WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — Here are the top stories with the most viewed photos from this week.
‘My heart dropped’: Port St. Lucie woman says boyfriend used Bluetooth device to stalk her
{p}A Port St. Lucie woman says her boyfriend used a hiddenBluetooth tracking device to secretly follow her. She’s sharing her story towarn others.{ }{/p}
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (CBS12) — A Port St. Lucie woman is speaking out after discovering a hidden Bluetooth tracking device on her car that was allegedly placed there by her boyfriend.
Her story comes just weeks after our reporting on the hidden dangers of Apple AirTags and other Bluetooth tracking devices being used to stalk unsuspecting victims. The latest victim came forward to share her experience exclusively with CBS12 News.
{p}A Port St. Lucie woman says her boyfriend used a hiddenBluetooth tracking device to secretly follow her. She’s sharing her story towarn others.{/p}
The 22-year-old woman asked not to be identified for safety reasons.
“It was a great relationship,” she said. “We definitely loved each other.”
She said she was in a loving, committed relationship with 46-year-old Jeremiah Sauter for more than a year, until late last month, when she found a Bluetooth tracking device, similar to an Apple AirTag, hidden under the hood of her SUV.
Read the full story here.
G-Block to Jail Block: ‘Operation Unplugged’ busts Lake Worth fentanyl dealers
A multi-agency sting dubbed Operation Unplugged dismantled a fentanyl pipeline linked to the Zoe Mafia Family, seizing enough drugs to cause thousands of overdoses. (PBSO)
LAKE WORTH, Fla. (CBS12) — A multi-agency sting dubbed “Operation Unplugged” dismantled a fentanyl pipeline linked to the Zoe Mafia Family, seizing enough drugs to kill thousands.
Deputies with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office’s (PBSO) Narcotics Task Force say they identified the area of 9th Avenue and South G Street in the City of Lake Worth, also known as “G-Block,” as a hub for the distribution of fentanyl, xylazine, crack cocaine, MDMA, bath salts, marijuana, and counterfeit prescription medication.
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Due to the uptick in overdoses in the past five years, deputies say they created “Operation Unplugged” to dismantle the drug operation and arrest the drug dealers involved.
The operation was a joint effort between the PBSO, Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), West Palm Beach Police Department (WPBPD), and the FBI.
Read the full story here.
Hunting stand near Air Force One landing zone prompts FBI investigation, road closure
President Donald Trump waves after arriving on Air Force One, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — FBI Director Kash Patel announced that a hunting stand found within sight of the Air Force One landing zone is the reason Southern Blvd. was sealed off for over 24 hours.
Southern Blvd. between Congress Ave. and Military Trail was shut down Saturday afternoon, and shortly after, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) announced it was closed for an FBI investigation.
FBI Director Kash Patel announced that a hunting stand found within sight of the Air Force One landing zone is the reason Southern Blvd. was sealed off for over 24 hours. (WPEC)
“Prior to the President’s return to West Palm Beach, USSS discovered what appeared to be an elevated hunting stand within sight line of the Air Force One landing zone,” Patel told Fox News Digital. “No individuals were located at the scene. The FBI has since taken the investigatory lead, flying in resources to collect all evidence from the scene, and deploying our cell phone analytics capabilities.”
U.S. Secret Service (USSS) communications chief Anthony Guglielmi said agents came across the stand while conducting “advance security preparations” ahead of Trump’s arrival at Palm Beach International Airport. Fox News reported that a law enforcement source said the stand appeared to have been set up “months ago.”
Read the full story here.
Boynton Beach man arrested after 135 mph Corvette crash kills young woman
Drotar appeared in court on Thursday morning for first appearance. (PBC Jail | Adam Faavereaux)
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — A tragic high-speed crash that claimed the life of a young woman in Boynton Beach earlier this year has led to criminal counts and renewed calls for road safety.
The collision occurred on April 6 at the intersection of Military Trail and Cedar Point Boulevard, involving a 2019 Chevrolet Corvette driven by Dale James Drotar, 40, and a 2020 Toyota Camry carrying two women.
According to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO), Drotar was traveling southbound at an estimated 135 mph in a 45 mph zone when he struck the Camry as it attempted a left turn. The impact was so violent PBSO said it split the Camry in two, ejecting Natalie Pierre, 25, from the vehicle along with her seat and door. Pierre was pronounced dead at the scene. The Camry’s driver sustained minor injuries, while Drotar was critically injured.
A 25-year-old passenger was killed Sunday after a speeding Corvette driven by 39-year-old Dale Drotar, collided with a sedan she was traveling in on Military Trail. (Adam Faavereaux)
According to the arrest affidavit, a bottle of Jack Daniel’s liqueur was found inside Drotar’s vehicle, and toxicology reports confirmed he was under the influence of alcohol and controlled substances at the time of the crash. Blood tests revealed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.126 g/100mL shortly after the crash and 0.085 g/100mL in a later law enforcement draw. Additional substances detected included Hydromorphone and Morphine.
Read the full story here.
Plans unveiled for major interchange project connecting I-95 and Turnpike in Martin County
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HOBE SOUND, Fla. (CBS12) — Tuesday night, residents of Martin County have another opportunity to weigh in on a massive state project that would, for the first time, directly connect I-95 and Florida’s Turnpike.
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise have unveiled new details about the proposed “system-to-system” interchange near Southeast Bridge Road in Hobe Sound — a project with a price tag of more than $447 million that could take years to complete.
In this file photo, in a view from the top of the Interstate 70/I-695 interchange, a car in foreground passes above some of the 350 construction vehicles. (Baltimore Sun)
At a virtual public hearing Monday night, transportation officials outlined the plan: four elevated ramps spanning 233 acres of new right-of-way, designed to carry roughly 26,000 vehicles a day by 2050. The existing I-95 and Bridge Road interchange would remain unchanged, but the Turnpike would be widened to accommodate the new ramps.
FDOT says the goal is to reduce congestion on nearby roads like Indiantown Road, improve travel times, and strengthen evacuation routes during hurricanes.
Read the full story here.
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