WAFC Local News – December 05, 2025, 8:32 AM
Transcript
I’m Charles Murphy reporting a drug trafficking arrest in LaBelle. Henry County Sheriff Deputies stopping a vehicle southbound on State Road 29. They noticed the tag on the vehicle was expired and the registered owner had a suspended driver’s license. A canine unit was taken to the scene and alerted to the vehicle. Charged in the case are 33-year-old Rodney Lee Esquivel. He’s facing methamphetamine trafficking as nearly 15 grams of the drug were allegedly found. Also charged in the case was 37-year-old Felicia DeLeon. She’s from Punta Gorda. Esquivel lives in LaBelle. Shop with a cop tomorrow for Clewiston Police. They’re still accepting donations up till today. You can call 863-983-1474. If you want to sign up your child for Shop with a Cop tomorrow, you can email police at clewiston-fl.gov. That’s police at clewiston-fl.gov. The Florida Highway Patrol defended their pursuit policy after a November crash in Tampa claimed four lives and injured others in Ybor City. Lieutenant Greg Bueno says letting these motorists go is even more dangerous. Because every life is precious, our roads are public roads. We have a rules system in place and we certainly expect those rules to be followed. He notes it is a felony in Florida if you don’t stop for a lawful traffic stop. So not only are you making what was an unfortunate incident occur, you’re now making that worse by not stopping. And you’re putting lives in danger. Florida officials getting more concerned about the ongoing drought. Glades and Hendry are currently labeled moderate drought. The National Weather Service says it’s been especially dry recently. Mews is about three inches below normal in Glades County and Moorhaven 1.6 inches below normal rainfall in recent months. Meteorologist Robert Melita is predicting a dry winter. We’re calling leaning below normal. So it’s up to about a 40% chance of below normal precipitation. Rick Dolan with the Florida Forest Service says they need water bad. Much of the state is very dry and it is predicted to be a very, very active fire season for us. We’re going into this winter drier than normal. I’ve been with the agency almost 33 years. I can’t remember a November or a December going into December as dry as we are right now. A Moorhaven man was convicted of trial this week after he stole a Polaris Ranger Crew 900 from a carport in Moorhaven. Sinaloan Eugene Dozier was convicted of possession of a firearm, ammunition or concealed weapon by a convicted felon, grand theft motor vehicle and burglary to a dwelling. Glades County deputies responded and were able to locate the stolen Polaris being taken apart at a trailer park on Highway 27. Dozier will be sentenced January 26th of next year. Moorhaven City Council votes to allow employees to have the 26th of December off. They’re already off on Christmas of course. The Glades County School Board elected Jean Perwant Chairman and Kimberly Clement Vice Chair. Clement has accepted a job as Executive Director of the Glades County Economic Council. Her first day is December 8th. I’m Charles Murphy, WAFC News.
Recorded from the WAFC daily newscast (Glades Media).