WAFC Local News – January 13, 2026, 8:32 AM
Transcript
I’m Charles Murphy reporting. The Closed-in-City Commission will consider a Charter Review Committee to put charter questions on the ballot this year. Roley Gonzalez suggests the city become an elected mayor city. Our city government has been under investigation for some time now over possible misconduct. I know this has caused frustration and a loss of trust among many of us, but I believe that while law enforcement carries out its work, we have a duty to focus on the future of our community. We have a lot of work and we’re going to move it forward. Current Mayor Jimmy Pittman says staff, commissioners and citizens all can have input on what goes on the ballot for the charter change. I think there’s a few things in there that might need to be massaged, but at least looked at. I’d like your thoughts maybe at the next meeting, which we can’t wait too long because I know there are certain steps and it takes several months to… A father and son argument turned into a shooting in Belle Glade this weekend. It happens on Southeast Avenue G. Palm Beach deputies say 25-year-old Freddy Castaneda is charged with attempted first-degree murder, being a felon, having a gun and shooting into an occupied dwelling. The shooting was just after noon Sunday. The father was shot in the leg, pistol whipped in the head and bitten in the arm. Castaneda said he wanted to get changed for a $100 bill so he could purchase narcotics. According to the arrest report, the father claimed the bill was counterfeit and they got into some kind of fistfight. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission wants to host prosecutors from around the state and get them more interested in prosecuting wildlife crimes. Josh Kellum says he’s disgusted by repeat poachers getting away with killing wildlife again and again without any proper punishment. These people that have been poaching for years, they’re like known for this. It’s like a badge of honor for them. I’m like, gosh, that’s a terrible badge of honor. FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto says getting these cases taken seriously starts with the prosecutors. These courts are overwhelmed with arrests and when it comes to a wildlife arrest, it’s not really a high priority. So we really need to educate the state attorneys and the judges. A 27-year-old Pahokee man held an aggravated battery and weapons charges. Palm Beach deputies say Brandon Bell allegedly struck a female neighbor. He then allegedly struggled with deputies and was armed with a handgun. Bell allegedly grabbed the female and slammed her onto the concrete. A 23-year-old Huachula man is accused of threatening to post nude photos of a LaBelle woman online. Jordan Creighton is facing charges related to stalking and intimidation online. He blamed a mental illness. The arrest affidavit said Creighton is on state probation. He sent a text message that threatened another person to kill him and burn his body. A 37-year-old LaBelle man, Sean Sanders, is charged with fentanyl trafficking. Henry County Sheriff deputies investigating a trespass complaint on County Road 78 said they found Sanders lying down in the driveway, swinging his legs and jerking his head uncontrollably. He then started a confrontation with deputies who tried to assist him. He did not comply with lawful orders either. They were going to take him to a treatment facility but located a bag of narcotics. It included over 8 grams of fentanyl and a misdemeanor amount of marijuana. I’m Charles Murphy, WAFC News.
Recorded from the WAFC daily newscast (Glades Media).