Public Safety · Polk County
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd announced Friday that 281 people were arrested during a seven-day operation targeting child predators and human trafficking, dubbed 'Polk Around and Find Out II.' The operation produced 488 new charges including 198 felonies, with suspects from across Florida, 20 other states, and 18 countries. Separately, rapper Rick Ross (William Leonard Roberts II) faces arraignment Friday in Miami Beach on a single misdemeanor battery/domestic violence charge stemming from an alleged August incident at his Star Island home; he has pleaded not guilty. A missing boater was rescued after three days adrift near Marco Island by Collier County and Marco Island marine units.
Crime · Miami Beach, FL
The Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office filed paperwork Thursday to drop a felony battery-by-strangulation charge against rapper Rick Ross (William Roberts II) due to insufficient evidence, court records show. Ross was arrested at the Miami Beach police station on Oct. 1 after a woman he was living with reported being struck and choked during an Aug. 28 incident. He still faces a misdemeanor battery domestic violence charge and has pleaded not guilty to all charges, his attorney said Friday. Ross, a longtime South Florida resident known for helping establish Miami's hip-hop presence in the early 2000s, was freed on bail hours after surrendering.
Crime · Miami Beach, FL
Prosecutors dropped a felony battery-by-strangulation charge against rapper Rick Ross (William Roberts II) during his second arraignment hearing Friday morning in Miami, leaving only a misdemeanor battery count. Ross turned himself in to Miami Beach Police four weeks earlier after his then-girlfriend told police he slapped and struck her multiple times inside his Star Island home in August. Miami Beach Police spokesperson Christopher Bess said investigators obtained a victim statement, photographs of injuries, and surveillance video to establish probable cause. Ross's attorney expressed relief at the felony dismissal, while Ross has maintained his innocence since his arrest.
Community brief · Miami Beach, FL
The City of Miami Beach's Economic Development Department has partnered with BrightStar Credit Union to offer "Brighter Business," a free four-week virtual Small Business Financial Readiness Series that launched October 22. Upcoming sessions include Capital Pathways on November 5 and Fraud Prevention on November 12, both held virtually from 4 to 5:15 p.m. The series concludes with an in-person Business Concierge Day on November 19, from 9 a.m.…
Community brief · Miami Beach, FL
French DJ and producer David Guetta will headline New Year's Eve festivities at Fontainebleau Miami Beach's Sparkle Theatre on Thursday, Dec. 31, from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. The adults-only (21+) event features a live countdown to midnight led by Guetta. General admission tickets start at $200 for a limited early-bird offer and include premium open bar; reserved tables with bottle service and small bites are also available.
