Florida woman mauled to death in 'thrashing' alligator attack during canoe trip as husband tried to fight off massive beast



A Florida woman was attacked and killed by an alligator while sailing on a canoe on Tuesday afternoon, according to authorities.

A husband and wife were canoeing in a 14-foot boat in approximately two and a half feet of water at the mouth of Tiger Creek near Lake Kissimmee, Florida.

'Gator grabbed her out of the canoe. He tried to fight the gator off. We're at the last place he saw her.'

Suddenly, the canoe drifted over a large alligator.

Citing officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, ABC News reported, "The gator thrashed and tipped the canoe over, throwing both the husband and wife into the water."

The fish and wildlife officials said 61-year-old Cynthia Diekema of Polk County landed on top of the alligator. The husband reportedly attempted to stop the alligator attack but was unfortunately unsuccessful.

WKMG-TV obtained the radio transmission from the Polk County Sheriff's Office, which indicates that the victim's husband attempted in vain to fight off the massive animal.

"Gator grabbed her out of the canoe," a deputy can be heard saying in the audio. "He tried to fight the gator off. We're at the last place he saw her. He left the paddle here where he last saw her at."

The Polk County Sheriff's Office helicopter, PCSO deputies, marine units, and an alligator trapper were dispatched to the scene, the commission said.

Wildlife officials revealed on Tuesday that trappers had recovered an 11-foot-4-inch alligator matching the length description of the gator involved in the fatal attack. Trappers also recovered a second alligator, up to 11 feet in length.

Diekema's body has since been recovered.

The FWC launched a full investigation into the animal attack.

Roger Young — the executive director of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission — called Diekema's death a "devastating loss" during a press conference on Wednesday.

Young noted, "While alligator attacks resulting in fatalities are extremely rare, this tragedy serves as a somber reminder of the powerful wildlife that share our natural spaces."

Young said of the victim's friends and family, "Our heartfelt prayers go out to them. This is a devastating loss, and our hearts go out to everyone affected by this tragedy."

This is the second alligator attack in the area since March. A woman suffered an alligator bite on her arm while kayaking on a canal between Tiger Lake and Kissimmee Lake.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission urges the public to "never feed an alligator and keep your distance if you see one. Swim only in designated swimming areas during daylight hours. And keep pets on a leash and away from the water."

You can watch a local WTSP-TV newscast on the fatal alligator attack here.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up!

Florida woman poses as ICE agent to kidnap ex-boyfriend's wife, says victim must 'suffer consequences of husband's actions'



A Florida woman was caught impersonating a federal immigration officer in an attempt to kidnap her ex-boyfriend's wife, according to police.

Police arrested 52-year-old Latrance Battle on charges of robbery by sudden snatching, kidnapping, and impersonating a law enforcement officer.

The alleged victim was 'in fear' because she is in the process of becoming a legal United States resident.

According to Law & Crime, the alleged victim told investigators that the incident began while she was at her job at the Days Inn in Panama City, Florida.

On April 10, the alleged victim said she was confronted by a woman who was reportedly wearing a white face mask, sunglasses, a black jacket, pants, a hat, and an ICE shirt.

The affidavit said the woman — later identified as Battle — held a business card that read “Sheriff’s Office.” Battle was holding a walkie-talkie that she used for fake conversations with other agents, according to court documents.

Police believe Battle was impersonating an agent with Immigration and Customs Enforcement in order to kidnap the alleged victim, who was allegedly the wife of Battle's ex-boyfriend.

The Bay County Sheriff's Office said in a statement, "Latrance instructed the victim that she had to go with her. Due to being in fear, the victim got in the vehicle and went willingly with Latrance."

The alleged victim was "in fear" because she is in the process of becoming a legal United States resident.

While driving in a car, Battle "forcefully snatched" the alleged victim's phone as she was attempting to contact her lawyer and husband, according to court documents.

Battle allegedly told her ex-boyfriend's wife that she was being taken to a sheriff's office and that she could have a phone call once they arrived at the sheriff's office.

Court documents revealed that Battle "kept talking bad about [the victim’s] husband and how [the victim] now has to suffer the consequences of her husband’s actions."

Battle allegedly drove the pair to the Bridge Plaza apartment complex in Panama City Beach, Florida.

According to the affidavit, Battle allegedly “instructed [the victim] to get out of the car and go to room 108."

While Battle was reportedly distracted, the alleged victim took the opportunity to flee her captor and pleaded for help from a man nearby.

The man purportedly allowed the alleged victim to stay inside his apartment until police arrived at the crime scene.

While she waited for law enforcement, the alleged victim called her husband, and he noted that the would-be ICE agent "sounded like his ex-girlfriend."

Deputies with the Bay County Sheriff's Office found the alleged victim “shaking" with apparent fear in the apartment, according to a probable cause arrest.

Law enforcement said Battle was attempting to flee to Alabama, but officers apprehended her before she crossed state lines. Police bodycam video shows Battle initially not cooperating with deputies as she refused to open her car door when instructed by officers.

The husband had an injunction against Battle “for issues they have had in the past,” according to the affidavit. In one incident roughly two years ago, Battle "showed up to his place of business and attacked him."

An ICE spokesperson told Newsweek, "U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and agents are highly trained and dedicated professionals who are sworn to uphold the law, protect the American people, and support U.S. national security interests."

"ICE strongly condemns the impersonation of its officers or agents," the spokesperson added. "This action is not only dangerous, but illegal. Imposters can be arrested for and charged with a criminal offense both at the state and federal level (under 18 USC 912)."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

'Dark and macabre': Florida woman arrested for allegedly selling human remains on Facebook



A Florida woman has been arrested for selling human remains on Facebook, according to police.

Kymberlee Anne Schopper — a 52-year-old woman from Deltona — was arrested Thursday. She was charged with trading in human tissue, according to the Orange City Police Department.

'Join us on a journey down our rabbit hole of curiosities, where the oddities of the world become the keys to unlocking a deeper appreciation for the diverse tapestry of existence.'

Schopper was released Friday from the Volusia County Jail on a $7,500 bond.

Schopper reportedly is one of the owners of the Wicked Wonderland store — self-described as "embracing the peculiar, the odd, and the misunderstood."

The business states it offers taxidermy forms, bone art and jewelry, clown art, BDSM accessories, and a "large selection of wet specimens."

The store's site notes that "every ethically sourced specimen is handled with the utmost care and respect."

"Join us on a journey down our rabbit hole of curiosities, where the oddities of the world become the keys to unlocking a deeper appreciation for the diverse tapestry of existence," the site states. "To understand the odd is to truly appreciate the beauty of diversity."

According to the business' website, the owners are "a mother and daughter team who revel in the madness of the strange and unusual; the dark and macabre."

The owners both claim to "come from a medical background" and "have a passion for sharing our knowledge and expertise in the preservation and exploration of anatomy and pathology of all organic beings."

Wicked Wonderland reportedly also sells merchandise on Facebook.

On Dec. 21, 2023, police received a tip that Wicked Wonderland was selling human bones on Facebook Marketplace, according to WOFL-TV.

The business allegedly was selling two human skull fragments for $90, a human clavicle and scapula for $90, a human rib for $35, human vertebrae for $35, and a partial human skull for $600.

When investigators asked about the human remains, the other shop owner told police that she was unaware that it was illegal, according to the arrest affidavit.

"She confirmed that the store had multiple human bone fragments, all purchased from private sellers, and mentioned she has documentation for these transactions but could not provide it at that moment," the arrest affidavit states. "She described the bones as genuine human remains and delicate in nature."

Schopper allegedly told police the bones were "educational models," which would make it legal to sell the human remains.

Police seized the human remains and submitted them for analysis by a medical examiner and experts.

Experts allegedly suspect the cranium and the skull fragments were likely archaeological finds. The human remains are believed to range in age from 100 years old to more than 500 years old, WOFL-TV reported.

Police said the investigation is ongoing.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

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



A Florida woman was told she could not bring her dog aboard a flight departing Orlando International Airport, so she drowned her dog in an airport bathroom, according to police.

Alison Agatha Lawrence, 57, was arrested March 18. She was charged with aggravated animal abuse — a third-degree felony, according to an arrest record.

'This is not a bottle of water or an oversized bottle of shampoo.'

Lawrence was taken into custody in Clermont and then transported to the Lake County Jail. She was released after posting a $5,000 bond, according to jail records.

On Dec. 16, 2024, officers with the Orlando Police Department responded to reports that an airport employee found a "dead animal" inside a woman's public restroom located before the security checkpoint.

WESH-TV reported that Lawrence brought her small, white, 9-year-old Miniature Schnauzer dog named Tywinn to the Orlando International Airport to board a flight to Bogota, Colombia.

Police said surveillance video shows Lawrence and her dog at the airport talking with an airline employee.

"Sources said she was trying to board a flight but didn’t have the right paperwork to allow the dog to board and couldn’t take it," WFTV-TV reported.

Sources told the news outlet that Lawrence allegedly drowned her pet in an airport bathroom.

Lawrence "is believed to have taken extreme and tragic action by killing the dog," the Orlando Police Department stated.

Officers were reportedly taken to a trash bag containing the dead dog and several dog accessories.

A female airport employee allegedly told police that she saw a woman sitting on the bathroom floor of a stall, cleaning up "a lot of water and a lot of dog food."

The employee had to tend to a "cleanup emergency," but when she returned approximately 20 minutes later, she reportedly witnessed Lawrence exit the stall and leave with a purse and suitcase.

At that time, the employee removed the trash bag from the canister and discovered the dead dog because the bag was heavier than normal, according to the affidavit. WOFL-TV reported that the dog's body "was wet and warm."

A necropsy was performed later, and it was determined that the dog likely died from drowning.

Animal services used the dog's microchip to locate Lawrence.

Police said Lawerence's name and contact information were on the dog tag of the deceased animal. The name on the dog tag matched Lawrence's passport that she used to board her flight.

After the dog's death, Lawrence proceeded through security and eventually boarded her flight to Colombia, the probable cause statement said.

"The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority fully cooperates with all law enforcement officials regarding possible criminal activity on airport property," a spokesperson for the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority stated.

Bryan Wilson — of the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida — told WKMG-TV, “Obviously, we were shocked when we heard a woman had effectively drowned her companion animal all because she couldn’t get on a plane. This is not a bottle of water or an oversized bottle of shampoo.”

You can watch a local newscast from WESH regarding the dead dog here.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Florida couple accused of stuffing billiard ball in tortured teen mom's mouth, suffocating her, ditching her dismembered body



A Florida couple allegedly kidnapped, tortured, and murdered a teen mom, according to authorities.

Miranda Corsette — a 16-year-old mother to an 11-month-old baby — allegedly met 35-year-old Steven Gress on a dating app, then went to his St. Petersburg residence on Valentine's Day.

Gress and Brandes 'held the victim against her will for more than seven days and tortured her by repeatedly beating the victim and eventually stuffing a billiard ball into her mouth and wrapping her face with plastic wrap, causing her to suffocate.'

Corsette is said to have returned to her grandmother's home in Gulfport the next day — but soon after that day went back to Gress' house. Police said Corsette remained there for days with Gress and his domestic partner, 37-year-old Michelle Brandes.

Corsette's grandmother on Feb. 24 reported her missing to the Gulfport Police Department. Corsette was homeschooled and lived with her grandmother because Corsette's parents are deceased, St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway stated during a press conference.

"We are very familiar with Miranda," said Commander Mary Farrand, who is also Gulfport's acting police chief. "She is a frequent runaway, and she has a history of mental health issues as well as drug abuse. The grandmother is her primary caregiver at this time."

Farrand explained that the grandmother — who didn't report Corsette missing for several days — said her granddaughter "normally comes home," and the grandmother said "she doesn’t report her missing every time she leaves. She just didn’t come back in a timely manner this time."

On March 6, a witness contacted police with a tip about a possible kidnapping and murder of a missing teen, and detectives determined Corsette was the missing teen referred to in the tip.

On Feb. 20, Brandes and Gress accused the teen mother of stealing a ring, according to the arrest affidavit.

Chief Holloway said the couple beat and tortured Corsette because they couldn't find the ring.

The Tampa Bay Times, citing the affidavit, reported that Gress and Brandes "held the victim against her will for more than seven days and tortured her by repeatedly beating the victim and eventually stuffing a billiard ball into her mouth and wrapping her face with plastic wrap, causing her to suffocate."

The St. Petersburg Police Department said of Corsette in a statement, "Sometime between February 20th and February 24th, she was killed."

Police said Gress put Corsette’s body in his car and drove to a home in nearby Largo; detectives found evidence that Corsette was dismembered there.

Chief Holloway said Brandes' mother owns the Largo home .

Police said Gress and Brandes drove about 50 miles to ditch the body in a dumpster in Ruskin.

Detectives located the dumpster but have yet to find the teen girl's remains. On Friday, police said they believe her remains likely are in a landfill.

Gress already was in jail for unrelated charges when the accusations about Corsette came to light.

On March 6, Gress was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, resisting arrest, and possession of methamphetamine and marijuana, records show. Police said Gress pointed a harpoon at Brandes.

In the missing teen case, Gress was charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping.

Gress was being held at the Pinellas County Jail without bail.

An assistant public defender has been appointed to represent him and has entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf, according to court records.

Brandes turned herself in to police Saturday morning. She is charged with first-degree murder in connection with Corsette's death.

The St. Petersburg Police Department noted, "This is still a very active investigation, and more charges are expected."

Anyone with information on this case is urged to contact the St. Petersburg Police Department at 727-893-7780.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Teen spray-paints car in revenge plot against ex-boyfriend. Turns out it's not his car — and she winds up behind bars.



A Florida teen found herself behind bars after her revenge plot against her ex-boyfriend went badly awry.

Shortly after 2:30 a.m. Wednesday, deputies with the Volusia County Sheriff's Office responded to a vandalism call about "a young woman spray-painting a vehicle" in Deltona, which is about 30 minutes north of Orlando.

'You really need to try harder to try to be sneaky because you are god awful.'

When police arrived at the crime scene, they encountered two teenagers — an 18-year-old and a 16-year-old — near a black Infiniti covered in bright yellow spray paint. Smiley faces and the words "Jason" and "devil" were spray-painted on the car.

One of the teenagers was walking away from officers, and she told police that she was "not involved."

“This one’s not involved, but she has yellow paint from head to toe,” a deputy said sarcastically, according to bodycam video obtained by WKMG-TV. "And she threw all of her dope over here."

The deputy tells the teens, "You really need to try harder to try to be sneaky because you are god awful."

"And you guys spray-painted the wrong damn car," the officer says before chuckling.

The Volusia County Sheriff's Office said on social media, "Oops, wrong car. Overnight, deputies responded to a vandalism call in the City of Deltona about a young woman spray-painting a vehicle."

"When questioned, the 18-year-old admitted she was upset with her ex-boyfriend, so she and her friend decided to spray-paint and throw eggs at what they thought was his vehicle," police stated. "Unfortunately the vehicle in question belonged to a neighbor, not her ex."

The 18-year-old told deputies she was upset with her ex-boyfriend because he owed her money.

According to the affidavit, deputies discovered 33.8 grams of marijuana, a glass pipe, an empty bottle of Crown Royal whiskey, and two open bottles of Four Loko alcoholic beverages inside the suspect's car. Cops also allegedly found a can of yellow spray paint in the vehicle's trunk.

The 18-year-old — identified as Evelina Fabianski — was charged with criminal mischief, contributing to delinquency of a minor, possession of alcohol under 21, and driving under the influence.

The 16-year-old — not identified due to her age — was charged with possession of marijuana over 20 grams.

Fabianski was reportedly booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail before being released on Wednesday afternoon.

The 16-year-old was taken to the Volusia County Family Resource Center.

WOFL-TV interviewed the car owner, who said it likely would cost $5,000 to repair the damages to his vehicle.

"It's crazy, too. They chose the perfect color," car owner Jonathan Edwards said. "The perfect color, to pop off of black."

Edwards used a razor blade to scrape the paint off the windows so he could see to drive, but the car is still covered in yellow spray paint.

Edwards said he is taking the suspects to court.

"You're 18. There's no point to ruin your life this early over a guy. Makes no sense," Edwards said.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Disturbing video shows apparent road-rage shooting at busy Florida intersection; male suspect faces murder charges



A Florida male and female have been arrested in connection with an apparent road-rage shooting in the middle of a busy intersection that left one dead and another in critical condition. The shooting was caught on video.

Around 4:17 p.m. Sunday, police dispatchers began receiving calls regarding a shooting at a busy intersection in Panama City.

Officers near the shooting began chasing the fleeing pickup truck.

An Instagram account titled "Bay County Bad Drivers" uploaded video of the shooting.

Video shows a red GMC Terrain SUV stopped at a red light with a gray Dodge Ram pickup truck directly behind it. Two males are seen standing outside the SUV before returning inside the vehicle.

When the light turns green, the trailing pickup truck aggressively accelerates to the left and whips next to the driver's side of the SUV. It appears that the pickup truck passenger's hand emerges from the truck's open window, and about a dozen gunshots are heard. The SUV comes to a stop in the middle of the intersection.

Police said the pickup truck attempted to flee the crime scene. Officers near the shooting began chasing the fleeing pickup truck.

Panama City Police said in a press release: "They pursued the suspect vehicle north on Hwy 231, while other officers responded to the scene."

WMBB-TV reported that during the chase, the pickup truck collided with a police car on an access road between a Mexican restaurant and a Holiday Inn.

Police arrested two suspects from the pickup truck roughly a mile from the shooting scene.

Panama City Police said two people in the red SUV were shot. One victim died soon after arriving at a local hospital. The other shooting victim was in critical condition.

The shooting victims' identities have yet to be released because the incident is an active homicide investigation, and next of kin are being notified.

Police arrested Jubal Simmons and Ivybella Encino, the New York Post said.

Simmons — the suspected shooter, the Post said — is facing a number of charges, including first-degree premeditated homicide-murder, three counts of first-degree attempted premeditated homicide-murder, discharging a firearm from a vehicle, destroying or altering evidence, and resisting an officer without violence, according to police records.

Encino was hit with charges of first-degree accessory to a crime, fleeing or eluding police, and aggravated assault on an officer, records also say.

Simmons is being held without bond. Encino is being held on a $850,500 bond.

Panama City Police said they are "grateful to all the witnesses who came forward with information and evidence in this case."

The PCPD urged anyone with additional information on the shooting to contact Panama City Police at 850-872-3100 or phone in a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 850-785-TIPS (8477).

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Police body cam video: Florida cop fired after she shot man with his own gun during routine traffic stop



Newly-released body cam video shows the moment when a Jacksonville police officer shot a Florida man during a routine traffic stop. The cop was charged and reportedly terminated after the accidental shooting.

On Dec. 13, 2024, Jacksonville Sheriff's Office police officer S. Lowry conducted a routine traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Jason Arrington. The officer accused Arrington of driving through a red light, and Arrington disagreed.

'Holy s**t!'

Body cam video shows Arrington being compliant during the traffic stop and informing Officer Lowry that he was armed with a gun.

"So what we're gonna do is — just for my safety and your safety — I'm gonna have you step out of the vehicle," the officer instructs Arrington. "And we're just gonna remove the pistol from you."

The officer continued, "Then we're gonna run your license and make sure everything is good, and then I'm gonna send you on your way."

Officer Lowry informs two other officers at the scene that the driver is "very compliant" and "he does have a pistol on him."

Police body cam video shows Arrington exiting the vehicle and then placing his hands on the roof of his truck.

Officer Mindy Cardwell is seen on police body cam video attempting to extract the gun holstered in Arrington's waistband.

"She tugged on the gun the first time, then she tugged again," Arrington explained before adding, "I don't know, she might have got nervous or whatever, and she pulled harder two more times, and that's when it discharged."

Suddenly, a gunshot is heard in the video, and Arrington is seen slumping down in pain.

Lowry can be heard screaming, "Holy s**t!"

'Gun owners in this state should be able to carry their firearms without the fear of an officer pulling them over on the side of the road, then voluntarily disclosing they’re carrying a firearm, then being shot with their own weapon.'

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said in a statement, "While Officer Cardwell was attempting to remove the firearm, it discharged, striking Mr. Arrington in the leg."

The bullet hit Arrington in the upper thigh and went through his right side.

Body cam video shows Officer Caldwell's finger on the trigger of Arrington's handgun as she removes it from his waistband.

Within seconds, blood is seen flowing down Arrington's leg, and he needs assistance from an officer to walk. Officer A. Weippert applies a tourniquet to Arrington's leg, and Arrington is seen grimacing in pain. The officer then cuts the pants off Arrington's leg to locate the gunshot wound.

Following the police shooting, Officer Lowry is heard whispering to himself: "Goddamn."

Lowry also is heard telling dispatch that the police shooting was a "negligent discharge."

In a late-December press conference, Arrington announced that he planned to sue over the officer-involved shooting.

“It messed with me as far as me working and stuff,” Arrington said. "Certain things in my job I can’t do no more, perform, like getting up on equipment and stuff, you know, different things."

"I have to get on top of trains and unload stuff, forklift, crane, whatever I have to do at my job. It’s kind of hard for me to do it. I can do it, but it’s challenging, like real bad," Arrington stated.

Arrington's attorney — Kay Harper Williams — stated, "Gun owners in this state should be able to carry their firearms without the fear of an officer pulling them over on the side of the road, then voluntarily disclosing they’re carrying a firearm, then being shot with their own weapon."

Williams said she believes Officer Caldwell "was not properly trained" and "certainly did not follow proper protocol."

Weeks after the incident, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office released a memo spotlighting how police should conduct stops involving a citizen legally carrying a concealed firearm.

"The burden of proving an individual is not eligible to carry a concealed firearm falls on the investigating officer and is not an automatic presumption," the memo reads. "Unless an officer has articulable suspicion that the detained person presents a threat to the safety of citizens or officers or has knowledge that the detained person is ineligible to carry a concealed firearm, officers should not seize a firearm (i.e. remove it from holster, vehicle, pocket, bag, etc.) from someone lawfully carrying it."

Internal Affairs launched an investigation, and Cardwell was hit with a sustained charge of incompetence.

CBS News on Wednesday reported that Caldwell had been fired.

A week after the traffic stop, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office dismissed the traffic citation against Arrington.

You can watch police body cam footage from all three of the officers involved in the shooting incident at the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office's official Facebook page, but it should be noted that the video is graphic.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Florida female tells police a man raped her, but she's the one arrested on attempted murder, armed robbery charges



A Florida female told police a man raped her. However, the rape accuser in this case has been arrested on charges of attempted murder and armed robbery.

Officers with the Hialeah Police Department responded to a report of sexual battery and a shooting at a warehouse parking lot shortly after 9:30 p.m. Jan. 6.

Detectives said they were 'able to disprove' the female's story after viewing surveillance video.

Valerie Meza-Faublack, 22, reportedly told police that she met a man outside her workplace. According to the arrest report cited by WPLG-TV, she informed police that the man drove her to the warehouse parking lot, where he took out a gun. She allegedly claimed the man forced her to pull her pants down, raped her, then "dragged her out of the driver-side door by her hair."

Meza-Faublack said while she was fleeing the scene, the man began shooting at her, according to the police report.

However, Meza-Faublack reportedly refused to let staff at the Roxcy Bolton Rape Treatment Center administer a rape kit the next day.

Police spoke to the accused, and he told authorities that he met Meza-Faublack at a bar and she asked him to leave with her.

The pair drove to the warehouse parking lot and both undressed to have sex, he told investigators, according to WTVJ-TV. The man said the two did not have sex, but it allegedly turned into a near-deadly situation.

Authorities interviewed Meza-Faublack a second time, and she allegedly told investigators that she paid the victim $20 to charge her phone in his vehicle.

She claimed the man then drove her to the parking lot, where he raped her — but not at gunpoint.

Meza-Faublack told detectives she convinced the man to “let her go urinate outside."

According to the police report, Meza-Faublack informed police, "Once she saw the victim retrieved his firearm, she ran to the front passenger side door and attempted to open it" to get her cell phone.

Investigators obtained surveillance video from the parking lot where the alleged rape occurred, but the video allegedly shows a different story. Detectives said they were “able to disprove” the female's story after viewing the surveillance video.

According to police, the video shows Meza-Faublack shooting into the man's vehicle. Detectives determined that she fired at him 15 times.

“As the victim attempted to climb into the rear passenger seat of the motor vehicle, [Meza-Faublack] unlawfully took possession of his firearm, which was in the driver compartment area, and began shooting into the vehicle where he was occupying the rear passenger seat,” the arrest report from the Hialeah Police Department read. “After the shooting stopped, [the] victim advised he exited the vehicle, physically retrieved the firearm from [her], and fled the scene.”

Meza-Faublack was arrested Jan. 15. As of Wednesday, she is in the Miami Dade Corrections & Rehabilitation Center on $6,000 bond.

Meza-Faublack reportedly has a criminal history. At the time of her Jan. 15 arrest, she allegedly was on probation for a separate case. According to WPLG, Meza-Faublack used her alter ego of "Hamanda" to deceive renters at an apartment in the Little Havana neighborhood of Miami. Authorities accused Meza-Faublack of stealing thousands of dollars in security deposits. She was charged with acting as a real estate broker without a license, organized fraud, and grand theft.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Florida female wanted to buy fentanyl — but she made 1 little mistake that got her busted: Police



A Florida woman attempted to buy fentanyl, but she made one little mistake that got her busted, according to police.

Octavia Wells, 41, allegedly thought she was texting one of her contacts to purchase drugs before she left town to go to rehab.

'Unknown to Octavia, she had accidentally reached the phone of a narcotics investigator at the Bay County Sheriff’s Office with her text message.'

The New York Post reported that Wells messaged one of her contacts labeled "PJ," and offered to pay $45 for fentanyl on New Year's Eve.

Wells allegedly told "PJ" that she needed “just a couple points" — a reference to one-tenth of a gram of fentanyl.

What Wells didn't know is that she did not contact a drug dealer but rather Stephen Pettijohn — a deputy and narcotics investigator with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.

Pettijohn allegedly played along and pretended to be a drug dealer.

The sheriff's office said in a statement, "Unknown to Octavia, she had accidentally reached the phone of a narcotics investigator at the Bay County Sheriff’s Office with her text message. The investigator immediately began communicating with Octavia in an undercover capacity, setting up the 'sale.'"

The affidavit stated that Wells agreed to meet "PJ" at a gas station in Panama City, Florida.

But she instead came face to face at the gas station with several members of the sheriff's office Special Investigations Division.

Law & Crime reported that a police search of her vehicle resulted in the discovery of tin foil used to smoke fentanyl, fentanyl test strips in the center console with cut straws used to smoke fentanyl, a digital scale, and a cut straw under the driver’s seat.

Wells was placed under arrest and charged with unlawful use of a two-way communication device, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving while license suspended or revoked with knowledge.

Wells posted bond, and a judge ordered her not to possess or consume alcoholic beverages and submit to random drug tests.

Wells is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 30.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!