STUART — Described as a loving father and caring person, Jerome Hutchinson was found early Monday morning face down on the sidewalk leading to his East Stuart residence.

The 24-year-old man had been shot in the chest, the second to die in an exceptionally violent weekend in Stuart. The first was Michael Morrison, 43, found early Saturday morning on his back next to his Jeep at The Crossings at Indian Run Apartments less than four miles away.

Morrison also had been shot in the chest, but police haven’t found a nexus between the two killings, police spokesman Sgt. Marty Jacobson said Monday.
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FORT PIERCE — Police arrested a 47-year-old man after he allegedly snatched an 11-year-old boy’s basketball and football and chased the boy and his sister with a shovel, according to recently released records.

Roger H. Willis reportedly has been dating the grandmother of the 11-year-old boy and his 21-year-old sister, the sister told police Wednesday.

The siblings were visiting the grandmother’s house and the 11-year-old boy played outside with the football and basketball, the sister said. (more…)

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Two of the youngest people to dial 911 this month were given a citizens award by Sheriff Deryl Loar for composure under pressure.

Amanda Reynolds, 8, and her brother Zachary, 7, of Indialantic were visiting their grandmother, Beverly Ferguson, of Vero Beach on July 1 when the 71-year-old was struck by a dizzy spell, she said. (more…)

FORT PIERCE — A 51-year-old associate pastor accused of backing his car up at a school into a sheriff’s deputy is facing charges, according to recently released records.

St. Lucie County sheriff’s investigators arrested Ronald J. Reeves on May 14 on felony charges including aggravated battery on an officer and resisting an officer with violence, and a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct following the events at Dale Cassens School.

Reeves reportedly arrived with an 11th-grade student and his grandmother. Reeves said he’s a mentor for the student and is an associate pastor at Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church.
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Marlins pitcher Scott Proctor (left), plays with his 3-year-old daughter, Mary Elizabeth, and wife, Carrie. Photo by Sarah Grile

JENSEN BEACH — There’s no disputing Scott Proctor’s passion for baseball. After a tough loss, the new Marlins reliever once burned his glove on the dugout steps at Yankee Stadium — “a sacrifice to the baseball gods,” he explained.

Proctor persuaded his wife to name their first child,  5-year-old Camden, after Baltimore’s baseball yard.

Their youngest, 18-month-old Cooper, got his name from the New York town that’s home to the Hall of Fame.

“It helped me understand what really matters,’’ he said. (more…)

By Ragel Thys

An Indiantown man was arrested after he exposed himself to a girl while urinating in his backyard, according to a Martin County Sheriff’s report.

Around noon on Thursday, Pedro Francisco, 57, was seen urinating outside by the girl’s grandmother, said the report.

The grandmother asked Francisco to use the bathroom inside his home in the 15200 block of Southwest Seminole Drive, the repot said.

The grandmother said that Francisco responded in Spanish and she could not understand.

Francisco was then caught urinating again when a deputy in the area. saw him, the report states.

Francisco was then arrested and faces a misdemeanor charge of exposing himself.