Free Republic

The Flagstaff police officers were briefing each other in the car wash parking lot on the corner of Steves Boulevard and Industrial Drive shortly after midnight on Saturday, Oct. 28. Suddenly, they heard the sound of squealing tires. One officer immediately tried to catch up to a speeding white Ford Mustang heading east on Industrial. "I estimate the vehicle was traveling at speeds near 100 mph to gain such a huge distance in such a short period of time," the officer wrote in his report. Although a second officer caught up to the Mustang and attempted to box it in,...

Under increasing community criticism over a police standoff that resulted in a toddler's death, an angry LAPD Chief William Bratton lashed out Tuesday, describing Jose Raul Pena as a "cold-blooded killer" responsible for his own daughter's death. We're outraged because this baby had to die," Najee Ali, director for Islam Project Hope. "This community is on edge, and we're at the breaking point." Even before all reports are in, Bratton acknowledged it is likely that bullets fired by police killed the toddler as well as the gunman, but he said that made Pena no less responsible for the death of...

<p>Trauma centers across Central and North Florida warned Thursday that they may be unable to take up the slack when Orlando Regional Medical Center, barring a "miracle," shuts its Level 1 trauma unit April 1.</p> <p>Hospital officials and emergency-services personnel said they expect the shutdown will cost some people their lives.</p> <p>Orlando Regional became the first hospital in Florida history to seek the closing of its Level 1 trauma center. It blamed Florida's skyrocketing malpractice-insurance premiums, saying they have made it too hard to recruit needed trauma specialists.</p>