WSVN — From politicians acting out to celebrities behaving badly, these are the stories that shaped South Florida in 2014. Craig Stevens takes a look back in “7’s Top 7.”
2014 began with a bust … of the Biebs.
Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Joseph P. Farina: “OK, the first case this afternoon is Justin Bieber.”
Singer Justin Bieber, arrested in South Florida.
Fan girl: “Justin’s going to get, oh my God, he’s getting pulled over!”
The pop star posed for his mug shot after his arrest for allegedly drag racing in a rented yellow Lamborghini on Miami Beach.
Judge Joseph P. Farina: “Mr. Bieber, you are charged with the following: DUI alcohol or drugs, resisting without violence.”
Bieber admitted he smoked pot and popped prescription pills, but his blood alcohol level was below the legal limit.
A frenzy ensued as hundreds of screaming fans gathered at the jail to get a glimpse of the Biebs. In the end, the DUI charge was dropped. He pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of reckless driving.
From Bieber to Beckham, more star power in the Magic City!
David Beckham: “Yes, we will want to bring some of the best players in football, in soccer, to Miami.”
Soccer icon David Beckham announced he’s bringing Major League Soccer to South Florida.
Now the hard part: Where will they play? So far, two potential stadium sites — one near American Airlines Arena and one at the port — have been shot down by city leaders.
Staying at PortMiami, the long-awaited tunnel finally opened in August. The billion-dollar project was designed to ease traffic in Downtown Miami.
There was no easing tension in Florida’s governor race.
Rick Scott: “You’re a mudslinger. You’re a divider.”
Charlie Crist: “You don’t know me, and you can’t tell my story.”
Current Republican Gov. Rick Scott versus former Republican Gov. Charlie Crist, who turned democrat. It was one of the costliest — and nastiest — governor races in the country.
Elliot Rodriguez: “Ladies and gentlemen, we have an extremely peculiar situation right now.”
One debate was delayed because of a fan placed under Crist’s podium.
Elliot Rodriguez: “I am being told that Governor Scott — really? — will not join us for this debate.”
Later, Scott agreed to debate, but the partisan puns were already flying online. In the end, Scott won re-election.
A Fort Lauderdale food fight went national this year. Ninety-year old Arnold Abbott was repeatedly cited by police for feeding the homeless.
Arnold Abbott: “It’s the way it always has been. It’s the way it always should be.”
A Broward judge told the city to stop enforcing the ordinance for 30 days.
One of Florida’s biggest murder mysteries was solved this year.
Patrick Sessions: “This guy is the scum of the earth.”
Police in Gainesville found the man who murdered Tiffany Sessions 25 years ago. They connected serial killer Paul Rowles to the crime through his address book.
But he’ll never be prosecuted. Rowles died in prison last year.
Life in prison for University of Florida student Pedro Bravo. He was convicted of poisoning and strangling his friend and fellow student Christian Aguilar.
Prosecutors said Bravo was jealous over Aguilar’s relationship with Bravo’s ex-girlfriend.
Pedro Bravo: “I still loved her.”
All three attended high school together in Doral.
Shock over the shooting death of Brooklyn Rabbi Yosef Raksin. He was killed while walking to a Northeast Miami-Dade synagogue.
Shuli Labkowski: “You just don’t go and shoot someone and just walk away.”
His killer has never been found.
Gunfire rang out at a Miami nightclub called The Spot, sending 15 people, mostly teenagers, to the hospital. Police tracked down the suspects through their Facebook pages.
The Ultra Music Festival came under fire this year after a security guard was trampled by a mob of party crashers.
A U.S. Marine finally home safe in South Florida after a terrifying seven months in a Mexican jail.
U.S. Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi: “I knew this could be bad.”
Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi says he took a wrong turn at the border and was arrested because he had three guns in his truck.
And one of the most touching images of 2014: Pamela Rauseo kneeling on the shoulder of the 836 giving her 5-month-old nephew CPR.
Al Diaz: “She popped out of that car. As a driver, that moment now is frozen in my mind.”
Moments later, baby Sebastian started breathing again on his own. The roadside rescue began a dialogue on the importance of CPR training.
Monday on 7’s top 7, it was a busy year around the world. The top international stories of 2014. In the Newsplex, Craig Stevens, 7News.