Digest

Snipes' trial postponed until next year

By Times Wires
Published October 12, 2007

OCALA

A judge postponed Wesley Snipes' tax evasion trial until early next year after the actor fired his legal team. U.S. Senior District Judge William Terrell Hodges on Wednesday called it a "ploy" for Snipes to delay trial, but said the motion was in the public interest. Prosecutors objected, saying they were prepared. Snipes expressed a "complete lack of trust and confidence" in attorney William R. Martin, who also represented former NFL quarterback Michael Vick. Snipes said Martin ignored his case, hadn't reviewed documents and even lost information. An October 2006 federal indictment charges Snipes with fraudulently claiming refunds totaling nearly $12-million in 1996 and 1997 for income taxes already paid.

OPA-LOCKA

City considers banon sagging pants

The Opa-locka City Commission is considering a ban on wearing sagging pants on city property. Commissioner Timothy Holmes says he sponsored the ordinance because he did not want the city's youth to wear their pants too low. A final decision is expected Oct. 24.

FORT PIERCE

Suspend pepper spray officer, activists say

A police officer who punched a 15-year-old girl, then used pepper spray to subdue her while she resisted arrest should be suspended until an investigation is complete, activists said Thursday. Police Officer Daniel Gilroy's patrol car dashboard camera caught the incident on tape as he was attempting to arrest Shelwanda Riley on July 15 for being out past a local curfew. Gilroy repeatedly asked the girl to stop resisting, but she continued to scream and squirm as he tried to handcuff her. She then twisted around and bit the officer, which is when he punched and sprayed her in the face.

[Last modified October 12, 2007, 00:12:14]