Man charged with abusing family cat
On March 5, James Fiengo of Port St. Lucie was arrested on an outstanding warrant of animal cruelty for hurting the family cat.
According to police reports, the investigation began on Feb. 22 when the Port St. Lucie animal control was alerted to the abuse. Animal control was able to view a video of the abuse taken by a family member that show Mr. Fiengo squeezing the head of the cat, as well as twisting and pulling the cat's ear. Another video shows him again squeezing the cat's head, then holding the cat upside down by the tail and hitting it in the head.
During an examination by a local veterinarian, the cat showed cartilage damage to an ear. A radiograph showed chronic trauma to its tail.
Police looking for help with BB gun shootings
Residents of western Port St. Lucie have seen multiple cars windows damaged by BB gun pellets recently.
At least 50 cars have been damaged during this BB gun spree, the majority of which took place in February.
The following streets had cars that had been damaged: Fairgreen, Salvatierre, Admore, Gastador, Abington, Erie, Davis, Ruiz, Bellevue, Aladdin, Comfort, Venus, Cameo, Day, Fair Isle and Idaho.
If anyone has any information, they are encouraged to call the police department at (772) 871-5001.
Crash leaves man in critical condition
At approximately 1:45 a.m. on March 6, the Port St. Lucie police were dispatched to a single car crash in the 2200 block of S.E. Veterans Memorial Parkway.
Preliminary investigation reveals a 2007 Chevrolet Impala was headed south on Veterans Memorial Parkway when the driver lost control, causing it to slide off the road into a group of trees.
St. Lucie County Fire Rescue responded and the driver, Thomas Murray and passenger Dallas Carometie, both of Port St. Lucie, were removed. Mr. Murray was air lifted to an area hospital in critical condition, while Ms. Carometie was transported with minor injuries.
At this time, charges are pending until the investigation is complete.
Man charged for harassing manatee calf
Investigators with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission filed charges with the State's Attorney's Office regarding a violation of the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act.
Ryan William Waterman of Fort Pierce allegedly approached a manatee calf in Taylor Creek in St. Lucie County In January.
Reports state that pictures that Waterman posted on Facebook show Mr. Waterman and two young children petting a manatee calf, and the calf being partially pulled out of the water. One image also shows a child sitting on top of the manatee.
The FWC asks anyone who witnesses manatee harassment or finds a dead or distressed manatee to call the FWC hotline at (888) 404-3922.
Help needed to identify bank robber
At approximately 1 p.m. on March 5, a bank robbery occurred at Chase Bank on Virginia Avenue in Fort Pierce. The bank robber presented the teller with a note demanding money and left with an undisclosed amount.
Police are asking anyone with information to call Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at (800) 273-8477 or Detective Robert Yaffey at (772) 467-6880.
-- Compiled from police and fire rescue records