The annual Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey shows continuing declines in binge drinking, smoking - both tobacco and marijuana - and most other drug use. ...more

November 17, 2008

Hillsborough County deputies seized more than 160 grams of cocaine following three meetings with a Tampa man. Deputies arrested three people Monday afternoon they say were involved in cocaine dealing: Francisco Javier Rodriguez-Arana, 28, of Tampa; Irving Betancourt, 21, of Tampa; and Enid Jimenez, 30, of Brandon. ...more

November 11, 2008

MANATEE COUNTY – A Bradenton man was arrested Tuesday after chasing three juveniles in a car and displaying a firearm on school grounds, according to a Manatee Sheriff's report. ...more

November 5, 2008

The Highlands Today endorsement of Sheriff Benton publically acknowledges she "has problems" and in the same article, states the clear fact that "Ron Grimming has a lot to offer Highlands County. It's difficult not to endorse him. He doesn't have a weakness we can see and there are plenty of positives." I find this a bit contradictory. It seems you talk from both sides of your keyboard! ...more

October 28, 2008

As a retired police officer with over 36 years of experience, I feel compelled to voice my concerns regarding the upcoming Sheriff's election. I have followed this race very closely and found that Sheriff Benton willfully misled the public on the evidence issue. The missing evidence is extremely disturbing to me because as Mike Rowan so aptly said during the primary, "the evidence room is the integrity of the Sheriff's Department." When the original 13-page Newell report was submitted our sheriff missed a golden opportunity to stand up as a leader, acknowledge the problems and move towards resolving evidence issues. Instead she attempted to cover up this report. When the report surfaced, she misrepresented Mr. Newell's work and damaged his reputation in a public forum. ...more

October 26, 2008

Highlands County Sheriff Susan Benton compared past issues with evidence handling to "a tidal wave that drowned us." ...more

October 22, 2008

St. Petersburg police said it arrested 28 people today after a monthlong street-level drug operation. ...more

October 17, 2008

A 37-year-old St. Petersburg man who pleaded guilty to drug charges was sentenced today to 24 1/2 years in prison, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. ...more

October 16, 2008

The Highlands County Sheriff's Office released the results Monday of its inventory of over 20,000 evidentiary items. ...more

October 14, 2008

The U.S. Marshals Service has captured a man sought in the 2006 slayings of two Pasco County teenagers, authorities said this morning. Luc Pierre-Charles Jr., 20, is being held at the Brevard County Jail, according to an online database search. The Pasco County Sheriff's Office confirmed that the U.S. Marshals Service arrested Pierre-Charles, who was on the Marshals' 15 Most Wanted List. ...more

October 7, 2008