Compensation Approved For Wrongfully Convicted Florida Man Who Spent 43 Years In Prison

TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/NSF) – Key Florida House and Florida Senate panels Tuesday unanimously approved a plan that would provide $2.15 million to a man who spent 43 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted in a murder and attempted murder in 1976 in Jacksonville.

The House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Subcommittee backed identical bills (HB 6507 and SB 28).

House members apologized to former inmate Clifford Williams, who briefly spoke to the House panel. “On behalf of the state of Florida, we apologize,” Rep. Bobby DuBose, D-Fort Lauderdale, said. Later, Senate bill sponsor Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville, told the Senate panel that the “bill is about innocence. It’s about a man who was not a saint but not a murderer either.”

Williams’ exoneration came after a review of his case by the Conviction Integrity Review Division established by State Attorney Melissa Nelson in the 4th Judicial Circuit, which is made up of Clay, Duval and Nassau counties.

The review revealed that “multiple credible alibi witnesses” were not called to testify during his 1976 trial, House Special Master Jordan Jones wrote in a report on the bill.

“I find that claimant has successfully demonstrated, by clear and convincing evidence, that he is actually innocent of the crimes for which he was convicted in 1976,” Jones wrote in the eight-page report.

House bill sponsor Kimberly Daniels, D-Jacksonville, said the compensation would not make up for the time Williams spent in prison or the experiences he missed over the years with his family.

But Daniels said the bill “sends a message loud and clear that here at the House of Representatives, we care.” The bill, which would provide $50,000 for each year Williams spent in prison, must clear the House Judiciary Committee before it could go to the full House.

Gibson’s bill needs to clear the Senate Appropriations Committee before it could go to the full Senate.

(©2020 CBS Local Media. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The News Service of Florida’s contributed to this report.)

Compensation Approved For Wrongfully Convicted Florida Man Who Spent 43 Years In Prison

TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/NSF) – Key Florida House and Florida Senate panels Tuesday unanimously approved a plan that would provide $2.15 million to a man who spent 43 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted in a murder and attempted murder in 1976 in Jacksonville.

The House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Subcommittee backed identical bills (HB 6507 and SB 28).

House members apologized to former inmate Clifford Williams, who briefly spoke to the House panel. “On behalf of the state of Florida, we apologize,” Rep. Bobby DuBose, D-Fort Lauderdale, said. Later, Senate bill sponsor Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville, told the Senate panel that the “bill is about innocence. It’s about a man who was not a saint but not a murderer either.”

Williams’ exoneration came after a review of his case by the Conviction Integrity Review Division established by State Attorney Melissa Nelson in the 4th Judicial Circuit, which is made up of Clay, Duval and Nassau counties.

The review revealed that “multiple credible alibi witnesses” were not called to testify during his 1976 trial, House Special Master Jordan Jones wrote in a report on the bill.

“I find that claimant has successfully demonstrated, by clear and convincing evidence, that he is actually innocent of the crimes for which he was convicted in 1976,” Jones wrote in the eight-page report.

House bill sponsor Kimberly Daniels, D-Jacksonville, said the compensation would not make up for the time Williams spent in prison or the experiences he missed over the years with his family.

But Daniels said the bill “sends a message loud and clear that here at the House of Representatives, we care.” The bill, which would provide $50,000 for each year Williams spent in prison, must clear the House Judiciary Committee before it could go to the full House.

Gibson’s bill needs to clear the Senate Appropriations Committee before it could go to the full Senate.

(©2020 CBS Local Media. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The News Service of Florida’s contributed to this report.)

Florida Man Trying To Kill “Demons” Tormenting Him Went On Sledgehammer Spree

BIG PINE KEY (CBSMiami) – A Hialeah Gardens man trying to kill “demons’ he believed were tormenting him went on a sledgehammer spree that did thousands of dollars in damages to cars and residences.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office began receiving multiple 911 phone calls Sunday afternoon at around 2:30 p.m. from a number of residents on Little Torch Key who said a man with a sledgehammer was destroying property throughout the neighborhood.

When deputies arrived, they were told the man had jumped in a canal. That man was later identified as 32-year-old Rafael Suarez Gomez.

When one of the deputies went one street over, he found Gomez walking down Blackbeard Road carrying a sledgehammer.

Gomez was ordered to drop the sledgehammer and get on the ground. He did so and then wrapped himself up in the fetal position. Gomez pulled away multiple times when deputies tried to handcuff him. They were forced to use a Taser to subdue him so he could be taken into custody.

When deputies canvassed the neighborhood, one resident of Blackbeard Road said Gomez broke a $300 window at his residence and then ran away. One of the man’s neighbors said Gomez struck his pickup truck door, causing $200 in damage, before running away to another neighbor’s house.

Deputies found two more vehicles with extensive damage: Windows smashed, side mirrors smashed and multiple dents. The vehicles belonged to Fine Design Builders. Next to one of the vehicles was a camper also owned by the business. The entire inside of the camper had been destroyed. Deputies spoke to a business employee who stated Gomez lives in the trailer. Deputies totaled seven sliding doors, two hurricane French doors, six windows, four mirrors, one microwave oven, and two televisions were all destroyed, along with multiple holes in the walls.

Gomez reportedly told investigators he had been drinking that day when someone gave him an unknown narcotic drug that he took. Gomez said a short time later he began seeing “demons” and it was the “demons” who ordered him to damage property. Gomez stated he was trying to kill the “demons” with the sledgehammer.

There were no serious injuries reported.

Gomez was taken to jail. He faces multiple charges of property damage, property damage greater than $1,000, burglary and resisting arrest.

Florida Man Trying To Kill “Demons” Tormenting Him Went On Sledgehammer Spree

BIG PINE KEY (CBSMiami) – A Hialeah Gardens man trying to kill “demons’ he believed were tormenting him went on a sledgehammer spree that did thousands of dollars in damages to cars and residences.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office began receiving multiple 911 phone calls Sunday afternoon at around 2:30 p.m. from a number of residents on Little Torch Key who said a man with a sledgehammer was destroying property throughout the neighborhood.

When deputies arrived, they were told the man had jumped in a canal. That man was later identified as 32-year-old Rafael Suarez Gomez.

When one of the deputies went one street over, he found Gomez walking down Blackbeard Road carrying a sledgehammer.

Gomez was ordered to drop the sledgehammer and get on the ground. He did so and then wrapped himself up in the fetal position. Gomez pulled away multiple times when deputies tried to handcuff him. They were forced to use a Taser to subdue him so he could be taken into custody.

When deputies canvassed the neighborhood, one resident of Blackbeard Road said Gomez broke a $300 window at his residence and then ran away. One of the man’s neighbors said Gomez struck his pickup truck door, causing $200 in damage, before running away to another neighbor’s house.

Deputies found two more vehicles with extensive damage: Windows smashed, side mirrors smashed and multiple dents. The vehicles belonged to Fine Design Builders. Next to one of the vehicles was a camper also owned by the business. The entire inside of the camper had been destroyed. Deputies spoke to a business employee who stated Gomez lives in the trailer. Deputies totaled seven sliding doors, two hurricane French doors, six windows, four mirrors, one microwave oven, and two televisions were all destroyed, along with multiple holes in the walls.

Gomez reportedly told investigators he had been drinking that day when someone gave him an unknown narcotic drug that he took. Gomez said a short time later he began seeing “demons” and it was the “demons” who ordered him to damage property. Gomez stated he was trying to kill the “demons” with the sledgehammer.

There were no serious injuries reported.

Gomez was taken to jail. He faces multiple charges of property damage, property damage greater than $1,000, burglary and resisting arrest.

Florida Man With Hepatitis A Sues Denny’s

TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/NSF) – A Florida man who contracted hepatitis A is suing the restaurant chain Denny’s, Inc. and the company that operates a Denny’s franchise in Osceola County.

The lawsuit alleges that William Reyes ate at a Denny’s restaurant in Kissimmee in October and “within a few days began experiencing nausea, constipation, fatigue, abdominal pain, jaundice, and significant weight loss.”

Reyes was ultimately diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to the lawsuit.

The complaint, filed against Denny’s and franchise operator EYM Realty of Florida, LLC, also alleges that a Department of Health investigation revealed that two restaurant employees were infected with hepatitis A.

Denny’s and EYM “had an obligation to ensure a safe and clean dining environment for their patrons,” Reyes’ attorneys John Morgan and Tyler Kobylinski of the Morgan & Morgan law firm said in a statement Friday.

“This incurable disease is only transmitted when a person ingests food or water that has been contaminated with the feces of an infected person; it’s unfathomable that this could occur at a family establishment,” the lawyers said.

The lawsuit — filed Thursday in the 9th Judicial Circuit, which includes Orange and Osceola counties — seeks at least $30,000 in damages and contends that both Denny’s and EYM were negligent and liable for what happened.

But EYM Group Director of Legal Services Salvador Elias said the company had not been served with the lawsuit and, therefore, he had no comment. Immediate attempts to contact Denny’s Inc. on Friday were unsuccessful.

Florida is in the midst of a hepatitis A outbreak that prompted state officials to declare a public health emergency in August.

Since January 2019, nearly 3,200 cases have been reported throughout the state. While the emergency has not ended, the number of new hepatitis A cases has started to drop the last two months.

Hepatitis A can cause liver damage and is spread through such things as fecal matter. That can include transmission by people not properly washing their hands after going to the bathroom and contaminating food or drinks. Health officials have urged people to get vaccinated against the disease.

(©2020 CBS Local Media. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The News Service of Florida’s contributed to this report.)