UPDATE – 12:21 Vehicle fire out, Vitamin Shoppe reopens

Low beach attendance for January; no water rescues

VERO BEACH — While chilly temperatures caused a drop in beach attendance last month, lifeguards are happy to report that there were no water rescues that occurred in January. "It's a great thing," Vero Beach Lifeguard Association officials said in a statement. "We hope people are paying attention to lifeguards and condition signs before they go into the water." The Vero Beach Lifeguard Association recently released its monthly report for the beaches at Jaycee Park, Humiston Park and South Beach Park. Lifeguards said about 54,105 beachgoers flocked to the shore in January. The highest beach-attendance record of 65,700 was set in 2019 for Vero Beach, lifeguards said. The record low for beach attendance was set in 2016 with 36,000 people, ...

‘No swimming’ advisory lifted for beaches, officials say

VERO BEACH — Authorities lifted a 'no swimming' advisory for three local beaches Tuesday after test samples showed that bacteria returned to normal levels, health department and city officials said. The result means it was safe to return to the water Tuesday, Vero Beach city officials said. The advisory - which was in place for nearly a week - was issued Jan. 31 for South Beach, Humiston Beach and Sexton Plaza Beach after high levels of fecal-related bacteria were reported at the locations. Environmental specialists with the Florida Department of Health in Indian River County collected water samples at the beaches Monday and on Jan. 28. The more recent collection of samples - tested at the Flowers Chemical Laboratory in Port St. ...

Man accused of dragging woman with vehicle

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A 26-year-old driver who authorities said trapped a woman's arm in a car window, and then used the automobile to drag the victim along a driveway, was arrested last week. Neighbors told deputies the woman was screaming and crying as Hosnel Gary Cazeau drove "extremely fast" while the woman's arm was stuck in the automobile, reports show. Cazeau eventually let the woman free and left the driveway. Deputies arrested Cazeau, of the 8000 block of 105th Court, on charges of false imprisonment and battery. Cazeau was released Dec. 13 from the Indian River County Jail on $10,000 bond. Indian River County deputies responded to a disturbance about 6 p.m. Nov. 5 in the 1500 block of 32nd Avenue. Deputies ...