Tuesday, January 15, 2013

MARATHON

Marathon fire displaces four

A fire tore through a Marathon apartment complex Saturday night, leaving four people homeless but uninjured, officials said.

The 8 p.m. fire at 10802 First Ave., at the corner of 108th St., had engulfed four apartments when Marathon firefighters arrived, said Fire Chief John Johnson.

Three people had already vacated the one-story complex when crews arrived. Firefighters removed another person from an adjacent apartment, Johnson said.

Crews arrived to find flames already shooting from all sides of the building, but they had the fire under control within about 10 minutes of receiving the call.

The cause and estimate of damages were still being investigated Monday by Marathon and state fire marshals, Johnson said.

The Red Cross is assisting those affected by the fire.

KEY LARGO

Pedestrian killed identified

The Florida Highway Patrol has identified the pedestrian who was struck and killed early Saturday morning at Mile Marker 104 in Key Largo.

Gerald John Cwik, 62, of Key Largo, was killed while walking across the northbound lanes of U.S. 1 in the path of a 2008 Toyota Avalon driven by Djmy Geffrard, 29, of Homestead.

The crash took place at 12:47 a.m. Saturday, according to a press release from the FHP.

Trooper Richard Arias is the crash investigator.

Charges are pending the full investigation, according to the FHP on Monday.

Geffrard, who was wearing a seatbelt, had been drinking alcohol, the FHP said, but no details were provided.

KEY WEST

Accused smugglers in court

Coast Guard crews off-loaded 550 pounds of marijuana at Station Key West Monday as eight suspected smugglers who were arrested at sea last month appeared in court.

The eight men -- Keithan Henfield, Collingwood Sweeting, Sainvil Lukenson, Rodney Jean, Ballece Jackson, John Peter, Willy Jean, Anthony Williams -- were arrested Dec. 28 after Coast Guard crews saw them throwing packages from a 34-foot boat about 27 miles north of Haiti, according to court records and a Coast Guard press release.

All eight suspects were taken into custody. They and their contraband were brought to Key West, where on Monday they were handed over to U.S. marshals. Arraignments were tentatively set for 2 p.m. Friday.

The suspects were arrested by the crew of the 210-foot cutter Venturous. homeported in St. Petersburg.