Normally, downtown St. Pete is a pretty tame place. On any given day or evening, it's filled with locals and tourists shopping or dining out. But on the night of February 10, 2016, that serenity would be shattered. Bobby Ryan and Christopher Motlenski were at Angelo’s Grill and Bar on First Avenue N in downtown St. Petersburg. According to police, Motlenski got into a verbal altercation at about 2:30 a.m. with two customers: Ryan, and Ryan’s friend Torsten Simpson. The fight continued … [Read more...]
Florida New Stand Your Ground Law Ruled Unconstitutional
Stand your ground has always been controversial and this week's ruling by a Miami judge will only add fuel to the controversy and debate. Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Milton Hirsch wrote that Florida legislators overstepped their authority when they passed a bill that many prosecutors criticized. Under the law, prosecutors must prove by "clear and convincing" evidence that someone wasn't acting in self-defense, a standard prosecutors believe provide a legal loophole for people who commit crimes … [Read more...]
To Shoot or Not to Shoot-Florida’s Stand Your Ground Takes Front and Center in Bay Area Hearing
Florida's Stand Your Ground law is in the spotlight this week as Curtis Reeves, a 73-year-old retired Tampa Police Department captain, is fighting for his life a second time in the last three years. This time, Reeves is fighting to avoid a trial for second-degree murder and aggravated battery charges stemming from a fatal shooting in a Wesley Chapel movie theater in January 2014. Reeves testified Tuesday on his behalf at a hearing to determine whether or not the criminal charges against him … [Read more...]
