PORT ST. LUCIE — Hundreds of Tesoro property owners aren’t waiting around while their subdivision’s developer grinds through bankruptcy court: They’re filing their own lawsuits against Ginn Resorts and its affiliates.

Property owners are charging Ginn with a host of wrongdoings, including selling lots through Ponzi schemes, fraudulently inflating property values, lying to and duping clients, failing to account for hundreds of thousands of dollars in membership dues and missing escrow accounts and backing out on promises to build amenities.

Timothy Vetrano, 72, a retiree from Manhasset, N.Y., who lives at Tesoro with his wife Marilyn, said his experience falls under “buyer beware.”
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VERO BEACH — Indian River County Administrator Joe Baird refused to take a Breathalyzer test but failed most of the sobriety exercises he performed Saturday when he was charged with driving under the influence, according to an arrest affidavit released Monday.

While Baird faces some legal consequences for the charge, county officials said the matter wouldn’t have professional ramifications.
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VERO BEACH — Caitlin Henderson’s poodle, French bulldog and border collie were playing in her back yard as usual when she came home from work Wednesday.

But their shelled, spiky-legged, wanna-be-pooch pal Reily was nowhere in sight.

Reily, a 30-pound, foot-and-a-half long rare African tortoise who’s been in the Henderson family for six years, was missing.

And since Reily’s not the most deft-of-foot creature — though not nearly as slow as the stereotype indicates — Henderson, 25, fears someone stole her prized pet.

“Reily steals the dogs’ food and hangs out with them like any other dog would,” Henderson said. “He means a lot to us. He’s one of our dogs, basically.”

Henderson last saw her 15-year-old African spur thigh tortoise during a 2 p.m. lunch break from work at a local animal hospital. When she got back from work at 6 p.m., the tortoise was gone, even though everything else about the yard appeared normal and untouched. (more…)

STUART — Martin County sheriff’s deputies are asking for the public’s help in locating a 38-year-old pastor since earlier this month.

According to deputies, Felix Rodriguez has been missing since May 3. His wife, Maria, told deputies she dropped Rodriguez off that morning at his church, Iglesia De Dios E La Fe at 2810 SE Fairmont Street.

When she returned to pick him up, the wife told deputies, he wasn’t there.

Rodriguez was last seen wearing jeans, white tennis shoes and a button-up shirt with Puerto Rican flags and drums on it.

Anyone with information on Rodriguez’s whereabouts is encouraged to call Martin County Sheriff’s Detective Leo Ferreira at (772) 220-7060.

ST. LUCIE COUNTY — Sheriff’s deputies are asking for the public’s help in finding a woman missing since Wednesday from a group home.

Authorities say Karen D. Davis, 43, was last seen sometime Wednesday at her group home, 3562 Seminole Road.

Davis, who suffers from psychological disorders and is supposed to be on medication, left the home unexpectedly.

She is described as a black woman, 5-foot-8 and weighing about 270 pounds.

Investigators encourage anyone with information on Davis’ whereabouts to call 9-1-1 in St. Lucie County or Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-800-273-8477 (TIPS).