Florida woman furious at driver who allegedly runs over chicken crossing the road; so she tries to 'teach her a lesson': Cops



Cynthia Diaz Sosa told Key West, Florida, investigators she stopped in traffic on Petronia Street on the evening of July 9 “waiting to let a chicken cross the road," according to WPLG-TV, which said it obtained an arrest report of the incident.

'This woman is to be admired! She's a nature lover.'

However, Sosa told police another driver began honking at her, passed her, and then ran over and killed the chicken, the station said.

The 38-year-old told investigators she wanted to “teach her a lesson” — meaning the motorist who allegedly ran over and killed the chicken, WPLG reported.

With that, Sosa followed the other driver, the station said.

Law & Crime said the other driver told police she "was on her way to pick up her child from daycare" when Sosa's "vehicle jumped in front of" her car.

RELATED: What Is the 'Urban Chicken Retirement' Phenomenon?

Why did the chicken cross the road? Chickens, cockerels, and baby chickens are allowed free range on the streets of Key West, Florida, March 23, 2019.Photo by Paul Harris/Getty Images

At Emma and Olivia Streets, Sosa began pulling on the woman’s door, soon got it open, and then doused the driver with bear spray — and sprayed another woman inside the vehicle as well — and then took off, WPLG said.

Key West Fire Department medics checked out the two victims at the scene, and police said they later located Sosa, the station said.

WPLG said Sosa was arrested on two counts of aggravated battery and one count of burglary with assault or battery, WPLG reported.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office told Blaze News that Sosa's bond was $35,000.

WPLG said Sosa wasn't listed Tuesday among active jail inmates, and her arraignment is scheduled for July 24.

Commenters underneath the WPLG story for the most part seemed squarely in Sosa's corner:

  • "Seriously? The cops arrested her and not the animal abuser?" one commenter asked. "What is wrong with the genius cops in this country? All they want is to manufacture and get their arrest numbers up."
  • "There's so [much] low hanging fruit here, I'll just pause on the chicken crossing the road thing," another commenter said. "There are so many impatient and clueless drivers on our roads. I guarantee the 'victim' was on their phone without a clue of what was going on in front of them, and the entitlement comes out. Separately, hopefully people know it's not just the usual mace being carried these days — it's bear spray."
  • "This woman is to be admired!" another commenter said. "She's a nature lover."
  • "Good for her; I would have done the same," another commenter said. "RIP chicken."
  • "What's happened to the Key West that advocated for animal rights?" another commenter wondered. "They should've arrested the other lady."

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Florida man with meth pipe steals tourist train, picks up passengers for wild ride — and announces it's his 'birthday': Cops



A Florida man celebrated his birthday on July 4 by stealing a tourist train in Key West, picking up passengers, and having a meth pipe in his possession, according to police.

Citing the arrest report, WPLG-TV said police received a call just before 11:30 a.m. Friday that a man had stolen the Conch Tour Train.

The arrest report states Winslow picked up 'two random passengers' while driving the trolley.

Police officers responded to the Conch Tour Train Depot, where they were informed that one of the trackless trolley trains had been hijacked.

According to the arrest report, police said Jonathan Patrick Winslow of Big Torch Key — who indeed was celebrating his 57th birthday — left his Kia vehicle in the train depot's parking lot while it was still running "with rock music playing on the radio."

A train depot employee told police that Winslow claimed to have worked at the tourism business years ago and wanted to take a tour of the train, WPLG said, citing the arrest report.

However, the worker reportedly told officers that Winslow got into the trolley and drove away.

The employee was "confused" but allegedly told investigators that perhaps Winslow had received permission to drive the train. As you might imagine, that wasn't the case.

Tour company employees reportedly told police that GPS could track the train — and it turns out that it was on the move in downtown Key West.

The arrest report states Winslow picked up "two random passengers" while driving the trolley.

Police said officers were able to track down the stolen Conch Tour Train at the massively popular Southernmost Point Buoy tourist attraction and stop it before anything tragic occurred during the wild ride.

RELATED: Cheap hot dog sparks deadly dispute at nudist resort that ends in grisly deaths of elderly couple and dog: Police

The arrest report states that Winslow "exhibited rapid speech and appeared excited" while officers informed him that he would be arrested.

Police allegedly claimed Winslow told them that he merely "borrowed" the train. WPLG reported that Winslow told officers that he previously worked at the Conch Tour Train Depot; police said he stressed that "today is his birthday."

Winslow was arrested and transported to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Key West jail facility.

Authorities said a methamphetamine pipe was discovered in Winslow's pocket when a corrections deputy searched him at the jail, according to the arrest report.

Winslow allegedly asserted, "It's a weed pipe." However, investigators disagreed.

Winslow was charged with burglary, grand theft auto, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jail records show Winslow was being detained on a $60,000 bond.

RELATED: Man once tried to outrun police on a mule — now he's in jail for allegedly weaponizing a raccoon

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Florida AG to bring the hammer down on Key West after city votes to end ICE agreement



Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier (R) is putting the city of Key West on notice after commissioners recently voted to end their partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, through the 287(g) program, despite legal requirements in place under state law.

In a letter sent to Key West Commissioners on Wednesday, Uthmeier reminded the leaders it is against the law for any level of government to provide sanctuary to illegal aliens and that by "declaring the [police] Department's existing 287(g) agreement void, Key West made itself a sanctuary city."

'Failure to take corrective action will result in enforcement of all applicable civil and criminal penalties, including removal from office.'

The 287(g) program allows state and local police departments and sheriff offices to carry out certain federal immigration duties. Florida law requires cities to do proactive work to aid the federal government in enforcing immigration law.

"In this instance, however, it's worse," Uthmeier continued. "The Commission didn't merely prevent the Police Department from entering a 287(g) agreement; it affirmatively voided an existing 287(g) agreement under which the Police Department was actively operating. Bad policy and illegal."

RELATED: Fort Myers City Council passes enhanced ICE agreement after pressure from DeSantis

Fort Myers City Council passes enhanced ICE agreement after pressure from DeSantis Matt McClain/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Uthmeier pointed to the illegal alien arrests in the Florida Keys during March where all 10 arrestees were convicted sex offenders. A month later, Border Patrol arrested two illegal aliens, one of whom had a history of violent crime and the other of whom had a history of animal abuse.

"Florida law unequivocally forbids sanctuary policies. And it requires local governments to use 'best efforts' to assist with federal immigration law. Your recent action violated both laws. ... Failure to take corrective action will result in enforcement of all applicable civil and criminal penalties, including removal from office," Uthmeier warned.

RELATED: Alligator Alcatraz is a warning to illegal immigrants in the US: Leave now or end up here

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In March, the Fort Myers City Council did not initially vote to approve having its police department participate in the 287(g) program. While they had support from some of their constituents, the city council members later approved the agreement after similar warnings from Governor Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) and Uthmeier.

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Coast Guard stops migrant boat, arrests 3 suspected criminal gang members wanted for deadly shooting



The United States Coast Guard stopped a migrant boat headed for America, leading to the arrest of three fugitives allegedly affiliated with a criminal gang, according to a Tuesday press release.

The Coast Guard reported that the “unlawful migration voyage” was interdicted on Friday in Mona Passage, a strait separating Puerto Rico and Hispaniola.

The 20-foot boat was spotted Friday morning by aircrew with U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations multi-role enforcement aircraft, the Coast Guard’s press release explained.

Eight individuals and multiple cockfighting roosters were found on board. The migrants told the Coast Guard that they departed from the Dominican Republic and were heading to Puerto Rico when their boat experienced engine malfunctions. The crew had attempted to turn the ship around and head back when they were discovered by authorities.

An investigation by the Dominican Republic Navy and Homeland Security Investigations revealed that three of the individuals were U.S. citizens with outstanding warrants. The Coast Guard stated that the three are “affiliated with a criminal gang and wanted in connection with a July 2020 shooting at a residential community in Puerto Rico in which four people were killed.”

Lt. Vincente Garcia, Coast Guard liaison to the Dominican Republic, stated, “Our strong partnerships and daily collaboration between all federal partner agencies involved in this case as well as Dominican Republic Navy and Dominican law enforcement authorities resulted in the safe repatriation of five migrants and the apprehension of three wanted U.S. citizens.”

“These efforts are instrumental to achieving regional stability and safeguarding our nation’s southernmost maritime border from dangers and threats associated with unlawful migration and other prevalent illicit maritime activity,” Garcia added.

The Coast Guard noted that migrants apprehended at sea or ashore “will not be allowed to stay in the United States or a U.S. territory.” Illegal migrants are either returned to their country of origin or the country from where they departed, it noted.

Last week, the Coast Guard intercepted a boat carrying 19 Cuban nationals near Key West, Florida.

Lt. Peter Hutchison, Coast Guard Seventh District Enforcement Branch, said, “Migrants attempting to enter the U.S. unlawfully by sea will be disqualified indefinitely from the legal immigration parole policy for Cubans and Haitians.”

“Migrants intercepted at sea, regardless of their nationality, will not be permitted to enter the United States. Those without a legal basis to remain in the U.S. will also be removed,” Hutchison noted.

So far, in fiscal year 2024, the Coast Guard has repatriated 367 Cuban migrants.

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Cuban migrants land at Florida airport in motorized hang glider; detained by ICE



Two Cuban migrants arrived at Key West International Airport in a motorized hang glider Saturday, authorities reported.

"I actually heard it first. I heard that glider in the air (and) I heard the motor," Christopher Herrera told WPLG. "I actually looked up because it shouldn’t be where it was, that’s in the path of Key West Airport," Herrera added.

No serious injuries were reported, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office said of the 10:30 a.m. arrival.

MCSO officials said the two migrants were turned over to the custody of the United States Border Patrol.

There were no interruptions in service at the airport and "operations continue as normal," airport director Richard Strickland said in a statement acquired by the Miami Herald.

Chief Patrol Agent Walter N. Slosar of the United States Border Patrol Miami Sector shared photographs of the craft on Twitter Saturday.

The USBP's Miami Sector safeguards 1,279 miles of coastal border along the Atlantic and Gulf shores in the Sunshine State. It contains six Border Patrol Stations "strategically located and staffed to address the current threat within the State of Florida only."

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"I see this thing coming at me, and it looks weird," seaplane pilot Nick Pontecorvo told Keys News. "I see it's an ultralight and it zips past my wing."

Pontecorvo described the sight as "pretty awesome," according to WPLG. He said said it takes "a lot of courage" to make a flight over 90 miles of open ocean, "especially with the wind."

In February 2023, 22,755 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans were paroled into the country though the parole process established for Venezuelans in October and then expanded to additional nationalities in January, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported in its Monthly Operational Update March 15.

CBP reported a decline of 98% in encounters of Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans between ports of entry on the southwest border based on a seven-day average of 1,231 in January and a seven-day average of 46 in February.

CBP reports the total number of unique southwest border encounters of Cubans was 140 as of February 23. The figure was 6,053 for January and 42,183 for December 2022.

The Cuban migrants who entered the country via hang glider are being held at Broward Transitional Center in Pompano Beach, WPLG reported Monday. They are currently under a 10-day quarantine at the detention facility and will come before a judge after that quarantine period expires, the outlet also reported.
Watch footage shared by WPLG of the motorized hang glider in the air, approaching Key West International Airport.
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2 dead, 10 missing after boat carrying Cuban migrants capsizes off Key West



A vessel full of Cuban nationals trying to reach the U.S. capsized and sank off Key West, Florida, on Thursday, leaving two confirmed dead and another 10 missing according to officials.

What are the details?

The New York Times reported that a Coast Guard cutter came upon a group of people floating in the water roughly 18 miles from the coast in the early afternoon, with no boat in sight. Eight survivors were rescued.

"There was no vessel. The people were found in the water," Petty Officer Hernandez told the newspaper. "That's why we don't have any of the nationalities or anything like that."

Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay confirmed later that 20 Cubans attempting to reach the U.S. were originally on board the boat.

Two Coast Guard cutters and several smaller boats continued to search for survivors and victims into the evening, authorities told The Miami Herald. The Coast Guard assured the public that they would continue to search throughout the night.

Anything else?

Just days earlier in a separate incident, a raft carrying 11 Cuban migrants overturned during a voyage across the Florida Straits on Saturday, causing them to lose "their food, water and medication," the Herald reported.

The group was able to flip the raft back upright and continue on their journey, making it about an hour north of Key West. One of the men on board had died by the time the Coast Guard came upon the vessel.

"The dangers of traveling through the Florida Straits cannot be overstated," Chief Warrant Officer Matt James, commanding officer, Station Islamorada, said in a statement following the incident. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the man who died as a result of losing critical medicine for a reported pre-existing condition during the capsizing."

2 dead, 8 rescued, 10 missing after boat capsizes in Florida Keys www.youtube.com

COVID curfew violators arrested in Key West — including prominent restaurant owner: 'He said it was not a real law'



Police arrested at least a half-dozen people — including a prominent restaurant owner — in Key West, Florida, for violating the city's New Year's Eve COVID-19 curfew, the Key West Citizen reported.

Police arrested at least a half-dozen people on Thursday night for violating the City of Key West's New Year's Eve… https://t.co/KvgOmSP94M
— Key West Citizen (@Key West Citizen)1609514107.0

What are the details?

The paper said Joe Walsh has been a vocal opponent of several city COVID-19 restrictions, including a mask requirement, and that on Thursday he emailed City Manager Greg Veliz stating he wouldn't close Fogarty's, his bar and restaurant.

Turns out Walsh's business was the only one that failed to heed the city's curfew, which required nonessential businesses to close at 10 p.m. every night through Sunday, the Citizen reported.

"He said it was not a real law," Veliz added to the paper regarding Walsh's objection to the curfew.

Veliz noted to the Citizen that he told Walsh in front of Fogarty's on New Year's Eve that he didn't have to be arrested but that he had to close.

"I told him it didn't have to be this way," Veliz told the paper. "I turned around, and next thing I know he was in handcuffs. It was unfortunate."

FL KEY WEST: A 10pm covid curfew was dropped on NYE Restaurant owner Joe Walsh refused and stood open as many oth… https://t.co/u6qnNGg2c3
— Drew Hernandez (@Drew Hernandez)1609526036.0

Walsh and the other arrestees were cited with misdemeanors for violating an emergency management directive, the Citizen said.

In addition, a small protest broke out on New Year's Eve on Duval Street shortly after 10 p.m., the paper said, adding that tourists told Veliz they didn't have to obey the curfew.

"I had people telling me they come to Key West because there is no rules. That is the problem," Veliz told the Citizen. "Times Square in New York City was closed off, and they are telling me Duval Street doesn't apply."

Nope, nothing out of sorts occurred in Times Square on New Year's Eve — especially not with left-wing New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.

Police were called to clear Duval Street and conduct crowd control, the paper said, adding that Veliz noted the street was cleared by 11:10 p.m.

Anything else?

Walsh — who's scheduled to be arraigned Jan. 14 — on Friday told the Citizen he intends to plead not guilty and fight the charge.

He added to the paper that the city's curfew violates the governor's order prohibiting local governments from enforcing local COVID-19 restrictions and that the curfew is illegal because the entire city commission did not vote on it.

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