Man hospitalized after shooting in Gifford, officials say

Sebastian police volunteer charged after detectives find child porn images on flash drive

SEBASTIAN — Sheriff's detectives arrested a Sebastian police volunteer after they searched his home and found dozens of images depicting child pornography on a flash drive he owned, officials said. Arnold William Flannery Jr., who served as a volunteer since 2022, was no longer affiliated with the Sebastian Police Department as of Tuesday, said police Capt. Tim Wood. "The safety and well-being of our community's children are of upmost importance," Sebastian police Chief Daniel Acosta said in a statement. "The behavior alleged in this case is abhorrent and will not be tolerated by anyone, regardless of their position. Our thoughts are with the victims, and we are committed to ensuring justice is served." As a police volunteer, Flannery helped with ...

Deputies ID shooter in cold case murder of military veteran, ‘milk man’

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Testimony from two witnesses led deputies to identify a suspect in the decades-old cold case murder of a military veteran and milk delivery man. Deputies learned that Thomas Jefferson Williams confessed to relatives that he fatally shot Hiram "Ross" Grayam several times in springtime 1968 during a delivery route in Gifford. "(Grayam) was killed execution-style," Sheriff Eric Flowers said during a news conference Thursday at the agency. "We're closing out the oldest cold case within the Indian River County Sheriff's Office. This case in our agency for years has been known as the Milk Man Homicide." The news conference was held on the 56th anniversary of the day Grayam went missing. His body was found the ...

Deputies investigating possible arson after brush fire fully contained

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Deputies were investigating the Sunday brush fire as a possible arson after learning two people were seen in the same wooded area moments before flames ignited. Detectives spoke with a witness and a person of interest, said Sgt. Kevin Jaworski, a spokesperson with the Indian River County Sheriff's Office. "A witness observed a male and female arguing in the woods. A short time later, the fire started," Jaworski said. "To us that warrants a closer look as to how this fire started." County and state firefighters fully contained the blaze after heavy smoke caused the closure of 27th Avenue Southwest for several hours. Fire crews were monitoring the area for hot spots on Monday. Indian River ...