WAFC Local News – August 19, 2026, 8:06 AM
Transcript
I’m Charles Murphy reporting. The local election results in Hendry County. Raymond Iglesias easily won re-election to the county commission. Robert Ostrov will be the new county judge. In LaBelle, they’ll have a new mayor. Vince Ross defeated Julie Wilkins, and Jackie Radica was re-elected as village treasurer. The Republican nominee for Congress in this area will be Casey Askar. In Glades County, Hattie Taylor was re-elected to the county commission, while Angie Hoff and Lauren Thompson won seats on the school board. Alicia Beck was re-elected to Moorhaven City Council. Jake Eichner returned to the council, and Timothy Jones appeared to be the third place winner by just one vote. Dan Green won the Republican congressional primary in District 9 that covers Glades County. The Palm Beach clerk of court was arrested on child sex abuse charges Tuesday in Palm Beach. Florida Attorney General James Oothmeyer made the announcement on social media, saying the arrest of Mike Caruso came with substantial assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and local law enforcement agencies. Governor Ron DeSantis has suspended Caruso from the position he was currently running for election to the post in November. A 58-year-old Henry County man is charged with stalking Jose Alvarez, was arrested after an active residential burglary call. Henry County Sheriff’s deputies say the suspect appeared to be under the influence of alcohol. Another suspect was found in a vehicle as they checked the home. Apparently, the suspects got into it with a canine deputy outside and had to be restrained. The canine was kicked in his left leg. Jose Alvarez was also charged with battery on police and stalking, following or harassing another, which is a misdemeanor. Charges have been dropped against a Glades County Citizens on Patrol member. George Hartman had gotten into a confrontation with a contractor at the Moorhaven Yacht Club. He allegedly threw a package at the victim and the clubhouse. There had been a disagreement about some contract work on a lot in the yacht club, and there was a confrontation in the clubhouse. The victim allegedly made a lewd comment about the suspect’s wife. He was even charged last year with aggravated assault and battery on May 19th of 2025. But again, the state attorney has dropped all those charges after he successfully completed pretrial diversion. Palm Beach deputies arrested Belle Glade man after a chase. Dustin Hart is facing charges that include fleeing and attempting to elude and resisting arrest. He was allegedly on an ATV that fled from a traffic stop on Northwest 16th Street. A 42 year old was found in the backyard of a residence after another foot chase in the area of Southeast Sixth Street North and was eventually located on Avenue A Place. Deputies say the golf cart was operated on a public roadway with no lights whatsoever. He was finally arrested after entering his home on Southeast 7th Street. A 68 year old Clewiston man, Jackie Johnson, is facing aggravated battery of a person over 65. The arrest after a domestic disturbance in Clewiston. The victim says Johnson ran off before deputies arrived. He was riding a pink bicycle. The two had an argument as she was cutting up some avocados. He claimed that the victim attempted to attack him and stabbed him in the nose. Palm Beach deputies are investigating a shooting that took place at 641 Southwest Sixth Street in Belle Glade earlier this month. It happened at a church, synagogue, temple or mosque at that location. There’s also some destruction and damage or vandalism of the property. The charge would include two felonies, including firing a missile into a dwelling vehicle, building or aircraft. No other details have been released. The victim is the Glorious Community Holiness Church of Jesus. I’m Charles Murphy, WAFC News.
Recorded from the WAFC daily newscast (Glades Media).