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First Coast Connect

ONLY IN FLORIDA: 'Beliebe' It Or Not Justin, You're Under Arrest

Wondering why #FREEJUSTIN was trending on Thursday? We'll let you know in this week's edition of ONLY IN FLORIDA.ONLY IN FLORIDA is our weekly roundup of the strange, bizarre and just plain ridiculous headlines from right here in the Sunshine State.

ONLY IN FLORIDA do candidates for city council have a rap sheet that includes 21 arrests.

Regina Hill says she has no plans to drop her political campaign for a council seat in Orlando, despite a history of arrests for drug offenses, multiple DUIs and other charges.

In fact, she said her checkered past makes her more qualified to represent District 5, which still struggles with high levels of crime, unemployment and homelessness.

Hill is trying to unseat four-term incumbent Daisy Lynum down in Central Florida.

By the way, Florida is one of three states that strips those with felony convictions of the right to vote, serve on juries — or hold public office. (Orlando Sentinel)

ONLY IN FLORIDA do senior citizens attack each other in Wal-Mart over use of the express lane.

William Golladay, 77, faces charges of felony battery for the Saturday incident where he struck 65-year-old John Malherbe at a Charlotte County Wal-Mart.

Malherbe told authorities that he was buying items in the express lane when Golladay started counting them as he placed them on the counter.

When they exceeded 20, Golladay started yelling at him and that there were too many and told him he couldn’t use that register.

Golladay walked to his shopping cart, began yelling and went for Malherbe’s right side with the cart, causing a minor injury. (Business Insider)

ONLY IN FLORIDA does Justin Bieber (finally) get arrested!

Bieber was charged with drunken driving, resisting arrest and driving without a valid license after police saw the pop star street racing early Thursday morning in Miami Beach.

The troubled 19-year-old pop star was released on bond after a brief court appearance.

A Miami Beach officer saw Bieber driving a yellow Lamborghini in a race against a red Ferrari in a residential area of Miami Beach, Martinez said. The cars were speeding at about 55 to 60 miles-per-hour in a 30 mph zone.

The Biebs failed a field sobriety test and was “belligerent” with the arresting officers. (CNN)

Send your ONLY IN FLORIDA suggestions to firstcoastconnect@wjct.org.

You can follow Melissa Ross on Twitter @MelissainJax Patrick Donges on Twitter at @patrickhdonges.

Melissa Ross joined WJCT in 2009 with 20 years of experience in broadcasting, including stints in Cincinnati, Chicago, Orlando and Jacksonville. During her career as a television and radio news anchor and reporter, Melissa has won four regional Emmys for news and feature reporting.
Patrick Donges served as WJCT's Digital Content Editor from August 2013 - August 2014.