Top Local News Stories for Conway, Florida.

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Mentor testifies in 'boot camp' video trial

The mentor accused of hitting a 7-year-old boy with a belt, shaving his hair and eyebrows and making him do military-style exercises took the stand on Tuesday in his trial. Devery Broox, 25, of Orlando, was charged last year with child abuse after being accused of posting a video of the discipline on the Internet. The discipline was apparently in reaction to the boy, who is now 8, misbehaving in school. On the stand, Broox testified he had permission from the boy's great-grandmother to discipline the child, but said he never told her he was spanking the boy. He also said the great-grandmother asked him to shave the boy's head and eyebrows to treat a skin fungus. When the boy was acting up in school, Broox said he told him the shaving was punishment, instead of telling him his great-grandmother told him to. Broox said of the 17 or 18 "licks" the boy received, he administered about eight. He said the rest were given by a friend of Broox. The boy told the jury Brooz was a "mentor brother" who took him to the park, skating and played tennis. He said Broox would discipline him if he "didn't act right at school" for an example, throwing crayons at other students. In the video, Broox can be heard saying, "Let's go. Drop your pants. So when I told you to go back to school and behave yourself and you went back (and) just did what you want to and just played in class, that wasn't saying, '(Expletive) me?'" In the video, Broox can be seen shaving the boy's head, telling him he couldn't grow his hair back until he behaved. The boy said the video made him feel "sad and disappointed, because everybody saw it." On the day of the video, the boy said Broox made him do exercises, then spanked him, "whooped" him with a belt. Broox told jurors that he wanted to influence others to become mentors. "The problem is, I definitely went the wrong route about doing it," Brooks said. The Department of Children and Families, however, said the fact that Broox was not the boy's father further proved that he was out of line. "We were quite concerned with the content that was in there, given that the individual is not the caretaker, as far as the child does not live with that individual," DCF spokeswoman Carrie Hoeppner told Local 6 in November. The child's grandmother told police the boy needed a "mentor," a role filled by Broox. "I didn't give him permission to physically strike him, but I did ask him to correct him," the victim's great grandmother said. She said she didn't have a problem if he spanked the boy. The defense asked for judgment of acquittal Tuesday afternoon, which was denied. Check back with Local 6 and ClickOrlando.com for more information.

Published: Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:31:46 GMT

Daytona Speedway to ban smoking

A smoking ban will prevent NASCAR fans from lighting up in the grandstands at Daytona International Speedway starting with the Coke Zero 400 in July. The Daytona Beach News Journal reports fans will be required to use certain designated areas behind the grandstands once the ban takes effect. "I am not aware of any other sporting venue in Florida that allows smoking in their seats," said Joie Chitwood III, the Speedway's president. In the meantime, smokers are being encouraged not to smoke in the seating areas during Speedweeks ahead of this Sunday's Daytona 500. The ban, however, is not mandatory, said Chitwood, because smokers bought their tickets under the notion they could smoke.

Published: Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:39:10 GMT

Now hiring? Funny 'Help Wanted' signs

Not sure where the employment situation is heading these days, but at least these "Help Wanted" signs give us a good laugh.

Published: Mon, 25 Apr 2011 21:45:05 GMT

Orlando-area mug shot hall of shame

UPDATED DAILY: Here's a look at some of the individuals who have been arrested recently in Central Florida.

Published: Tue, 19 Apr 2011 16:11:24 GMT

Scuba tank in SUV sends bomb squad to OIA

The bomb squad responded to Orlando International Airport Tuesday afternoon after reports of a suspicious canister in a rental car lot, Orlando fire officials said. Orlando police and Orlando fire bomb squad members were on scene around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday and found an SUV abandoned in the Avis/Budget rental car lot at OIA. A suspicious canister was reported to be in the vehicle, but when hazardous materials crews investigated, they found it to be a scuba tank left in the SUV. No flights were affected by the incident, officials said.

Published: Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:21:26 GMT

Cops: Man shot, killed wife while inspecting gun

A man shot and killed his 30-year-old wife in Palm Coast while he was inspecting his gun, according to deputies. Flagler County sheriff's deputies said the 32-year-old William Merrill, shot his wife, Stefanie Merrill, Tuesday morning at their home on Covington Lane. Deputies said Stefanie Merrill was the mother of two children, ages 3 and 6. Authorities have termed the shooting "suspicious," and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating. Deputies said Stefanie Merrill had one rifle shot to the chest area and she was pronounced dead at the scene. No other details have been released. Check back with ClickOrlando.com and Local 6 for more information.

Published: Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:07:38 GMT

Cops: Man smashes ATM with sledgehammer

Ocoee police are searching for the suspect they say hit two bank ATMs across the street from each other with a sledgehammer, but wasn't trying to steal money. Police said the suspect damaged at least two ATMs, one at the SunTrust Bank on Monday night and the other at the Bank of America on Thursday, both located on West Colonial Drive. The suspect used a rock in the first vandalism at the Bank of America ATM, police said. The second time, the suspect opted for a sledgehammer. Video showed the suspect get out of his car, walk up to the drive-thru ATM and hit the SunTrust ATM repeatedly with a sledgehammer, according to the report. Police said suspect did about $20,000 in damage to each machine, totaling $60,000 in damage. Police say they haven't seen anything like it before. "I've never seen anything like this before," said Sgt. Brian Satterlee of Ocoee Police Department. "Anytime something's been with ATMs, it's to steal money. I've never seen anyone who wants to damage property at an ATM and take off like that." The video suggests the suspect didn't steal any money, only vandalizing the machines. The suspect is described as a white male, in his 20s or 30s and slim build. He was wearing a black leather jacket, big sunglasses and dark colored pants. Police said the suspect drove away in a Toyota Camry or Honda Accord. Contact Ocoee police if you have any information on the suspect.

Published: Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:01:37 GMT

Driver crashes through Brevard County home

Brevard County Fire Rescue officials say a man crashed his Ford Mustang into a West Melbourne home Tuesday morning, while one of the residents was inside. The 30-year-old man, whose name hasn't been released, was taken to Holmes Regional Medical Center just after 9 a.m. after he crashed his Ford Mustang into the home and had to be pulled out through the passenger side door, officials said. Officials said the car is likely totaled but the driver is in stable condition and is expected to recover. One person was inside the house at the time of the crash and was not injured, but is "shaken up a bit" according to officials. City building inspectors will assess the damage of the home. It's not clear if the damage is significant enough to relocate the residents. The West Melbourne Building Department is expected to release an estimate on the damage Tuesday afternoon. It's not clear what caused the driver to crash into the home but the investigation is ongoing.

Published: Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:24:25 GMT

Pet stem cells frozen, banked for future

Eight Central Florida veterinary clinics are offering up a new procedure that could save or greatly improve a pet's life. MediVet America has set up a holding center at the company's Nicholasville, Ken., lab to freeze and store pet stem cells for future use. Clinical studies have shown the cells can be viable for decades. The procedure extracts stem cells from the animal's own fat tissue. The cells are then treated and used for aging dogs and cats struggling with arthritis or degenerative disease for several years, with good results. By "cryobanking," the healthy cells, they will be ready if needed in the future. "Banking stem cells is like having an extra insurance policy for your pet," explained Jeremy Delk, CEO of MediVet America. Dr. Daniel Evers of ValuVet is taking part in a pet stem cell project in Central Florida to determine if the stem cells are actually causing cartilage regeneration. Twelve pets will be selected for the study, which will include two separate MRI scans to determine how effective the stem cell treatments are for pets struggling with joint issues. [SHARE YOUR PHOTOS: Picture-perfect pets] Normally, the initial cost is $420, with a $150 annual storage fee. Owners whose pets are selected will get a discount on the stem cell procedure. Pet owners interested in the procedure can contact Erica Kent at erica@medivet-america.com or call 386-748-4251.

Published: Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:47:44 GMT

Chris Brown and Rihanna?s half-baked 'Birthday Cake' collaboration

Case in point: Rihanna and Chris Brown have a new song together, called “Birthday Cake.” Released in time for Rihanna’s 24th birthday, the tune features sexually explicit lyrics that production duo Da Internz told MTV News would “shock the world".

Published: Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:50:09 GMT

Mardi Gras and the world's other big parties

With Fat Tuesday under way during Mardi Gras in New Orleans, take a look at the celebration along with the world's 12 other big parties.

Published: Sun, 19 Feb 2012 22:15:17 GMT

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