FORT PIERCE — A trauma surgeon and nurse on their way to work at Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute on Saturday became first responders at an accident scene.

Dr. Alex Funicello, who was returning from a Hutchinson Island condo to finish rounds at Lawnwood, found the base of South Bridge blocked with police cars and accident tape.

Raymond Chew, 47, lay in the intersection of Seaway and Indian River drives, his motorcycle nearby and his helmet loose but still on. No emergency medical crews had arrived when Funicello arrived.

So, the trauma surgeon went to work, assessing the patient.
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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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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…)

FELLSMERE — The mother of the 1-year-old boy found dead in a vehicle last month was charged by the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office with aggravated manslaughter of a child.

Alejandra Alvarado, 21, of the 100 block of South Oak Street, Fellsmere, posted $2,500 bail at the Indian River County Jail shortly after she was booked Monday afternoon. Her son, Aiden Alvarado, died after spending at least four hours in the back of his mother’s sport utility vehicle during the afternoon of June 13, detectives said.
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STUART — Two girls were charged with aggravated battery Friday after they attacked a woman who was attempting to break up a fight between her son and another man, according to an affidavit released Monday.

The girls, ages 15 and 16, were at a party with the two men and rode with them to the woman’s house in the 4300 block of Southeast Chesapeake Bay Drive around 3:30 a.m.

The report says the two men began fighting as they arrived at the residence, and the woman came outside to try and break up the fight.
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FELLSMERE — A 1-year-old boy will be buried Friday as authorities continue the investigation into his death.

Family members found Aiden Alvarado unconscious inside a sports utility vehicle parked in the 100 block of Oak Street about 5 p.m. Saturday, Indian River County Sheriff’s Sgt. Thom Raulen said Thursday. Paramedics from Indian River County Fire Rescue arrived and declared the boy was dead, Raulen said. Family members told investigators the boy was in a car for at least a couple of hours.

The state Medical Examiner’s Office said heat was a prime factor in the boy’s death, Raulen said. Saturday’s high temperature reached 86 degrees in Vero Beach. (more…)

STUART — A judge Wednesday ordered the former owner of Arthur’s Dockside restaurant to spend a year in the county jail on a tax fraud charge, prompting his wife to burst into tears and break down outside court.

Arthur Dombrose, 71, was also ordered to serve two years of community control and two years of probation.

Standing before Martin Circuit Judge Sherwood Bauer, Dombrose showed little emotion as deputies fingerprinted him and led him away.

Last July Dombrose entered a plea of no contest to a first-degree felony tax fraud charge after failing to pay $187,000 in sales tax collected from customers between March 2005 and April 2006. (more…)

Services for a Martin County firefighter-paramedic who was killed early Sunday when his motorcycle and a car collided west of Boynton Beach will be held Thursday, according to Martin County Fire Rescue.

James Reeder, 42, of Stuart worked for Martin County Fire Rescue since 2000 and was promoted to firefighter paramedic in 2002.

During his career, he worked on the Technical Extrication Rescue Team (TERT) and water Rescue Team / Dive Team. (more…)

Martin County firefighter paramedic James Reeder, right, helps move a Murray Middle School student in February 2008 after a pickup hit the rear of a school bus.

A Martin County firefighter-paramedic was killed early this morning when his motorcycle and a car collided at the intersection of Old Boynton Road and Military Trail west of Boynton Beach.

James Reeder, 42, of Stuart was driving north on Military Trail at 6:30 a.m. when Jeffrey Havens, of Margate, was attempting to make a right turn onto Military Trail from Old Boynton Road.

Reeder was wearing a motorcycle helmet. He was taken to Delray Medical Center, where he died. Havens suffered minor injuries.

Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputies ask anyone with information about the accident to call (561) 688-3688.