5 craziest 'Florida man' crime stories of 2025 that sound fake — but aren't



The notorious "Florida man" didn’t just live up to his reputation in 2025 — he shattered it.

The Sunshine State became a rolling highlight reel of off-the-rails antics, including a meth-fueled birthday joyride on a stolen train and a crazy police bodycam video capturing the arrest of a costumed suspect as stunned families watched in disbelief at a Chuck E. Cheese.

'Would y’all put Mickey Mouse in handcuffs?'

So we hereby present the top five wildest incidents of the year involving the infamous "Florida man."

1. Key West chaos: Man with meth pipe hijacks tourist train on birthday, police say

As Blaze News reported in July, a 57-year-old Florida man allegedly celebrated his birthday with a meth-fueled joyride by hijacking a tourist train in Key West.

Citing the arrest report, WPLG-TV said Jonathan Patrick Winslow stole the Conch Tour Train and even managed to pick up "two random passengers" while driving the trolley.

When confronted by cops, Winslow had a meth pipe in his possession — and he told deputies that it was a "weed pipe," according to the police report.

Police said Winslow told officers he previously worked at the Conch Tour Train Depot, that he merely "borrowed" the train — and that "today is his birthday."

Despite it being his birthday, Winslow was arrested and hit with burglary, grand theft auto, and drug charges.

2. Kids watch in shock as man in a mouse costume is arrested at Chuck E. Cheese

What was supposed to be a fun, innocent time for children devolved into a bizarre arrest caught on police bodycam footage that captured officers arresting a Chuck E. Cheese mascot — with kids and parents watching.

Blaze News reported in September that 41-year-old Jermel Jones was accused of allegedly purchasing items with someone else's credit card.

"We’re gonna detain the mouse," a police officer is heard telling a fellow cop on bodycam footage as they enter the pizza restaurant in Tallahassee.

An officer about to confront the man in the mouse costume is heard telling a woman, "Chuck E.’s a little bit busy, ma’am."

A police officer orders the man in the costume, "Chuck E., come with me. Chuck E! Chuck E! Stop resisting! You’re being detained! Stop resisting! Let it go! Do not cause a scene here, sir."

The Chuck E. Cheese mascot is handcuffed and then escorted out of the children's restaurant as parents and kids watch in stunned disbelief.

A woman is heard yelling at the officers, "I would like y’all to walk him out the door instead of traumatizing all these children seeing someone like Chuck E. Cheese get arrested."

She then asks, "Would y’all put Mickey Mouse in handcuffs?"

Jones was arrested and charged with theft of a credit card, criminal use of personal identification information, and fraudulent use of a credit card totaling over $100.

3. Florida man offers cops alcoholic drink during car chase — then gets tased

Only in Florida does a police pursuit include a suspect casually offering officers an alcoholic drink mid-chase.

In April, police were called to a local market after a report of a theft of alcoholic beverages, according to the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office.

Blaze News reported that 39-year-old Richard Christopher Smith of Miami was driving a black minivan in circles near the market, after which a miles-long police chase ensued.

The sheriff's office said Smith was holding a can of Ketel One vodka spritz out the window of the minivan as he drove by a deputy attempting to pull him over. Smith is heard in the bodycam video telling the officer, "I was just going to give you a drink, that’s it."

The sheriff's office said in a statement, "We don’t know if he was expecting us to just say 'Cheers!' and let him go, or what."

Officials added, "After his toast, Smith attempted to ram two patrol vehicles in the midst of getting all four tires flattened by spike strips."

The minivan slowed down, and the crazy police pursuit ended several miles away in the parking lot of a business at the Sebring Airport. Bodycam video shows Smith exiting the minivan and being greeted by cops with their guns drawn and ordering the suspect to get on the ground.

However, the suspect is seen not obeying orders and walking toward a deputy — and Smith gets tased and falls headfirst on the pavement.

According to the bodycam video, Smith asks officers why he's being arrested, to which the deputy replies, "A lot of stupid s**t, right now."

Smith is heard saying to the officers in the bodycam footage, "You guys had fun, though, right?"

Jail records show that Smith was charged with battery on a law enforcement officer, two counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, driving under the influence, refusal to submit to a DUI test, and petty theft.

4. Here's how an alligator sent Florida folks flying

Florida motorcyclists were sent flying over their handlebars after slamming into a large alligator on a highway.

Blaze News reported in June that two motorcyclists collided with a six-foot alligator on Interstate 4 in Orange City. The impact of hitting the alligator crossing the highway sent both riders soaring into the air.

Motorcyclist Cameron Gilmore told WESH-TV, "I saw it, like, 10 feet in front of me, and I just, you know, I thought — I knew I was going to hit it. It kind of just happened so quick."

Gilmore added, "I didn't even have a second to do anything. Couldn't put on the brakes or not. And I just had to hold on."

Gilmore said the collision caused him to "start flying for a long way."

The two bikers were rushed to the HCA Lake Monroe Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

5. Sex offender gets rejected at job interview — reacts by flinging bottles of urine

A Florida man reportedly turned a denied job interview into a criminal spectacle and threw bottles of urine at a store.

As Blaze News reported in April, 51-year-old John Connaughton asked for a job interview at a door store in St. Petersburg.

Connaughton was rejected, after which he lashed out by hurling multiple bottles filled with urine at the front of the store, according to an arrest affidavit. Urine splattered on building materials and splashed at least one employee, court documents say.

The affidavit accused Connaughton of causing more than $1,000 in damage "to various building materials" by "splattering [them] with urine."

Image source: Florida Dept. of Law Enforcement

Connaughton reportedly fled, but two men chased after him. Connaughton — a registered sex offender — raised his skateboard over his head as if he were going to hit one of the men with it, according to the arrest affidavit.

The St. Petersburg Police Department arrested Connaughton, and he was charged with felony battery, criminal mischief, and two counts of aggravated assault, according to court records.

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All truckers want in 2026 is safe roads



As Americans ring in the new year with family and friends, it’s worth remembering a simple fact: A truck driver delivered nearly everything carrying us into 2026.

From champagne and party hats to the presents under our Christmas trees — and the everyday goods that keep businesses running — truck drivers power the economy year in and year out. They work long hours, spend weeks away from loved ones, and keep freight moving through nights, weekends, and holidays. As the calendar turns, truckers ask for just one thing in 2026: safe roads.

A safe trucking industry depends on qualified drivers, safe equipment, and a system that rewards compliance while swiftly removing bad actors.

For too long, America’s highways have grown more dangerous — not because of professional truck drivers, who rank among the most highly trained and regulated workers in the country, but because of systemic failures that allow illegal, unqualified, and unsafe operators to put lives at risk.

The trucking industry has sounded the alarm, and this White House has listened. By cracking down on fraudulent commercial driver’s license mills, addressing the risks posed by illegal drivers, and taking meaningful steps to combat the surge in cargo theft, the Trump administration has restored accountability to the transportation system and made clear that safety — not shortcuts — is the priority.

Consider CDL mills. These sham operations churn out licenses without proper training, undermining professionalism and putting unqualified drivers behind the wheel of 80,000-pound vehicles. Shutting them down isn’t about limiting opportunity. It’s about ensuring that every driver on the road has earned the right to be there. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s decision to remove thousands of suspect training providers from the federal registry sent a clear message: If you cut corners on safety, you won’t be tolerated.

The same principle applies to basic qualifications. Truck drivers must be able to speak English, read road signs, understand safety rules, and follow the law. Weak state verification standards and lax oversight have allowed illegal operators onto American highways. That is unacceptable.

A commercial driver’s license is not just a credential — it is a promise to the public. When that promise is broken, the consequences can be deadly. Fatal crashes this year in Florida and California show exactly what’s at stake when illegal and unqualified drivers remain behind the wheel.

We are encouraged that the administration has acted quickly to prevent future tragedies by holding states accountable and removing unqualified drivers from the road.

RELATED: Illegal drivers, dead Americans — this is what ‘open borders’ really mean

Photo by Caroline Brehman/CQ-Roll Call Inc. via Getty Images

At the same time, law-abiding motor carriers and drivers face another growing threat: cargo theft. What was once an occasional crime has become a nationwide epidemic driven by organized criminal networks. Thieves exploit technology, impersonate legitimate carriers, and target supply chains with increasing sophistication. The result is billions in losses — roughly $18 million per day — and heightened risk for drivers, along with disruptions that raise costs for consumers, especially during the holidays.

Truck drivers should not have to worry about being targeted simply for doing their jobs. That’s why the industry welcomes legislation to elevate cargo theft as a federal priority and improve coordination among law enforcement agencies. Protecting freight isn’t just about economics. It’s about protecting the men and women behind the wheel.

These challenges share a common thread: Safety needs to be enforced consistently, comprehensively, and without exception. A safe trucking industry depends on qualified drivers, safe equipment, and a system that rewards compliance while swiftly removing bad actors.

Professional truck drivers take pride in their work. They train hard, follow the rules, and understand that every mile carries responsibility. They don’t want special treatment — just a level playing field and a government that takes safety as seriously as they do. Today, they have a White House that does.

Let’s ensure that America’s highways remain worthy of the 3.5 million professionals who keep them moving — this year and every year.

DOGE didn’t die — it moved to the states



The media and conservative pundits may have buried the Department of Government Efficiency, but they have yet to carve a date of death on its tombstone. While DOGE in Washington may have appeared to insiders as a vanity project, voters saw it as a mandate — one that Republicans at the federal level have largely set aside in favor of politics as usual.

But activists have not forgotten. In red states across the country, they are still demanding accountability. And in Idaho, that pressure is finally producing results.

If Idaho can succeed and follow Florida’s lead, there is no serious reason other red states cannot do the same — unless they are prepared to admit they never intended to keep their promises.

For what appears to be the first time, state legislators serving on Idaho’s DOGE Task Force concluded their 2025 work with a meeting that departed from months of cautious, procedural discussion. Members asked harder questions, voiced long-simmering frustrations, and issued a recommendation that could reshape the state’s fiscal future: urging the full legislature to consider repealing Medicaid expansion, a costly policy that has drained taxpayers of millions.

Red states can’t stall forever

Idaho may not be Florida, where Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ DOGE-style reforms have produced consistent wins for fiscal sanity and limited government. But it is doing more than other red states, such as North Dakota, where a DOGE committee stacked with Democrats predictably ignored the voters’ mandate.

The Idaho meeting exposed growing dissatisfaction with the task force’s approach. Over the summer and fall, the committee — charged with identifying inefficiencies — repeatedly deferred to state agencies for suggestions on cuts. Unsurprisingly those agencies offered little beyond cosmetic changes.

Idaho state Rep. Heather Scott (R-LD2, Blanchard) gave voice to that frustration. “What is the goal of this committee?” she asked, pressing colleagues to offer recommendations that actually matter. “Twenty thousand here, 50,000 there, or removing old code is not meaningful efficiency,” Scott said. Repealing Medicaid expansion, she argued, would be one of the “best decisions” the state could make.

Nibbling at the edges

Scott’s experience on the Idaho task force stands in stark contrast to the early federal DOGE efforts, which moved aggressively to slash U.S. Agency for International Development’s workforce, freeze fraudulent payments, and cancel billions in corrupt contracts. By comparison, Idaho’s task force had mostly nibbled at the edges. This recommendation marked its first serious step toward substantive reform.

Another revealing moment came from co-chairman state Sen. Todd Lakey (R-Nampa), who read a letter from a small-business owner offering health insurance to employees. Workers routinely request schedules capped at 20 to 28 hours per week to preserve Medicaid expansion benefits — even though full-time work would require only a modest contribution toward employer-provided coverage.

The result is a perverse incentive structure: businesses struggle to find full-time workers while taxpayers subsidize underemployment. The government fuels workforce shortages through welfare, then spends more taxpayer dollars trying to fix the shortages it created. This welfare-workforce vortex is the opposite of efficiency, and it is spreading nationwide.

The meeting’s most explosive moment came from state Rep. Josh Tanner (R-Eagle), who described Idaho’s Medicaid reimbursement structure as resembling “money laundering.”

Citing analysis from the Paragon Health Institute, Tanner explained how provider assessment fees allow states to inflate Medicaid spending to draw down larger federal matching funds, cycling the money back through enhanced payments. Paragon has described these arrangements as “legalized money laundering” — schemes that shift costs to federal taxpayers while enriching connected providers or funding unrelated priorities.

Nationally supplemental payments now exceed $110 billion annually, siphoning hundreds of billions from taxpayers over a decade.

RELATED: Turn off the money; they’ll leave: Elon Musk nails the border truth

Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

DOGE’s second life

My sources tell me that hospital lobbyists went into panic mode after the meeting, urgently contacting Capitol officials to contain the fallout from Tanner’s remarks.

For the first time, the task force aired real frustrations, documented real harms, and named real abuses. That alone offers reason for cautious optimism.

Idaho now has committed conservatives in positions of influence. With the task force’s recommendation to revisit Medicaid expansion heading to the legislature, the state has an opportunity to govern as it campaigns — preserving liberty, restoring accountability, and expanding opportunity.

If Idaho can succeed and follow Florida’s lead, there is no serious reason other red states cannot do the same — unless they are prepared to admit they never intended to keep their promises in the first place.

Kids were 'playing' at a luxury resort pool. It all ended with Florida woman arrested, charged with aggravated child abuse.



A Florida woman found herself in handcuffs in what was supposed to be a fun family vacation at a luxury resort after she became physical with a 6-year-old boy at a pool, according to police.

The Osceola County Sheriff's Office said in a statement that deputies responded to a report of a battery involving a child around 4:30 p.m. Friday at the Gaylord Palms Hotel — a four-star resort in Kissimmee.

"Witnesses reported that three children were playing in the pool when the splashing became aggressive," the statement reads.

Police said 36-year-old Tiffany Lee Griffith of Fort Myers "entered the pool and yelled at a 6-year-old boy after he allegedly dunked her 6-year-old son underwater."

The sheriff's office claimed Griffith "placed her hands on the victim's shoulders and forcibly dunked him underwater for several seconds."

The alleged victim rushed out of the resort pool "visibly upset and suffering from a nosebleed." The child reported the alleged incident to his parents, according to police.

Griffith then began yelling at the mother of the alleged victim before leaving the area, police said. Deputies located and arrested Griffith.

RELATED: Florida woman couldn't take her dog on flight — so she drowned animal in airport bathroom: Police

The Osceola News-Gazette obtained the police report which stated, "After Tiffany was placed under arrest, she made spontaneous statements expressing remorse for what had occurred."

The police report added, "It should also be noted that alcohol was believed to be a possible factor in this incident, according to hotel security."

During her arrest, Griffith allegedly "understood and agreed to her [Miranda] rights. ... She further stated she could recite them due to being a former law enforcement officer."

Griffith was taken to the Osceola County Jail, and she was charged with aggravated child abuse.

According to the affidavit obtained by People magazine, Griffith told investigators she entered the pool to protect her child; she claimed he's nonverbal and has autism.

"I was protecting my son," Griffith told deputies, according to the affidavit.

Griffith told police she feared her son would be "drowned" by the other child, the affidavit said.

According to the affidavit, investigators said they reviewed security footage at the resort, and it matched a witness' account of the incident.

During Griffith's first court appearance Monday, a judge found probable cause and ordered her held without bond, according to WINK-TV. The judge also ordered Griffith to have no contact with the child or the child's family.

The Gaylord Palms Hotel did not immediately respond to Blaze News' request for comment.

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ICE's Christmas crackdown: Gang members, pedophiles, and an attempted murderer are now off the streets



The weekend leading into Christmas, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested more violent criminal illegal aliens, according to a press release exclusively obtained by Blaze News.

The Department of Homeland Security highlighted 15 illegal aliens with criminal histories who were recently captured across the country by federal immigration officials.

'All year long, our law enforcement officers worked around-the-clock, including weekends and holidays, to arrest the worst of the worst.'

“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) continues to deliver on its promise this Christmas season to make America safe again and remove the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens from our communities,” the press release read.

“While many Americans began wrapping presents and preparing for the joyous holy holiday, ICE was hard at work arresting the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens convicted of horrific crimes including lewd and lascivious acts with [a] child, child neglect, obscene communication, and attempted murder," it added.

First on the DHS worst of the worst list is Juan Jesus Acosta-Gutierrez, a Mexican national and Surenos-13 gang member. He was previously convicted for lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 by force or fear in San Bernardino, California.

RELATED: Illegal alien truck driver walks out of jail after allegedly killing American — and sanctuary policies appear to be to blame

Juan Jesus Acosta-Gutierrez. Image source: Department of Homeland Security

Federal agents captured Udit Mehra, an Indian national who has a criminal history in Seminole, Florida, for cruelty toward children and obscene communication.

Udit Mehra. Image source: Department of Homeland Security

That Xiong, from Laos, was also picked up by ICE agents. He was previously convicted of attempted murder and discharging a firearm at an occupied vehicle in Sacramento, California.

That Xiong. Image source: Department of Homeland Security

Juan Carlos Marrufo-Flores, an illegal alien from Mexico, was convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child in Atascosa County, Texas.

Juan Carlos Marrufo-Flores. Image source: Department of Homeland Security

ICE arrested criminal illegal alien David Cerna-Calderon of Mexico. He has a rap sheet in Bexar County, Texas, for assault causing bodily injury to a family member.

David Cerna-Calderon. Image source: Department of Homeland Security

Yesenia Martinez-Gonzalez, a Mexican national, was detained by federal immigration officials. She was previously convicted in Texas for child neglect, resisting arrest, and driving while intoxicated.

Yesenia Martinez-Gonzalez. Image source: Department of Homeland Security

Jose Dante Ortiz-Alvalardo of Mexico has a criminal history in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, for a second-degree forced sexual offense.

Jose Dante Ortiz-Alvalardo. Image source: Department of Homeland Security

ICE agents also nabbed Edwin Ismael-Hernandez, a Mexican national. He was previously convicted in Los Angeles, California, for several crimes. His rap sheet includes evading a peace officer/disregarding safety, hit-and-run, willful harm of a peace officer's horse or dog, and vehicle theft.

Edwin Ismael-Hernandez. Image source: Department of Homeland Security

David Abraham Hernandez-Velez of Mexico was convicted of assault of a public servant in Brazoria County, Texas.

David Abraham Hernandez-Velez. Image source: Department of Homeland Security

Federal immigration agents arrested Jerson Poveda-Delgado, a Colombian national with a criminal history in Indianapolis, Indiana, that includes battery against a public safety official.

Jerson Poveda-Delgado. Image source: Department of Homeland Security

Daniel Emony, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was convicted in Alexandria, Virginia, of making false statements, aggravated identity theft, and perjury.

Daniel Emony. Image source: Department of Homeland Security

ICE also nabbed Carlos Martinez-Melendez, a Mexican national who was convicted of robbery in Austin, Texas.

Carlos Martinez-Melendez. Image source: Department of Homeland Security

Federal agents arrested Justo Perez-Escobar, a Mexican national with a conviction in Gloucester Township, New Jersey, for unlawful possession of a handgun.

Justo Perez-Escobar. Image source: Department of Homeland Security

Isaias Alvarado-Arellano of Mexico was previously convicted for conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine in Oregon.

Isaias Alvarado-Arellano. Image source: Department of Homeland Security

The DHS press release also highlighted the arrest of Rudy Gonzalez, a Cuban national who was convicted of racketeering/conspiracy in Miami, Florida.

RELATED: 'Blood on their hands': Trump admin blames 'sanctuary' Dems after illegal alien with detainer request allegedly murders American

Rudy Gonzalez. Image source: Department of Homeland Security

“While many Americans began celebrating Christmas with their families and loved ones this weekend, ICE arrested gang members, child pedophiles, abusers, and an attempted murderer. All year long, our law enforcement officers worked around-the-clock, including weekends and holidays, to arrest the worst of the worst. We are thankful for our law enforcement who delivered the best Christmas gift for American families this holiday season: safer communities,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said.

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Dad brings toddler daughter into hot tub with him in middle of night; he falls asleep — and she drowns: Cops



A father fell asleep after bringing his toddler daughter into a hot tub with him in the middle of the night, and she drowned, police in Florida said.

Deputies and rescue personnel responded to a home on Nice Court in Kissimmee just after 3:30 a.m. Dec. 13 regarding an unresponsive child who appeared to have drowned in a hot tub, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office said.

'It's very hard losing a niece this way, and then we have so much hurt for my brother because he's just so distraught and tore up.'

A family from Washington, D.C., was staying at the residence, which was listed as an Airbnb, officials said.

The 20-month-old girl was transported to AdventHealth Celebration where she was pronounced dead shortly after 4:30 a.m., officials said.

Sheriff's office detectives responded to the home to investigate the incident, officials said, and the father said he brought his daughter into the hot tub and fell asleep while holding her. The father reported waking up to find the child unresponsive in his arms while still in the hot tub, officials said. According to WUSA-TV, he said the child was face down when he awakened.

Following the investigation, detectives determined that the father — 33-year-old Reynard Tyrone Hough — was neglectful in the death of his daughter and arrested him on a charge of child neglect causing great bodily harm.

On Dec. 14, detectives added an additional charge of aggravated manslaughter of a child, officials said, adding that Hough was in custody at the Osceola County Jail.

Hough told detectives he was drinking that night, and police say alcohol likely contributed to him falling asleep, WESH-TV reported. Investigators told WUSA they saw various alcoholic drinks at the scene.

Hough also told detectives he ingested two different narcotics before getting into the hot tub with his daughter, WESH added.

RELATED: Dad visits 'the Adult Shoppe' while his kids sit in 125-degree car for almost an hour, cops say

"It's very hard losing a niece this way, and then we have so much hurt for my brother because he's just so distraught and tore up," Angel Hough, the sister of Reynard Tyrone Hough, told WESH.

Capt. Kim Montes with the sheriff's office added to WESH: "I feel bad for this mom and dad; they were devastated, and they had another 6-month-old child at the home. We do know that watching two small kids can be challenging."

Hough appeared in court last Monday and was issued no bond, WESH noted.

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Unhinged female absolutely pummels male employee at Planet Fitness in Florida



An unhinged female was caught on video absolutely pummeling a male employee at a Planet Fitness in Florida last week.

The attack took place Dec. 12 at the gym on SW 8th Avenue, the City of Miami Police Department told WFOR-TV.

'She took things too far, brutally battered our client, and ultimately left him in the hospital with a broken nose and severe emotional distress.'

The female is seen on cellphone video climbing over the front counter of the Planet Fitness in Miami's Little Havana neighborhood, getting in a male worker's face, and then socking him so hard in the face that the punch is audible on the clip.

You can view WFOR's video report — which includes video of the attack — here.

She ends up throwing what appear to be eight more punches; no one intervenes, and the male employee doesn't fight back.

It apparently all started when the male employee told the female gym member to lower her voice or he'd call the police, according to a police report seen on WPLG-TV's video breakdown of the incident. She was reportedly making a scene in a locker room.

With that, the female "became irate," balled her fists, and got in the male employee's face — but the male pushed her away with both hands twice "in self-defense," the arrest report says.

That's when the cellphone clip of the physical attack begins.

RELATED: Woman arrested for allegedly punching two NYPD officers during 'mostly peaceful' Tyre Nichols protest — and she's reportedly released without bail

Photo by Paul Weaver/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

"She took things too far, brutally battered our client, and ultimately left him in the hospital with a broken nose and severe emotional distress," Alecsander Kohn, the victim's attorney, told WFOR.

The female — identified as 35-year-old Kiara Bryant — also was seen on video in the gym's parking lot trying to leave after the incident, WFOR noted. But she was soon arrested and charged with battery and disorderly conduct, the station said, adding that the victim's attorney said he's hoping the district attorney's office will consider additional charges.

"This would be a case of felony battery," Kohn added to WFOR. "Hopefully, through some strong advocacy, there will be a modification of the charges to reflect the severity of the injuries he sustained."

Planet Fitness issued the following statement to the station: "The safety of our employees and members is our top priority, and we have zero tolerance for violence of any kind in our clubs. We are committed to providing a safe environment. The franchise group worked closely with local police and have canceled the member in question."

The Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department told Blaze News that Bryant was booked into jail on the afternoon of Dec. 12 and bonded out early in the morning of Dec. 13.

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ACLU's Alligator Alcatraz lawsuit CRUSHED: Trump judge smacks down liberal bid to close facility meant for illegal aliens



Another effort by liberal activists to shut down America's first state-run facility for federal immigration detainees has fallen flat on its face.

Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration, empowered by the governor's 2023 emergency declaration over the border crisis, got to work in June on transforming the virtually abandoned Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport into Alligator Alcatraz.

Within weeks, the airport's 10,499-foot runway was crowded with tents and unsavory characters set for deportation.

Enraged by the Republican administration's success in raising and filling the facility, liberal activists filed multiple legal challenges in hopes of shutting down the facility.

One of those challenges was filed in August by the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Florida, Community Justice Project, and National Immigrant Justice Center on behalf of an anonymous plaintiff and a proposed class of foreign nationals who share in common their capture by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and detention at the facility.

The lawsuit claimed that Florida lacked the authority to detain illegal aliens at Alligator Alcatraz and asked the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida for a preliminary injunction barring state officials from detaining the plaintiff, identified only as M.A., and others like him at the site.

'Plaintiff is essentially asking this Court to close a sizable and expensive detention facility, all before any decision on the merits of its legality.'

"Florida has wasted hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to unlawfully detain people in this abusive immigration detention center," Amy Godshall, an illegal aliens' rights attorney with the ACLU of Florida, said at the outset. "Not only have the conditions been abhorrent, but the detention itself is unlawful."

"The harm being inflicted on our clients is immediate and irreparable, and it underscores why states are not allowed to overstep into federal immigration processes," added Godshall.

RELATED: 'I'll get the heat': Milwaukee judge is now a convicted felon after violent illegal alien dodged ICE from her courtroom

Blaze Media illustration. Note: This is a Blaze Media illustration, not the actual facility.

U.S. District Judge Kyle Dudek, an appointee of President Donald Trump, delivered the activist groups and their noncitizen client some bad news on Thursday, denying their request to prevent the DeSantis administration from holding illegal aliens at the facility.

Dudek said in his six-page ruling that "preliminary injunctive relief 'is an extraordinary and drastic remedy' that is appropriate only in limited circumstances" and that one of the conditions that must be satisfied was that the movant must show "he will suffer an irreparable injury without the injunction."

The Trump judge underscored that the noncitizen plaintiff has failed to prove irreparable injury.

"To meet his burden, Plaintiff first points to his incarceration at Alligator Alcatraz," wrote Dudek. "He claims that 'unlawful detention is a paradigmatic form of irreparable harm.' But this argument makes little sense here because Plaintiff does not dispute that he (and the proposed class) is subject to confinement by the Attorney General."

Dudek suggested further that the supposed evidence of systematic problems at Alligator Alcatraz that was given in support of the noncitizen's claim of "downstream irreparable harms" was not only "months old and largely stale" but particular only to a handful of detainees and contradicted by other evidence.

"Plaintiff is essentially asking this Court to close a sizable and expensive detention facility, all before any decision on the merits of its legality," wrote Dudek. "While there may indeed be deficiencies at Alligator Alcatraz that ultimately justify its dissolution, Plaintiff has not made the extraordinary showing needed to justify immediate relief of such magnitude."

This gut punch for the liberal activist groups comes just months after the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in Atlanta blocked an Obama-appointed federal judge's order that the facility be shut down.

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Beloved NASCAR legend Greg Biffle dies in horrific plane crash, police believe



Iconic NASCAR driver Greg Biffle died in a plane crash on Thursday in a horrific incident that reportedly involved his family members.

Biffle, 55, had 56 NASCAR national series wins throughout his career, including two championships.

'We are devastated. I'm so sorry to share this.'

On Thursday, Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina reported that an aircraft had crashed while landing at 10:15 a.m.

The FAA arrived to investigate the incident at around 12 p.m., the airport stated.

Iredell County officials soon confirmed the plane crash, with the county sheriff confirming that several people had died in the crash, according to WCNC-TV. WCCB-TV later reported that multiple witnesses and family friends confirmed that Biffle and his wife were on the plane.

Jordan Bianchi, motorsports reporter for the Athletic, wrote on X that North Carolina State Highway Patrol stated there were seven total fatalities from the crash and that they "believe that Mr. Greg Biffle was one of the deceased occupants."

Garrett Mitchell, a YouTuber who goes by the name Cleetus McFarland and has over 4.5 million subscribers, made a Facebook post with similar remarks.

"Unfortunately, I can confirm Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, daughter Emma, and son Ryder were on that plane ... because they were on their way to spend the afternoon with us. We are devastated. I'm so sorry to share this," Mitchell wrote.

RELATED: NASCAR owner sells vehicles to ICE — and liberals are outraged

Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images

Mitchell lives in Florida, and Biffle's plane was reportedly headed to Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport in Florida before it crashed, with the airport CEO issuing a statement.

"We are deeply saddened by the news of the Cessna C550 aircraft crash at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina and en route to SRQ this morning. Our thoughts and prayers are with those on board and with their families and loved ones during this difficult time. Our thoughts also go out to the first responders who we know are diligently working to assist all those involved," the statement said.

Last year, Mitchell and Biffle teamed up to deliver disaster relief supplies in North Carolina via helicopter after Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina.

RELATED: Beloved race car driver dies after mid-race catastrophe has officials tearing his car apart

Geoff Burke/Getty Images

Flight logs reportedly showed that the aircraft was traveling over 100 mph at the time of the crash, WCCB stated. The plane was described as a Cessna C550 business jet with tail number N257BW. The outlet also confirmed the plane belonged to Biffle.

Republican Rep. Richard Hudson (N.C.) wrote on X that he was "devastated by the loss of Greg, Cristina, and their children, and my heart is with all who loved them."

The congressman added, "They were friends who lived their lives focused on helping others. Greg was a great NASCAR champion who thrilled millions of fans. But he was an extraordinary person as well, and will be remembered for his service to others as much as for his fearlessness on the track."

Biffle was named one of NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023 for his "spectacular start in the 1990s" that ran through the 2000s.

"Though Biffle has stepped away from full-time competition at the NASCAR national level, the longtime veteran made five starts in 2022, including the season-opening Daytona 500. His last full season was in 2016," NASCAR wrote.

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