JENSEN BEACH — A tile setter who had not been paid in three weeks told Martin County sheriff’s investigators he decided to rob a bank to get money Monday morning.

William Albert Crowell, 44, of the 4100 block of Cinnamon Circle, was arrested 31 minutes after being suspected of handing the teller at the PNC Bank at 1021 N.E. Jensen Beach Blvd. a note that read: “Give me the money. Have gun.”

The teller handed him a pack of money that included a dye pack and he left the bank. The dye pack exploded, and he fled in a gray Chevrolet. He was followed by a witness who reported his travels to 911 operators.

Crowell, who is wanted for parole violations in Massachusetts, returned to the Cinnamon Circle address where his fiancee was taking a shower.

The house was soon surrounded by deputies, who then entered it and arrested Crowell, charging him with bank robbery. He told investigators he had not been paid, was behind on his bills and was afraid he would be thrown out of his home.

His fiancee told officers she thought he had left for work about 8:30 a.m., but then he returned about 10:30 a.m., while she was in the shower. She saw him washing his hands, face and hair, and placing his trousers in the washing machine. Then he told her he had robbed a bank, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Crowell told officers he acted alone and was unarmed. He is being held without bond.

JENSEN BEACH — A female pedestrian was struck and killed by a car about 6:15 a.m. Thursday at Dixie Highway and Northeast Roberta Street, shutting down Dixie Highway at that location, officials said.

The woman was dead at the scene, officials said.

The accident happened in front of Langford Park in the area of Jensen Heights. According to Florida Highway Patrol troopers, a husband and wife were taking a walk when the wife was struck by a car heading north on Dixie.

The woman appeared to have walked out in front of gold, four-door Ford driven by a man, troopers said. She ended up about 45 feet from the point of contact.

The car and driver were on the scene. The driver was too distraught to talk.

The area that was closed was roughly from Jensen Beach Bowl to the Stuart Welcome Arch. Dixie Highway reopened about 8:55 a.m.

FHP troopers were called to the scene at 6:33 a.m. and arrived at 6:56 a.m. Martin County Sheriff’s deputies were also at the scene.

A couple accused of leaving their 7-month-old daughter unattended in a mini-van was arrested Monday, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office said.

Walter Lugo

According to a sheriff’s report, deputy Lynne Martella responded at approximately 7:15 p.m. Monday to the parking lot of Joanne’s Fabrics in Jensen Beach. Witnesses reported that the child had been left in the vehicle for approximately 30 minutes.

The vehicle was discovered unlocked and with the windows rolled-up and the ignition turned off. The child did not require medical attention, but her clothing was damp from perspiration and no supplies to care for her were located, the report said.

Monica Alastra

The Department of Children and Familes was notified and both children were turned over to a family member.

JENSEN BEACH — Country singer Chuck Wicks made his case as a good boyfriend Saturday night after his girlfriend Julianne Hough came down with the flu and couldn’t perform at the 22nd annual Pineapple Festival in downtown Jensen Beach.

In a surprise last-minute move, Wicks played in Hough’s place — and said he scored some brownie points with his better half — to cap off a breezy Saturday filled with rides, traditional festival food and drink, daredevil BMX trick shows, parades and music.

“It was touch-and-go all day,” said Ron Rose, Jensen Beach Chamber of Commerce executive director. “A lot of people went out of their way to make it happen. I just thank God he (Wicks) was on his way to Homestead and turned around.”
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HOBE SOUND — Kobie O. Gary, son of famed local lawyer Willie Gary, and Hobe Sound resident Steven A. Shepherd did not make any statements to investigators before being released on $10,000 bail each late Tuesday.

Kobie Gary, 30, and Shepherd, 33, were arrested Tuesday after investigators found more than 250 marijuana plants growing at the home where Shepherd lives in the 7200 block of Southeast Mulberry Drive. The relationship between the men wasn’t known.

Investigators stopped Kobie Gary as he walked out of the grow house’s front door and got in a Chevrolet Tahoe, according to the arrest affidavit. (more…)

UPDATE: Martin County Sheriff’s deputies spoke with Robert Bigelow this morning, after he was reunited with his family. He said he traveled to Miami, had vehicle trouble and slept in his car. He drove to Manors of Hobe Sound this morning.

Robert Bigelow, 93, of Barbara Drive, Jensen Beach, is missing, according to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.
He was headed south about 1:30 p.m. toward Manors of Hobe Sound in a 1996 white Toyota Corolla, license plate L416DX, to visit a family member, according to the department’s news release. His family said he makes the trip daily.

Robert Bigelow

JENSEN BEACH — A three-year court battle in the war of words between the Jensen Beach Group and the developer of the controversial Pitchford’s Landing project is over, both sides said Monday.

An agreement was reached to settle the lawsuit Bill and Nancy Reily and Reily Enterprises filed in July 2006 against the Jensen Beach Group and several of its members. Also settled was the civic group’s counterclaim against the developer.
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David Smythe, a long-time Stuart resident and owner of a Volvo dealership in New Jersey, celebrated his 82nd birthday this year by giving $2 million to Martin Memorial Health Systems.

Smythe, who gave the hospital $500,000 last year, said he was impressed by the quality of care he received there after injuring his leg.

“You couldn’t ask for nicer people,” he said of the hospital staff. “They work really hard.”

Smythe’s $2 million gift, which was announced last week, will help support Martin Memorial’s maternal-child and pediatric programs. In gratitude, hospital officials have said they will name part of the maternal-child department after him. (more…)

After losing several national chain retailers this year, the Treasure Coast Square mall is starting to see those empty spots fill up — this time with local businesses.

Five of six new stores at the mall are locally owned.

New stores include: Kiss My Glass, a glass jewelry store with a location in Vero Beach; Vogees Boutique, a women’s store with a location in Wellington; The Fishing Center, which has another location in Fort Pierce; and Jumping Times, a bungee jumping and trampoline center.

Also new is an environmentally friendly car wash called ProntoWash Eco AutoSpa. (more…)

JENSEN BEACH A man was allegedly beaten and robbed because he refused a toothless woman’s offer for sex, according to an incident report by released by Martin County deputies Tuesday.

The victim told investigators the woman, who is in her 20s, visited him at home in the 2500 block of Northeast Indian River Drive around 1 a.m. Sunday and attempted to become intimate with him.
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