PORT ST. LUCIE – A man in Port St. Lucie decided to steal a work van and caused an accident on Port St. Lucie during lunch this afternoon.
“Your lunchtime traffic on SW Port St Lucie Blvd may have been delayed due to a 5 vehicle accident,” the Port St. Lucie Police Department said.
Daniel Cancel was working on the 300 Blk of SE Crosspoint Drive when he decided to steal a work van, the department said. After leaving the area, Cancel caused an accident involving 5 vehicles. This shut down East lanes of traffic on Port St Lucie Blvd for nearly an hour.
“Thankfully, no serious injuries were reported. Cancel admitted to taking Suboxone earlier in the day. Also, Cancel’s license has been revoked since 2016,” the department said. Cancel’s charges include Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle, D.U.I., and other traffic-related offenses.
Woman arrested for allegedly assaulting deputy after 911 ride request
Gainesville, FL
Baylee Jordan Graham, 30, is in custody following an incident at a McDonald’s where she allegedly assaulted a sheriff’s deputy. The incident began shortly after midnight on Tuesday when a deputy responded to a call regarding Graham refusing to leave the restroom.
Upon arrival, the deputy attempted to communicate with Graham, who provided a false name. When Graham exited the bathroom, the deputy charged her phone to facilitate a call for a ride, which led Graham to call 911, claiming she was at a nearby Circle K.
The deputy informed Graham that calling 911 for a ride was a criminal offense. Despite an offer to drive her home, Graham repeatedly refused.
Graham allegedly continued to call 911, prompting dispatchers to notify the deputy of her actions. The deputy instructed her to stop making the calls, but Graham persisted, leading the deputy to approach her.
When the deputy took hold of Graham’s arm, she allegedly struck the deputy in the face, stating, “Do not touch me.” Additional deputies arrived as Graham resisted arrest and attempted to obstruct the vehicle door.
The arrest report indicates that Graham made a total of 14 calls to 911 during the encounter. While in the patrol car, she allegedly made a remark about not being prepared and mentioned harming the deputy in another situation.
Graham faces charges of battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, and misuse of 911. She is being held at the Alachua County Jail with a bond set at $35,000.
Two men convicted in murder-for-hire plot after teenager reported sexual assault
Brooksville, FL
Lenard White was found guilty of premeditated first-degree murder and murder-for-hire on Monday in connection with the death of 17-year-old Isabella Scavelli. His cousin, Sheldon Robinson, received the same verdict for accepting $6,000 from White to facilitate the fatal shooting.
Jurors heard that on February 6, Scavelli and her mother accused White of sexually assaulting the teenager. The next day Robinson allegedly shot Scavelli in front of her mother, who was also injured in the attack.
Evidence presented at trial indicated that Scavelli was killed as she attempted to flee from her front door. Prosecutors stated that White had traveled to Georgia shortly after reporting the assault in an effort to establish an alibi.
Investigators executed over 70 search warrants, which led to a detailed understanding of Robinson’s actions on the day of the murder. Communications from Robinson’s phone revealed requests for assistance with a “clean-up job” linked to the crime.
Months after the incident, authorities recovered the handgun used in the murder from a wooded area behind Robinson’s home. White and Robinson were accused of trying to hinder the investigation by tampering with evidence and making false statements to law enforcement.
Robinson and White also discussed plans to kill another potential witness. A third defendant, Keshawn Woods, has pleaded guilty in connection with the case and is awaiting sentencing.
Sentencing for White and Robinson is scheduled for January 30, 2026. They face mandatory life sentences in federal prison.
Florida man accused of killing two children and setting home on fire
Pensacola, FL – A man is facing serious charges after two children, ages 9 and 7, were found dead in a mobile home that he allegedly set ablaze. The suspect, John Henry Walston Jr., is accused of murdering the children inside his trailer at the Grand Oak Mobile Home Park.
Witnesses report that the children’s mother attempted to rescue them from the burning home. She sustained injuries and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Walston, 27, allegedly assaulted one of the children before killing both. He reportedly fled the scene after igniting the trailer in the early hours on Friday.
The children have been identified as Vayden Orum and Rayden Smith. Their mother survived the incident with burn injuries.
Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons stated that the fire was not the cause of the children’s deaths and detailed the circumstances in a video shared on social media. He confirmed that Walston assaulted one child before murdering both.
Walston reportedly lived at the mobile home with his own family, which included two other children. Tyler Smith, the father of one victim, expressed his outrage towards Walston in a local news interview.
Walston faces multiple charges: two counts of premeditated murder, one count of sexual assault on a victim under 12, and one count of arson. He remains detained without bond, with his first court appearance scheduled for November 26.
The grandmother of the deceased children described the situation as a “bad dream,” recounting a conversation with another sibling who shared details about the traumatic event. She expressed disbelief upon hearing the news of their deaths.
