Month: January 2026

By Nick Ciletti

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    ARIZONA (KNXV) — A Valley veteran and U.S. citizen says he was wrongfully detained and forcibly removed from a cruise ship by border agents and he believes it was all a case of mistaken identity.

It became a 50th birthday cruise to the Caribbean for Jose “Joey” Martinez of north Phoenix that he’ll never forget, but for all the wrong reasons.

Martinez, a U.S. Coast Guard veteran, says early Monday morning, after his cruise to the Caribbean was ending and the ship had docked in Miami for everyone to disembark, agents with Customs and Border Protection stormed into his cabin while he was sleeping, handcuffed him, and forcibly removed him, taking him to a holding cell off the ship.

Martinez explains he was in the holding cell for roughly 90 minutes at the port and had offered to show more proof of his identification – and even discussed the fact he served in the U.S. Coast Guard for seven years with agents, but that didn’t seem to work initially.

Finally, after being fingerprinted and questioned some more, agents released him, explaining they had the wrong person, according to Martinez.

He says that with a name like “Jose Martinez,” he has been detained before, since it’s a common name, but never in a way that was as violent and traumatizing as this.

“The fact that what happened to me shows this could happen to anybody,” explains Martinez. “There is so many other people out there that this is happening to, maybe not on a cruise ship, but maybe on the streets or in their homes. And it’s just not right. There’s no humanity in it. It’s unnecessary. It’s dehumanizing.”

“It was traumatizing,” adds Tammy Verhas, Martinez’s wife.

As this was happening, his wife, Verhas, says she attempted to film, but was prevented from doing so by a female agent. Later on, Martinez and Verhas claim CBP agents forced them to delete the photos and videos they had taken of the incident. These are questions we are working to get answered by CBP officials.

ABC15 reached out to Carnival Cruise Line, which sent ABC15 the following statement:

We are aware that U.S. Customs and Border Protection took a guest into custody as a person of interest. As this is a law‑enforcement matter, we defer all further questions to the appropriate authorities.”

ABC15 also reached out to ICE and Customs and Border Protection. A spokesperson from the Florida CBP office did not confirm any of the details, but told us they would look into the incident for us.

ABC15 also reached out to both Senator Mark Kelly’s and Senator Ruben Gallego’s offices to see if they were aware of what took place.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Carolyn Gusoff

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    NEW YORK (WCBS) — A federal judge on Tuesday approved a settlement that will overhaul New York’s broken children’s mental health system, after many were left waiting for care, at times, for years.

Families were suing over the lack of services for low-income children, with a mother and son from Long Island leading the charge.

The settlement requires the state’s departments of health and mental health to “substantially redesign their mental and behavioral health service offerings … guaranteeing timely, intensive care at home before kids reach crisis or institutionalization.”

Advocates say the decision is a huge turning point.

“I’m hopeful that this is really an opportunity for the state to look at really what each family’s needs [are] and to make sure our system is able to serve them without everyone jumping through hoops and waiting years for services,” said Kayleigh Zaloga, of the New York State Coalition for Children’s Behavioral Health. The settlement requires New York re-evaluate Medicaid reimbursement rates — a key factor in the backlogs, as there are only 28 child psychiatrists per 100 children in the state.

Implementation of the changes is expected over the next few years.

Cody Hauptman bravely spoke at a recent town hall about fighting to get mental health help through Medicaid.

“I struggled with mental health challenges early on. Sometimes, I didn’t want to be here anymore,” Hauptman said. “I just sat on wait lists. I was hospitalized more than 20 times, was handcuffed.” He was taken away by police a dozen times before the age of 9.

“We were trying to get him services at home to keep him out of the hospital and he sat on wait lists. While he was on the wait list, he had his first suicide attempt,” said Christina Hauptman, Cody’s mother and a mental health advocate.

Cody and Christina Hauptman joined other families in taking New York to court, accusing the state of running an “inadequate, inaccessible, and dysfunctional mental health system for children.”

The suit claimed, “Too many children are stuck in a vicious cycle of repeated emergency room visits and repeated institutionalization, without receiving the intensive home and community-based services they actually need.”

William Gettman, CEO of Northern Rivers Family of Services, echoed the suit’s claim.

“The need is incredible post-COVID — 1 in 5 kids have had mental health exposure, suicide rates are astronomical. [It’s] a very challenging work load. We have staff that can find higher-paying, better jobs someplace else,” Gettman said.

The judge called the settlement urgent and gave Christina Hauptman a hug. “It has been a very long road and I think I needed that hug,” she said.

Cody Hauptman, who is now 18, advocates for youth mental health and works with children. He said he is hopeful about the future and so is his mom.

“I am hopeful for all the children in New York and all the families. I think it’s a great day,” he said.

The settlement calls for implementation over the next few years.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Jeffrey Lindblom

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    ANN ARBOR, Michigan (WXYZ) — A $7 million penthouse in downtown Ann Arbor could set a new record as the most expensive residential sale in the city’s history.

The 5,000-square-foot luxury unit sits atop the South Downtown Main Block at 414 S. Main Street, combining two units into one sprawling home with three bedrooms and three bathrooms across two stories.

“It will be the most expensive sale in the history of Ann Arbor,” said Matt Dejanovich, the Real Estate One agent handling the listing.

Dejanovich has 40 years of experience in Ann Arbor’s real estate market and calls this property exceptional.

“This is at another level,” Dejanovich said.

The penthouse was custom-crafted in the early 2000s using premium materials throughout. Colorful ceilings complement marble floors, all designed by renowned interior designer Robert Denning, who decorated luxury homes for decades before his death.

“This unit was created with only the finest materials… design and craftsmanship,” Dejanovich said. “From the marble floors to the trim, this took years to create.”

Nearly all furnishings and décor are included in the sale price. The office features pieces directly from fashion designer Gianni Versace’s estate, including his desk, chairs and murals.

“Much of the furnishings come directly from the Versace estate. These are historical pieces that will last for generations,” Dejanovich said.

A wrap-around balcony circles the exterior, offering views of the University of Michigan campus. The penthouse includes a private elevator for exclusive access.

“This is not a giant gray box, right. This is something unique and special,” Dejanovich said.

Interest in the property has been strong since it hit the market, with Dejanovich reporting his phone has been “ringing off the hook” with inquiries from potential buyers.

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This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Scripps editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Julie Salomone

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    APOLLO BEACH, Florida (WFTS) — A Hillsborough County family has created a scholarship fund in memory of their 16-year-old daughter, who died in a DUI crash last month.

Lexi Ringo was in the passenger’s seat of her mother’s vehicle.

The day after Christmas, the mother and daughter were returning home from golf practice.

Hillsborough County deputies said a 21-year-old drunk driver ran a stop sign and crashed into the family’s car.

The family was just three miles away from home.

“She had a great lesson, and we were on our way home from the lesson,” said Chrissy Ringo, Lexi’s mother.

The crash happened at the intersection of 30th Street Northeast and Covington Garden Drive in Apollo Beach on Dec. 26, around 5:15 p.m.

“From the time she was hit to the time that she was pronounced dead was exactly one hour,” said Chrissy.

The 16-year-old attended Winthrop Prep. She loved golf, dance, cheer, and Disney.

She recently became a Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan. She was an honors student who wanted to become an orthopedic surgeon.

She volunteered on the weekends at Sarasota Memorial Hospital and the First Tee.

She had dreams of attending the University of Florida.

Her family has raised $100,000 so far to start a scholarship fund to help future medical students at UF.

“It’s called Lexi’s Legacy because we’re going to continue to honor everything that she did well and give scholarships to kids who are also on the same path — and then in a way, it allows me to still be connected to my daughter,” said Chrissy.

“I am amazed at something as tragic as my daughter’s death is now giving our family an opportunity to help other people and we’re so happy to do it. We’re excited to be able to do that and to me, that’s just God,” she added.

Her family said they rely on their faith as they cope with the loss of their daughter.

“I would love to tell people to focus on the present, the now, love your kids,” said Tim Ringo, Lexi’s father.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said Dominic Frye, 21, was arrested and charged with DUI manslaughter and driving under the influence with property damage or personal injury.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Jada Williams

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    TAMPA, Florida (WFTS) — Since the age of dialing 911, all of your needs are met based on what you can tell the person on the other end of the call.

Tampa Police Department is now allowing callers to show as well as tell through a partnership with Prepared 911. And that’s just one of many new technology advancements happening this year.

Here’s what you can expect. Prepared 911 allows text-based emergency communication with live video streaming, real-time translation through body-worn cameras supporting 54 languages and an AI-powered policy assistance system for officers in the field.

“The goals of this technology is not to replace officers. It is actually to help our officers in their safety, ensuring that they can go home safe at night,” said Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw during Monday’s demonstration.

Tampa Bay 28 reporter Jada Williams went inside the dispatch center to see firsthand how these revolutionary tools are changing emergency response in the city.

The Prepared 911 system represents the most significant advancement in emergency communication technology for the department. When residents call 911, dispatchers can now send a text link allowing callers to share live video and photos of ongoing situations directly with responding officers.

“You dial 911, dispatchers are typically trained to listen to everything, so they’re really relying on their ears. Today we get to go live and see things that callers are calling in about,” said Communications Supervisor Richard Parsons.

During the demonstration, Williams experienced the technology herself, receiving a text message from dispatchers and streaming live video directly to the 911 center. The process was seamless. After dialing 911 and speaking with dispatchers, she received a text link, tapped to begin live streaming, and granted camera permissions. Within seconds, dispatchers could see everything through her phone’s camera in real-time.

The video feed provides officers with crucial real-time intelligence about what they’re responding to, including details about weapons, suspect descriptions and scene conditions that could affect their safety and response strategy.

“If somebody’s on the phone saying someone’s with a gun, and we can’t get that type of information, now we can see it. What type of gun is it? Is it an automatic weapon? So all of that could change our response,” Chief Bercaw explained.

“It happens instantly, with no regard to drive time, no regard to, ‘hey, what’s your phone number?’ It’s on everyone’s phone,” Parsons said.

The body-worn camera translation feature addresses a critical need in Tampa, where approximately 25% of the population speaks a language other than English at home, according to Census data.

The system can translate conversations in real-time across 54 different languages without requiring backup officers or phone-based translation services.

Our cameras also watched as officers demonstrated the technology’s capabilities. An officer presses a button with two protruding dots on their body-worn camera.

“Translation, press and hold button, then say translate to x or auto detect,” the system announces. “Auto detect. Automatic detection enabled.”

The person in need of help can then start talking. The system will immediately identify the language and provide English translation.

“Time is of the essence. If somebody was just a victim of a crime and they have a suspect description, we need to get that information out so we can get that person off the street and keep our community safe,” said Jaclyn Douillard, a field training officer.

The technology proves particularly valuable in downtown Tampa and the Ybor area, where tourists and cruise ship passengers frequently need police assistance but may not speak English. Officer Douillard said Russian speakers have been particularly common among cruise ship passengers recently.

“It’s just something that really bridges that gap where they’re able to trust the Tampa Police Department to help them, and they’re comfortable coming here,” she said.

The hands-free design addresses a critical safety concern for officers. Unlike using Google Translate on a phone, which requires officers to hold a device and look down at screens, the body camera system allows officers to maintain their defensive stance and situational awareness.

“Officers don’t like things in their hands, and you’ll see a lot of officers stand in this manner, and having a phone in your hand with Google Translate is very detrimental. Dropping a phone is a lot harder than just releasing a button, so it does help with the safety,” officials explained.

The third technology introduces an internal AI chatbot system that allows officers to quickly access department policies and procedures through a mobile app. Officers can type questions like “I’m on a domestic violence call, what are some things I need to know?” and receive immediate responses.

Think of it like having a Google search specifically designed for police policies and procedures, officials explained. The system provides instant access to the department’s vast collection of policies without officers having to search through lengthy manuals or wait for supervisory guidance.

Future versions will integrate this capability directly into body-worn cameras, enabling voice-activated conversations with the AI system while officers remain hands-free in the field.

The video streaming system includes multiple safeguards to protect caller privacy and ensure public safety. Callers must explicitly grant permission through phone prompts before video access is enabled. Once calls conclude, the chat session automatically closes and callers receive notification that monitoring has ended.

“The caller has to give permission to the 911 dispatcher,” Parsons said. “Once the call is finished, then the entire chat will kind of go away, and basically, we will send you an updated chat that this call is closed.”

He adds that dispatchers would never direct callers to put themselves in danger for better video footage.

“We want to make sure that the caller is in a safe spot. We’re going to make sure that you aren’t going out to try to apprehend a suspect or make the suspect, ‘Hey, turn around so I can get you on camera.’ We want to make sure that everyone is safe,” Parsons explained.

All video and photo evidence collected through the system becomes part of the official case record and can be used in court proceedings.

The Prepared 911 system receives funding through Hillsborough County 911 services, while the translation and AI policy features are included in Tampa Police Department’s updated contract with Axon as part of an enhanced technology package.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.