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Author: Lenny Cohen

I’m a veteran news producer with teaching experience working on a national news website. I craft hard news and features for TheNationalDesk.com, bringing story ideas and checking every source for my articles. I also copyedit stories published by Sinclair’s local stations and begin the next day’s emailed newsletter. Before my promotion, at WPEC in Florida, I wrote the stories others avoided because they were complicated and controversial. Every day, I dove into legal paperwork and arrest reports to find what was happening below the surface, breaking news regularly. Plus, I studied Ron DeSantis for more than a year, watching his news conferences, constantly clipping and tweeting soundbites as he spoke. My familiarity with the governor has become even more valuable now that he’s running for president. I started my career in 1994, becoming an award-winning and respected TV newscast producer. WSVN-Miami/Fort Lauderdale * WFSB-Connecticut * WCAU-Philadelphia * KYW-TV Philadelphia Even better was creatively producing websites and social media, and serving as a station’s digital media manager — writing news, creating graphics and getting evidence of growing my audience here in the nation’s fourth-largest market, Philadelphia. WCYB-Tri Cities, TN/VA * WTXF-Philadelphia * Philadelphia Gay News * WPEC-West Palm Beach, FL The journalism “business” has changed — from standards to platforms to layoffs — along with the American public, and I’ve managed to survive somewhat on my own terms. In the meantime, I taught first grade for eight years. My principal saw my class website and made me electronic gradebook manager to assist co-workers when we stopped using paper gradebooks. With classroom and newsroom experience, I know how to prioritize, analyze and take the best course of action. Getting results means attention to detail, following through and following up.
Follow-up Friday: Felon freed after 4 new criminal counts he was facing disappear without explanation
January 17, 2025

Follow-up Friday: Felon freed after 4 new criminal counts he was facing disappear without explanation

It’s not every day a repeat offender gets arrested, and then gets good news – a lot of good news – but that’s what happened this week to a felon who was facing four felony charges from the past few years.

6 traffic stops, 6 mugshots: This guy would’ve spent much less time behind bars if he only drove better
January 15, 2025

6 traffic stops, 6 mugshots: This guy would’ve spent much less time behind bars if he only drove better

They say it’s not the crime but the cover-up, or attempted cover-up in this case, that led to a convicted felon’s latest arrest. It’s one of six that started with a traffic stop.

Nic fit: Woman with ‘anger problem’ accused of throwing camping lantern at daughter over missing cigarettes
January 13, 2025

Nic fit: Woman with ‘anger problem’ accused of throwing camping lantern at daughter over missing cigarettes

The call to authorities concerned a burglary but sheriff’s deputies ended up arresting a woman for attempted battery on her daughter, plus a drug charge.

Trouble with a tenant landed this elderly landlord back behind bars
January 11, 2025

Trouble with a tenant landed this elderly landlord back behind bars

A landlord has a new temporary home in jail after he tried to move a tenant he said hadn’t been paying rent. Youssef Nassief El-Masry made some other claims, as well.

Sex offender-turned-theft suspect thought he ‘got lucky finding’ suitcases with valuables, report says
January 10, 2025

Sex offender-turned-theft suspect thought he ‘got lucky’ finding suitcases with valuables, report says

A sexual offender who served two prison sentences told police he “got lucky” when he found “suitcases with clothes and large amounts of money.” That’s according to his arrest report.

Woman charged with stealing from Walmart sporting goods section, also ‘thefts at Lowe’s all over’
January 9, 2025

Woman charged with stealing from Walmart sporting goods section, also ‘thefts at Lowe’s all over’

Employees at a Walmart watching surveillance cameras reported seeing a woman “conceal items into” her gray purse. This wouldn’t lead to the first time Krystle Renae McCray was arrested for shoplifting. Or the second.

Christmas dinner, drinking, duel: Son describes Mom’s attack on Dad, who couldn’t remember, cops say
January 8, 2025

Christmas dinner, drinking, duel: Son describes Mom’s attack on Dad, who couldn’t remember, cops say

Peace on earth. Good will toward men. Not at this family’s home. Their underage son called police after Christmas dinner “because his mother was inebriated and fighting with his father,” the arrest report said.

Busted for shootings, break-ins and a spending spree on school district’s dime, authorities say
January 6, 2025

Busted for shootings, break-ins and a spending spree on school district’s dime, authorities say

A young man accused in a long list of crimes over several months was finally busted. Now, he’s facing 13 criminal charges, 12 of them felonies.

A family fight included both parties punched in the face several times, and it ended with police and paramedics at their home, but the alleged victim wasn’t going anywhere.
January 4, 2025

He wanted a lift to work but got knocked to the ground, taken to the hospital, booked into jail

A family fight included both parties punched in the face several times, and it ended with police and paramedics at their home, but the alleged victim wasn’t going anywhere.

Bandaged woman left her latest victim ‘shirtless with her breasts uncovered,’ bleeding from lip to ankle
January 3, 2025

Bandaged woman left her latest victim ‘shirtless with her breasts uncovered,’ bleeding from lip to ankle

A woman who has been in and out of trouble for years is out of jail after taking a plea deal, rather than keep fighting her latest battery charge.

Man ‘wearing a bulletproof vest, mask, sunglasses, and an FBI hat’ arrested for weapon in school
January 2, 2025

Man ‘wearing a bulletproof vest, mask, sunglasses, and an FBI hat’ arrested for weapon in school

He was hard to miss and therefore relatively easy to catch. The manager of a food pantry called authorities about a “suspicious” man nearby. He described the man as “approximately 50s, wearing a bulletproof vest, mask, sunglasses, and an FBI hat.”

Suspect claimed ‘he was scratching his leg’ under McDonald’s table; witness, cop, video say otherwise
January 1, 2025

Suspect claimed ‘he was scratching his leg’ under McDonald’s table; witness, cop, video say otherwise

A man with a long criminal history is accused of doing something so inappropriate at McDonald’s that an employee shot video of him and called the cops.

Latest mug followed getting woken up, laughing at police officers, then they arrested her, report says
December 31, 2024

Latest mug followed getting woken up, laughing at police officers; then they arrested her, report says

A young woman’s latest arrest happened moments after she laughed at the police officers who’d knocked on her parents’ door. The question now, of course, is will she get the last laugh?

Cop tried to help driver who said ‘he needs help and wanted me to kill him,’ but is now facing 2 felonies
December 30, 2024

Cop tried to help driver who said ‘he needs help and wanted me to kill him,’ but is now facing 2 felonies

A man who could’ve been spending the holidays in a hospital, or even at home, is being held in jail without bond after run-ins with two police officers. He started with the first cop’s sympathy, despite how they met.

Post-Christmas party problem: Woman returned to punch dad, pull out mom’s hair over baby, report says
December 29, 2024

Post-Christmas party problem: Woman returned to punch dad, pull out mom’s hair over baby, report says

A call about “a physical altercation” led to a young woman with a bloody cut on her nose, but she’s no victim. She was arrested for two counts of battery on her parents. 

Woman was ‘hearing voices coming from the floorboard’ of roommate’s stolen car, trooper says
December 28, 2024

Woman was ‘hearing voices coming from the floorboard’ of roommate’s stolen car, trooper says

You can’t return a rental car if it’s stolen. That’s what a man told a cop, and he suspected his roommate. Incredibly, the car and roommate were found before he even knew the car was gone.

Follow-up Friday: Driver who said ‘it was better for him to get in trouble rather than his mother’ sentenced twice more
December 27, 2024

Follow-up Friday: Driver who said ‘it was better for him to get in trouble rather than his mother’ sentenced twice more

The driver who told police “it was better for him to get in trouble rather than his mother, who[se] license is also suspended,” has been arrested and sentenced twice more, in two counties, in less than three months.

2 battery arrests: A fetish gone too far with his girlfriend, then his elderly dad over mom’s care
December 26, 2024

2 battery arrests: A fetish gone too far with his girlfriend, then his elderly dad over mom’s care

A 50-year-old man living with his parents is being held without bond after two arrests for domestic battery this year. His alleged victims were his girlfriend and his elderly father.

Man traveled cross-country to quickly get arrested twice for domestic violence, 2nd time with ‘a fat lip’
December 25, 2024

Man traveled cross-country to quickly get arrested twice for domestic violence, 2nd time with ‘a fat lip’

Police officers showed up when paramedics requested help “with a possibly combative patient.” That patient was not the woman described as an “elderly female subject” with “dark purple bruising on her right eye.”

Suspect in crimes including carjacking and crashing pickup (twice) spent years regaining competency
December 24, 2024

Suspect in crimes including carjacking and crashing pickup (twice!) spent years regaining competency

A criminal suspect who had three run-ins with the law in three counties in one month is out of the psychiatric hospital and back in jail, before a judge decides whether he’ll face charges including carjacking.

Unarmed man charged with battery for using his foot against hunters armed with guns, dogs
December 23, 2024

Unarmed man charged with battery for using his foot against hunters armed with guns, dogs

A group of hunters were armed with guns and dogs but one of them became the victim of a violent crime when the dogs made a wrong turn.

Man faces 21 child pornography felonies, video ‘appears to be self-produced,’ investigators say
December 21, 2024

Man faces 21 child pornography felonies, video ‘appears to be self-produced,’ investigators say

It took well over a year to make an arrest in this disturbing case, despite the evidence authorities said they had. This story started back on June 22, 2023, when they got a cyber tip “in reference to child sexual abuse material.”

Follow-up Friday: 1st arrested for sex with underage girlfriend, now charged with battery on her
December 20, 2024

Follow-up Friday: 1st arrested for sex with underage girlfriend, now charged with battery on her

The teenager charged with lewd or lascivious battery on his underage girlfriend is back behind bars, charged with doing something else to her.

Woman accused of leaving boyfriend with ‘a visible injury to his nose and blood running down his mouth’
December 19, 2024

Woman accused of leaving boyfriend with ‘a visible injury to his nose and blood running down his mouth’

Talking behind someone’s back is rarely good and it reportedly led to violence, twice, in this instance. A police officer got to the victim’s home, where the suspect was also staying, and she had already left.

Disorderly conduct suspect accused of damaging cars, got damage on his face during arrest
December 18, 2024

Disorderly conduct suspect accused of damaging cars, got damage to his face during arrest

A man got a lot of attention, allegedly “kicking and hitting vehicles in the neighborhood” late at night, and seemed to go on a violent rant when sheriff’s deputies became involved.

Man tells deputies this senior was committing a sex act, waited to call and showed no evidence
December 17, 2024

Man tells deputies this senior was committing a sex act, waited to call and showed no evidence

A man out enjoying nature was allegedly doing something he should’ve only been doing in the privacy of his own home, rather than at a county park with other people around.

He pulled a knife on kids who’d ‘draw on his sidewalk and run away when he got up to yell at them’
December 16, 2024

He pulled a knife on kids who’d ‘draw on his sidewalk and run away when he got up to yell at them’

Two children out with their babysitter had a disturbing situation while “drawing on the concrete sidewalk with chalk.”

3rd time the charm: Men arrested for fraud, other felonies after repeated visits to Comcast store
December 14, 2024

3rd time the charm: Men arrested for fraud, other felonies after repeated visits to Comcast store

Two men went into a Comcast store for the “third time within a week” and they left under arrest for three felonies and more. They’re accused of “presenting fraudulent ID cards and a credit card,” and store employees knew to call police.

Arrest #23: One-time killer’s dad ‘wished to press charges for the public’s safety’
December 13, 2024

Arrest #23: One-time killer’s dad ‘wished to press charges for the public’s safety’

A woman told police her son had “jumped” her husband and hit him in the face. That violence was the last straw for the couple, whose son had done much worse.

Woman back behind bars, accused of attacking elderly mother and charged with battery on deputies
December 12, 2024

Woman back behind bars, accused of attacking elderly mother and charged with battery on deputies

A woman’s alleged rampage against her mother and mother’s belongings didn’t end when she went home. That woman is also charged with battery on sheriff’s deputies.

Suspect in girl’s molestation ‘doesn’t remember,’ would’ve been ‘blackout drunk’ if he did it, cops say
December 11, 2024

Suspect in girl’s molestation ‘doesn’t remember,’ would’ve been ‘blackout drunk’ if he did it, cops say

A girl “at a friend’s house” over Thanksgiving weekend told a terrible story about what someone in her home “has been doing to her over the last year.” Now, that man is charged with two felony sex crimes.

Quite an audience gathered to watch his woman punch her boyfriend’s head, scratch his arms and chest
December 10, 2024

Quite an audience gathered to watch this woman punch her boyfriend’s head, scratch his arms and chest

The violence sure got people’s attention. Police got “three different anonymous phone calls” saying a woman “was actively battering” a man at a gas station.

Meth in her bra. Biting a cop. 5 lawyer requests to stop representing her. What could go wrong?
December 9, 2024

Meth in her bra. Biting a cop. 5 lawyer requests to stop representing her. What could go wrong?

The year 2024 won’t go down as Melany Gayle Peters’ best. Her three arrests took place this year and her various lawyers filed motions five times, requesting to be taken off her cases.

Man exploited elderly parents for $20,000. Late mom’s ‘sworn affidavit’ explained, detective says
December 7, 2024

Man exploited elderly parents for $20,000. Late mom’s ‘sworn affidavit’ explained, detective says

Some people move to Florida for family, but one is in jail for something almost unthinkable. He’s accused of using “a position of trust” to “knowingly exploit his parents,” and some of the evidence comes from his late mother.

Fight with stepfather left blood all over, bedroom destroyed, 3rd stop at hospital on his way to jail
December 6, 2024

Fight with stepfather left blood all over, bedroom destroyed, 3rd stop at hospital on his way to jail

The victim in this disturbance wasn’t home when it started, but he called 911 when it “escalated into being physical” and “informed the call-taker the door was open and for responding units to make entry to assist.”

U-Haul had cops haul this guy in after his one day truck rental turned into weeks
December 5, 2024

U-Haul had cops haul this guy in after his one-day truck rental turned into weeks

The guy “in charge of servicing the U-Haul rental vehicles” waited more than a month before calling the police. They arrested the long overdue renter before the day was done, but they had to get him a second time.

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  • 4 mugshots, 3 plea deals, 2 arrest warrants and this guy’s trouble started with one bad haircutSaturday, April 12, 2025
  • She wasn’t allowed in jail because ‘a boil on her vagina was irritating her’ but now she’s in prisonFriday, April 11, 2025
  • Elderly woman’s assisted living facility caregiver charged with theft, forgery for trying to cash $4,750 checkMonday, April 7, 2025
  • Follow-up Friday: New look suspect finally freed, then put back behind bars 3 days laterFriday, March 21, 2025
  • Woman charged with battery on her ex, a senior citizen, again: ‘She had been in her room drinking…’Tuesday, March 18, 2025
  • Elderly sex offender who repeatedly threatened young victim arrested again after 1 month freeSaturday, March 8, 2025
  • Follow-up Friday: Elderly landlord gets felony charge dropped, then racks up 2 more mugshotsFriday, March 7, 2025
  • Photo finish – literally – to woman’s car insurance claim: ‘I messed up’Wednesday, March 5, 2025
  • Both battered: ‘Very intoxicated’ couple led to fight over wife’s homemade porn on husband’s phoneMonday, March 3, 2025
  • Attacker who claimed 65+ neighbor made him ‘fear for his life’ when complaining about TV out of jail, on probationSunday, March 2, 2025
  • Senior facing a felony despite family claim: ‘All he did was ask the tow truck driver what his name was’Saturday, March 1, 2025
  • Follow-up Friday: Senior driver faces 2 new criminal traffic charges after serving time for DUI crash, probation violationsFriday, February 28, 2025
  • Bicyclist who said ‘he had just got ‘dope’ and chose not to stop’ sentenced to jail, released earlyThursday, February 27, 2025
  • Girlfriend, boyfriend charged with battery on each other. One left visibly red, black and blue, but how?Wednesday, February 26, 2025
  • Driving disaster: No bond for teen arrested for suspended license, then charged with stealing bikeMonday, February 24, 2025
  • Driver’s seatbelt violation led to this passenger’s drug arrest, warrant for animal crueltySaturday, February 22, 2025
  • Theft suspect full of surprises: Drugs inside her, more from her pants in the hospital hall, deputies sayFriday, February 21, 2025
  • Daytime drinking, dog discussion led to domestic violence. ‘That felt good,’ tasered sister told copsWednesday, February 19, 2025
  • ‘Gossiping about her and her romantic life’ got nosy neighbor smacked in the face, senior chargedMonday, February 17, 2025
  • From ‘passed out in the driver seat of his truck’ to facing more felonies for what his wife saidSunday, February 16, 2025
  • This guy’s latest arrest didn’t go as smoothly as his othersFriday, February 14, 2025
  • Young suspect could blame friends for his arrests, but not for his alleged drug problemWednesday, February 12, 2025
  • Woman arrested for drugs said she had more on her, but ‘she was not going to tell me where,’ deputy reportsMonday, February 10, 2025
  • Suspect picked the wrong senior citizen victim and she became his worst nightmare, arrest report saysSaturday, February 8, 2025
  • Woman’s latest arrest happened with son ‘in the parking lot of the X-Mart Adult Supercenter’Friday, February 7, 2025

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