Vero Beach Police News Releases
Firearms Familiarization Class Time: March 24, 2012 from 8am to 1pm
Location: City of Vero Beach Firearms Range / Training Facility 4401 41st Street
Event Description:
The Vero Beach Police Department will be offering a firearms familiarization class. This class will be limited to 25 participants on March 24, 2012. We will begin promptly at 8:00 AM and the class will be completed at 1:00 PM. The class will be oriented for the classroom environment. Firearms are not required to participate but you are encouraged to bring your own unloaded handgun. We will discuss firearm history, types, safe handling, cleaning procedures, and storage. We will also discuss and demonstrate shooting techniques and Florida state laws. If anyone would like to use this class for a concealed weapon permit a shooting component is needed. We can achieve this by going to the indoor range at 1:30 PM after the classroom portion ($10 per person per hour, bring your own gun and ammo). We will only offer this at this time so arrangements need to be made prior to class. The live fire portion should be less than one hour to complete. Once complete, you will be issued a certificate for your concealed weapons permit application (this will only be issued if you complete the live fire portion). If you choose to obtain your concealed weapons permit with the state there will be additional fees incurred. Pre registration is required. Please contact Detective Sergeant David Puscher at 772 978-4666 or dpuscher@vbpd.org.
Click here to see our Uniform Crime Report (UCR) Statistics VBPD UCR
PRESS RELEASE - 2/1/12
Vero Beach Police Department 11/21/2011 On 01/30/12 at 4:30 PM, VBPD Officers responded to the Miracle Mile Publix (415 21st Street) in reference to a fraudulent traveler’s check that had just been cashed. According to Publix employees, an off duty Indian River County Sheriff’s Deputy witnessed the suspect leaving the store and was following him on foot towards Indian River Blvd. The suspect was described as a 6’ tall 175 pound black male, approximately 30 years with old short black hair wearing a white shirt and black pants. The off duty Deputy last saw the suspect running north on Vero Isles Drive near Young Park. VBPD Officers set up a perimeter and a short time later located a subject matching the description on Sailfish Road. The suspect was placed under arrest and identified himself as Terry Walker with what appeared to be a valid FL. driver’s license. A computer check of the DL showed that it was actually fraudulent and the suspect revealed his true identity as Ronaldo Aubry (07-21-78). Aubry was positively identified by the Deputy as the same subject who ran from him after cashing the fraudulent traveler’s check.
Aubry was transported to the VBPD for an interview by Vero Beach Detectives. A search of his person revealed two more American Express traveler’s checks as well as a fraudulent American Express business account credit card with the name Terry Walker printed on it. The water marks on the checks were superimposed and the hologram printed on the front was slightly canted. He admitted to knowing that the traveler’s checks as well as the FL driver’s license were counterfeit. He stated that he was from Tampa and was working with another individual; however, he would not give any further information regarding his accomplice. The three traveler’s checks as well as the fraudulent driver’s license and credit card were placed into evidence and Aubry was charged with the following:
~Uttering Forged Checks (Felony)
~Bringing into State Forged Checks (3 counts) (Felonies)
~Fraudulent use of Driver’s License (Felony)
~Fraudulent use of a credit card (Felony)
~Resisting a Merchant (Misdemeanor)
~Petit Theft (Misdemeanor)
Aubry is currently incarcerated at the IRC Jail with an $18,000 bond is facing additional charges as the investigation progresses.
Congratulations to ID Tech. Kelly Hare, Employee of the Quarter Oct-Dec 2011

Congratulations To Detective Rick Lombardo, Officer of the Quarter Oct-Dec. 2011

We at the Vero Beach Police Department wish you a very happy holiday season. We hope you have a safe New Year and look forward to continuing our partnership in 2012.
PRESS RELEASE
Vero Beach Police Department 11/21/2011 On Friday, December 9, 2011 at approximately 4:05 AM, officers from the Vero Beach Police Department responded to investigate a “perimeter alarm” at the Perkins Pharmacy located at 4015 20th Street. An inspection of the business revealed the front door window had been shattered, but was still intact. Officers also located a black, unoccupied 1985 Oldsmobile two door sedan backed in to a parking spot near the west side of the building with the driver side door slightly ajar.
As officers were inspecting the vehicle they observed Shawn Paul Bennett emerge from the rear door of Perkins Pharmacy carrying a crate full of prescription medication still in prescription bags intended for customers. Bennett was arrested without incident, given his Miranda warning, and questioned. He subsequently confessed to committing the burglary and (other crimes charged), telling officers that he thought he could make “some money” because there is “a lot of pill users out there.” Bennett admitted that he did not plan the burglary, but made the decision to break in to Perkins as he was driving by. He was transported to the Indian River County Jail for detention.
Later on the 9th at approximately 9:36 AM, officers responded to investigate the report of a burglary at the Italian Kitchen restaurant located at 2121 14th Avenue. The preliminary investigation revealed a window facing the alley adjacent to the business was broken in a manner similar to the Perkins Pharmacy Burglary. An interior office door was forced open and a safe containing an undetermined amount of cash was taken.
Detectives from the Vero Beach Police Department traveled to the county jail to interview Bennett for this burglary. During the interview, he told detectives he was a part-time dishwasher at the restaurant, but previously told officers when arrested for the Perkins burglary that he was unemployed. He subsequently confessed to detectives that he broke in to the Italian Kitchen restaurant shortly after getting off work at 9:00 PM the evening prior. He said he committed the crime because he has children and needs money.
Bennett is scheduled to have a First Appearance hearing at 8:30 AM on Saturday, December 10, 2011.
Brian Simpson Homicide Investigation
PRESS RELEASE
Vero Beach Police Department 11/21/2011
Homicide reward announcement and updated information
Indian River County Business Leaders and Concerned Citizens are offering a $50,000.00 cash reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the murder of Brian Simpson. The Vero Beach Police Department is attempting to identify and speak to the following persons of interest. This is a large file, please be patient while it opens.
Click Here
Congratulations to Officer Doug Bickford for his life saving actions and the award of the Vero Beach Police Department Life Saving Medal. Pleas visit our facebook page to read about the incident.
Here is a link to learn about FREE ways to recover your lost phone or laptop. http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/11/13/free-ways-to-recover-your-lost-phone-or-laptop/print#
Veterans Day Discounts for 2011
The Vero Beach Police Department would like to thank our Veteran’s for their service to our Country. We encourage everyone to be safe while they celebrate the Veterans Day holiday this weekend. We would also like to pass along the following information for discounts offered to Veteran’s and their families through many businesses. Please visit our facebook fan page to see a list of participating businesses.
Click Here to go to our Facebook page
CRIME ALERT
On 11/05/11, Vero Beach Police Officers responded to 535 Point lane in reference to an auto burglary that just occurred. A resident on the 500 block Point Lane exited his residence at 5:23 a.m. to find a white male rifling through his SUV parked in the driveway.
The suspect, who was described as wearing a dark hooded sweat shirt, dark colored pants, and back pack and in his early 20’s was confronted by the resident and fled east towards A1A.
Arriving officers set up a perimeter and searched for the subject. After an extensive search, the suspect was observed two blocks away fleeing on a stolen bicycle in the 1600 block of East Camino Del Rio. Officers closed in and were able to locate him hiding behind a residence.
The suspect was identified as Michael Macdonald, Age 19, of the 2500 block of 3rd Street S.W. Macdonald was taken into custody where he confessed to burglaries on Point Lane and East Camino Del Rio. Macdonald was also charged with Grand Theft and Loitering and Prowling. Macdonald is currently being held at the Indian River County Jail without bond.
Further investigation may result in additional criminal charges.
Ofc. John Morrison
Public Information Officer
Vero Beach Police Department
772-978-4649
On 10-29-11, Det. Jim Kelly and Systems Analyst Steve Spencer participated in a fund raiser called “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes,” which promotes Domestic Violence Awareness; all money raised went for the support of Safe Space of Indian River County.
We are now on facebook. Please go to this link and like us. You will see our updates as they happen.

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