6 charged in fentanyl deaths, child in closet, dirt bike murder, arson

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — Here are the stories with the most viewed photos from last week.

South Florida agencies and DEA charge six deaths in fentanyl distribution

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — Local agencies in South Florida have teamed up with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), leading to a guilty plea and five others charged with distributing fentanyl that resulted in death.

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) said that as of March 24, five people in parts of Palm Beach and Indian River counties have been charged with distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. Their charges follow another defendant’s guilty plea to the same charge in February.

Keyon Lewis, 27, of Indian River County, pleaded guilty on Feb. 20, the DOJ said. Court records indicate Lewis sold fentanyl to a man in a Vero Beach parking lot and was found dead the next day. A sentencing hearing for Lewis is scheduled for July 11.

The following five people have been charged and have not yet been tried. Their charges come after the DOJ said the cases include the overdose deaths of two sisters, a child and a Christmas Day death.

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Toddler found barricaded in dark closet at Port St. home Lucie: police

VERO BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — A Treasure Coast couple is now facing child neglect charges, accused of locking their two-year-old in a small closet.

Officers from the Port St. Police Department. Lucie (PSLPD) responded to the home around 4:00 pm Wednesday, in reference to a Department of Children and Families (DCF) investigation, when they say they found a closet door blocked from the outside by gates, headboard, pieces of wood and chairs tied together, trapping the child in the closet without any light.

After making this discovery, officers arrested the child’s parents, James Spiess and Rebecca Worthington.

Both face child neglect charges.

PSLPD Chief Richard Del Toro is shocked by what his officers found inside the home along Burgundy Ln. Wednesday.

“You wouldn’t even treat a dog like that. You wouldn’t even put a dog in a closet and lock it in there, so I don’t know what makes you think you can do that to a child,” the chief stated. “A two year old with no coping skills looking up to mum and dad to be their protector and to be treated like this is just horrible, both admitted to smoking weed, being unemployed, I think the dad is with disabilities. So I’m not sure they have the skills to take care of children.”

Four children between the ages of two months and three years were found in that house.

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‘Gotta ask for it’: Dirt bike dispute leaves 23-year-old dead in West Palm Beach: PBSO

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — A disagreement over a dirt bike led to the death of a 23-year-old man in West Palm Beach, investigators have determined.

According to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO), Tremayne Williams and his accomplice Keith Dawkins were arrested for first-degree murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The shooting happened Saturday, April 20 at 1128 Lake Victoria Drive. According to the arrest affidavit, PBSO received a 911 call indicating that a man, identified as Jostin Mirabile, had been shot. When deputies arrived at the scene, they found Mirabile dead, surrounded by various motorcycle parts. It was later found that the motorcycle was declared stolen on March 30.

Through PBSO’s investigation, it was learned that Williams would help Mirabile steal bicycles and store them at an apartment on Lake Victoria Drive, the arrest report states.

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Firefighters monitor brush fire after containing it to 30-40 acres in Martin County

PALM CITY, Fla. (CBS12) — A brush fire west of Palm City has spread to more than 100 acres in less than two hours and is forcing firefighters to evacuate nearby homes, Martin County Fire Rescue (MCFR) reports.

The fire is burning along Southwest Buena Vista Drive in the Stuart West Cobblestone community, MCFR spokesman Cory Pippin confirmed. Video shared with CBS12 News showed large plumes of smoke over I-95 near the Southwest Martin Freeway.

The fire threatened homes in the area, Pippin explained, and firefighters are working to keep the flames from spreading.

“I was sitting in the house and the smoke started coming in. It looked thick. I looked over there and saw flames,” said Derek Craver, who was forced to evacuate. “He’s a bit agitated, a bit panicky especially when I tell you to go away.”

The Martin County Sheriff’s Office said due to poor visibility from heavy smoke, the westbound lanes of the Martin Freeway were temporarily closed, leaving drivers to take alternate routes. While the road has reopened, visibility remains poor due to heavy smoke as the fire continues to burn near the highway.

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Man arrested after investigation into dog abuse at Jupiter Park

JUPITER, Fla. (CBS12) – The man accused of brutally attacking his own dog at a Jupiter park and holding the pup’s head under water multiple times has been charged with animal cruelty after his arrest in a separate investigation .

Officers with the Jupiter Police Department identified Phillip Conway as the person seen beating the black and white dog Sunday night, but did not catch up with him until Tuesday, when he was at a local hospital after the other arrest.

Conway, 31, told investigators the dog got into Burt Reynolds Park and she had to chase the runaway pet. According to Conway, when he went to get the dog, it bit him in the face. The arresting officer noted that Conway had injuries on his nose and forehead.

The affidavit alleges that at this point Conway took the dog back to his boat, which was docked at the park. Conway admitted to dipping the dog twice, according to the police department, but told them he didn’t remember if he hit the chicken.

In all, Conway estimated that five minutes passed between the time he was bitten and when he had the dog back at the boat.

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