News
Read the latest reporting from the CFL Report newsroom.
Indiana Deputy Arrested After Police Say He Misused License-Plate Camera Searches
GREENFIELD, Ind. — An Indiana sheriff’s deputy was arrested Thursday, September 24, after state investigators said he used a police license-plate reader…
Brightline Parent Companies Plan Chapter 11 Restructuring; Florida Trains to Keep Running
MIAMI, Fla. — Brightline says passengers can keep riding between Orlando and South Florida while several of its parent companies move toward…
Volusia County Corrections Lieutenant Accused of Taking $850 Trading-Card Box From Orlando GameStop
Joseph Anthony Brown says he believed his online order was valid and expected to be charged. ORLANDO, Fla. — A Volusia County…
Vero Beach Police Officer Placed on Paid Leave During Flock-Use Investigation
VERO BEACH, Fla. — A Vero Beach police officer has been placed on paid administrative leave while the department investigates alleged misuse…
Indian River County Sheriff’s Sergeant Put on Paid Leave in Flock Misuse Probe
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, Fla. — An Indian River County Sheriff’s Office sergeant has been placed on paid administrative leave while the agency…
Former Fort Pierce Officer Charged After Hundreds of Allegedly Unauthorized Flock Searches
FORT PIERCE, Fla. — A former Fort Pierce police officer faces four felony computer-access charges after investigators accused him of repeatedly searching…
Tallahassee Suspends Flock and Other License-Plate Reader Systems After Unanimous Vote
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Tallahassee commissioners have unanimously directed the police department to suspend its use of automated license-plate reader systems, including cameras…
Viral “Florida Police Officer” Video Is AI-Generated, Not a Real Arrest
A viral video that appears to show a woman being handcuffed and searched by a Florida police officer is not authentic. The…
Orange City Officials Warn Councilwoman Over Effort to Identify Anonymous Records Requester
ORANGE CITY, Fla. — An email exchange published by CFL Report shows Orange City officials cautioning a councilwoman after questions were raised…
Driver Airlifted After Serious Single-Vehicle Crash in New Smyrna Beach
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. — A driver was airlifted to a hospital after a serious single-vehicle crash in New Smyrna Beach. Video…
Two Detained After Shooting at DeLand Circle K
DELAND, Fla. — Two people were detained after a shooting at the Circle K near North Kepler Road and West International Speedway…
New Smyrna Beach Mansion Burns After Reported Domestic Disturbance; Woman Arrested
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. — A mansion was engulfed in flames after a reported domestic disturbance in New Smyrna Beach, according to…
K-9 Tracks Daytona Beach Drug Suspect After Motel Search, Volusia Sheriff Says
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A Volusia County Sheriff’s Office K-9 tracked down a man who deputies say ran while detectives were serving…
Lake Helen Issues Mandatory Citywide Boil-Water Notice After Well No. 2 E. Coli Indicator Result
A mandatory boil-water notice is in effect for all City of Lake Helen residents after a Well No. 2 sample tested positive…
Orange County Deputies Report Meth, Cocaine and Gun Seized in Traffic Stop
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A traffic stop by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office led to the arrest of a man deputies say…
Drone Helps Lakeland Officers Find Two Young Children After DUI Suspect Allegedly Flees Into Swamp
Lakeland police say a drone helped officers locate a 2-year-old and a 10-month-old after an alleged impaired-driving crash and flight into a…
Two Men Jailed in Separate Brevard Animal-Cruelty Cases, Sheriff Says
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Two men were arrested in separate animal-cruelty investigations, according to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Wayne Ivey…
North Carolina Trooper Held Without Bond in Sheriff’s Captain’s Killing
HOPE MILLS, N.C. — A North Carolina Highway Patrol sergeant is facing a first-degree murder charge in the fatal shooting of Cumberland…
Brevard Deputy Fired After Second DUI Arrest
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — A second DUI arrest has ended Brittany Rowland’s employment with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, years after an…
19-year-old arrested in PlayStation 5 armed robbery, Port Orange police say
Port Orange police arrested a 19-year-old after an armed robbery tied to a PlayStation 5 sale, recovering the console and an alleged…
VideoBicyclist killed in U.S. 1 crash in Ormond Beach, police say
Ormond Beach police say a southbound car struck bicyclist Edward Joseph Ambro after he moved from the shoulder into a travel lane…
VideoPort Orange police release video after 71-year-old woman dies following station shooting
Port Orange police released surveillance and body-camera video after Linda Croteau, 71, died following a shooting at police headquarters. The Florida Department…
VideoTwo unrelated DeLand-area death investigations follow Sept. 1 incidents
Authorities were investigating two separate DeLand-area deaths as of Sept. 2: a fatal shooting call and the discovery of a man's body…
Volusia sheriff shuts down plate readers as FDOT orders permitted systems off state highway rights of way
Volusia's sheriff said his office would immediately stop using license-plate readers, citing the state's new direction and unresolved questions about privacy, data…
VideoMan dies in single-vehicle crash near I-95 and Taylor Road in Port Orange
A man was killed in a single-vehicle crash near I-95 and Taylor Road early Monday, Port Orange police said. The Traffic Homicide…
Sunday-morning boom followed Roman Space Telescope launch and booster returns
The Sunday-morning rumble was tied to the Falcon Heavy mission that sent NASA's Roman Space Telescope toward a point about 1 million…
VideoPilot survives after banner plane goes down off New Smyrna Beach
A small banner plane crashed in the ocean off New Smyrna Beach on Thursday. Officials said the pilot survived and no beachgoers…
VideoDaytona Beach motel standoff ends after gunfire; 19-year-old later dies
One officer suffered a minor shrapnel injury. FDLE is reviewing the officers' use of force, while the precise cause and manner of…
VideoHeavy rain floods Daytona-area roads and renews Corbin Park concerns
Three days of CFL Report flood updates are consolidated into one weather story. Eyewitness depth estimates remain labeled as estimates, not official…
VideoAltamonte Springs homicide suspect arrested after three-hour Deltona standoff
John Schmalz-Riedt, 65, was arrested after an approximately three-hour standoff and faces an Altamonte Springs murder charge plus a Volusia fleeing allegation.
New Smyrna Beach police investigate online-communication allegations involving school employee
The department acknowledged a viral video but cautioned that detectives were still determining whether any criminal violation occurred. The employee was not…
VideoDaytona Beach police identify 20-year-old killed in School Street shooting
Daytona Beach police identified the 20-year-old killed in the School Street shooting. No arrest had been announced as of the department's Sept.…
VideoCarjacking suspect arrested after wrong-way flight and crashes near State Road 44
Scott Taylor faces charges from several agencies after a multi-city pursuit on Aug. 20. The accusations have not been adjudicated.
VideoTwo manatees returned to water at Smyrna Dunes; FWC clarifies response
Later statements from FWC and local responders add important context to early social-media accounts of the Smyrna Dunes Park rescue and do…
VideoMan Killed in DeLand Stabbing; Suspect Fled, Sheriff’s Report Says
A man who called 911 to report that someone was chasing him with a knife was stabbed several times near West Beresford…
VideoReported Death Under Investigation Near Madeline Avenue and Sunset Cove in Port Orange
CFL Report documented a Port Orange police response after officers were reportedly called at 6:49 a.m. to investigate a death near Madeline…
Falcon 9 return explains Saturday-night sonic boom after Cape Canaveral launch
Globalstar said the Aug. 15 launch succeeded. The Falcon 9 first stage returned to Landing Zone 40, producing the planned sonic boom…
VideoCauseway Park Repaving and Renovation Change Access at Port Orange Boat Ramp
Repaving and renovation work changed access to parts of Causeway Park as Port Orange continued boat-ramp, parking and accessibility improvements.
Orange City Begins Three-Month Citywide Water-Meter Replacement Program
Orange City announced a citywide program to replace aging water meters in sections over approximately three months. Customers do not need appointments…
VideoSheriff’s Report: Man Arrested After Juvenile Reports Home-Entry Attempt and Gunfire in DeLand
A juvenile told deputies that a man tried to pry open her bedroom window and force his way through the front door…
VideoStrong Thunderstorm Brings 50-MPH Wind Threat and Downed Tree to Coastal Volusia
A July 26 thunderstorm tracked over Port Orange with possible 50-mph gusts as CFL Report video showed a large tree down across…
VideoVSO Says Osteen License-Plate Reader Was Smashed After It Stopped Reporting
A Volusia Sheriff’s Office activity report says an Osteen license-plate reader stopped reporting late July 21 and was found smashed the following…
Single-Vehicle Crash Closes Northbound Clyde Morris Boulevard at Herbert Street
A single-vehicle crash closed northbound Clyde Morris Boulevard at Herbert Street in Port Orange while police and fire-rescue crews responded.