News Cast for June 4th:
Martin County Sheriff Deputies identified Vincent Pepe, 35 of Vero Beach, as the homicide victim on Martin Grade Saturday night.
The two alleged assailants in the crime are from Okeechobee County.
Jacob Stevens, 34 and Nicole Brown, 39, were charged Tuesday. Stevens was charged with first-degree murder and Brown was charged with accessory after the fact to a felony.
Sheriff Investigators continue to investigate this case actively and are looking for the murder weapon.
Okeechobee County Sheriff Deputies assisted Martin County with the arrests at a residence on NW 300th Street in Fort Drum early Tuesday.
The arrest report said Pepe got into an argument with his girlfriend at the mudfest event at Plant Bamboo. He decided to leave the scene on foot. The girlfriend called the couple who drove to the event.
The report went on to state that the couple located Pepe walking east bound on Martin Grade, stopped the vehicle and confronted Pepe.
It is alleged Stevens stabbed Pepe twice.
The report said several people including the victim called 911 to get help to the scene.
The Florida Highway Patrol released its annual crash report for 2024 listing a total of 381,100 crashes.
These included 3,164 fatalities, and 246,232 with serious injury.
The fatalities included 201 bicyclists, 585 motorcyclists, and 696 pedestrians.
The FHP said there were 247 fatal hit and run accidents last year.
Okeechobee County had 690 total crashes with 11 fatalities. There were two motorcyclists and one pedestrian killed in Okeechobee last year. There were 259 total injuries.
Glades County had eight fatalities that included one fatal hit and run crash, one pedestrian killed, 61 serious injuries and 143 total crashes.
Lt. Greg Bueno said it is inherently dangerous to drive a vehicle in Florida.
“We all have to take a step back and do a little self-reflection on how we are operating our vehicles. Our we using due care behind the wheel for bicyclists, pedestrians and motorcycles.”
He said there is a lot going on the road. In the travel lanes, in the bike lane and on the shoulder He said drivers must remain sober and respect the size and speed of other vehicles on the road.
“We don’t want to injure someone else or damage someone else property. It is all about having the same goal in our
community of getting to our destination safely and doing the right thing day after day.”
Neighbors and the resident were able to put out a fire at a boat house at 3303 SE 35th Avenue.
Okeechobee County Fire Rescue report said a Poulan Pro riding mower caught fire about two feet away from the boat house. The structure suffered some damage to the plywood wall and roof. They estimated the damage at $1,000.
A 36 year old Okeechobee man was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon after a stabbing on May 30.
Guadalupe Espinoza Maza was held in the Okeechobee County jail on $500,000 bond.
The arrest report said the suspect stabbed a co-worker who dropped by his residence to help him repair his roof. The report said alcohol was a factor in the incident.
The incident was near the 1900 block of state road 70 west.
A machete and a knife was used in the attack, deputies said.
A friend and relative took the victim to HCA Raulerson Hospital for treatment.
The alleged attack was caught on cell phone, the report said.
A Lorida man has been charged twice this year with methamphetamine trafficking during traffic stops on Arbuckle Creek Road.
Highlands County Sheriff deputies said James Horvath, 49 was stopped on May 30 for a traffic violation. The arrest report said a K-9 unit responded and alerted to the vehicle. During the search nearly 31 grams of methamphetamines was located.
An earlier traffic stop on January 2 resulted in another sheriff K-9 search where nearly 28 grams of methamphetamines were located, deputies said.
Horvath faces several felony charges.
The Okeechobee Narcotics Task Force said a 23 year old local woman was running a drug operation in our schools.
Alkeecia Clayton was allegedly selling marijuana and THC from her home at 1635 NE 11th Street.
The arrest report said Clayton was utilizing juvenile students to sell those products at schools.
The ONTF said they were able to make several controlled purchases of marijuana from the suspect.
A search warrant was served at the residence and officers said they located 66 grams of marijuana packaged for resale, 17 grams of THC products, two firearms and drug paraphernalia.
Charges against Clayton included multiple sales of marijuana within 1,000 feet of a church, possession with intent to sell marijuana near a church, contributing to the delinquency of a child, possession of THC resin and possession of drug paraphernalia.