Tag Archives: Fort Lauderdale

The Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel reports: Richard Henry Patterson, the Margate man who initially claimed his girlfriend choked to death during oral sex, was found not guilty today of second-degree murder. The verdict was announced just under five hours after the jury began its deliberations. Patterson, 65, faced a maximum of life in prison if convicted of the murder of Francisca …

Fort Lauderdale’s ABC affiliate reports: An associate medical examiner testified Thursday in the murder trial of a South Florida man accused of killing his girlfriend that he’s never before seen an example of someone choking to death from oral sex. But that’s what defense attorney Ken Padowitz intends to present to the jury in the murder trial of Richard Patterson …

Oh, Florida. Fort Lauderdale’s ABC affiliate reports: Attorneys argued in court Monday over whether the penis of a South Florida man accused of killing his girlfriend should be shown to the jury in his murder trial. Richard Patterson, 65, of Margate, is charged with second-degree murder in the choking death of his girlfriend, Francisca Marquinez, 60, in 2015. Jury selection …

The Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel reports: Calling his message hate speech, critics have unleashed a torrent of opposition against one of the speakers for the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast — and against the Fort Lauderdale mayor himself. Focus on the Family President Jim Daly, a conservative Christian who has spoken out against same-sex marriage and adoption of children by same-sex couples, is …

According to breaking reports, nine people were injured and at least one is dead in an apparent mass shooting at the Fort Lauderdale airport this afternoon. The shooter is reportedly in custody. Thousands of passengers have been evacuated out onto the tarmac. Former White House press secretary and CNN commentator Ari Fleischer happened to be there and he’s live-tweeting from …

Via press release: The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau will launch a new global marketing and advertising campaign on January 9th featuring three transgender models, and will become the world’s first destination to use transgender models in mainstream destination advertising. Greater Fort Lauderdale’s campaign, which also features straight, gay and lesbian models, follows the destination’s long and storied …

The Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel reports: Federal prosecutors are dropping the criminal case against a man accused of issuing a Facebook threat to “exterminate” gay people in South Florida, according to a court document filed Tuesday. The decision to drop the case against Craig Jungwirth comes about six weeks after prosecutors publicly acknowledged in court that the evidence against him was …

UPDATE: The event has begun. At 3PM today Hillary Clinton will hold a rally at The Manor, the largest of the 15 or so gay nightclubs that crowd the main strip of Wilton Manors. I’m putting this post up a little early just to give you a heads-up. From the Fort Lauderale Sun-Sentinel: The appearance shows the importance the Clinton …

Fort Lauderdale’s ABC affiliate reports: A former court specialist is suing Broward Clerk of Courts Howard Forman for firing her over what she is claiming to be religious discrimination. According to a lawsuit obtained by Local 10 News, Yanicka Parker also works as a minister and is a regular attendee of Faith Deliverance Tabernacle, in Fort Lauderdale. Parker claims in …

JMG reader Richard tips us that Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner Dean Trantalis just announced on his Facebook page that Craig Jungwirth, who is suspected of having made terrorist threats against Wilton Manors gay bars, has been apprehended in the Orlando area. See his message below. At this writing no further details are available. I’ll update this post shortly when more …

The suspect is a gay man with a lengthy criminal history who is very well known to the South Florida bear community, bar owners, and club promoters. Via Miami’s NBC affiliate: The Broward LGBT community is on edge after threats were made on social media. Some bars in Wilton Manors, like Rumors Bar and Grill, are stepping up security with …

Miami’s ABC affiliate reports: Two billboards designed to bring awareness to the spread of the Zika virus have been removed in Broward County after their depiction of an unrolled condom stirred controversy. A spokesperson with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation said pressure from the Fort Lauderdale Mayor’s office and the Tourism Board caused their signage company to pull the ad from …

A Caracas, Venezuela-bound charter plane from North Carolina-based Dynamic Airways burst into flames on the Fort Lauderdale runway this afternoon. Photos and video from the scene show the plane engulfed in thick black flames before firefighters came and extinguished the fire with a white foam. As of 1pm ET, the fire has been put out and everyone was safely off …

Via the Miami Herald: A Fort Lauderdale police officer was “relieved of duty with pay” Monday afternoon after a video surfaced on YouTube showing the officer pushing and slapping a homeless man at a Broward bus terminal, Fort Lauderdale police confirmed Monday night. The video, posted by chitownchico87able, shows the officer — being identified by WSVN-7 as Victor Ramirez — …

The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau this morning hosted a sunrise wedding ceremony for over 100 same-sex couples. The nuptials had been slated to take place on the beach, but a torrential rainstorm moved the festivities across the street to the cosponsoring W Hotel, where the staff was standing by and already set up. Lance Bass, whose own …

Hundreds of couples are lined up across Florida at the county clerks’ offices that have kindly opened their doors tonight. Weddings will continues until the wee hours of morning.

Via the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel: The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau plans to invite at least 100 couples from around the country and around the world to marry oceanside in a common ceremony sometime this winter, said Nicki Grossman, president of the Broward County tourism group in an interview. The 100 number also will honor Broward’s 100th birthday …

After gaining national scorn for its new law against feeding homeless people, Fort Lauderdale police yesterday declined to rearrest a 90-year-old anti-poverty activist for defying the law by again distributing meals in a public park. Via the Associated Press: Despite being charged with violating a new law by feeding the homeless in South Florida, 90-year-old Arnold Abbott said he’s not …

Via Fort Lauderdale’s Sun-Sentinel: Uniformed police shut down an effort to provide lunch to scores of homeless in Stranahan Park on Sunday, enforcing a law passed recently that puts new limits on outdoor feeding sites. At least three people were cited for violating the new ordinance, including two members of the clergy and a 90-year-old advocate who has handed out …