Orlando

Published on: February 25, 2026

Two Infants Attacked by Dogs in Separate, Back-to-Back South Florida Incidents. What to Know.

Two 1-year-olds were taken to the hospital for treatment stemming from two separate dog attack incidents in South Florida over the weekend, according to local media reporting.

The first attack happened in Hollandale Beach and involved a child who was with at least one adult when the incident took place at the 400 block of Southeast Ninth Street, reporters with The Miami herald wrote. The child’s mother was “changing the baby” when they were attacked. The mother was able to get the child away from the dog.

The extent of that 1-year-old’s injuries were not immediately available Monday. It is unclear whether the mother suffered any injuries while rescuing her child. The animal is described in articles from local media as “the family dog.” The child was taken to the hospital by a Good Samaritan, according to reporting from NBC6 South Florida. The child’s father told reporters that the dog, an American Bully, “never showed signs of aggression” before this incident. The animal was surrendered to Broward County Animal Care and Control and was euthanized, NBC6 South Florida reported.

Published on: February 23, 2026

Pastor Accused of Sexually Abusing Minor at Miami Church. How Leesfield & Partners has Represented Victims and Survivors for 50 Years.

By Leesfield & Partners

A pastor at a church in Northwest Miami-Dade County is facing charges after police say he sexually abused a 15-year-old member of the congregation.

Elco Vallier, 50, of Loxahatchee, Florida, was charged with lewd and lascivious molestation and lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor.

At around 8:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 9, the minor told police that Vallier sexually assaulted her on several occasions at the church, according to a Feb. 18 press release from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office. The girl’s mother told deputies that she found “inappropriate text messages” on her daughter’s phone that she alleges are from Vallier.

Published on: February 18, 2026

One Month of Self-Driving Taxis in Miami. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

Just over a month after Waymo’s autonomous ride-hailing service was launched in Miami, the company is already facing dubious safety concerns.

Videos of one of the company’s autonomous vehicles stopped on the Venetian Causeway Bridge and causing a traffic backup went viral online last month. The incident sparked conversations online centered around safety.

Mykel Kochenderfer of the Stanford Intelligence Systems Laboratory told reporters with NBC 6 South Florida that companies like Waymo hoping to launch these programs “need to get it right.”

Published on: February 18, 2026

Two Dead in Broward County Crash Wednesday. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

At least two drivers were killed Wednesday in a fiery, wrong-way crash on U.S. 27 in Broward County, according to media reporting.

The tragic crash occurred around 12:25 a.m. at Mile Marker 37 and involved a white Land Rover Discovery and a white 2013 Nissan Altima, officials with Florida Highway Patrol told reporters with The Miami Herald. The Nissan, driven by a 24-year-old woman, was headed south in the northbound lanes where the Land Rover was driving north and the two collided.

The Land Rover caught fire and the driver was trapped inside. Both drivers died at the scene.

Published on: February 10, 2026

Florida Home’s Possible Carbon Monoxide Leak Kills Four, Including Children. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

Police are citing carbon monoxide poisoning as a possible cause of death for four people, including two children, who were found inside a Marion County home Friday, Feb. 6.

The bodies were found Friday night after police were called out to the home on Banyan Track Way for a wellness check, according to reporting from NBC 6 South Florida.

No official cause of death has been released by the coroner’s office. Police did tell reporters that no foul play is suspected and that they believed the family had died of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Published on: February 9, 2026

‘One Moment of Inattention’ Has Severe Consequences: Leesfield & Partners Files Lawsuit on Behalf of a Severely Injured Monroe County Bicyclist

By Leesfield & Partners

Leesfield & Partners filed a lawsuit this week on behalf of a man who was ejected from his bike following a crash on Stock Island with a commercial truck driver.

“This driver’s one moment of inattention has left my client with life-altering injuries,” said Bernardo Pimentel II, a Trial Attorney at the firm. “This frightening incident has left him in severe pain, causing a disruption to his daily life and happiness.”

The incident occurred just after 2 p.m. on Jan. 13 as our client was approaching the intersection of College Road, where he had the right-of-way to proceed. At the same time, another man behind the wheel of a commercial truck was approaching from the opposite direction and failed to yield, plowing through the intersection and making an illegal left turn. In doing so, this driver hit our client who was then ejected from his bicycle and sent into the air before eventually falling onto the hood of another vehicle. He was then thrown onto the road.

Published on: January 13, 2026

‘We are Asking the Community to Pray:’ Police Investigating After Child Dies in Drowning at Miami-Dade County Pool

By Leesfield & Partners

Police are investigating the death of a 3-year-old girl who allegedly wandered into the backyard pool of a home and drowned over the weekend.

Police were called shortly before 6 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 10 to a home near Southwest 132^nd Avenue and 119^th Street, according to reporting from The Miami Herald. The girl, who has not been named publicly by authorities as of Monday, Jan. 12, was staying at the home with her family and four other siblings.

“This is a very sad and tragic event,” a police spokesperson told reporters. “We are asking the community to pray for this family.”

Published on: January 12, 2026

Family’s Call to Action After Uber Driver Injured in ‘Senseless Attack’ in Miami. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

The family of a 61-year-old Uber driver who was suddenly attacked by a passenger during a ride has called for the company to do more to protect drivers.

“Please share this,” Nelson Carinao’s son wrote on his social media page following the attack. “I don’t wish this upon any parent. It is sickening that this kind of behavior was inflicted on my own father.”

The incident happened on Friday, Jan. 2 when Carinao picked up 19-year-old Isaiah Norton for a drive meant to go through Interstate 95 from Broward to Miami-Dade County, according to reporting from WSVN. After several minutes in the car, dashcam footage shows Norton repeatedly punching Carinao as he drove.

Published on: December 15, 2025

Miami Home Destroyed After This Common Appliance Exploded, officials say. What Happened?

By Leesfield & Partners

A fire broke out after an e-bike exploded, severely burning a home in Northwest Miami-Dade over the weekend, according to reporting from WSVN.

Josue Paz, the son of the homeowner, told reporters that he was asleep when an e-bike, which was given to him as a birthday gift, exploded around 10 :30 p.m. Saturday.

Paz said he jumped out of bed and rushed to get his family out of the house.

Published on: December 15, 2025

Car Driving Down Florida Highway Hit by Plane. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

A woman was in for a shock this week when the vehicle she was in was hit by a plane attempting a crash landing.

The incident happened around 5:45 p.m. in Brevard County on Monday, Dec. 8, on I-95, according to reporting from WSVN. The 27-year-old pilot was attempting to make an emergency landing following an engine failure.

Miraculously, the 57-year-old driver was taken to the hospital with only minor injuries. Onlookers described the car, a 2023 Toyota Camry, as “crushed” except for the driver’s side.