Latest news with #FHP
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
1 teen dead, 2 others in critical condition following ATV and truck collision: FHP
The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) said a 19-year-old was killed and two others were critically injured after the ATV they were in crashed into a truck in Highlands County.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Drivers in Central Florida can video chat with FHP after minor crashes
Drivers involved in minor crashes on some Central Florida highways can now video chat with a Florida Highway Patrol trooper, resolving their collision issues faster than if they waited for police to show up at the scene. The Desk Trooper Program allows drivers to work remotely with an FHP trooper if they get into a minor crash on Central Florida Expressway Authority's 125 miles of tolled roads. That includes state roads 408 and 417. The pilot program, which began in October, is the first of its kind in the nation, according to CFX and FHP. The program is a partnership between the two agencies and an effort to clear crash investigations more quickly in a region with clogged roads, a ballooning population and often-long wait times after minor accidents. 'With a high call volume and with a limited number of troopers, those two combined resulted in high response times,' said Major Connor Cardwell, FHP communications commander in a podcast interview with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, explaining the impetus for the new program. 'Unfortunately some individuals have waited an hour or more.' FHP prioritizes where to send troopers based on the severity of the crash, so minor ones are last in line for the 1,982 sworn officers who police over 43.2 million highway roads statewide. Since it began, the desk trooper program has been used in 41% of all minor crashes on CFX roads. The program has been funded by CFX and FHP, but the two agencies hope the Florida Legislature will provide money to expand it statewide in coming years. This month, FHP made the program available in a dozen other counties from the Panhandle to South Florida, among them Brevard and Marion, FHP Lieutenant Colonel Mark Brown said at last week's CFX meeting. 'We believe the program works and has a value to the state,' Brown said. 'Our goal is to make this a mainstream option in the future for investigating minor traffic crashes across the state.' So far this year FHP has responded to more than 43,000 crashes statewide, most of them minor, data from the Florida Department of Transportation shows. In Central Florida, there have been slightly more than 18,000 crashes from January to June, data from FHP shows. Most of those crashes — more than 10,700 — were in Orange County while there were roughly 2,000 in each of Seminole, Osceola and Lake counties so far this year. 'We've certainly had a challenge in Orange County with timing of response so this is a very welcome addition,' said Christine Moore, an Orange County commissioner who also sits on the CFX board. To use the program, drivers can dial *347 (*FHP) to connect to a dispatcher who assesses if the crash is minor and eligible for a desk trooper. FHP defines minor crashes as those that do not involve injuries, require towing, block lanes or suggest criminal violations. Commercial motor vehicles are not eligible, and both parties involved in the collision must agree to use the program. If a crash is eligible, the dispatcher texts a link to the driver that allows them to chat with an FHP trooper, who could be located anywhere in the state. Troopers review the crash scene via camera, interview witnesses and complete a crash report virtually. Drivers do not need to install an app on their phones to take part. Most people who have used the program respond positively on FHP surveys, Brown said. On Facebook, one user wrote on a CFX post about the program that he wished he'd used it. 'I should have called you guys when a woman in the left lane of US 92 in Plant City swerved into my lane (right hand) and ran me off the curb and still sideswiped my van,' the user wrote. Instead, the driver called the police 'and waited over an hour and half.'
Fox News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd names obstacles in detaining migrants under Trump's immigration policies
A Florida sheriff said law enforcement is "waiting at go" to assist the Trump administration with immigration enforcement, but worries about the lack of detention capacity. Fox News Digital spoke with Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd on the current status of President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown. "We heard President Trump loud and clear when he said start with the worst first, and let's get these illegal aliens out of the country," Judd said. However, the sheriff pointed to a significant bottleneck: the lack of federal capacity to detain migrants, and that, despite arrests, "they're turned [migrants] back into the street" due to ICE's limited resources. Judd pointed to the lack of holding facilities and the complications arising from federal rules, which generally prevent local jails from holding migrants for more than 48 hours after their release from local custody unless the jails have Intergovernmental Service Agreements (IGSAs) that allow for longer detention under federal authority. "You see, county jails can hold them [migrants] short term if we have accompanying criminal charges, but we can't hold them long term," he said. "We're more than willing to do that with the federal government once the federal government recognizes that we're helping them — they're not helping us." WATCH: The need for additional detention space and resources came as the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) became the first in the nation to train and deploy troopers under the federal 287(g) agreement, which authorizes designated state officers to enforce immigration law in partnership with federal agents. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says the initiative is already delivering results and believes it could serve as a blueprint for other states seeking to take immigration enforcement into their own hands. Judd called for federal executive action, saying, "The president is the only one that can break this logjam." The Sunshine State, he said, is prepared to execute practical solutions, such as setting up temporary "soft side housing" for detainees, modeled after hurricane emergency shelters. "We're eager to make it happen. We're sitting on go," he said, while criticizing the lack of support. "The federal government doesn't have the infrastructure to hold them, nor are they willing to pay when we offer the infrastructure." Judd defended ICE personnel, acknowledging their efforts despite what he describes as inherited limitations from the previous Biden administration. "But they are limited," he said. "They're severely limited because they're operating with the resources that the Biden administration left them with. And the Biden administration wasn't into deporting people. They were into importing people." The sheriff said stricter detention policies will serve as a deterrent for migrants. "We've got to stop the game playing, and only the federal government can do it," he said. Fox News Digital has reached out to ICE for comment.
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Judge finds Florida attorney general in contempt of court for flouting immigration order
A Miami federal judge overseeing a major immigration case found Attorney General James Uthmeier in contempt of court on Tuesday for violating her restraining order to stop enforcing a new state law that criminalizes undocumented immigrants when they arrive in Florida. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams, who strongly criticized Uthmeier's conduct at a hearing last month, said the state attorney general crossed the line on April 23 when he informed police agencies 'there remains no judicial order that properly restrains you from' making arrests under Florida's immigration statute. 'Litigants cannot change the plain meaning of words as it suits them, especially when conveying a court's clear and unambiguous order,' Williams wrote in her contempt order, citing a passage from Lewis Carroll's classic, 'Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There.' 'Fidelity to the rule of law can have no other meaning.' Must file reports on immigrant arrests to judge As punishment, Williams ordered Uthmeier to 'file bi-weekly reports detailing whether any arrests, detentions, or law enforcement actions pursuant to [the statute] have occurred, and if so, how many, when, and by which law enforcement agency.' The judge said the first report must be filed by July 1. She added that if any defendants in the case challenging the state law learn of any arrests, the attorney general must notify the court of the details of the arrest immediately. She said Uthmeier can seek to modify or terminate her reporting requirements in six months. Uthmeier, 37, is a Florida native who served as chief of staff for Gov. Ron DeSantis before he appointed him as the state's 39th attorney general in February. He has not appeared at a series of hearings before Williams. READ MORE: Courting controversy: Florida's attorney general is no stranger to conflict At first, Uthmeier seemed to obey the judge's restraining order when he instructed the Florida Highway Patrol and other police agencies on April 18 that they had to refrain from enforcing the immigration statute — after Williams learned FHP officers had arrested more than a dozen people for illegally entering the state under the new misdemeanor law, including a U.S. citizen. Told cops they didn't have to abide by judge's order But five days later, the attorney general did an about-face in his follow-up letter to the agencies, drawing the judge's wrath in a lawsuit brought by an immigration coalition and others challenging the constitutionality of the state law. The late May hearing set the stage for Williams' decision on Tuesday, which could have led to a civil contempt fine up to $1,000 and/or jail time up to six months. There's no precedent for a state attorney general ignoring a federal judge's order, certainly not in the Southern District of Florida. Uthmeier's defense lawyer, Jesse Panuccio, who formerly served in top positions in state government and the Justice Department under Republican administrations, said the judge was only focusing on a 'snippet' of the attorney general's April 23 letter to police agencies telling them they did not have to abide by the judge's order, not the whole context of his message. At the hearing, Panuccio disputed the judge's assertion that the attorney general violated her restraining order. 'I don't think this letter is saying that — there is no evidence,' he said, adding that state police agencies have not made any additional arrests since April 18, the date of her second restraining order. 'There is no contempt.' But a former federal prosecutor in Miami who specializes in civil litigation questioned the rationale of the attorney general's lawyer after listening to his argument. 'Half the parties in any proceeding think the court got it wrong when it rules against them,' attorney David S. Mandel told the Miami Herald. 'That's what the appellate court is there for. The losing party doesn't get to ignore the ruling in the meantime. That's 'Law 101.' ' Appeals panel backs Miami judge On Friday, a federal court appeals panel in Atlanta rejected the attorney general's challenge to Williams' injunction blocking the enforcement of the state law criminalizing undocumented immigrants when they arrive in Florida. The three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit kept in place her order temporarily preventing police and prosecutors from making arrests and pursuing charges under Florida's SB-4, signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in February. Uthmeier's office generally opposed the judge's injunction on enforcement. He specifically argued that it was too broad because it applied not only to the named defendants, the attorney general and various state prosecutors, but also to unnamed defendants, including local, county and state police agencies. In their ruling, the judges concluded that Uthmeier 'may well be right that the district court's order is impermissibly broad. But that does not warrant what seems to have been at least a veiled threat not to obey it.' Uthmeier's TV commentary During the hearing last month, Williams expressed umbrage not only with Uthmeier's letter to the state police agencies but also with his remarks in TV interviews and social media, as she paraphrased a few of his public comments: 'I'm not going to rubber stamp her order. ... I'm not going to ask law enforcement to stand down.' 'That's Mr. Uthmeier saying what he meant,' Williams told his attorney. 'It's pretty clear what he's saying.' Uthmeier also expressed his dissatisfaction with Williams in a recent interview with FOX 35 in Orlando: 'This is Law 101,' he said. 'She doesn't have jurisdiction.' At the hearing, an attorney representing immigrant groups that sued the state in Miami federal court said Uthmeier's letter was 'an attempt to evade and undermine the court's order.' 'It's clearly a contempt of court,' American Civil Liberties Union lawyer Cody Wofsy told Williams during the hearing. READ MORE: Did Florida attorney general cross a line telling cops they can ignore a court order? Uthmeier, whose views have been publicly backed by DeSantis, said the judge had no authority to order him to instruct FHP, Florida Department of Law Enforcement and other police agencies to refrain from arresting illegal immigrants upon arrival in the state because law enforcement officers are not named as defendants in the federal immigration case under Williams' review. Jeremy Redfern, a spokesman for Uthmeier, characterized Williams' position as 'lawfare' by an 'Obama-appointed judge' on the social media site X, suggesting she has used her power as a legal weapon to thwart the Republican-led government's efforts to assist the Trump administration on immigration enforcement. President Barack Obama appointed Williams to the Miami federal bench in 2010; the U.S. Senate confirmed her the following year. Plaintiffs: State's new law is unconstitutional The showdown between Williams and the state attorney general's office came nearly one month after the Florida Immigrant Coalition, Farmworker Association of Florida and others represented by ACLU lawyers filed suit in early April, saying the new state law is unconstitutional because only federal authorities have the power to enforce immigration laws. Williams agreed on a preliminary basis, citing the Supremacy Clause in the Constitution, which says federal law takes precedence over state and local laws. In late April, Williams said she was 'surprised and shocked' to learn that Uthmeier first told state police officers to obey her order not to arrest undocumented immigrants entering Florida but later said he 'cannot prevent' them from making arrests under the new state law. Williams issued her preliminary injunction on April 29 prohibiting all state law enforcement official and police agencies, including FHP, from arresting undocumented immigrants who come into Florida.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Yahoo
Brandon road rage shooting suspect appears in Hillsborough County court
The Brief 21-year-old Aiden Richards will remain in jail without bond until her next hearing on Tuesday, June 17. Gunfire was exchanged on Brandon Boulevard after HCSO says Richards pulled out a gun following a road rage altercation. FHP says you should avoid eye contact and get away from road rage drivers immediately. TAMPA - Shots fired on a busy Hillsborough County roadway could have turned out much worse. Several gunshots were exchanged during a road rage incident in Brandon. What we know Around 2:15 on Thursday afternoon, a driver's dash camera captured road rage at the intersection of South Hilltop Road and West Brandon Boulevard. After a liquid was poured on a blue Hyundai, a pop could be heard. Seconds later, as the light turns green, a barrage of gunfire rings out. Hillsborough County Deputies said the altercation escalated with 21-year-old Aiden Richards pulling out a gun and firing. Deputies said the driver of the other vehicle shot back, hitting Richards and the vehicle she was in. "Ms. Richards, you are charged with two counts of shooting at or within a vehicle, two counts of attempted murder in the second-degree with a firearm discharge, and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon," said Hillsborough County Judge Logan Murphy. Richards walked with a limp as she appeared in court Friday afternoon. Drivers in Brandon said road rage is becoming all too common. "This area is so busy with traffic it's not really shocking. People it's hot out and between that and everything, unfortunately it seems more normal than it should be," said Jenny Shields. Shields said she tries to avoid frustrating other drivers, but it can still happen. "I just try to avoid confrontation and maybe do a slight wave that's obviously not aggressive, but I just keep going or go down another street if I feel like somebody is being aggressive, but I don't engage," she said. The Florida Highway Patrol said Shields' advice is right. "You want to create distance from the aggravated driver and try to get away. First, don't make eye contact. Get away from the driver immediately. Don't make hand gestures at them or stay away from them at all costs. Pull over on the shoulder if you can safely or call FHP," said Trooper Andrew Schmidt. Confrontations like this by law enforcement continue to occur. "Everybody gets upset with that, especially with traffic in Florida it's so busy. You just need to stay behind, stay away and be vigilant of your surroundings," said Schmidt. The Source Information was gathered by FOX 13's Kimberly Kuizon through the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Hillsborough Courts and asking FHP for tips for drivers. 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 Follow FOX 13 on YouTube
