ST. LUCIE COUNTY — After weeks of police officer training in a classroom, Indian River State College students move on to a small platform that provides a high-tech simulation of how they react in a real-life situation.

They’re given a weapon that only emits lasers and equipped with a belt that zaps them if they put themselves in danger.

“It teaches consequences if they make bad decisions,” Stephen Huntsberger, associate dean of Public Service Education for IRSC, said of the VirTra Systems simulator at the complex.

The simulator is one of the planned demonstrations at Friday’s public open house at the new Indian River State College Public Safety Complex.
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VERO BEACH — Officials said they’re still investigating the cause of death of a Hialeah man found Saturday in the pool at a resort hotel owned by pop star Gloria Estefan and her husband, Emilio.

Enrique Perez, 69, was vacationing with family at Costa D’Este in the 3200 block of Ocean Drive, police spokesman Officer John Morrison said.

About 2 p.m. Saturday, Kelly Wakeman, 24, of Tallahassee said she was sitting at the side of the pool when she and others noticed Perez submerged, face down and not moving in the 6-feet, 6-inch depth area of the pool.
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FORT PIERCE — A St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office deputy was arrested Sunday on a DUI charge after she reportedly was seen weaving in traffic and stumbling when she exited her sport utility vehicle, according to an affidavit released Monday.

Two breath tests measured 49-year-old Consuela Hall Curtis’s blood-alcohol level as 0.144 and 0.153 percent — greater than the legal limit of 0.08 percent. Curtis is a court security deputy who joined the Sheriff’s Office in 2003, according to the Sheriff’s Office. She was off duty in her personal vehicle at the time.

An off-duty sheriff’s sergeant saw Curtis driving west Sunday afternoon on Okeechobee Road from Interstate 95, noting her GMC SUV was weaving and cutting across all lanes of traffic.
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STUART — The nonprofit Surfrider organization isn’t doing much celebrating two weeks after its 25th anniversary Arts and Music Celebration has left about $75,000 in unpaid debts, about half to local vendors.

The Treasure Coast chapter president has resigned under pressure from the local board, which said he exceeded his authority in organizing the event.

And, the Surfrider Foundation’s Florida group of chapters has canceled its state conference to put that money toward paying the bills.
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HUTCHINSON ISLAND — The fizzling economy continues to keep progress at a standstill on the new Oceanside Resort hotel on Hutchinson Island.

The new resort, which is slated to replace the partially destroyed 184-room Holiday Inn Oceanside just south of Jensen Beach Causeway, was scheduled for completion by next year. But Huizenga Holdings, which now owns the complex, is still trying to secure all necessary permits and retool its business plan in accordance with the economic downturn. (more…)

STUART — A judge has permanently dismissed parts of a lawsuit against famed Stuart attorney Willie Gary on claims he raped a woman nearly two years ago at a Stuart hotel.

Martin Circuit Judge Elizabeth Metzger in a ruling filed today dismissed claims from attorneys for Jillian Nedd that Gary’s alleged assault on her was a part of an ongoing pattern of criminal activity in which Gary was supposed to have engaged in similar acts with other women.

Metzger first found that the alleged acts concerning the other women did not result in any injury to Nedd, so she could not rely on them for her claims. The judge further ruled that the other claims directly related to Nedd weren’t enough to hold up the lawsuit’s claims of racketeering.

Gary’s attorneys Michael Pike and Bob Critton described the ruling as a huge win for Gary.

“The judge made a ruling that consistent with the law within the state of Florida and the United States,” Pike said. “We’re thrilled with the outcome.”

Pike added that he and Critton intend to ask Metzger to force Nedd and her attorneys to award them more than $100,000 in attorneys fees and costs for both their firm and Gary.

Since Nedd accused Gary of rape in August 2007, the two filed criminal complaints against each other - Nedd for rape against Gary, Gary against Nedd, her husband and a friend for extortion. No criminal charges materialized in either case.

Metzger’s ruling precludes Nedd’s attorney from filing that portion of the lawsuit against Gary again. Several other claims in the lawsuit are still in dispute.

Jillian Nedd

Willie E. Gary

Attorneys for Jillian Nedd and Gary’s firm - Gary, Williams, Finney, Lewis, Watson and Speranado - argued over whether the case should be dismissed for the fourth time earlier this month before Judge Elizabeth Metzger.

Judges three times in the past have thrown out the suit but given Nedd’s attorneys Linda Capobianco, Jerome Stone and Mark Johnson permission to refile the suit with more specific information.

Metzger in her ruling wrote that Nedd’s attorneys did not have a viable claim under the part of their suit that alleged Gary committed the acts while he was employed to “further a purpose of interest, however excessive or misguided, of the employer.”

The judge, however, did allow Nedd’s attorneys to continue to pursue the lawsuit on the allegations that the firm was negligent in not trying to control or prevent Gary’s alleged actions.

Nedd in the summer of 2007 accused Gary of raping her at a Stuart hotel. Gary said the sex was consensual. Police at the end of a criminal investigation did not bring charges against Gary.

Authorities also did not seek charges against Nedd on accusations from Gary that Nedd, her husband and one of their friends used the rape allegations to extort $20 million from him.

FORT PIERCE — Raybin J. Williams said he had to do what he had to do for gas money to make it back home.

That, police said, apparently included robbing a Waffle House with another man Monday and taking a couple of shots at someone who fired at him.

In the end, Williams, 24, and 22-year-old Corey Cooper, were arrested following the 3:10 a.m. stick-up of the Okeechobee Road eatery, according to records and a police spokeswoman.
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VERO BEACH — Baseball is scheduled to return to Dodgertown, but it will be primarily amateur level events conducted under the auspices of Minor League Baseball rather than professional players, officials announced today.

The agreement to bring Minor League Baseball here ends months of speculation of what was going to happen to Dodgertown.

History
Photos: Dodgertown’s last hurrah

Gallery: Beginnings of Dodgertown

After 61 years of spring training in Vero Beach, Dodgertown now sits empty
‘Dem bums’

While the facility won’t be hosting Major League Baseball spring training in the near future, officials with Minor League Baseball believe they will still have a major economic impact in the area.

Pat O’Conner, president of Minor League Baseball, said he believes the facility could play host to events for 35 to 40 weeks in the first year of operation alone, which could start as early as spring 2010. (more…)

VERO BEACH — A baseball-related organization is reportedly close to signing a five-year agreement for the use of Dodgertown.

County officials are declining to release the name of the proposed new tenant, although county officials previously met with Minor League Baseball President Pat O’Conner about the facility.

While the deal expected does not involve a Major League team, it leaves open the possibility of one using Holman Stadium for spring training in the future.
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