Public Safety · Palm Beach County
Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office deputies shot and killed 30-year-old Joshua Senfeld late Wednesday, Oct. 28, at Sandalfoot Square shopping plaza at 23066 State Road 7 west of Boca Raton. A family member had called about 9:36 p.m. reporting Senfeld was threatening to take his own life; deputies located him around 9:55 p.m. and negotiated for more than an hour before he brandished a firearm in their direction, according to PBSO. The agency's updated release does not specify how many deputies fired, how many shots were discharged, or whether crisis negotiators or less-lethal options were employed. Deputies involved were placed on administrative leave, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office, and PBSO Violent Crimes Division are investigating.
Crime · Boca Raton, FL
A 60-year-old Boca Raton man was arrested Oct. 27 on a misdemeanor charge of misuse of 911 services after calling 911 to request different deputies because one responding to his home was Black, according to a Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office affidavit. Deputy Jevel Leon had been dispatched at about 9:10 p.m. to the 21100 block of Juego Circle in the Boca Lago Country Club community on a domestic disturbance call involving Frederick Troy Toder and his mother. While deputies were already inside, Toder placed a second 911 call asking for another set of deputies, stating he did not want Deputy Digsby in his home because of his race; the affidavit says no new emergency was reported. Toder was booked at Palm Beach County Main Detention Center and released after posting $1,000 bond. He faces arraignment Dec. 8 before Judge Lourdes Casanova; the charge remains an allegation.
Local Politics · Broward County
Nonpartisan forecaster Inside Elections on Thursday shifted its ratings for two South Florida congressional races toward Democrats. In District 25, running from Delray Beach to Miami Beach, the race between Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz and Republican Scott Singer moved from toss-up to tilt Democratic. In District 22, covering western Broward and Palm Beach counties, the contest between Republican Casey Askar of Naples and Democrat Pia Dandiya of Palm Beach Gardens shifted from tilt Republican to toss-up. The forecaster changed ratings in 64 races nationally, with 63 favoring Democrats, while leaving Florida's governor and U.S. Senate race assessments unchanged.
Public Safety · Broward County
Seven restaurants in Broward and Palm Beach counties were temporarily closed Oct. 21–23 after Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation inspections found violations including live flies landing on cooked chicken, cheese and tuna, roach infestations in kitchens, improper food temperatures, and employees handling food without washing hands. The closures spanned Margate, Tamarac, Davie, Coral Springs, Boca Raton and West Palm Beach. All seven locations passed follow-up inspections and reopened within one to two days. Residents can report suspected violations at myfloridalicense.com.
Crime · West Palm Beach, FL
Nadine "Nadia" Bickelhaupt filed a lawsuit Oct. 8 against St. Mary's Medical Center and providers neurosurgeon Kaveh Asadi-Moghaddam and physician's assistant Sara Seneker, alleging they failed to remove an infected bone flap from her skull after she was beaten at her West Palm Beach home in June 2025. Her ex-husband Jacob Bickelhaupt, who co-founded the now-shuttered Konro restaurant in West Palm Beach, faces attempted second-degree murder and false imprisonment charges with trial set for January 2027. The suit claims the providers' actions caused permanent injury and disfigurement. Both providers' licenses are active with no public complaints on record per the Florida Department of Health.
