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JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL

Cops Kill Man by Mistake; Headbutt Leads to Divorce; Controversial Mother-Daughter Duo Arrested

Aired August 14, 2012 - 19:00:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, HLN HOST: Tonight, a deadly mistake when police shoot an innocent man as they search for two suspects in a beating that had just happened. This horrible mistake happened inside the victim`s apartment right in front of his girlfriend. We`re going to talk to that girlfriend live next in just seconds and find out exactly what she saw, what happened when cops knocked on their door.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VELEZ-MITCHELL (voice-over): Tonight, outrage over a deadly police shooting. Deputies hunting for a deadly murder suspect knock on the wrong door. Seconds later an innocent young man dies in a hail of bullets. How can this happen? Cops even sent each other jokes about the shooting. I`ll talk to the victim`s girlfriend who was right there when it all happened.

Then, this aspiring teen model engulfed in controversy again. First her yearbook photos rejected for being too racy. Now she and her mom get arrested. Cops say mom and daughter didn`t go quietly when cops busted up a rowdy party at the girl`s house with underage party goers allegedly drinking booze.

Also, breaking news in the Ochocinco case. Did the fired NFL star`s newlywed wife just pulled the plug on their months old marriage? And where did all the money go?

Neighborhood watch shooter George Zimmerman`s attorney reveals his client`s nearly broke after collecting hundreds of thousands of dollars through his Web site. How did he blow through more than $200,000 in just months? His lawyer says he hasn`t gotten a dime. What`s going on?

Plus, dog lovers rally in south Florida. After 23 years will pit bulls finally be allowed back in Miami?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AMY YOUNG, ANDREW SCOTT`S MOTHER: I demand justice for my son. I do not want another mother to lose her precious child. I don`t want another mother to have so go through what I`m going through right now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Tonight, family torn apart and demanding answers after cops shoot and kill an innocent man by mistake. That`s right.

This young man was gunned down in his own living room because cops knocked on the wrong door. Police in Lake County, Florida, were hunting for these two suspects in a beating that had just occurred when cops say the trail led them to the now dead man`s apartment.

Cops say a motorcycle parked in front of that apartment and some footprints led deputies to believe that one of their suspects was inside. That was mistake number one.

Inside the apartment was 26-year-old Andrew Scott and his girlfriend who had absolutely nothing to do with the attempted murder-beating case. It was 1:30 in the morning and Andrew had just returned home from his job as a pizza delivery man. His girlfriend says all of a sudden somebody starts banging at the front door. She says Andrew grabbed his gun in the bedroom just in case. But that move may have cost him his life. Here is the young man`s devastated mother.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

YOUNG: Who wouldn`t go to the door armed with some stranger who doesn`t identify himself is pounding on your door at 1:30 in the morning?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Because Andrew Scott was holding a gun in his hand, one of the deputies opened fire shooting and killing him right in front of his girlfriend. We`re going to talk to her in a second. Understandably this woman is beside herself.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIRANDA MAUCK, WITNESSED SHOOTING OF ANDREW SCOTT: They killed Drew. I was there. Drew is an innocent man who did nothing wrong. And it`s disgraceful that sheriffs in his department are trying to avoid the consequences to their actions.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: The Lake County sheriffs` office admits the deputies did not announce themselves. They say that by law, they do not have to, in situation like this.

So, how did cops end up killing an innocent man? I want to hear what you think? I want you to call me. 1-877-JVM-SAYS. 1-877-586-7297.

Now, in an exclusive interview, the late Andrew Scott`s girlfriend, Miranda Mauk.

Miranda, thank you so much for joining us tonight. I know this has to be very difficult for you. We want to understand what happened when your boyfriend was shot dead.

So begin by taking us to the moment when you heard the knocking on the front door. What were you and Andrew doing? Take us through what happened.

MAUK: We were sitting on our couch. We were watching the TV. And it was just really obnoxiously loud banging on the door. And it scared us. And so we jumped up. And we were in our pajamas. It was so late. We were about to go to bed. We need to be decent. And so, we went to the bedroom and there was another just obnoxiously loud banging at our door. And that was when he got the gun and walked ahead of me. And he opened the door and the gunfire just started immediately.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Immediately.

MAUK: Yes, ma`am.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Now, will you describe how he held the gun? Because essentially what the sheriffs have said is, well f you pull a gun on a sheriff`s officer, you`re going to get shot. That`s almost a direct quote. Now, he opens the door with his right hand and he immediately pulls a gun right like this? Or how was he holding the gun, your boyfriend?

MAUK: No, ma`am. He did not point the gun at anybody. He just had it at his side.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: He had it at his side like this? Down? I`m talking down trying to show what you`re saying. Like down like this?

MAUK: Yes, ma`am. He never drew his weapon.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Wow. So what we`re hearing here are two different stories. We`re hearing from the police that he drew the gun and pointed it at the officers. And we`re hearing from you that that`s not the case. That he opened the door and had a gun in his hand but it was pointed down. You`re absolutely sure, Miranda?

MAUK: Yes, ma`am.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Wow. This is very difficult. And I really, really thank you for sharing your story. What was it like for you, Miranda, to see that? What happened? I mean, was he knocked backwards by the force of the gun? And where was he hit?

MAUK: I would rather not answer that one.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, where were you standing? How far back were you standing? Were you hit by blood spatter or anything?

MAUK: No, ma`am. I was just a few feet back.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Did you ever get to speak to him again? Or did he die instantly? Was he instantly knocked at least unconscious?

MAUK: No, ma`am.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: What do you mean no? I`m sorry.

MARK NEJAME, ATTORNEY OF ANDREW SCOTT: She never spoke to him again, Jane.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Oh, my God. Mark Nejame, I know we usually talk to you quite often about the Trayvon Martin case and you`re an analyst for us on that. But in this case you are representing the family of this deceased young man who had his whole life ahead of him.

Cops said -- I bring this up reluctantly, but we have to lay out all the facts. Cops have said they found marijuana and drug paraphernalia in the apartment. And he did have a pair of marijuana arrest back when he was 18. Do you feel that has any relevance whatsoever to the situation?

NEJAME: Yes. Only relevance it shows though is the despicably low level of killing an innocent young man some people will go to try to disparage somebody else to make themselves` seem justified. It`s heinous what happen.

Let me address something, Miranda is very broken up over this as would be expected. This is a 475 square foot apartment. No back door. They were in search of and we`ve got the tapes and such, of somebody for a battery charge is what went over the radio. Not an attempted murder but a battery charge. And the Leesburg police department broke off the chase of this other person on a motorcycle.

Lake County apparently saw a motorcycle in this apartment complex. And it`s not a numbered parking spot. It`s a general parking lot. It could be for any apartment there. So they started knocking on a couple doors. Pounding on a couple doors. They went to this particular door at 1:30 in the morning. Miranda`s being very -- I`m going to clarify it. She was in pajamas. They were in their underwear. They were hanging out, cuddling on a couch watching a movie and bam, bam, bam. The door is about a foot or two from the couch where they were lying.

They jumped up, ran to the bedroom. Remember, 475-square-foot apartment. And another series of banging occurred on the door. He rushes to there. She`s behind him. And he`s right-handed. So the door was open with the right hand. And the way the door sat -- we can show you, we didn`t have it with us today, we can show you all the bullet holes in the door which suggests it was slightly open and you can see the angles, the trajectory angles of the bullets entering the door.

And then, as the door was opened with the right hand, he had a gun in his left hand. There`s no peephole and there`s no lights outside. And that`s we now know the officers -- the deputies, were hiding to the side of the door. So nobody could see anything. So even if he had a gun raised, there was nothing illegal or wrong about it because, one, contrary to common sense and what I believe to be the law, they should have announced themselves. And, secondly, that if you have a gun, you`re allowed to have a gun.

And so, if you`re not announcing yourself, you`re banging on a door at 1:30 in the morning, it`s very reasonable, and what he was doing is protecting Miranda and his home and himself. He opened the door, they saw the gun from their hidden angle. And he couldn`t see outside because it was pitch black, no peephole and they were hiding. So, when they saw the gun they jumped to a conclusion and started blasting away.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: We have to take --

NEJAME: There are five bullet holes in the door which suggests that the door wasn`t even open because how do you get five bullet holes at an angle if the door was open wide and you are bearing down on officers. It`s physically impossible.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: How many bullets hit him?

NEJAME: That`s all coming out in the report but several. Several.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: We have to take a brief break. On the other side, the text in which law enforcement is joking about this case. Stay right there.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

YOUNG: I do not want another mother to lose her precious child. I don`t want another mother to have to go through what I`m going through right now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Adding insult to injury, text messages that have been uncovered by attorney Mark Nejame who represents the Scott family. Records show two deputies after this deadly shooting mistaken shooting texted each other saying quote, "maybe they will have a move in special after all this is said and done, smiley face." "Yes, one unit will have new paint and carpet" in apparent reference to the damage done to the apartment by the bloody shooting.

Now, sheriff says, those officers have been reprimanded will get sensitivity training.

I want to go to TJ Ward, former police officer. My God, we`re hearing the cops say that he leveled the gun at the deputies. But we`re hearing a totally different story from the family. Why didn`t cops announce? And why not give him an opportunity to drop the gun?

TJ WARD, FORMER POLICE OFFICER: Well, first of all, I want to say this is a very tragic situation. And I`m very sorry for the family and their losses. But the police officers were there on a criminal investigation. And I can tell you the attorney commented that they were hiding. Rest assure I have served a lot of warrants and paper and its customary to stand to the side of the door away from the view so the person has -- you`re at the best angle so you`re protected if there is a gun or of gunfire, first of all.

Police officers are highly, highly trained. And under post rules of peace offering training council they`re required by law every year to go to training. And second of all, they are also required two hours of use of force. And in this particular situation, there was a pose of threat with a weapon and a police officer must have felt -- under the law, if they have reason to believe they might result in bodily injury to them or a threat to someone else, they have a right to use deadly force.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. But I have to jump in here and ask, Mark Eiglarsh, criminal defense attorney, you`re out of Florida. You`re also a former prosecutor. What about disabling somebody? What about giving them an opportunity? My understanding is no words were exchanged.

MARK EIGLARSH, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Yes. The first problem I have is that they didn`t announce that they were law enforcement. There was no back door. So nobody could escape. I understand first of all this was a tragedy. Anything short of that from the law enforcement community quite frankly is being insensitive.

I also, however, understand the need to get the bad guys. I know why law enforcement were trying to do what they were doing. I understand why they would stand to the side. And what Mark Nejame is saying causes great concern that there`s no waiting for at least a moment to see whether this person intends to actually use death or great bodily harm with a gun. But at the same time I understand law enforcement`s side, they don`t want to wait until that happens.

NEJAME: Exactly.

EIGLARSH: Ultimately an innocent man was slaughtered. That`s the bottom line.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes --

WARD: If the police -- Jane, if the police felt they were in jeopardy, they have the right to use deadly force. And we don`t know what those police officers felt when they saw a weapon. They were there on a criminal investigation. Even though they were not at a home that would led them from to their investigation to that house, they have an obligation to protect themselves and others.

NEJAME: Here`s the problem.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Let Mark Nejame speak. Hold on a second.

NEJAME: So any time they go to a door and somebody happens to have a gun, that person`s going to die no matter what?

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes. I mean, and also there`s a discrepancy here. You`re hearing Miranda who was there say he did not point the gun directly at them. But the officers are saying he leveled the gun at the deputy`s face.

Now. what do you make of that, Mark Nejame? Who do you believe?

NEJAME: Well, look, I believe the person who was there who has nothing at stake other than seeing her boyfriend slaughtered that night. And I believe the forensic evidence. I believe the trajectory angles of the bullets.

You have a bullet-riddled body and a bullet-riddled apartment that went all the way through the bedroom. It shattered everything. She got cuts from all the things that were completely shattered. The television, the keepsakes, everything.

The fact of the matter is, is all they had to do was follow the law. Knock and announce. Then none of this would have happened. They brought this onto themselves. And also, they didn`t even know what this purported suspect they were searching for looked like.

So if in fact you have a fleeing individual, which the real suspect was fleeing apparently on a motorcycle, then you have -- what are you going to do? Knock on a door and say, come out, come out wherever you are? They`re fleeing. They`re hiding.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right.

On the other side of the break I want to go back to Miranda and ask her, were any words at all exchanged, on the other side.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

YOUNG: That`s all Andrew did. And he was gunned down in his own home in front of his beautiful girlfriend, Miranda.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, that`s the mother of the young man who was shot. 26 years old. His whole life ahead of him. Doing nothing. Just in his own apartment. They got the wrong guy because they went to the wrong house.

Now, what do you want to tell us, Mark Nejame, attorney for Andrew Scott`s family, about these texts that you have given to us?

NEJAME: Well, we made a mistake yesterday. We thought they initially came from deputy from the Lake County sheriff`s office. And they did not. They came from Leesburg police department. And I want to compliment the chief (INAUDIBLE) of Leesburg who reached out to us today. And the epitome of professionalism and compassion was ashamed and embarrassed of what his officers did. That`s leadership. Completely different than what we`ve seen from the sheriff of Lake County that`s been insensitive and uncaring. And we believe justifying these horrible actions of his deputies.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: So Miranda, we have 20 seconds. Do you believe that law enforcement has been insensitive in the way they`ve treated this case?

MAUK: The sheriff`s department has, yes, ma`am.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: In what way?

MAUK: They still have yet to apologize for anything. And they just no disregard for human life.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: We want to stay on top of this case. We will not forget Andrew Scott. And please, Mark Nejame, I know you`re a friend of our show, come back with the latest information. Andrew Scott will not be forgotten.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Chad Johnson was released from jail after being charged with domestic battery accused of head butting his reality star newlywed wife, Evelyn Lozada.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE JUDGE: Mr. Johnson, you`ve been charged with battery domestic violence.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She says Chad head butted her. He says she slammed her head into his.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Tonight, breaking news in the wake of football star Chad Johnson, aka, Ochocinco`s head butting scandal. It was a fresh cut on her face Johnson`s brand new bride says she wants a divorce. Three days after Johnson was arrested after his new reality show wife, Evelyn Lozada, ran to a neighbor`s house and said he head butted her and cut her head.

Listen to this 911 call.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MALE DISPATCHER: 911, what is your emergency?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE CALLER: Yes, I have someone in my house in a domestic dispute with their husband.

MALE DISPATCHER: OK. Was it physical or verbal?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE CALLER: She`s got a cut on her forehead. Let`s not make a big scene about it until the police get here. We`re worried he`ll get mad and he`s a high profile person.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Oops. Well, so much for keeping things under wraps. Allegedly the whole argument started when, Evelyn found a receipt for a box of condoms. That`s right. Remember these couple has been married for about six weeks.

Lozada`s rep stated quote, "given the recent events taken place, Evelyn has decided to file for divorce and move on with her life.

Straight out to my buddy Mike Walters, news manager for TMZ.

Mike, so much breaking as we speak. What`s the very latest?

MIKE WALTERS, NEWS MANAGER, TMZ: Well, like you said, Jane, she filed for divorce today. But I can tell you she was having her lawyers draft up those documents the day after this happens. Obviously, you know she accused him of head butting her. She has a three-inch scar cut on her forehead. Pretty nasty injury. She claims right away wanted to get a divorce.

But I did uncover some stuff, Jane, which is really interesting. You know, in the police report he claims she head butted him. And you know what? It`s innocent until proven guilty, Jane. But you know what, I found some legal documents here in Los Angeles from the year 2000 where he had done this before. He has been convicted of domestic battery. And he actually got three years probation. And the incident was involving an ex- girlfriend in a car over cheating. He slapped her across the face. So interestingly it`s hard to get the benefit of the doubt, Jane, if you have this kind of stuff in your past and a history of domestic violence.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Now, Chad Johnson has just released his own statement. And he is apologized to everyone involved quote, "I would like to wish Evelyn well and will never say anything about her because I truly love her to death."

Now, I`m not a PR maiden, but saying you love her to death, is that really the smartest thing given the fact he`s charged with domestic abuse?

Michael, I know I let you speak on that one.

WALTERS: Yes, Jane, I cannot -- I was like -- I cannot believe he said that. It`s the worst thing you can say at this time. I am speechless. I cannot understand why he would do something of this sort. If you`re going to do a statement, you make it short, sweet, very nice. That phrase -- probably not the best thing to use. I don`t think this is going to go very well for Chad Johnson, Jane.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, listen, we got to say, Evelyn is famous in her own right. Watch this from her hit show "Basketball Wives" on VH1.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You`re going to get (EXPLETIVE DELETED).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Tell me you said that (EXPLETIVE DELETED).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Like I said before --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, I want -- did you (EXPLETIVE DELETED) say it or did you not?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Like I said before, I don`t remember. Wait, Ev.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Don`t do anything. Don`t do anything.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ev.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ev.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. So, Evelyn a fireball in her own right and she`s been criticized for being a hot head. So did water find its own level? Gee, I think it`s really time for everybody to reflect on ways to handle things other than yelling, screaming, hair pulling and head butting.

Now this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, my. That`s how she wants all of her classmates to remember her forever. Her peers said, "No, we`re not allowing that photo as your picture in our yearbook."

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That is not the time to support your daughter. You have to teach your daughter a lesson. This is a teachable moment. No, honey, that belongs in "Maxim".

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She`s like, all right, I`ve got another one -- is that better or worse. Makes me wonder what her parents were thinking. Definitely wouldn`t let my daughter take a picture like that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: New controversy for a mother/daughter duo who just recently got national attention when the teenage girl tried to submit a racy yearbook photo. I think this is all coming back to you, right? A lot of people wondered what the heck the mom was thinking when she supported her daughter, an aspiring model, her trying to put these sexy pictures in her high school yearbook.

Oh, my gosh, you should see my high school yearbook. I look like such a nerd. Now, cops say they busted a party at this mother`s Colorado home. There was a big keg of beer they say and a whole bunch of bottles of booze and lots of underage drinkers. They say the mom was there, tried to herd the kids inside the house and then she allegedly sprinted to the front door and into her bedroom and tried to slam the door when the cops tried to question her.

In the meantime, of course the teenagers fled the scene. After the alleged brief struggle, mom was arrested on suspicion of contributing to the delinquency of a minor along with a whole bunch of other minor charges -- obstruction, resisting arrest.

18-year-old Sidney is suspected of obstructing a police officer. Cops still investigating who bought the booze but told the local paper it`s a crime when a adult provides a place for minors to drink, which brings me to Jenny Hutt, host of Sirius "Just Jenny" -- and you`re a mother, too -- a relationship expert.

JENNY HUTT, RELATIONSHIP EXPERT: I am.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: The key here is I think she`s trying to be cool; trying to be the friend of the kids.

HUTT: Right.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Where do we go wrong psychologically when moms try to be popular with the kids?

HUTT: First of all, I think we go wrong in this specific case because the mother is now arrested on suspicion of one felony and two misdemeanors. Let`s start with that. That`s the first bad example.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Exactly.

HUTT: I`m just happy that the kid is going to Hollywood for her bit part in a sci-fi movie that she got after all the hoopla with the yearbook.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes.

HUTT: Because there will be a better example of how to live our lives in Hollywood better than what she has now at home.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, you know, the thing is she`ll probably do very well in Hollywood because this behavior might not be so outlandish in Hollywood where sometimes dysfunction -- it`s dysfunction junction out there at the corner of Hollywood (inaudible).

Now, this mom is reportedly a self-employed life stylist -- I love that. She says she styles the lives people want but don`t have the time for.

Here`s what this story reminds me of. Check out this clip from Paramount Pictures "Mean Girls".

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There are no rules in this house. I`m not like a regular mom. I`m a cool mom. Right, Regina?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Please stop talking.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All right. I`m going to make you girls a hump day treat.

Hey, you guys, happy hour is from 4:00 to 6:00.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thanks.

Is there alcohol in this?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, God, honey, no. What kind of mother do you think I am? Why, do you want a little bit? Because if you want to drink it, I`d rather you do it in the house.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Oh, my gosh.

Mark Eiglarsh, I know you`re former prosecutor and you`re also a dad. Let`s face it, there are parents out there who really want kids to like them and they will do whatever they want. And this mom allegedly crossed the line by making her house basically a place where underage teens allegedly could get booze.

MARK EIGLARSH, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Yes. Not a good idea, really. Anyone who`s looking for teenagers to show them affection so they can feel better about themselves probably can benefit from some counseling to deal with their own defects in character, I think. I`m trying not to judge.

But clearly when you`re serving alcohol to any of these folks who then would get into a car and potentially put other lives at risk, it`s coming back to you both civilly and potentially criminally. So for sure, bottom line two things: one, they probably both need counseling; and number two, the YMCA dance is a lot harder to do in Chinese.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Sidney`s mom spoke out about the high school yearbook photo controversy a couple months ago. Listen to what he said on NBC`s today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I said, Sidney, really, is this the one you want?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And then what about the second photo?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I didn`t think that was nearly as provocative.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And yet you`re supporting her on this. So do you disagree with the editorial board`s decision?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When your child is spreading her wings, you just want to come alongside and support them. That`s what I`m doing as a mother.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: To give her the benefit of the doubt, it seems like she feels supporting her child means saying yes to everything.

HUTT: Right. That`s a mistake as far as I`m concerned. I think there are certain things you have to say no to like underage drinking. You don`t have kids in your house and give them alcohol. You don`t encourage your own kids who are underage to drink. It`s just, A, illegal; B, unwise; C, short-sighted.

I get the concept of being friends with our kids. Like it`s nice; you build the rapport, the kids will tell us things. But if they don`t learn from us what`s right and wrong, how is that parenting?

VELEZ-MITCHELL: And I will say that I`ve heard a parent say, well, I want them to drink here because otherwise they`ll go drink somewhere else and they`ll drink and drive. Nonsense, parents. What we really need to teach kids -- and I say this as a recovering alcoholic, is you can have fun without drinking.

HUTT: Yes.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: You can have a great party and a blast with soda or juice and be dancing and having fun. I don`t drink. A lot of people sometimes they say to me, is it ok? Are you ok to drive? I say, yes, I`m just having fun, sober.

HUTT: I`m always the designated driver because I don`t drink either.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. Coming up, George Zimmerman.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Your "Viral Video of the Day": race car driver Jeremy Foley (ph) posted this outstanding video of his terrifying plunge on YouTube. His car rolled ten times before coming to a stop in Colorado, Devil`s Playground. How apropos -- who on earth would want to race their car there? Well, Jeremy and his co-driver walked away with only minor injuries.

Are you kidding me? No. It`s the truth.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE ZIMMERMAN, CHARGED WITH TRAYVON MARTIN`S MURDER: He said you got a problem? I turned around and I said, "No, I don`t have a problem, man".

SYBRINA FULTON, MOTHER OF TRAYVON MARTIN: This is not about a black and white thing. This is about a right and wrong thing.

Zimmerman: If the bond is 50, pay the 50.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: $9,900; $9,900; $9,900; $9,900.

MARK O`MEARA, ATTORNEY FOR GEORGE ZIMMERMAN: It`s not the grand conspiracy that the state seems to suggest.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He had lacerations on the back of his head.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So his head was banged into something harder than his head.

CROWD: No justice, no peace.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Teen shooter George Zimmerman going broke after raking in a small fortune in online donations. What happened to all his money? And is he now asking the state to pay his legal fees? George Zimmerman, out on bail after shooting dead unarmed teen Trayvon Martin back in February.

Since he was arrested in April, he`s been soliciting funds online. He`s currently hiding somewhere in Seminole County, Florida. He says he`s afraid for his life and unable to go to work. He`s been raking in donations. He`s raised more than $250,000 so far.

Now, some of it went to paying off credit card bills. This is what his accountant said in court.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ADAM MAGILL, FORENSIC ACCOUNTANT: They paid to American Express, Capital One and then a repayment for the money they borrowed before. The total was $11,387.40.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: In court, the total amount given for expenses was about $30,000; that left Zimmerman with about $220,000. Then he had to pay $100,000 in bail. So he finally ends up with $120,000. What happened to all that cash?

Zimmerman`s attorney Mark O`Meara says he hasn`t gotten a penny so far. And now he says, the state may have to consider his client indigent, in other words broke, which means that the state would start paying George Zimmerman`s legal fees.

Straight out to criminal defense attorney Mark Eiglarsh; what do you make of all this, the spending? Now, he says in his own defense that he needs to pay for security because he`s afraid for his life. Do you buy that argument?

EIGLARSH: Well, I have no idea what he`s spending his money on. And maybe it`s that. But here`s the bad news for taxpayers here in Florida. If this continues to go the way O`Meara`s reporting, we are going to pick up the costs associated with his defense.

He had about $250,000. Left apparently is about $50,000. Less the amount owed, he`s got about $30,000. If they`re both not working -- him and his wife -- that`s going to be gone any day. So the inquiry in court by the judge will be, do you currently, now, have the ability to pay the cost of your defense? The answer`s going to be no. And we will have to pay his defense.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes. Now, again, he should have about $120,000 left after court. Obviously he`s got to eat. He`s paying to live somewhere. And then there`s the security issue. Still, that`s a lot of money to go through in just months.

Here`s some comparisons. $120,000 can buy a new sailing yacht. This is the Hunter 33, it goes for about that much. Or $120,000 could buy two new Mercedes E-Class coupes. Most people can`t afford one. Or you can buy seven Rolex watches.

We`re not being facetious. Obviously George has spent a lot of money on security. I think -- well, Mark Eiglarsh, should the judge allow him to move out of the state or even out of the country possibly, so he doesn`t have to pay so much for security?

EIGLARSH: It depends. If the defense can show that by moving out of the state he`ll be able to work and by working he`ll be able to save enough money to pay for the cost of depositions, investigators, subpoenaing witnesses, these are all out of pocket costs that eventually he`s not going to have the money for. Then I say, yes, move him wherever he wants to go. He`s going to return to court.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Thank you, Mike Eiglarsh -- wise as always. Nancy Grace coming up at 8:00 p.m. Eastern -- Nancy, what are you working on tonight?

NANCY GRACE, HLN HOST: Jane, on the radar tracking crime and justice to the San Diego suburbs. A high school teacher, the volleyball coach, shot to death in his own home. Were his three little children witnesses?

And a stunning twist in the massive search for a father and husband who goes swimming and apparently drowns. Tonight, Jane, is he alive?

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VELEZ-MITCHELL: "Pets of the Day" -- my favorite moment of the day. Look at these beauties. Mozart, you make my heart sing, Mozart. Let`s see, Tex and Lucy -- they`ve got a thing going on. And Murphy, wow, he`s been doing a lot of gardening. You could see. And we`ve got Gussy and Mrs. Zimmer? I think it`s Zimmer? Mittermaier -- we love them all, especially all of them.

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VELEZ-MITCHELL: Look at these precious dogs. They`re innocent. They just do what dogs do.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love their tenacity. I love their intelligence. I love just their eagerness to please people. I love how great they are with kids.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Very specific legislation simply doesn`t work, it`s not about the dogs; it`s about the people and we need to start addressing the people.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The biggest misconception right now is that they`re all mean.

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VELEZ-MITCHELL: Breaking news, the polls have just closed in Florida. We`re anxiously awaiting a decision out of Miami that could affect 2.5 million people and countless dogs. Voters are deciding whether to revoke a law that currently bans pit bulls and makes them illegal to own in Miami. The law in question passed 23 years ago after a girl was attacked by a pit bull. It`s been upheld ever since.

But that could change tonight. We hear it`s closed. We hear their counting the votes right now. How will the voters decide?

Straight to my very special guest, dog trainer and host of the hit show, "It`s Me or the Dog" on Animal Planet, Victoria Stillwell. Victoria, we both know pit bulls get a bad rap, but it`s usually the human`s problem by tethering them or not neutering them or leaving them alone too long. How important is this; many lives are at stake with this vote?

VICTORIA STILL WELL, HOST, ANIMAL PLANET: There are thousands and thousands of lives. In fact, not just in the county but this is a grass roots movement that hopefully is going to have an effect all around the country. So we`re talking about thousands, even maybe potentially millions of pit bull types out there.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Absolutely. And again, I hope that this passes. And I hope we don`t go to the other extreme, breeding for profit these dogs, there are so many in shelters that are put to sleep every day because they`re outlawed or because there are no homes for them. We have got to stop demonizing breeds.

A pit bull is no different than any other dog. They like to cuddle and play and like all dogs, they can sometimes get upset.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It`s one of the biggest problems to some of these attacks, the things that you see out there is because the dog has been on a chain and hasn`t been stimulated, hasn`t been socialized.

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VELEZ-MITCHELL: How important Victoria, is it to neuter the dog and not tether these poor animals to a tree or a fence.

STILLWELL: Absolutely. Probably one of the most vital things is that most attacks are carried out by dogs that have not been neutered. And tethering as well causes immense frustration. We got to concentrate on those laws rather than concentrating on a breed that -- and demonizing a breed when these dogs are incredible animals.

Look -- let`s look at what a breed does. Let`s look at what the dog - - an individual dog does and not concentrate on an actual breed. And then we`re really going to tackle the problem of dangerous dogs.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. I couldn`t agree with you more. On the other side, it`s close, they`re counting the votes now.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So an advice I can give people that are trying to adopt a pit bull is try to match the energy of the dog with your lifestyle. That`s mainly number one.

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VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes, now take a look at this beautiful dog Lennox. He was pulled away from a loving family in Northern Ireland and killed simply because he was a pit bull -- there was international outrage. Our guest Victoria Stillwell, host of "It`s Me or the Dog" led a fight to save Lennox.

We couldn`t save Lennox, but if this referendum to lift the ban on pit bulls in Miami passes and the votes close -- they`re counting it right now -- we could see thousands, maybe even millions of dogs saved from unnecessary euthanasia which is basically killing them.

STILLWELL: This will be Lennox`s legacy. And I really hope because I have seen the devastation that breed specific legislation has wrought not just on the dogs but on the families that own them and love them. These dogs are being ripped away from these families.

We just don`t want that to happen anymore. We want to address the issue of dangerous dogs but not tackle certain breeds.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes. And if you don`t want a dangerous dog, make sure your dog is neutered because the chance of him attacking is much higher if he remains unneutered and also don`t tether and also adopt do not shop. Now we are tracking the vote on my site, hlntv.com/Jane, hlntv.com/Jane. You see it there at the bottom of your screen, if you go there, you can learn all about not only Lennox, but there`s an amazing film called "Beyond the Myth", about pit bulls.

And we`re also tracking this vote -- the people of Miami speaking tonight, how will they rule? Will they decide that these beautiful animals are God`s creatures and deserve to live on this earth? I pray that they do. And I pray that the people of Miami show responsible ownership by spay and neutering their pets and adopting and saving lives from shelters.

Victoria, thank you, bless you. We will find out and report the results tomorrow on this show.

Nancy Grace next.

END