Sebastian River Medical Center celebrates groundbreaking on new building

Man charged with attempted kidnapping after trying to lure girls in van

SEBASTIAN — A 70-year-old Sebastian man was jailed after police said he tried to lure two juveniles into his van with a ruse that he needed to use their cell phones, reports show. The man - identified as Charles Henry Hooss - also offered marijuana to the minors - both girls ages 13 and 14, police said. The incident occurred at Schumann Drive Park, a public park and playground. Hooss was charged with two counts of attempted kidnapping. Hooss was released Monday from the Indian River County Jail on a $50,000 bond. The brother of one child confronted Hooss after he overheard the conversation between the man and the juveniles. The brother argued with Hooss and then dialed 911. "Charles' ...

Deputies investigating drowning death Sunday off island near Sebastian

SEBASTIAN — A Sebastian man drowned after deputies said he went for a swim in the Indian River Lagoon and did not resurface. The man - identified as 33-year-old Robert Charles Richter - beached his boat on an island along the Indian River Lagoon, not far from his dock, before he entered the water on Sunday. Officials found Richter's body floating in the lagoon early Monday, reports show. "He jumped into the water to swim," said Capt. Joe Abollo, a spokesperson for the Indian River County Sheriff's Office. Abollo described the occurrence as an accidental drowning. The incident prompted a multiagency search involving Indian River County Fire Rescue, the Indian River County Sheriff's Office, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission ...

Police ID man struck, killed by Brightline train in Sebastian

SEBASTIAN — Police released the identity of a 69-year-old Sebastian man who was fatally struck by a Brightline train last week. The man was named as Dennis James Pollard, of the 6500 block of 114th Lane, according to an incident report. There were no reported injuries involving passengers or crew members on the northbound train, said Deputy Chief Tim Wood, a spokesperson for the Sebastian Police Department. Police responded to reports of a train versus pedestrian crash about 11:35 p.m. June 4 near Main Street. Officers ran along the railroad tracks and found Pollard's body less than half-a-mile north of Main Street, reports show. The man was taken by ambulance to Orlando Health Sebastian River Hospital, where doctors pronounced him ...