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Animal advocates question abuser's punishment

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 03:35:23 GMT

GLYNN COUNTY, Ga. -- Cathy Tyre says she "loves animals." But she admits to beating her two puppies with a sledgehammer until they died.

"I was crying the whole time," Tyre told Action News. "The puppies were real sick."

She pleaded guilty to animal cruelty and was placed on probation for five years. Tyre must also pay a 2,000 dollar fine and complete 200 hours of community service.

But animal advocates say that punishment doesn't go far enough. Scott Trebatoski is the director of Duval County Animal Care and Control. "A simple fine doesn't change people's behavior," says Trebatoski.

If Tyre was sentenced in Florida, the punishment would be much more harsh. "If this case were here, I would have fought for a minimum of five years with an additional five years being probation," Trebatoski told Action News.

Tyre says she regrets killing her puppies and is already paying the price. "I feel bad about it," says Tyre. "It was the wrong choice to make and I freely admit it. I'm going to do whatever I have to do to pay for it."

JU's wild tournament run

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 03:56:35 GMT

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- March Madness means overtime for Jacksonville University.

It's the host school for the NCAA games at Veterans Memorial Arena on Friday and Sunday.

Employees with Jacksonville University's Athletic Department have been assisted schools arriving for the games and helping set up the Arena downtown.

JU mens basketball team is also in the post season.

They advanced to the second round of the NIT after a thrilling one point win over Arizona State Tuesday night in Tempe, AZ.

"It still hasn't sunk in that we beat Arizona State," said JU Sports Information Director Joel Lamp.

Lamp is one of the many JU employees who went back to work at the arena Wednesday after arriving that same day from Arizona.

"Lets keep the season going" said Lamp, who will fly to Texas for JU's NIT second round match up with Texas Tech Monday.

A warning to be safe at beach on St. Patrick's Day

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:00:06 GMT

Jacksonville Beach, Fla.-- Police warn people to be safe at the beach on St. Patrick's Day.

Hundreds of people were out at Jacksonville Beach celebrating St. Patrick's Day. But not everyone was drinking green beer. Police were visible on street corners and bars have extra guards at the door. They're trying to keep people safe. "They haven't caught the guy and how many people are walking up and down the street," said Chris Sandberg.

Police are searching for a man who brutally raped a woman on the beach this past weekend. An attack that has left people like Rebecca Mitchell a little on edge. "You're scared someone is around the corner of the porch or something."

Fear isn't always something you can see. The bars were still packed. But one woman has some words of advice for everyone when the party is over. "Be careful, be aware of your surroundings, stay in groups and watch out for yourself," said Debi.

Action News has learned the woman who was raped is still in serious condition. Several people who frequent the Mission House tell us she is homeless, very quiet and petite. Police did interview a person of interest in the case but say he is no longer considered that.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police.

Prayer in school

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 01:06:06 GMT

Shawn Gay is a math teacher at the Shekinah Christian Academy.

He teachers the numbers, ad the scriptures.

His students are allowed to pray in the classroom.

"Every student that comes to this school is not christian so we understand that and take that into consideration and we talk to them and not judge them," says Gay.

"The more we pray, it seems it brings a greater peaces and calmness," says Pastor, R.J. Washington.

Things are different at public schools.

Right now, school districts are only required to provide space for groups to get together. But that may change soon. Lawmakers met and debated the controversial issue of prayer in schools. A committee passed House Bill 31, that allows students to pray at their on discretion, without any discouragement.

"What this bill does is, it doesn't encourage, it prohibits members of the school board, and teachers from discouraging students to gather at non-compulsory events and have inspirational messages and prayers," says Senator Mike Wiestein.

And this is good news for Gay's homeroom class.

They've been praying every morning, that lawmakers give every student the option to exercise their faith.

"Even if someone was to say its not fair I would say its not fair to take that opportunity or privileged away from a child. The bottom line is in this day in age especially, we really need prayer in schools. Its not going to hurt, it will most definitely help," says Gay.

Thousands stolen from Red Cross

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:45:30 GMT

Police say while the Red Cross was helping people in need, an employee was helping herself to the company's money.

"We saw some discrperencies in those cards we use for client's assistance, so we started an internal investigation," says the company's CEO, Jack Morgan .

And during that investigation, Morgan says Red Cross officials found more than $33,000 missing. And police say 37-year-old Nicole Urbani is the one who stole it.

"It did not involve any clients and so we continued to serve all clients and they got the assistance they needed," added Morgan.

A house on Mills Road is clearly still standing.

But on May 5th of 2009, Urbani reported a house fire left the home damaged.

Urbani issued a client assistance debit card for $635,000 for the homeowner.

When the homeowner was contacted, he said there was no fire at his home.

Investigators tell us this is how Urbani stole thousands of dollars.

After reporting dozens of fake fires at different addresses, police say Urbani, issued assistance debit cards, in which she used herself.

Urbani is behind bars, and the Red Cross is trying to make sure they can keep helping people without being robbed themselves.

During this process we added some additional procedures to make sire the donor money that we give it protected," says Morgan.

Beach Rape Victim: Friends say she was sweet, pretty, petite

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 23:02:09 GMT

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. -- No major breaks in the rape and attempted murder of a woman at Jacksonville Beach.

But Action News is learning more about the victim of the attack.

We followed leads that led us straight to a local homeless shelter. Several people who frequent the Mission House on Shetter Avenue tell us they know the 45-year-old victim very well.

They say she too is homeless. They say she's quiet, pretty, petite. And they say her attack has them all worried.

They say they know living on the street comes with a fair share of risk, but no one expects to be so viciously attacked, in a place where they sleep.

Fighting terror in the skies

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:40:00 GMT

BRUNSWICK, Ga. -- Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano gets a first hand look at a local center, leading the fight against terror.

Secretary Napolitano was on hand at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynn County, Georgia as federal agents practiced storming a scale model of a passenger jet.

September 11^th awakened America to the threat of planes being used as weapons of mass destruction. Since then training has been constant updated as security expects react to new threats. Wednesday, Secretary Napolitano got an up close look at that training.

In a room dressed up to look like a wide-body jet, the secretary watched as two “terrorists” tried to take over the plane. The men stood up and waved stun devices designed to look like knives. Within seconds, the only “police officer” on board drew his weapon and fired shots to incapacitate the “terrorists.”

The exercise was to show how quickly and efficiently an officer must react to take down any threat.

Speaking in front of an audience of federal agents and officers getting similar training, Secretary Napolitano said such exercises are the type of training the department of homeland security specializes in.

“[We] are always thinking about what we can do to minimize risk to the citizens of the United States and to make sure that not only are they protected to the greatest extent possible, but that we can respond to the greatest extent possible when something does happen.

A terror attempt on a plane from the Netherlands to Detroit Christmas day proved that attacks using planes are still being planned. Napolitano said improving the security at airports abroad is a now a priority for her department.

Lake City police search for pharmacy robbery suspect

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:19:28 GMT

LAKE CITY, Fla. -- Lake City Police Department are looking for a suspect who robbed a local Walgreens pharmacy.

A man walked into the Walgreens on SW U.S. 90 and went to the pharmacy. He handed the pharmacist a note that had a threat that demanded Oxycotin or he'll shoot up the place.

The pharmacist handed over the Oxycotin and the suspect left. Witnesses at the scene said that possibly a gray Pontiac Grand Am or Grand Prix left quickly from the store.

Police responded along with a Columbia County Sheriff's Office K-9 but were not able to find any track of the suspect.

If you have any information please contact the Lake City Police Department on the TIP line at 386-719-2068.

Wet evening

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:07:42 GMT

JACKSONVILLE, Fla -- Showers will spread back across the metro area and much of Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia through this evening. Brief heavy showers will occur through 10pm but total rainfall will still only average a quarter to a half inch.
Thursday will be another unseasonably cool day with lots of clouds and still a few scattered showers. Highs will only reach the low to mid 60s. But much warmer days are just around the corner with highs reaching the 70s Friday.

Teen arrested in shooting facing adult charges

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:12:32 GMT

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A teen arrested for shooting his 16 year-old friend in January is now facing adult charges.

Kenneth Ray Stephens, 16, plead not guilty to his new charges in court Wednesday morning. He will appear Thursday in front a judge to ask for his bond to be reduced.

Stephens was arrested for shooting Alex Ross in January but was only being charged with juvenile offenses. The Assistant State Attorney working on the case told Action News that Stephens now faces charges of attempted second degree murder. He is being charged with possession of a firearm by a minor and tampering with evidence.

Both teens were inside of a home on Clarendon Road when Stephen's gun accidentally shot Ross. Stephens through the gun away and originally told police he didn't know what happened.

Ross spent months inside Shands recovering then was released to Brooks Rehabilitation Center where he has learned to walk again.