A man believed to be homeless was struck and killed by a commuter train late Monday morning in Pompano Beach.

Just before 10:30 a.m., a northbound Tri-Rail train was approaching Hammondville Road when a pedestrian trespasser was walking westbound towards the tracks and stopped right in the path of the oncoming Tri-Rail train, about 500 feet south of Hammondville Road. The train, traveling at 79 miles per hour, struck the pedestrian, instantly killing him. The engineer stopped the train after the impact, approximately 2,000 feet north of the Hammondville Road crossing.

The train had 127 passengers and two crewmen on board at the time of the incident. Both rails were shut down well into the afternoon while BSO Crime Scene Unit detectives processed the scene, which was almost ½ mile-long. Rail traffic has since resumed, in time for the afternoon commute.

Broward Sheriff’s Office homicide detectives are conducting the investigation.

Broward Sheriff’s Office detectives have caught up with two men who burst into a Deerfield Beach business in January terrorizing the store clerk and customers to get their cash and belongings.

Just before 10 p.m. on January 17, the two armed robbers, with bandanas over their faces, went into the Brazilian Depot Food Court, punching the cashier in the face and ordering all the patrons to get on the floor. Surveillance cameras were rolling as the two men emptied the register and a lockbox underneath it, then proceeded to take jewelry, money, cell phones and other valuables from every customer in the restaurant.

Acting on an anonymous tip, BSO Robbery detectives identified Russell Brooks, 37, and Reginald Black, 36, as the two men involved in the robbery. Armed with a warrant, BSO’s Fugitive and Robbery detectives searched for the suspects in the area of Deerfield Beach on Friday, April 29 and spotted them near Deerfield Beach High. They took them into custody without incident.

Brooks was released from prison October 2008 after serving a sentence for obstructing a crime investigation and being a felon in possession of a firearm, and has prior convictions for robbery.

Black was released from prison July 2006 for attempted murder, robbery with a firearm and shooting/throwing a deadly missile into a building or conveyance.

They each face a charge of robbery with a firearm and are being held at the BSO Main Jail.

The Pompano Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) held a Groundbreaking Ceremony for Streetscape Improvements to East Atlantic Boulevard between AIA and Pompano Beach Boulevard on April 27.

This is the first shovel in the ground project in the East CRA District. Planned improvements include reconfigured street lanes, wider sidewalks for outside dining and improved landscaping, according to Sandra King, spokesperson for Pompano Beach.

Construction will officially begin on May 2.

During the ceremony, Mayor Lamar Fisher said, “This has been a long journey. Now we can celebrate that a vision has become a reality and that dreams do come true.”

At the Jan. 11, 2011 City Commission meeting, the Commission approved increasing the fee for the annual parking pass to $100, effective at 8 AM on Friday, January 14, 2011.

The City of Deerfield Beach offers residents the opportunity to purchase an annual parking permit which allows parking in municipal parking lots.

Passes are available at the first-floor customer service counter at City Hall, Monday-Friday, 8 am – 4 pm. City Hall is located at 150 NE 2nd Avenue.

To be eligible to purchase a parking pass, a resident must show a utility bill (electric, water, phone), OR a voter registration card AND their vehicle registration. All documents must show a Deerfield Beach address. Parking passes are $100 each, and are valid through December 31 of the calendar year in which they are purchased.

For questions, call 954-480-4229.