Crime

Courtesy photo /

PORT ORANGE -- A 57-year-old man who allegedly threatened adult family members with an axe before barricading himself in a bedroom with a knife, was taken into custody after Port Orange police stormed the house on Hawks Ridge Road, an agency spokesman said.

Police responded to a 9-1-1 call at 11:45 a.m. to the residence about a domestic situation involving a man armed with a knife. After a police negotiator was unable to get the man to surrender on his own and nearby residents were safely evacuated, the police department's emergency response team -- similar to SWAT-- stormed the house at 749 Hawks Ridge Road just after 4 p.m. Elbert Hale was taken into custody without further incident.

ORMOND BEACH -- The body of a man with "obvious signs of trauma" was found early this morning outside a residence at 788 Buena Vista Ave. and is being treated as a suspicious death, Ormond Beach police said.

Here is a synopsis of what led homicide investigators to the home at 12:40 a.m. as described by Ormond Beach police spokesman Lt. Kenny Hayes at 4:45 on this Friday morning: "Ormond Beach Police were dispatched to this location after a 9-1-1 call was placed by a female resident reporting a suspicious person in her yard. Two Ormond Beach police officers arrived and began checking the area."

Hayes continued, "They quickly discovered an unresponsive man lying in the side yard of the home. He was deceased and had obvious signs of trauma to his body. Investigators have determined that the man lived in an upstairs back apartment at the home. Family members are being notified and the victim’s identity will likely be released later this morning."

Brian Bouchard, 21, is accused of beating 14-month-old Isaiah Mitchell so badly he is on life support at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach.

EDGEWATER -- While a 14-month old baby remains on life support with head injuries, his alleged abuser's run from the law lasted a mere seven hours with the apprehension Thursday of 21-year-old Brian Bouchard.

Acting on a tip, Volusia County Sheriff's deputies stopped a car near Acee Drive and Tatum Boulevard in Edgewater at 10:30 p.m., agency spokesman Gary Davidson said.

"And sure enough, their suspect, 21-year-old Brian Bouchard, was a passenger in the vehicle," Davidson said.

REPORTED HERE FIRST

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Danny Veltri, 27, who rose to national fame as the top chef on the FOX television reality show "Hell's Kitchen" nearly three years ago, was arrested over the weekend at a S.R. 44 gas station on a charge of driving under the influence, according to a New Smyrna Beach police report.

Woman in domestic argument tells police she saw several 'bright flashes' but was not struck

Timothy Griffith is charged with attempted murder for allegedly firing a gun in his New Smyrna Beach residence during an early Monday argument with a woman who was not struck by any bullets.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A 26-year-old man was arrested early this morning on attempted murder charges after allegedly firing a handgun in his apartment during an argument with a 34-year-old woman.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Debra Gibson was a street walker with a record of petty crimes. James Desmond Booth was a convicted drug dealer. When their paths met again on Jan. 25, 2011, she was shot dead.

Courtesy photo / Tiffany and James Pembertonlived in Daytona Beach about a year. Both were found dead Sunday in their Breakers apartment, victims of an apparent murder-suicide.

DAYTONA BEACH -- An Iraqi war veteran shot and killed his wife and then turned a rifle on himself in a murder-suicide over the weekend, Daytona Beach police said.

The wife was identified as Tiffany Pemberton, 25, and the husband, Jason Pemberton, 28. Both were found in their residence at 778 Jimmy Ann Drive No. 1614.