I'm the one you see driving toward a hurricane while everybody else is driving away. When the police scanner crackles with, "shots fired," I jump in my car and head to the scene. Fires? Kidnappings? Missing people? Car crashes? Drownings? These are my territory. I also specialize in writing about criminal consumer scams -- especially those involving elderly victims.

I joined the Orlando Sentinel staff after working at newspapers in New York, New Jersey and Maryland. I've covered local government, education, crime and courts and have worked in Brevard, Osceola, Volusia and Orange counties. I'm currently on the breaking-news team.

Reading (of course), drawing, making pottery, photography, cooking, kickboxing, step aerobics, weight training. (See the Orlando Sentinel's The Fitness Center blog -- link below in "blog link" box.

Man shot, killed in Orlando's Holden Heights community 5/22/2012
One person was shot and killed this morning in the Holden Heights community of Orlando.

Report: FSU student from Melbourne dies in China 5/22/2012
A Florida State University student was killed in China after he fell out of a dorm window while studying abroad there, FirstCoastNews.com is reporting.

Report: Florida property appraiser admits to porn swapping with HR director 5/22/2012
The property appraiser for Hillsborough County has admitted to swapping porn with his human resources director years before he fired her Monday, the Tampa Bay Times is reporting.

Man gets 22-plus years in fatal road rage crash 5/22/2012
BARTOW — A judge ordered a 48-year-old man to serve 22 1/2 years in prison for a road-rage crash that killed a 30-year-old woman.

Sex attack: Naked man kidnapped 3 kids, sexually battered 1, deputies say 5/22/2012
A Winter Haven man accused of kidnapping three children, including one he allegedly sexually battered, was found naked in his truck and arrested Monday, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said.