stepped forward to bring this issue to the forefront, urging lawmakers to take decisive action to ensure all who peddle in this deadly and unlawful practice can face justice. Senate Bill 612 reflects that call by updating state law to ensure those who unlawfully distribute controlled illegal substances like fentanyl can be held accountable when those drugs result in death. This legislation is about saving lives and delivering justice. I am deeply grateful to Sheriff Chronister for his leadership and to the law enforcement professionals who work every day to confront this crisis and protect our communities.' -Senator Danny Burgess'The scourge of fentanyl is devastating families and destroying communities across our nation. Those who peddle this poison have blood on their hands and should be treated as such in the eyes of the law. To help the brave men and women on the frontlines of this fight, Florida will now be able to hold those who deal in fentanyl to greater account. I'm thankful to Sheriff Chronister and Florida's law enforcement professionals for their commitment to the safety of our state and their willingness to help hold these drug dealers accountable for their deadly actions.' -Representative Traci Koster Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
She Killed a Man While Driving Drunk — Then Did It Again. Hear the Judge's Scathing Words as He Sentenced Her
Jennifer Carvajal, 28, was sentenced to 67 years in prison for a 2021 drunk driving crash in Florida that killed her cousin, Pedro Carvajal, and seriously injured two others During the crash, she was speeding at nearly 110 mph when her car flipped over after hitting a palm tree and utility pole Carvajal's troubled past, including childhood sexual abuse, untreated trauma, and early alcohol use, was discussed in court, but the judge emphasized her repeated, fatal choices behind the wheelA Florida woman was sentenced to 67 years in prison on May 30 for driving drunk and causing a crash that killed her cousin and seriously injured two others in 2021. A Hillsborough Circuit judge sentenced 28-year-old Jennifer Carvajal for the deadly crash, noting that at the time, she was on probation for causing a different crash that killed someone. 'She has now committed two acts of DUI and taken two people's lives,' Judge Greg Green said at Carvajal's sentencing hearing. 'It's almost as if instead of taking every step to avoid putting yourself in that situation again, you took affirmative steps to ensure that it happened.' On April 25, 2021, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office deputies witnessed Carvajal speeding in her silver Hyundai at nearly 110 mph on Interstate 4, according to a criminal affidavit obtained by PEOPLE. While attempting to exit the highway, Carvajal lost control and the car became airborne before colliding with a palm tree and a utility pole, the affidavit said. The crash caused the car to flip several times before landing upside down at a nearby car dealership. Carvajal was transported to Tampa General Hospital with minor injuries and three passengers were transported with severe injuries. One man, Pedro Carvajal, who was Carvajal's cousin, was pronounced dead later around 1 p.m., the criminal affidavit said. At the hospital, Florida Highway Patrol officers interviewed Carvajal where they noticed she was still impaired. According to the affidavit, she had glassy eyes, slurred speech, was having trouble staying awake and smelled like alcohol. Authorities say that Carvajal's blood alcohol content at the time of the crash was 0.102, above the legal limit of 0.08. Carvajal called Pedro's sister hours after the crash to ask her to tell the others that she wasn't the one driving the car, the Tampa Bay Times reported, citing authorities. Carvajal was arrested on several driving under the influence charges with personal injury and vehicular homicide, according to her online arrest record. She did not get a life sentence but her sentence is double the 33 years suggested by the state, the Times reported. In 2014, when Carvajal was 16, she killed a 52-year-old man after running a red light and plowing into his car while intoxicated, according to the outlet. She served four years in prison and was on probation at the time of the second fatal crash. In court, and in the 2014 case, judges heard testimony about Carvajal's tumultuous childhood, during which she was sexually abused at 9 years old by male relatives, the Times reported. The abuse only came to light when she was diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease. Carvajal never received any mental health treatment, her attorney said, per the local outlet. She contemplated suicide, used broken glass to harm herself and at age 11, began drinking to cope with her trauma, according to the attorney. During her May sentencing, Carvajal spoke quietly while addressing the court, with her face buried in her hair. 'No matter how many sorrys I say to each of you, or even him, I could never forgive myself,' she members of Pedro, the man who died in the crash, said in court that he was a loyal friend, a diligent worker and a devoted dad, per the Tampa Bay Times. 'There is a void in my heart,' Jazmin Lopez Dominguez, Pedro's mother, said in a statement to the court. 'The decision Jennifer made in that moment caused a lot of pain and suffering in our lives – and Julian who is growing up without knowing his father.' Read the original article on People
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Hillsborough shooting suspect accused of killing passenger in vehicle arrested
The Brief A shooting suspect is behind bars after deputies said he shot and killed a passenger in a vehicle in Hillsborough County. He was arrested days after the deadly shooting at the intersection of Progress Boulevard and South 82nd Street. The driver, who was trying to speed away after the shooting, accidentally hit a motorized bicyclist. TAMPA, Fla. - A suspect was arrested days after a deadly shooting in Hillsborough County, according to deputies. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said Dayjon Clarke, 24, is facing a first-degree murder charge in the shooting, which happened just after 4:15 p.m. on May 30 at the intersection of Progress Boulevard and South 82nd Street. RELATED: Man shot to death in Tampa, search on for shooter What we know Deputies said they responded to a nearby Thorntons convenience store in Riverview after receiving reports of a shooting. Once they arrived, deputies said they found Terrel Ferrell, 24, with a gunshot wound to the upper body. He was a passenger in a vehicle that was driven by a woman with a child in the backseat, according to authorities. Dig deeper During their investigation, detectives said they learned that the driver briefly stopped to speak with Clarke near Progress Boulevard and South 82nd Street in Tampa. That's when the suspect opened fire on the vehicle, according to HCSO. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube While trying to escape, the driver sped away and accidentally hit a motorized bicyclist, who sustained minor injuries, authorities said. The driver then stopped at the nearby Thorntons convenience store in Riverview to get help, deputies said. The sheriff's office said Ferrell was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Clarke was identified by detectives as the suspect involved in the shooting. Officials said he was arrested at a home in the 100 block of Logarto Circle West in Lutz. On top of the first-degree murder charge, Clarke is also facing two other charges, including shooting at a vehicle and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Deputies said this remains an active investigation. The Source The information in this story was released by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app:Apple |Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Man killed in shooting at apartment complex, Hillsborough deputies searching for suspect
The Brief Hillsborough County deputies say a man was shot at an apartment complex on Sunday night. Investigators say two people were arguing in the breezeway at the Cypress Trace complex in Brandon when the suspect shot the victim. The man later died at the hospital, according to HCSO, and the suspect has not been caught as of Monday morning. BRANDON, Fla. - A man died after being shot at an apartment complex on Sunday night, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. What we know HCSO says the shooting happened around 7 p.m. in the 700 block of Providence Trace Circle at the Cypress Trace complex in Brandon. Deputies say two people were arguing in the breezeway when the suspect shot the victim, then took off. The man later died at the hospital, according to HCSO, and the suspect has not been caught as of Monday morning. What we don't know Deputies have not released the name of the victim or a description of the suspect. What they're saying "A man's life has been tragically cut short due to an act of violence that can never be undone," Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement. "There is no dispute that should ever come to this. Our detectives are doing everything they can to locate the suspect and ensure the victim and his family get the justice they deserve." What you can do Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube The Source This story was written with information from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
Mint
3 days ago
- Mint
Shocking! American school teacher has sex with boy before 'first school bell', arrested right after
A US-based school teacher was accused of indulging in sexual activity with one of her students and was arrested just moments after the incident allegedly occurred. Brooke Anderson, 27, is a teacher at Riverview High School in the Hillsborough County. According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, she was charged with three counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor two weeks ago. The minor in context was a student of the school, as per Daily Star UK's report. The investigation by the police authorities at Hillsborough was launched almost immediately after the matter came to light. They began investigating Anderson after they were tipped about an inappropriate relationship between the Riverview High School teacher and a male student. The incident happened on the morning of May 16, when Anderson allegedly had sex with the minor student before being taken into custody. The student with whom Anderson is accused of having an inappropriate relationship told police authorities that things started back in September 2024, and the pair had started off by sending each other "sexually explicit text messages". The student also claimed that their "relationship" kept escalating through the weeks leading up to Anderson's arrest. This allegedly involved multiple instances of sexual encounters between Anderson and the minor, as per Daily Star UK. The school district has stated that the teacher has been suspended pending termination, but also assured the public that all necessary background checks were completed before she was hired in the first place. Her name was also removed from the Riverview High School shortly after her arrest, according to a People's report. "This teacher betrayed the trust of a student, a school, and an entire community. What should have been a safe, supportive environment for learning was exploited for abuse. Her actions are criminal, calculated, and deeply disturbing," Sheriff Chad Chronister was quoted as saying on the incident. Jail records show that Anderson was booked on three counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor. She was also released on bail the day following her arrest after a judge set her bail, coupled with a whopping fine.
