News Update for 3/14/25
Twenty-six-people in Central Florida are facing charges following one of the largest fentanyl busts ever in Osceola County. The Sheriff’s Office says deputies collected over 13-hundred grams of fentanyl during the three-month operation, called “My Brother’s Keeper.” They also seized various amounts of cocaine, marijuana, pills, cash, guns, cars, and a house during the investigation.
A Port Charlotte man is behind bars after attacking deputies and attempting to escape custody in DeSoto County. 44-year-old Joshua Shane Crider was arrested Sunday on a probation violation when deputies found him acting erratically. While being placed in a patrol car, he allegedly assaulted a deputy and later broke a vehicle window to escape—only to be tackled by officers. Crider was taken to the hospital before being booked into jail, where he remains without bond. His next court appearance is set for April 28th.
An investigation is underway after a man who killed a University of Florida student died in prison. Pedro Bravo was recently found dead in his cell at Okeechobee Correctional Institution. He was serving life for killing 18-year-old Christian Aguilar in 2012. The two were friends, but Bravo was apparently jealous that Aguilar was dating Bravo’s ex-girlfriend. The case was the subject of a documentary called The Fatal Obsession of Pedro Bravo. There’s no word on how Bravo died.
Six people described as criminal aliens are accused of stealing dozens of cars in Florida. Attorney General James Uthmeier announced yesterday the six non-citizens were part of an organized crime ring that operated throughout the state. He claims they’re responsible for stealing as many as 80 cars, assigning them false VINs, title and tags and then transferring or selling them. All the suspects are charged with racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering. They face up to 30 years in prison. Uthmeier says he’ll work with the Trump administration to send these criminal aliens back to where they came from.
A frat at UCF is under investigation for possible hazing violations. UCF Police are looking into complaints made in the last month about Sigma Chi. According to the complaints, pledges were made to stand in front of moving cars, and in one case, someone was hit by a car going as much as 15 miles an hour. No injuries were reported, and the frat denies the allegation. The school has suspended the frat pending the investigation. UCF says it unequivocally condemns hazing in all forms, and it’s committed to holding individuals and organizations accountable.
A 29-year-old man, Gerardo Estrada Ariza, was arrested Tuesday night after a chaotic struggle with Polk County deputies in Eagle Lake. Deputies responded to reports of Ariza, armed with a knife, outside a home he was restricted from visiting. When confronted, he fled, resisted arrest, and repeatedly fought deputies before being taken into custody. Ariza now faces multiple charges, including battery on a law enforcement officer and aggravated assault. Fortunately, no deputies were injured. He remains in jail awaiting legal proceedings.
A new grant is helping SPCA Florida keep senior dogs in their homes and out of shelters. Thanks to a $15,000 grant from the Grey Muzzle Organization, SPCA Florida can provide medical care to dogs aged seven and older, helping owners struggling financially. Older dogs are at higher risk of being surrendered, with only 25% being adopted from shelters. The grant also funds outreach efforts to some communities in Polk County. For assistance, call 863-646-7722 or email clinic@spcaflorida.org.
NASA will try again this evening to launch a mission to retrieve two stranded astronauts from the International Space Station. Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have been stuck on the ISS ever since their Boeing Starliner aircraft suffered mechanical issues that made it unsafe for them to return aboard it. They were finally supposed to get a step closer to coming home earlier this week thanks to NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 mission, but the flight was scrubbed because of an issue with the Falcon 9 rocket. NASA will make another attempt to get off the ground just after 7pm Eastern time from the Kennedy Space Center.