Month: February 2014

 
                                        CITY OF FORT LAUDERDALE
                                           POLICE DEPARTMENT

                                                PRESS RELEASE

February 5, 2014

HOMICIDE

                         

     The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is investigating a homicide that occurred on Wednesday, February 5th shortly before 8:00 A.M. The incident took place in the 1200 block of Northeast 4th Avenue in the City of Fort Lauderdale.

     The Fort Lauderdale Police Department received a report of shots fired at this location.
When the officers arrived, they discovered a male victim lying in the roadway.
The victim has been identified as Pierre Akeem Gustave, B/M, 04/11/90, a resident of the City of Margate.

     Gustave was recently released from Florida State Prison on August 13, 2013 and known to frequent the area.
This is an active and on-going investigation. Investigators are encouraging anyone who may have witnessed this shooting or who may have information about the incident to contact Detectives Mark Shotwell at 954-828-5517 or Jim Jaggers at 954-828-5970.

      I could tell it was something serious.

                          

     Just a few blocks north of Home Depot, on NE 4th Avenue, the Police vehicles were thick. Squad cars, Sergeant Cars, the Crime Scene Unit, an Ambulance and a Fire Truck.

     The yellow Police line was stretched around the perimeter, no way to see what was happening. I walked into my friend George Fortney’s appliance store and out to the back lot where George and his grandson, George, were standing. From there you could see all the carnage.

 
                   

     
          Right away it was apparent to me that another kid had been shot, gang style. The two bicycles littering the crime scene were the dead give-a-way. Another murder in South Middle River.

                      

       And there he was. Word has it that he was shot in the head while on his bike.

       Senseless…..

                                           

    Tomorrow, the Fort Lauderdale City Commission will convey some important recognitions on some worthy citizens. They will choose the Citizen of the Year, the Distinguished Citizen, Exemplary Former Employee,  and the Honored Founder.

         These are the winners from last year …

                               

      The recipients are chosen from nominations sent in from the citizenry, and a Board (made up of former Mayors and a few other leading citizens) pick the winners.

      This year, a nomination for the Distinguished Citizen came in for John Rodstrom – from his wife – the famous Charlotte Rodstrom!

      He didn’t win.

     Personally, I think John deserves some sort of recognition from us. He served the public  (albeit being well paid) for something like 30 years.

     Hell, I’ll go as far as saying that it might be time to recognize Jim Naugle for his years of service to the City ( at least his early years).

                        What do you think?

      So, what are the chances?

     That one of Fort Lauderdale’s most dependable volunteers – a retired, divorced elementary school teacher –  Marge Anderson, would meet up with a rascally Alaskan back woodsmen on a bus near Anchorage, and end up spending weeks with him, alone, at Murder Lake ??

                       

     Well sure enough it happened!

    ……   and I suggest you go to Amazon, read this fun, unusual tale, and find out for yourself!

                                                            Tim