Tag Archives: Oakland park

Alleged Child Predator/Video Voyeur Attacks Broward Sheriff’s Office Deputy In Escape Attempt

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Samuel Shirk, a twenty-year old Broward man, fought with Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) personnel while being questioned about sexual battery on a minor. According to a high level source, Shirk was in custody when being interviewed by a BSO detective. During the interview, Shirk asked to use the restroom and was escorted by a BSO deputy.

When Shirk exited the bathroom, he charged the deputy and attempted to take her weapon. A violent struggle ensued. The detective joined the struggle with the suspect. The detective helped hold the suspect down.

The deputy was severely beaten before help arrived. The source said Shirk had a “firm grip” on her weapon.

Other law enforcement officers tried to assist the deputy and detective however they could not access the room.

According to the source, an officer from another floor was summoned to gain access to the room.

Shirk was charged with multiple felonies.

Samuel Shirk

The charges include lewd and lascivious molestation of a victim under 12 years old, sexual assault of a victim under 12 years old and video voyeurism of a victim under 19 years old.

Charges stemming from the escape attempt include two charges of battery on an officer, use of a firearm during a felony, obstruct/deprive means of communication and two charges of attempted escape.

Shirk is being held at the main jail in downtown Fort Lauderdale.

Team Holness Stuck Using Broward Benchwarmers After Powerful Friends Abandon His Campaign Kickoff

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The Dale Holness For Congress campaign promised a who’s who of powerful Broward leaders would attend his kickoff event on Tuesday evening. The flyers and emails boasted about the big names on Holness’ “host committee” while urging supporters to join them for a mere $10,000 campaign contribution. The host committee included Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony, Broward Clerk of Courts Brenda Forman, Broward State Attorney Harold Pryor, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis and even Tamarac Commissioner Marlon Bolton.

Just one problem.

None of these powerful leaders showed up. Not a single one. They did not even send representatives to speak on their behalf.

When it came time to introduce Dale Holness, the emcee asked Tamarac Commissioner Elberg Mike Gelin to come to the podium. Oops, Gelin was not in attendance.

Instead, Team Holness relied on mere benchwarmers, C-listers among Broward’s elected officials, to introduce the former County Commissioner.

Backbenchers like Oakland Park Commissioner Mitch Rosenwald, Anthony Arserio of Margate and Lauderhill Commissioner Ray Martin sang the praises of Holness. Needless to say, these men did little to fire up the crowd gathered in the parking lot outside of Holness’ real estate office in Plantation.

Last year, Dale Holness was considered the front runner to replace Alcee Hastings in Congress. Holness’ campaign kickoff for that race drew three times the crowd, multiple media outlets as well as members of the Broward political elite.

But after losing to newcomer Sheila Cherfilus McCormick by five votes, Holness is a just another civilian with hopes of roaming the halls of Congress in Washington D.C.

Broward’s ruling class has abandoned him. The media covering his event was limited to the Sun-Sentinel and one television station.

Only one Broward Democrat party activist attended the festivities.

Holness’ daughter, Damara, was a no-show. Even Holness’ longtime “campaign guru” Omar Smith was absent.

But Dale Holness was not all alone.

Elberg Mike Gelin was very late. He made it just as the food was being served.

Tamarac Post founder Anthony Bonamy, a Holness aide, was in the crowd. Justin Porter, another former commission aide, was at Holness’ side.

Yet, the enthusiasm was missing. The loudest cheers came when the Stranahan High School basketball team was introduced.

Oakland Park Commission Candidate Scott Herman’s Odd Electoral Past

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Scott Herman, right, and spouse all hugs with Charlie Crist

Scott Herman, right, and spouse all hugs with Charlie Crist

Perennial Republican-turned-Democrat candidate Scott Herman wants a seat on the City of Oakland Park Commission. A few years ago, Republican Scott Herman challenged Perry Thurston in a Florida House race. Then, Herman became a Democrat challenger to State Rep. George Moraitis of Fort Lauderdale. No matter the race, Herman’s campaigns are filled with oddities.

In August 2013, this reporter detailed Herman’s purchase of a bulletproof vest with campaign funds.

Campaign records filed with the Florida Division of Elections show the Herman campaign paid $538.06 for a “protective vest” from Federal Eastern International on May 7, 2013. The Herman campaign provided contradictory reasons for the questionable use of campaign funds.

The Herman campaign attacked the initial report of the purchase as a “cowardly approach to journalism.” Herman claimed the purchase was tied to an anonymous threat made on his campaign website in July of 2012. At the time, Herman was a Republican candidate challenging House Minority Leader Perry E. Thurston, Jr. for the District 93 seat.

In a press release the campaign said, “It is because of this threat, and the current hostility towards the LGBT Community that our campaign [has] taken a proactive approach by purchasing a bullet proof vest. This vest was imperative for the safety and welfare of a candidate. The purchase was additionally made with funds Scott Herman loaned to his own campaign, not at all using any donated funds.”

Before the statement was released, however, the Herman campaign gave a different rationale for the bulletproof vest purchase.

In an interview with the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Herman campaign manager Tony Diaz said Herman bought the vest with personal funds because “he goes hunting and he bought it for personal safety.”

When advised that state records documented the purchase was made with campaign funds, “Diaz called Herman and called me back, this time explaining that the past threat prompted the purchase,” the Sun-Sentinel reported. “Diaz called back later to add that Herman said ‘because of the current climate that’s building more hostility toward gays, he wanted to be proactive.’”

The Herman campaign bristled at the news a former campaign aide also purchased a bulletproof vest with campaign funds. Just days after leaving the Herman campaign, Christopher Warnig announced his bid for a Broward County Commission seat. Even though he raised less than $500, Warnig listeda $255.44 expenditure for “protective apparel” purchased from NATMIL (National Military Armament, LLC). The Arkansas company specializes in small weapons and bulletproof vests.

The Herman campaign claims it fired Warnig after it learned Warnig had been arrested twice for impersonating a police officer. Warnig shot back with a lengthy press release attacking Herman’s Republican roots and support of the National Rifle Association (NRA).  Warnig claims he quit after he was “never rewarded for the long, exhausting hours he put into the Scott Herman Campaign.”

Warnig would later run for a spot on the Oakland Park commission.

During his campaign against Moraitis, Herman retained a Hooters waitress as an image consultant. On Herman’s official website, Natalee Toledo is listed as the campaign “image consultant.” Most candidates for state and local office do not list campaign staff, let alone “image consultants.”

However, the most damaging issue uncovered by this reporter dealt with Scott Herman’s political resume.

Scott Herman appears to be fudging his resume regarding his past political history in North Carolina.

Until moving to Broward County in 2009, Herman was a resident of Cabarrus county, North Carolina. According to his official campaign website, Herman held the elected office of  “Cabarrus County Board, Vice Chairman of the Board, At-Large.”

Just to the east of Charlotte, North Carolina, Cabarrus County is governed by a “five-member Board of Commissioners elected at large in countywide elections to serve staggered four-year terms.”

When asked if Herman had served on the Board of Commissioners, a Cabarrus County spokeperson told Media Trackers Florida, “No, [Herman] was never a commissioner.” The spokesperson said Herman had only served on the Cabarrus County Soil and Water Conservation District.  The spokesperson said the Cabarrus Soil and Water Conservation District is never referred to as the “County Board.”

The official minutes from the June 2003 meeting of the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners state Scott Herman is “vice chairman of the Cabarrus Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisors.”

But in this August 2012 video interview with Broward County Republican Chairman Richard DeNapoli, Herman recounts his Cabarrus political resume. Herman said, “[I] ran for and became elected to the countywide seat there in Cabarrus county, which I ended up serving as vice chairman of that board.”

Last week, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel detailed the campaign funds Herman spent to explain his switch from the Republican party. The story, in which Herman is heavily quoted, mentions his previous career in North Carolina.

“Previously an elected member of the countywide Board of Supervisors in Cabarrus County, N.C., for four years, he moved to Broward in December 2009,” the Sun-Sentinel asserted.

In October 2012, a Sun-Sentinel story on Herman’s race against House Minority Leader Perry E. Thurston, Jr. (D-Fort Lauderdale) said “Herman has no Florida political experience, but he served a four-year term as an elected commissioner for Cabarrus County in North Carolina. He moved to Florida in 2009.”

Last week, Media Trackers Florida reported on the questions surrounding Herman’s purchase of a bulletproof with campaign funds. Campaign records filed with the Florida Division of Elections show the Herman campaign paid $538.06 for a “protective vest” from Federal Eastern International on May 7, 2013. The Herman campaign provided contradictory reasons for the questionable use of campaign funds.

The Herman campaign did not respond to requests for comment for this story.

Herman is running against Commissioner Michael Carn and Layne Walls.