The State Attorney for Osceola and Orange Counties says the “system failed” when it allowed an Orlando man accused of multiple road rage shooting incidents to be released on bond.
According to a press release issued by Ninth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Monica Worrell on Friday, the State Attorney’s Office had no prior knowledge of the cases that Emanuel Bullard was being arraigned for on February 14.
As a result, the court set a bond in the amount of $3,500 and the state attorney’s office offered no objection.
Bullard is being accused of shooting at different individuals across the span of multiple road rage incidents that took place this past December and January. He bonded out on February 15.
Emanuel Bullard
“As soon as our office became aware of the details surrounding the case, we immediately worked with law enforcement to gather the information needed to file a motion for pre-trial detention on that same day,” reads the statement from Worrell. Worrell said the case serves as an example of the necessity of timely communication among the branches of the legal system.
“The system collectively failed to handle this case with the gravity it deserves. We are thankful that this matter was able to be rectified quickly, and we are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to make the necessary adjustments going forward to ensure the safety of our community.”
A new mural was completed last month on the Electronic Arts building in downtown Orlando.
Entitled Sueños Naranja (Oranger Dreams), the new mural was completed last month by artist Don Rimx and is displayed along one of the façades of the building.
Sueños stands over five stories high, displaying a collection of flora and colored patterns that make up a woman’s hair.
Known for vibrant, colorful murals, Rimx has works displayed across the United States, with murals in Massachusetts, Utah, North Carolina, and the Norman Hall Building at the University of Florida in Gainesville, among other locations.
Rimx documented the painting of Sueños Naranja in a video he posted to his YouTube channel:
Electronic Arts opened its new office at 515 W Amelia Street in downtown Orlando in recent months. Currently, the company has dozens of positions available across multiple well-known game franchises. Those include SKATE, Madden, and FIFA, among others.
A new business is returning a familiar arcade bar concept to downtown.
1UP Orlando plans to open the doors on its new location at 25 W Church Street this May.
1Up Orlando will open its new arcade-themed bar at 25 W Church Street later this year
Although the bar formerly operated as Joysticks out of a different location, the new bar will provide a different experience than the first, with some basic commonalities.
That does not include the name, which was changed as an homage to the “new life” that Joysticks’ owners hope to bring to 1UP.
The company has shared multiple updates through social media and has indicated that the new bar will feature similar decorations on a larger scale.
Joysticks was previously forced to closed down its doors amidst the pandemic in the fall of 2020.
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City officials narrowly voted to deny an appeal by residents who oppose the installation of lights at Edgewater High School’s baseball field.
During Tuesday’s meeting of the Orlando Municipal Planning Board, city officials entertained hours of discussion regarding the appeal, which was filed by attorney Alison Yurko on behalf of residents Charles and Amy Cook, who say the proposed lights are too close to residences in the community.
The Cooks and many of their neighbors say the state-of-the-art lighting system, which is produced by Musco, will produce light pollution that will negatively impact their neighborhood. During remarks, experts suggested that the measured foot-candles of the light system would be too high.
Foot-candles are a measurement of light intensity. One foot-candle represents enough light to saturate a one-foot square with one lumen of light.
According to James Benya, a California-based consultant who spoke on behalf of residents, one of the main features of the new system is a powerful light that emits as much light into the sky as “40 ordinary street lights.”
Benya stressed that homes next to the field would be less than 15 feet away from the proposed lights.
“For a lighting installation, it doesn’t belong here,” said Benya.
Despite citing their support for the teams and students involved, multiple residents spoke to their experience with school administrators and suggested it would be difficult to remove the lights once they were put in place.
Board members, who ultimately made the recommendation that the appeal be denied by the Orlando City Council, debated the necessity of the lights for hours during Tuesday’s meeting.
Although some board members suggested the team use nearby fields at Trotters Park as an alternative, one board member clarified that most of the students would require transportation and that the logistics would be difficult.
Trotters Park is located approximately 2.5 miles from the high school.
Another board member vehemently refuted the idea that students be transported to another park, citing the efforts of city staff and Orange County Public School officials who have spent months working on the proposal.
After hours of debate, the board voted 5-4 to deny the appeal. The appeal and recommendation for denial will now come before the Orlando City Council during an upcoming meeting.
Street performers are still showcasing their talents in downtown Orlando as part of a new program from the Downtown Art’s District.
Break 4 Art brings live music and street performances to various parts of downtown Orlando.
Currently, the program showcases performers once a day on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at the Seaside Plaza, which is located at 2 East Church Street.
The 17-week program began in November and ends next month.
Performances are curated by a selection committee and include an array of arts. Noise amplification is not allowed. Performers are allowed to accept tips during performances.
A cement mixer was involved in an accident this morning that resulted in the vehicle spilling its load over State Road 417.
The accident took place around mile marker 29 at 4:20 a.m. on Tuesday morning. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a 62-year-old Kissimmee man was driving the cement mixer southbound on SR 417. The vehicle attempted to change lanes and in the process, sideswiped a sedan being driven by a 51-year-old Orlando man.
The cement mixer overturned and wet cement was spilled into the roadway. Both drivers were transported to local hospitals with minor injuries.
According to FHP, the report remains under investigation.
Amway Center is incentivizing its next job fair with tickets to an upcoming event.
The fair will take place on Tuesday, February 15 at the center, which is located at 400 W Church Street in downtown Orlando. According to the organization, all job fair participants will receive two free tickets to an upcoming event at the center.
The facility is hiring part-time positions across a variety of departments including security, event staff, ticketing, and food and beverage, among others.
“Amway Center and its partners are seeking a team of professionals with a desire to support their favorite hometown sports franchises and world-class performers and that thrive in a fast-paced and exciting environment,” reads a post from the company’s job fair listing.
Applicants are encouraged to bring resumes and two forms of identification for same-day, onsite interviews. According to the organization, its partners will be offering “on-the-spot offers.”
Complimentary parking is available in Geico Garage. Guests enter Amway Center through the pedestrian bridge from Geico Garage.
The COVID-19 positivity rate and overall number of cases continue to decline from week to week in Orange County.
According to the Florida Department of Health weekly COVID-19 report, Orange County’s positivity rate (15.1%) ranked ninth among the state’s 67 counties last week. The report, which includes cases reported between February 4 and February 10, indicates that 6,369 residents tested positive for COVID-19 during the week.
That number is nearly 20% lower than it was the previous week, when the county reported 7,934 cases and a positivity rate over 18%.
Since the pandemic began, approximately 366,605 residents in Orange County have tested positive for COVID-19.
According to state health officials, approximately 1,053,945 residents have been vaccinated in Orange County. That represents around 77% of all eligible residents over the age of five.
Last week, 1,971 residents received a vaccine in Orange County.
For testing and vaccinations, residents may visit Barnett Park, located at 4801 W Colonial Drive. For testing only, visit the Econ Soccer Complex (8035 Yates Road) or South Orange Youth Sports Complex (11800 S Orange Avenue).
An Orlando teenager was arrested in connection with four separate road rage incidents in which he allegedly shot at vehicles.
Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested 19-year-old Dandre Bullard on Sunday evening in connection with the shootings, which took place on December 27, January 21, January 25 and January 28.
Emanuel Bullard
During all of the incidents, Bullard was seen driving the same black, 2014 Mercedes C250. In between incidents, the tags were changed and at one point, the vehicle displayed a stolen tag.
According to police, during the first incident, the victim was driving southbound on 417 near the Curry Ford exit when they noticed the black Mercedes approaching from behind at a high rate of speed. After moving to allow the vehicle to pass, the victim says that Bullard shot four shots from a handgun, all of which missed. The victim pulled to the side of the road and notified law enforcement.
During another incident on January 21, a separate victim reportedly brake checked the vehicle that Bullard was driving before the victim and Bullard allegedly engaged in a verbal argument along Goldenrod Road. According to the victim, Bullard pulled alongside the victim’s vehicle and shot multiple times, striking the vehicle in the process. The incident was captured on a red light camera, according to a sheriff’s office report.
During a separate incident on January 25, a victim says they nearly struck Bullard’s vehicle as they were traveling eastbound on State Route 408. According to the report, Bullard began yelling at the victim, who ignored Bullard in an attempt to “avoid a further altercation.” The victim attempted to pass Bullard, when he allegedly began shooting at the vehicle, striking it six times. The victim attempted to follow the Mercedes until it got off at the Dean Road exit.
In a final incident on January 28, the two victims were allegedly shot at in a gas station parking lot after one of the victims inadvertently cut off Bullard’s vehicle.
Last week, deputies with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office were able to identify Bullard through investigative means and on February 11, he was spotted fleeing upon seeing a marked OCSO cruiser.
On Sunday morning, deputies received an anonymous tip about the location of Bullard’s vehicle, which was bearing a stolen tag. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant and upon arrival at the location, Bullard attempted to flee into a wooded area. He was eventually detained and confessed to committing the January 28 shooting.
During questioning, Bullard indicated that he had used a Draco rifle in the January 28 shooting and had dismantled and disposed of it afterwards. Bullard admitted to attempting to alter the appearance of the Mercedes, which he claims he purchased through Facebook marketplace.
Bullard is facing four counts of aggravated assault with a firearm and four counts of shooting into an occupied vehicle, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
The city of Orlando unveiled a new, solar-powered picnic table that it hopes will bring residents together.
Located at Prince Hall Park (4418 Prince Hall Boulevard), the table is part of a new Tables of Connection initiative that provides solar-powered, shaded tables that are outfitted with a Wi-Fi hotspot and charging station.
Table of Connection at Prince Hall Park (4418 Prince Hall Boulevard)
The tables will allow residents to connect to the internet and charge up to four wireless devices at once, including lap tops and phones.
As part of the project, a second table was also installed in Willows Park, located in District 5.
According to city officials, the tables bring needed connectivity to the two areas in which 57% and 33% of residents, respectively, lack broadband service. Both are significantly higher than the City of Orlando’s average of 18%.
City officials say the tables are rated for 175 mph winds, and can provide services to residents after a disaster, allowing people to charge phones, call loved ones, restore services, and get access to emergency information during a power outage.
The project was made possible after the American Association of Retired Professionals (AARP) issued a $20,000 grant as part of its Community Challenge Grant, which focuses on providing funding for “quick-action” projects that help communities be more accessible for residents of all ages.
