It’s Friday, October 22 - and NBC 6 has the top stories for the day.
No. 1 - Miami Police Captain With Controversial Past Suspended
A Miami police captain with a controversial past with the department has been suspended with pay as he faces two lawsuits filed against him.
Captain Javier Ortiz had once faced harsh criticism following statements that he made claiming he was African American. He was suspended shortly after that incident.
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One of the lawsuits was filed in federal court by Miami Police Sergeant Edwin Gomez against both the City of Miami and Ortiz. It alleges Ortiz and the city retaliated against Gomez — who has been with the department for more than 20 years — for cooperating in a federal investigation that was looking into alleged racist and discriminatory behavior by Ortiz.
It alleges that because of Gomez's cooperation, he was retaliated against with punitive transfers, suspensions and harassment.
Click here to read more.
Local
No. 2 - Remains Found at Fla. Search Site Are Brian Laundrie's, Dental Records Confirm: FBI
Dental records confirm that the human remains recovered at the Florida environmental park are that of Brian Laundrie, the FBI said on Thursday.
The FBI's Denver field office released a statement saying that "a comparison of dental records confirmed that the human remains found at the T. Mabry Carlton, Jr. Memorial Reserve and Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park" were of Laundrie.
The partial human remains recovered at the environmental park where Laundrie was last believed to have been a day ago were described as "skeletal," a North Port police spokesperson had confirmed to News 4 earlier in the day. Two senior law enforcement officials also told NBC News that the apparent human remains found during the search included a portion of a human skull.
Click here for the full story.
No. 3 - Royal Caribbean Offering 274-Night ‘Ultimate World Cruise' From Miami
Royal Caribbean is offering a 274-night "Ultimate World Cruise" sailing from Miami, but a ticket on board comes with a posh price tag.
Guests on the Serenade of the Seas will visit more than 150 destinations in 65 countries on all seven continents.
The ship will make stops at 11 World Wonders, including the Great Wall of China, the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Colosseum in Rome and the Taj Mahal.
The cruise will leave PortMiami on Dec. 10, 2023, and return on Sept. 10, 2024.
Click here to read more.
No. 4 - Hundreds Pay Respects to Fallen Hollywood Officer Yandy Chirino
Officer Yandy Chirino was only about four and a half years into his career with the Hollywood Police Department at the time of his murder Sunday in the Emerald Hills neighborhood.
The scene of his tragic shooting death, just outside of Mara Berman Giulianti park, has now been converted to a makeshift memorial.
Hundreds of people gathered at the park Thursday for a vigil to pay their respects and support the family he left behind.
“That is the true definition of sacrificing one’s life, and the true definition of a hero,” said Hollywood Police Chief Chris O’Brien.
Click here to read more.
No. 5 - CDC Panel Endorses Moderna, J&J Boosters, ‘Mix-and-Match' Strategy
Millions more Americans are closer to getting a COVID-19 booster as influential government advisers on Thursday endorsed extra doses of all three of the nation’s vaccines — and said people could choose a different company’s brand for that next shot.
Certain people who received Pfizer vaccinations months ago already are eligible for a booster and now advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say certain Moderna and Johnson & Johnson recipients should qualify, too. And in a bigger change, the panel opened the option of “mixing and matching” that would allow a different vaccine for the extra dose than the kind people first received.
Click here to read more.
No. 6 - Fun Halloween Events For The Whole Family
From thrilling haunted houses to family-friendly pumpkin patches, South Florida is scattered with fun events for guests of all ages. Click here for some of the best ways to spend spooky season.
And don't worry -- there are plenty of pet-friendly Halloween events around town, too! Click here for a full list.
