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Inverness Man Arrested, Sought As Person of Interest in Suspicious Death

John William Campbell, 37, 3707 E. Nugget Ln., Inverness, was arrested by the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, Monday afternoon, August 16, on a charge of robbery where offender carried no weapon. Campbell is the suspect in the attempted robbery of the Inverness Lowe's on August 10. Campbell is being held with no bond at the Citrus County Detention Facility on the charge. 
According to the sheriff's office, the attempted robbery of Lowe's occurred around 4:45 p.m., when a man entered the home improvement store located on E. Gulf to Lake Hwy. and approached the clerk at the customer service desk, threatening that he had a gun. However, the man believed to be Campbell did not display a gun. The alarmed clerk ran away from the man at the service desk, and the man exited the store, empty-handed and on foot.
Just before 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August. 10, deputies responded to 3707 E. Nugget Lane in Inverness, where Campbell lived with his 68 year-old father. The elder Campbell was found dead in an unspecified "suspicious manner," according to the sheriff's office. Campbell is considered a person of interest in his father's death. 
Around 2:15, August 11, Citrus County deputies apprehended Campbell at the Hernando/Citrus county line, following a high-speed chase with speeds in excess of 100 mph, and Campbell's vehicle crashing into an unoccupied Citrus County Sheriff's Office patrol car. Officials believe that the crash may have been intentional. The deputy was hit by debris from the crash, but was taken to an area hospital to be checked and later released.
Campbell was reportedly conscious after the crash prior to being airlifted to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg for treatment of injuries sustained in the crash.
According to CCSO Public Information Officer Gail Tierney, additional charges are pending against Campbell.

Suspicious Incident Reported at School Bus Stop
(Homosassa) A 15-year-old Lecanto High School ninth-grader told a school resource officer on Monday that an unknown white male had tried to lure her into his vehicle while she was waiting at her bus stop.
The teen said the incident happened between 6:45 and 7:15 a.m. at the intersection of W. Green Acres Street and S. Evergreen Avenue.
According to the girl, a man driving an older model maroon four-door sedan drove past her and stopped, putting the vehicle in reverse and pulling up next to her. She told deputies that he motioned for her to get in the vehicle, but she declined. The girl said the driver then opened the passenger-side door and tried to grab her right arm, so she ran back to her guardian’s residence and told her relative what happened.
The teen described the driver as a white male in his mid-50s, weighing between 175 and 200 pounds. The subject has long, frizzy gray hair and a full gray beard. He was last seen wearing a Florida Gators shirt. 
The Sheriff’s Office arranged for extra patrol at the bus stop in question and had the ninth-grader come in to work with crime analysts on a composite sketch of the subject.
The agency’s sexual predator unit began looking for any similarities among the area known predators and offenders. Contact also was made with the school district’s bus garage to put bus drivers on alert for any vehicle matching the description provided by the girl. 
Detectives are looking to speak with the man about the incident and are asking anyone with information about his identity to please call 911 or 726-1121 right away. Or contact Crime Stoppers of Citrus County, Inc. Report your tip by calling 1-888-ANY-TIPS toll-free. Tipsters may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $1,000.

Homosassa Man Arrested in String of Kangaroo Store Burglaries

A 39-year-old Homosassa man, Charles David McKenzie, whose address is reported "at large" in Homosassa, was arrested on numerous charges by the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, recently, after a traffic stop was made close to midnight, July 27, on a known vehicle occupied by two suspects of a Homosassa house burglary.
According to the arrest report, the arrest stemmed from a burglary to a Dahoon Ct., Homosassa residence very early the same day, around 2:45 a.m., where a woman's credit card and $70 to $90 in cash was stolen. 
Very soon after the robbery, the woman's credit card was used at Walgreens pharmacy in Crystal River in the amount of $61.03. By viewing the in-store video surveillance, detectives got a good description of the suspect and the suspect's vehicle. 
Shortly, a purchase was attempted on the same credit card at the Circle K gas station on U.S. Hwy. 19 at Ozella Trail. Again, detectives reviewed the video tape surveillance of the attempted transaction.
Just before 11:00 p.m. the same day, a deputy located the same vehicle and the two suspects traveling south on U.S. Hwy. 19 at Venable St. The officer made a traffic stop on the vehicle and the passenger (McKenzie) bailed on foot. 
The driver was taken into custody and through interrogation told deputies the passenger's name - McKenzie. He said he'd taken McKenzie to Sugarmill Woods, early that day, around midnight, and dropped him off on a side street. 
He said McKenzie told him he needed to collect some money, and he would be back in a few minutes. The driver told detectives that he didn't think anything of it, that McKenzie soon returned, and he took him to Walgreens a short time later, where he was told to wait in the parking lot. He said, when McKenzie was finished at Walgreens, he took him to the Circle K at Ozello Trail, where McKenzie unsuccessfully attempted to get fuel with the use of a credit card. The driver said he didn't know to whom the credit card belonged. He said they then went to another gas station in Homosassa, that he didn't know the name of.
Meanwhile, another deputy apprehended McKenzie in the Crystal Chevrolet parking lot on Hwy. 19. He told investigators that he needed an attorney and did not wish to speak with them. McKenzie was placed under arrest on several charges: burglary of an occupied residence, petit theft, fraud/illegal use of a credit card, and resisting an officer without violence. He was transported to the Citrus County Detention Facility where his bond was set at $6,250.
A records check of McKenzie revealed that he had two local warrants for violation of probation and an absconding warrant from Kentucky. He was also arrested on the local charges; no bond was set. A knife was located in the vehicle that the victim of the Dahoon Ct. burglary identified as hers.
The driver had details that officials believed to be related to two armed (knife) burglaries that took place in Homosassa, at two different Kangaroo gas stations, on July 23. One store was located at 2275 S. Suncoast Blvd. (U.S. Hwy. 19), and the other store was located at 6241 W. Cardinal St.
The driver told officials that he drove McKenzie to the Kangaroo gas station located on U.S. Hwy. 19 and Longfellow St. on July 23. He said McKenzie, who was wearing a black shirt, told him he needed to get some cash. After KcKenzie came out of the store, he changed into a white shirt and told him he'd gotten $80 in cash. He said he then drove McKenzie to the Kangaroo gas station on Cardinal St. and dropped him off. He said he picked him up, a short time later, at a street that's adjacent to the store. 
The arresting deputy deputy viewed the in-store surveillance videos and saw that both stores were robbed at knifepoint by the same man, although the suspect wore a black shirt during the U.S. Hwy. 19 robbery and a white shirt during the Cardinal St. robbery.
Several detectives interviewed the driver/witness, and he reiterated his statement. They accompanied him on a drive where he showed them where he'd parked at the first store and the driving route he'd taken while driving McKenzier to the second store. 
Detectives showed a photo line-up to the store clerk at the U.S.Hwy, 19 Kangaroo store, which consisted of six individuals, including McKenzie, and she positively identified McKenzie as the person who robbed her with a knife.
Detectives believed they had probable cause to arrest McKenzie on the robberies by knife, so they placed him under arrest on two counts of robbery with a deadly weapon. He was transported to the Citrus County Detention Facility, where his bond was set at $100,000. 
McKenzie's arrest report on the Kangaroo gas station knife robberies stated that no charges were pending against the witness. Although the driver's name was mentioned in McKenzie's house burglary arrest report, there was no mention of any charges against him, and no arrest report was found bearing his name.

Home Invasion Robbery in Citrus Springs

(Citrus Springs) Just before 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, deputies were dispatched to a home invasion robbery at 9267 N. Mendoza Way. 
When they arrived at the house, they found the victim, Deliliah (sic) Rogers, 26, lying face down on the floor with a blanket over her. The residence had been turned inside out.
The victim’s two little girls, ages 4 and 6, were found asleep in their beds. The children and their mother were unharmed.
Rogers told deputies that two or three subjects entered her bedroom and put a blanket over her head. She believed a gun barrel was held to her neck. The suspects said they wanted to know where the money and guns were, and threatened to shoot her.
The woman could hear the house being ransacked.
Rogers, who was shaken by the incident, told deputies she believed all of the doors in the house were locked, so she couldn’t say for certain how the suspects got in. She was unable to provide any kind of physical descriptions.
An undetermined amount of cash was taken from the victim’s bedroom.
With a perimeter established, Sheriff’s Office K-9 teams searched for the subjects while 
deputies canvassed the area. No cash was discovered, but deputies recovered several items of personal property in the woods nearby that the victim said were either hers or her boyfriend’s. 
Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call 911 or 726-1121 right away. Or contact Crime Stoppers of Citrus County, Inc. Report your tip by texting CITRUS to 274637 (Crimes), clicking on www.crimestopperscitrus.com or calling 1-888-ANY-TIPS toll-free. Tipsters may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $1,000. 

Capital City Bank Robbed at Citrus Springs

(Citrus Springs) Just after 3:20 p.m. on Thursday, Citrus County Sheriff’s Office dispatchers received a call about a robbery at the Capital City Bank located at 10241 N. Florida Avenue. Area deputies responded immediately.
     Three employees reportedly were in the bank at the time of the robbery, but no customers. The suspect came in the lobby entrance door and exited the same way. He approached a teller and demanded cash. The suspect also displayed a firearm, saying he would use the weapon if he had to. 
     After receiving an undisclosed amount of cash, the man placed the money in a small gray-colored, golf-type ditty bag. He then exited the building, ran across the parking lot and jumped over a chain-linked fence into a heavily wooded area nearby. 
Wet weather hindered a search of the woods by one of the agency’s K9 units; however, the dog followed a track at least for a short distance. It is unknown at this time if a vehicle was involved in the robbery.
     The suspect is described as a white male with a tan complexion, about 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing between 150 and 160 pounds. He was wearing a dark-colored painter’s cap, 
off-white gloves, an unusual black windbreaker with a pattern of white patches near the bottom 
of it, plus blue jeans. 
     Detectives will be reviewing the surveillance video from the bank in an attempt to identify and apprehend the robber. Anyone with information about this crime or the identity of the suspect should not approach him, but call 911 or 352-726-1121 right away.

Nine Arrested in Citrus, Marion County Sting

Operation Eclipse, a five-month-long investigation that culminated in nearly three dozen arrests, plus seizures of cash, vehicles, guns and drugs, translates into a drug enforcement campaign involving a multi-agency law enforcement team. The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office was a key player.
Four drug organizations moving more than 180 kilograms of cocaine a year and more than 7,700 pounds of marijuana a year were uncovered during the special operation. That’s nearly $12 million in drug trafficking between Marion and Citrus counties. These drug rings were trafficking prescription pills as well.
Operation Eclipse began with intelligence that was generated by the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office and shared with the CCSO Tactical Impact Unit (TIU). It turned members’ attention to Jason Jones, 33, of Hernando, who was driving a co-conspirator’s Dodge Durango when he was stopped in Floral City on June 3. The traffic stop yielded 93 pounds of marijuana. Jones was a known supplier of cocaine, marijuana and roxycodones and had been on TIU’s radar for some time. 
Due to Jones’s connections with Marion County, the CCSO joined forces with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, sharing resources and crossing back and forth conducting surveillance. TIU members began identifying Jones’s sub-group in Citrus County, ultimately making nine warrant arrests on Wednesday, July 7. One suspect remains at large.
As a result of arrests made and search warrants served, TIU members seized $8,200 in cash, 15 pounds of marijuana, numerous weapons, two vehicles and a motorcycle. 
The investigation is still continuing. 
The Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team – which includes the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and Ocala Police Department – an initiative of the North Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, joined forces with the Multi Agency Drug Enforcement Team; Citrus County Sheriff’s Office; Hernando County Sheriff’s Office; the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE); the FDLE Quad County Narcotics Task Force; and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for this multi-county/state/federal investigation.
Citrus County TIU members contend that without the multi-jurisdictional cooperation among all these agencies, a major drug investigation never would have come to fruition.

Man charged with armed robbery allegedly hijacked sister's car

     A 27 year-old Inverness man, Allen Alexander Moody, 1355 N. Paul Dr., was arrested at 6:23 p.m., July 6, after a brief investigation by the Citrus County Sheriff's Office. Moody was charged with armed robbery. He was held at the Citrus County Detention Facility on a bond of $50,000.
     According to the arrest report, deputies responded to 560 E. Winnetka St. in Hernando, around 3:48 p.m., due to a complaint of a potential robbery and car jacking. The victim stated he had been riding in the vehicle of a female friend after returning from a trip to a pain management clinic in Tampa, and when they came to a stop sign on Page St., a man wearing a bandana on his face, and armed with a knife, demanded his medications. The victim said that he and the suspect struggled, and he struck the suspect in the face and was able to flee with 
his medications. He said the suspect then jumped into the back seat of his friend's vehicle and demanded that she drive away, and she did. 
     Around 4:08 p.m., deputies stopped the driver in her vehicle as she headed toward the scene of the incident. She told the deputies, that when the suspect demanded she drive away, she did, out of fear for her young child who was in a child restraint in the back seat. When she got onto Hwy. 41, she said, the suspect had her pull over, and he fled into the woods.
     At approximately 4:20 p.m., Detective Alexander arrived to the driver's location and interviewed her. She said she'd stopped at the stop sign, that was later determined to be the intersection of N. Calumet Ter. and E. Maryann Ln. She said the suspect approached her passenger and engaged him in a struggle in order to gain 
his medications. She said that the victim struck the suspect in the face and fled, and the suspect entered her vehicle, armed with a knife, and demanded that she drive, so she complied out of fear for her child's safety. She said that she was upset and 
drove home after the suspect left the vehicle, because she did not know what to do. She said she then decided to return to check on the victim and was stopped by deputies on her way there.
     A neighbor told one of the deputies that she'd seen a person get out of the driver's vehicle when the driver returned home. However, the driver told Det. Alexander that no one else was in her vehicle when she arrived home, so he became suspicious that the driver may have more involvement in the incident than was first believed, so he informed her of her neighbor stating that she'd seen a person get out of her vehicle. The driver then said it was her brother - Moody - and she had not mentioned him before, because she'd forgotten that she'd picked him up on her way home as he was walking down the street.
     Dep. Alexander asked a deputy to ask the driver's brother when was the last time he had ridden in his sister's 
vehicle and if he'd gone anywhere that day. The driver's brother told the deputy that he'd not been with his sister that day, that he'd been home all day.
     The detective confronted the driver with this information, and at first, she said her brother was mistaken, however, the deputy informed the detective that the driver's brother's nose appeared to be injured. The detective confronted the driver with this information and told her he didn't believe she was being truthful. The driver then admitted that it was her brother who had confronted the victim and then jumped into the vehicle. However, she was adamant that she did not know that her brother was going to do this. She said she first became aware that the suspect was her brother when he pulled the bandana away from his face, due to his nose bleeding. The driver stated she "freaked out" and took her brother home and then went back to check on the victim.
     Moody was taken into custody at his residence and placed under arrest on the charge at approximately 6:23 p.m. He declined to speak with Det. Alexander without legal representation. He was transported to the Citrus County Detention Facility.

Shooting Termed Accidental
(Homosassa)  The shooting reported shortly before 10 a.m. on Wednesday off of U.S. 19 apparently was accidental and self-inflicted.
     The alleged victim, Tad Leach, 38, of Homosassa, who was shot in the leg, was transported to Seven Rivers Regional Medical Center in Crystal River for treatment.  He was a passenger in the front seat of the vehicle, while his wife was driving and a second passenger was in the backseat.
The alleged victim finally admitted to detectives that the three of them had driven down to Spring Hill in order to have a sight mounted on his handgun.  While coming back to Homosassa, Leach was attempting to holster the gun when it discharged, striking him in the leg.
     The case is still under active investigation as to why deputies were initially told that a suspect approached on foot, shot into the vehicle and then fled the scene.
The Sheriff's Office had responded to the area earlier today with its helicopter, ground units, K9 units and SWAT team.  The agency also set up its mobile command post at the site.
The scene has since been cleared, and no suspect is being sought.

Man charged with robbing pharmacy & trafficking in oxycontin

Edward James Vasquez, 28, 2741 N. Laureen St., Lecanto, was arrested by the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, June 27, at 827 S. Suncoast Blvd. in Homosassa.
According to his arrest reports, employees the Homosassa CVS Pharmacy located at 327 S. Suncoast Blvd. had been robbed by a hispanic male who had come into the pharmacy, shortly before 4:30 p.m., demanding oxycontin, a narcotic, pain prescription medication. The pharmacist told the investigator that she'd given Vasquez (as he was later identified) 3 bottles of oxycontin, each containing 100 tablets. 
The detective was given a description of Vasquez, who was arrested around 6:18 p.m. at 6235 W. Grant St. in Homosassa, on an unrelated arrest warrant for failure to appear on an original charge of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and possession of paraphernalia. His bond was set at none on the charge.
Around 6:35 p.m., Vasquez was transported to the CVS pharmacy that had been robbed of the oxycontin, and the pharmacist identified Vasquez as the person who had robbed her. She said that Vasquez had not displayed a weapon, but had acted as though he had one and demanded the oxycontin, according to the report. The report also stated that Vasquez told the detective that he was taken to the CVS pharmacy and had demanded the pain medication from the pharmacist. According to the report, Vasquez said that he has a problem with pain medication, and that after he took the medication from the pharmacy, he'd given it to an undisclosed person for payment.
Vasquez was charged with robbery and transported to the Citrus County Detention Facility, where his bond was set at $10,000. On June 28, He was additionally charged with trafficking in greater than 4 grams of morphine, and his bond was set at $500,000 on this charge.

Homosassa Man Faces Numerous Pornography Charges

     Lee Everett Hendry, 63, W. Halls River Rd., Homosassa, was arrested by the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, June 9, on one count of knowingly promoting child pornography and 20 counts of knowingly possessing child pornography. He was transported to the Citrus County Detention Facility where his bond was set at $210,000.
     The sheriff’s office, an active member of the Central Florida Internet Crimes Against children Task Force, began an undercover internet investigation, May 5, of a Homosassa person who had downloaded and shared child pornography files over the internet, numerous times between April 1st and May 6th. The internet protocol (IP) address was listed through Bright House Networks with the same physical address as Hendry’s residence.
     A search warrant obtained on June 9 was executed while Hendry was actually online and downloading child pornography, the report stated. Det. Pruitt was able to download one file from Hendry’s computer, just prior to the task force knocking on Hendry’s door. As detectives were knocking on Hendry’s door and announcing themselves, Det. Pruitt reported that she saw “a figure” inside the residence “get up from the couch and begin to do something before coming to the door,” and “in fear that the defendant was deleting evidence from the computer,” opened the front door, took a step inside the residence, and observed Hendry pulling his shorts up. The report also stated that that Hendry was aroused and standing in front of the couch, beside a stand which had a laptop on it. The detective saw a picture on Hendry’s computer of a clothed girl, approximately 11 years-old, in a cheerleader-like pose.
     Hendry told Det. Pruitt, that when the deputy team walked up, he was downloading and viewing child pornography files while gratifying himself. He admitted to knowing it’s against the law to download and possess child pornography, and that he’d been doing it for about two years, although he usually deleted the files so no one would see them.
     Hendry told the law enforcement team that they would find pornographic files on his computer, that day, because he was actively downloading them just before and during the execution of the search warrant. He told detectives search terms he used. Another detective conducted an on-scene preview of Hendryís computer and found multiple files depicting child sexual abuse and/or exploitation, consistent with what Hendry had said. The report stated, that since the computer had more than 20 images depicting child pornography, Hendry’s charge could be enhanced to a second-degree felony.

Church employee charged with 10 counts of child pornography 

Alan B. Yermal, who also goes by the name of Allen S. Yermall, 49, 9985 N. Deltona Blvd., Citrus Springs, was arrested by the citrus county Sheriff's Office, June 11, charged with 10 counts of knowingly possessing child pornography.
The sheriff's office was contacted on June 3 by someone at St. Christopher's Anglican Church in Crystal River, who said that a USB thumb drive containing images of child pornography had been found in Yermal's desk. The deputy was informed that Mr. Yermal, whose occupation was listed on the arrest report as "senior warden," had been in charge of finances at the church and had stepped down from that position on May 19 because he "was not doing a good job," the report stated. The person who'd made the complaint had gone into Yermal's office, searching for financial records, when he found the thumb drive in the desk drawer. The complainant had placed the thumb drive into his laptop computer and an image of child pornography had come onto the screen.
Ten files containing child pornography were found on the thumb drive. A detective spoke with the complainant the following day and was told about how the pornographic images had been found. The complainant also stated that Yermal had not been on the office since the day he'd been asked to step down in May, but he had gone into the office on June 3 with the complainant present.
The complainant stated that the office does not have a lock on it, so anyone could enter into the office, and some children had used the computer for accessing the internet, but only Yermal had stored items in the desk. He said Yermal had used the church's laptop computer. The complainant gave permission for the detective to preview the laptop computer. Multiple images of child pornography were found on the computer under the profile of "junior warden." The complainant stated, that a few months ago, Yermal had been asked to change the "junior warden" profile to "clergy," which Yermal had done, and that Yermal knows the "clergy" password, and "a few people" have access to the "clergy" profile. The complainant stated that Yermal had used the church's laptop computer, frequently, and had taken it home on several occasions.

The detective spoke with Yermal at his residence on June 11. He initially denied knowing anything about the child pornography, but after he was shown a photograph of an image from the thumb drive, Yerman stated that his fingerprints may be on the thumb drive because it had been in his desk, the report stated. He later admitted that the thumb drive was his, that he'd gotten it with a laptop he'd purchased, several years previous. He said that he'd placed the images on the thumb drive, several years ago, and had viewed the files on both his and the church's laptop computers at his residence.

Yermal told the detective that he'd stumbled across a Russian child pornography website, and out of curiousity, he's been regularly going to the website since then. He said he'd obtained the pornography on the thumb drive from the Russian website, that he knew it was illegal to possess child pornography, and he'd meant to delete the files, but never did. He told the detective that he'd "been better lately" and has been going to the website only every couple weeks rather than almost every day, and the last time he'd gone to the site was the previous day. He blamed intimacy problems with his wife as his reason for looking at child pornography.

Yermal told the detective that he'd gone to the Russian website from the church laptop, while at the church, on multiple occasions, but hadn't realized that pictures were downloaded onto the church's computer.

He was placed under arrest and transported to the Citrus County Detention Facility where his bond was set at $50,000.00. 

The Citrus County Sheriff's Office is an active member of the Central Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Crystal River shooting suspect leads deputies to "grow house" in Beverly Hills

The suspect of two shootings, May 30, in the Copeland Park area of Crystal River was taken into custody, June 3, by the Citrus County Sheriff's Office on an arrest warrant charging him with aggravated battery with a firearm and shooting into an occupied vehicle. Carlos Pierre Cleveland, 29, 830 N.E. Hartshorn Ln., Holder, was spotted in the back yard of a Beverly Hills residence located at 13 N. Lincoln Ave. 
     When deputies arrested Cleveland, it was discovered that an active grow house was inside the home, which resulted in the arrest of the renter, 24 year-old Gennaro Tryell Williams. Almost 300 marijuana plants, ranging from new growth to mature plants, were located in two separate rooms.
     The shooting took place shortly after 2:30 a.m., May 30, at two locations in the residential neighborhood adjacent to Copeland Park. William Richardson, 30, of Crystal River, was treated for minor injuries at the Seven Rivers Regional Medical Center, then released. Richardson was struck with scatter-shot in the right arm and leg. He was shot near the vacant lots at N.E. 1st Ter. and N.E. 9th Ave. Earlier in the morning, according to the sheriff's office, threats had been made against members of Richardson's family, which started a confrontation involving numerous black males at the RaceTrac gas station located on Hwy. 44, and then moved to the nearby vacant lots by Copeland Park.
Shots also were fired near N.E. 3rd St., in front of the park, but no one was injured. Marcus Natteal, 38, also of Crystal River, was driving a vehicle in the immediate vicinity and was fired upon, but he was not injured.
     Cleveland, the suspect in the shootings, was found hiding in Williams' back yard, where he was taken into custody.
Deputies involved in locating Cleveland smelled "a profound odor of cannabis" coming from williams' house, according to the arrest report. When they spoke with Williams about the odor coming from his house, he exclaimed, "Alright, alright! I got about a hundred plants in there,î and when deputies asked for permission to search his residence, Williams replied, "You already got me, I might as well (allow the search)," according to the report.
     A total of 299 marijuana plants were located inside the residence. They ranged in size from 1-1/2 ft. to about 4 ft. tall. Deputies also found empty plastic baggies "for packaging narcotics" and 
"cannabis for sale," along with digital scales, growing equipment and cannabis grinders, the report stated. A small bag containing approximately three grams of crack 
cocaine was also found. In the kitchen, deputies found loose cannabis and a small bag of crack cocaine weighing approximately two grams.
     Williams stated that all the marijuana plants, growing equipment, lights and fertilizer belonged to him, but not the crack cocaine. He stated that the marijuana was for his personal consumption, and he'd not rented the residence merely for the purpose of growing marijuana, although no beds were found in the residence, the report stated, and only "a few days of clothing, at best." 
Williams was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, and also renting a structure with the intent of manufacturing and trafficking in a controlled substance. He was not charged with the crack cocaine. His total bond was set at $20,000. Cleveland's bond was also set at $20,000 on the charges related to the shootings.

Yankeetown Man Arrested on Attempted Murder Charge With a Vehicle     

     A Yankeetown man was arrested by the Levy County Sheriff's Office after a family disturbance, May 29. Justin A. Lentini, 44, 30 S.E. 60th St., was arrested on numerous charges, including one count of attempted murder, around 6:30 p.m.
     According to Lentini's arrest report, it appeared that Lentini had been drinking, and he became physical with his mother-in-law, around 6:10 p.m. The report stated that Lentini had attempted to run over his wife, mother-in-law and brother-in-law with his vehicle and he'd actually struck his brother-in-law, Jason Blomgren, with his vehicle, and he was dragging him away at a high rate of speed, traveling east on Riverside Dr. as a call was received at the Levy County Sheriff's Office Dispatch Center
Officer Swiggett with the Inglis Police Department was called as backup and was first on the scene. He stopped Lentini's vehicle. He told Dep. Prine with the LCSO that Lentini was driving the vehicle and Mr. Blomgren was hanging onto the hood of the vehicle, screaming for help, at the intersection of Riverside Dr. and Hwy. 40 West, and that Lentini had traveled approximately three miles from the initial scene of impact before Swiggett was finally able to stop the vehicle.
     Officer Swiggett detained Lentini in his patrol vehicle until Dep. Prine arrived. Meanwhile, Emergency Medical Services arrived and provided medical treatment to Mr. Blomgren for a laceration to his forehead and pain and stiffness to his neck and an ankle. He was transported to Seven Rivers Regional Medical Center in Crystal River for further medical attention.
Dep. Prine went to Lentini's residence to speak with the other victims. Lentini's wife stated that Lentini had pushed her mother to the ground and that he had been drinking at the home prior to the incident escalating.
Lentini's mother-in-law told Dep. Prine that she had a small bruise on her left forearm. She was complaining of lower back pain, due to Lentini grabbing her and forceably pushing her to the ground, the report stated. She told Dep. Prine that Lentini had screamed at the family, using profanities, not only toward her family, but also to neighbors who had walked out of their home to see what was going on.
     According to the arrest report, Lentini's wife and her mother and brother then left the residence, walking south on S.E. 60th St. toward another residence, when they heard a vehicle approaching them at a high rate of speed. Lentini was driving the vehicle and swerved it toward them, in an apparent attempt to strike them as they were walking. Lentini's wife and mother-in-law managed to get out of the way of the speeding vehicle, but Mr. Blomgren was struck and lifted onto the hood on the driver's side of the vehicle and carried away at a high rate of speed.
Lentini's wife and mother-in-law saw Lentini's vehicle turn east onto Riverside Dr., then they lost sight of the vehicle and called 911 a second time.
     When Dep. Prine arrived at Hwy. 40 West and Riverside Dr. where Lentini was being detained by Officer Swiggett, a U.S. Coast Guard member told him that he'd witnessed the vehicle pass by the coast guard station at a high rate of speed, with Mr. Blomgren hanging onto the hood "for dear life and screaming for help," the report stated, and he'd asked another coast guard member to attempt to stop the vehicle. He said he believed that a portion of the incident may have been filmed by the coast guard station's video surveillance camera.
     Officer Swiggett noted several empty beer cans in Lentini's vehicle, one of which was still cold to the touch and leaking its contents. Lentini's mother-in-law told Dep. Prine that she'd transport herself to the hospital, if she felt it necessary. Corporal Allen with the LCSO read Lentini his rights, but he refused to answer questions. Dep. Prine reported that he smelled alcohol coming from Lentini and that his balance was unsteady as he took thim into custody. Officer Swigget told Dep. Prine that Lentini had initially screamed profanities, but he had since calmed down and was not speaking.
     After Lentini's arrival at the Levy County Jail, the report stated, he twice became "boisterous" and refused to perform sobriety testing or to provide a sample of his breath for alcohol testing. He was charged with three counts of aggravated battery, one count of attempted murder, leaving the scene of an accident and DUI.

Inglis man arrested on felony drug charges by CCSO

An Inglis man, 42-year-old Brian Marc Elliott, 58 Gladys Ave., was arrested on felony drug charges by the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, May 20, after deputies on patrol spotted a vehicle in Homosassa make several driving infractions around 2:00 a.m.

According to the arrest report, the vehicle, which was driven by William Roddenberry, failed to stop at a stop sign on W. Grover Cleveland Blvd. as it was leaving the Walgreen's pharmacy parking lot. The deputies also noticed that the vehicle's tag light was inoperable, and as the vehicle approached the red light at Hwy. 19 and W. Grover Cleveland, the vehicle failed to make a complete stop before turning right onto Highway 19. 

When the emergency equipment and spotlight was activated for a traffic stop, the deputies noticed that the front seat passenger (Elliott) was not wearing his safety belt. The vehicle turned right onto W. Homosassa Trail, and while the vehicle rolled slowly, Elliott ducked down, several times, making movements, the deputy reported, consistent with concealing a weapon or contraband. The vehicle came to a stop in the parking lot of the State Farm Insurance office. 

As one of the deputies approached the passenger side of the vehicle, Elliott was reaching underneath the passenger seat, so the deputy ordered him to show his hands, and he complied. As Elliott stepped out of the vehicle, the deputy reported that he noticed a bulge in Elliott's right front pocket that was consistent with a weapon, so the officer asked Elliott if he could pat him down and Elliott consented. Instead of a weapon, the deputy found a metal cannister "commonly used for transporting pills or narcotics," the report stated. Inside the canister was ten 22 mg. alprazolam tablets (schedule IV narcotic). Elliott was placed into handcuffs.

The report stated, that as the driver (William Roddenberry) had access to whatever Elliott had placed under the seat, he was asked to exit the vehicle. 

Under the front passenger seat where Elliott had been sitting, deputies found an unlabeled yellow pill bottle that contained 32 suboxone 8 mg. tablets (schedule III narcotic), along with two plastic baggies, one which contained ten oxycodone 30 mg. tablets; the other bag contained six oxycodone 30 mg. tablets. Another unlabeled pill bottle contained twenty alprazolam 2 mg. tablets and two alprazolam 1 mg. tablets. In a separate plastic baggie were numerous over-the counter psuedoephedrine tabets: forty 120 mg. tablets, ninety-six 30 mg. tables and ten 240 mg. tablets, a total weight of 10 mg., "which was more than can be sold at any retail store at any time," the report stated, "a listed chemical and an essential part in the manufacturing of methamphetamine." 

Deputies also found two packages of lithium batteries on the front passenger floorboard, "which Mr. Elliott had just purchased from Walgreen's," the report stated. The report also stated that lithium batteries are "a known component, essential to the process of manufacturing methamphetamines."

Elliott told the deputies that he did not have prescriptions for the narcotic pills, that he'd "got them on the street." The report also stated that Elliott admitted to being "familiar with the process of how to manufacture methamphetamines."

Elliott was transported to the Citrus County Detention Facility where he was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possess/distribute listed chemical knowing reasonable cause. His total bond was set at $10,000.

According to the report, upon questioning, Roddenberry told deputies that the pseudoephedrine pills belonged to Elliott and that Elliott "did manufacture methamphetamines." Roddenberry told deputies that he gave Elliott a ride to Walgreen's pharmacy so that he could purchase the lithium batteries "for use in the manufacturing process of methamphetamines," the report stated. He said that Elliott had placed the items under the seat, after the emergency light on the patrol vehicle had been activated. 

5 members of Citrus Springs gang, "PTF," arrested

Citrus County Sheriff's Office deputies arrested a member of a Citrus springs gang on April 23, which yielded names of others connected to a string of vehicle burglaries in the community since January. Four additional gang members were arrested on April 28.

According to Capt. Buddy Grant, East District Commander of the CCSO, patrol deputies and members of the agencyís Tactical Impact Unit had been closely scrutinizing a loosely knit, homegrown gang known as 'Past the Fountain,' or 'PTF,' a reference to the entryway of Citrus Springs, as probable suspects in break-ins that have plagued the area.

Just this week, the Citrus Springs Community Resource Officer received an e-mail with a link to a gang rap video that threatened violence against any law enforcement officer for alleged harassment.

"This agency has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to gang activity in the county," said Capt. Grant. "Beyond that, Sheriff Jeff Dawsy wonít sit idly by when his officers become the target of veiled threats." 

PTF associates admitted to having lifted around 200-250 car door handles in the community during the past four months, and when they found a vehicle that was unlocked, they took everything they could get their hands on, including cash, firearms, laptop computers, purses, credit cards, digital cameras and assorted small electronics.

The 'crime of opportunity' is commonly known as car hopping, according to CCSO Public Information Officer Gial Tierney.

The associates said they sold or traded the stolen goods, a practice which provided them with living expenses.

More than 30 vehicles were reported as broken into, and in every instance, the vehicles were left unsecured, with valuables in plain sight.

Citrus Springs residents are encouraged to lock their vehicles every time they leave them, even in their driveway. They should also remove purses, wallets and other valuables from their vehicles.

Arrested on felony charges were Dustin Sandiford, 20; Kyle Blomquist, 16; Kayla Bouchard, 21; Jacob Stuebs, 18; and Randall Driggers, II, 19, all of Citrus Springs.

Sandiford was charged on April 23 with 1 count of identity theft, 1 count of burglary, and 1 count of petit theft (bond $5,000). The others were charged on April 28: Blomquist was charged with 3 counts of burglary to a vehicle and released to the custody of his parents. Bouchard was charged with identity theft and released on her own recognizance. Stuebs was charged with 1 count of residential burglary, 1 count of grand theft with a firearm and 9 counts of burglary to a conveyance (bond $34,000). Driggers was with 1 count of burglary to a vehicle (bond $3,000).

Couple arrested at motel meth lab, Homosassa

Two people were arrested at the Bella Oasis Motel in Homosassa, April 22, after deputies found a mobile methamphetamine lab in their room.

A canine deputy located the lab in room 118, and other deputies came to the scene where Tony Nicholas Trail, 30, 5531 S. Victoria Pt., Homosassa, was arrested on charges of manufacturing methamphetamines and possession of unlawful listed chemicals (bond $20,000) and Rebecca Ann Bresnanhan, 29, 3792 W. Glenn St., Lecanto was charged with possession of paraphernalia (bond $500).

Sometime before 3:00 a.m., deputies read Trail his rights, and he agreed for deputies to search the motel room. 

Inside a cooler, deputies found two hydrochloric gas generators (one which field-tested positive for methamphetamines), a can of Coleman fuel, coffee filters, two cans of starter fluid, a large container of salt, ice packs, a small Tupperware container that contained a white powdery substance and a large bottle of liquid drain cleaner. 

One of the deputes found several items inside a purse that contained Bresnanhan's identification: a small piece of straw, two small baggies, and a white piece of folded paper that contained a white residue.

Deputies also found a grocery bag in the toilet tank, which contained coffee filters, a Sprite bottle and a Gatorade bottle. The items were submerged in the water and completely saturated. When the coffee filters were unrolled, a white residue was found.

When Trail was interviewed by a detective, he admitted to having purchased the liquid drain cleaner and starter fluid to manufacture methamphetamines. 

Trail and Bresnanhan were arrested on the chargess and transported to the Citrus County Detention Facility.

Citrus Deputies Investigate Floral City Murder-Suicide

Detectives with the Citrus County Sheriff's Office are investigating what appears to be a murder/suicide in Floral City, sometime shortly after 3:00 a.m. Sunday morning, after a Florida Highway Patrol Trooper called the 911 Communications Center.

When deputies arrived at the home located at 4525 E. Seese Lane, off Hwy. 581 in Floral City, the trooper's wife, Sandra June Silcox, was discovered inside the house, dead from a gunshot wound. Trooper Eddie Silcox, who apparently shot himself after the 911 call, was transported to Citrus Memorial Hospital in Inverness, where he later died from his wound.

The Silcox's, both 48, are believed to have been in a domestic disputeat their home at the time of the tragedy. The Silcox's, who had been married for 29 years had two sons, a teenager who lived at home, but was not present at the time of the shooting, and a son who is serving in the military. According to reports, the couple has had marital difficulties and had been separated before the shooting, but no previous calls had been made to the home by law enforcement.

Trooper Silcox had served with the Florida Highway Patrol since 1988 and was assigned to Troop C, which covers Citrus, Hernando, Sumter, Pasco, Polk, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties. He also had been active in racing at the Citrus County Speedway in Inverness.

Carjacking turns Fatal in Inverness

Detectives with the Citrus County Sheriff's Office are piecing together details of a fatal carjacking that occurred shortly after 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 7, in Inverness, in the parking lot of Best Friends Grooming Salon, located at 3388 E. Gulf to Lake Hwy.

During interviews with "multiple witnesses," detectives determined that the suspect, 32-year-old Jennifer Marino, who lists her address as 105 Crystal Road Ave., Longwood, Florida (northeast of Orlando), was seen hitching a ride in a dark red or maroon Chevy Trailblazer, or similar vehicle, that was driven by a black male on S. Apopka Ave., just off Main St., in the vicinity of the Inverness Fire Department. Detectives believe the driver of the Trailblazer dropped-off Marino at Fountain Square Plaza, where the pet grooming salon is located. Detectives are interested in speaking with the man about what might have been said during the short car trip that preceded the fatal incident.

Detectives believe that Marino stole a 2004 silver Saturn VUE (SUV) that was parked in the parking lot of the pet grooming salon, after unsuccessfully attempting to hitch a ride to Wildwood, Florida. As the carjacker was pulling away in the Saturn, the owner of the vehicle, 64-year-old Mary Haynie of Lecanto, ran out of the salon and tried to stop her. In the struggle that ensued, Haynie was run over by her own vehicle. 

Haynie was transported to Citrus Memorial Hospital where she was pronounced dead at 7:30 p.m. Haynie's family was notified of her death. The medical examiner's office transported Ms. Haynie's body to Leesburg for an autopsy. 

Jail escapee kills himself in Dunnellon motel after standoff with SWAT team

     Justin Joseph Williamson, 31, Cordova, AL, an escaped inmate from the Walker County Jail in Alabama, shot and killed himself in a Two Sisters motel room in Dunnellon, March 31, during a standoff with the Marion County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) Swat Team. 
The MCSO arrested two women in connection with Williamson, his 26-year-old sister, Ashley T. Williamson of Cordova, AL, and his girlfriend, 27-year-old Stephanie L. Hill of Jasper, AL, the mother of a two-year-old child Williamson released to deputies before shooting himself.
     Ashley Williamson is being held without bond at the Marion county Jail on charges of aiding in prisoner escape and accessory to armed robbery. 
     Stephanie Hill is also being held without bond at the Marion County Jail, on charges of organized fraud (obtaining property valued at $50,000 or more), aiding in prisoner escape, and accessory to armed robbery. Hill's two-year-old child is in the protective custody of the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), until other family members can be located.
     The deceased Williamson is accused of robbing Priscilla Forehand, 57, and her 62-year-old husband, Earl Forehand, both of Wewahitchka, Florida on Saturday night, March 27, in the parking lot of the Walmart Supercenter in Callaway, Florida, according to investigators with the Bay County sheriffís Office. Williamson allegedly pointed a pistol at Mrs. Forehand, threatened her life and took her purse. Williamson left the Walmart in a pewter-colored SUV that was reported as stolen in Walker County, Alabama, with the woman and child, according to Andrew Gant of Florida Freedom Newspapers. 
     Williamson was traced south when he tried to use the Forehands' credit card (which had been reported as stolen), several times, the last attempt at a Family Dollar store in Ocala. A security camera captured photos of him at the time of the transaction, and on the morning of March 31, the sheriffís office issued a press release with the video surveillance photograph, asking for help in identifying the people in the photographs.
     When Williamson allegedly robbed an 80-year-old woman (in her car) of about $25 in the parking lot of Pavarotti's Pizza on S.R. 200 in Ocala, just before noon on March 31, MCSO deputies tracked Williamson's stolen SUV with Georgia license plates to a nearby Circle K. Investigators spoke with Hill who told authorities that Williamson was inside the motel, according to Jenifer Fischer, a spokesperson for the MCSO.
     According to the Orlando Sentinel, SWAT team members used a robot with cell phone capabilities to negotiate with Williamson, and he eventually let the child go, but when deputies went in to take Williamson into custody, he was found with a gunshot wound to his head. Dunnellon Middle School was locked down during the search and standoff, and the MCSO's Bomb, SWAT, Negotiations, K-9 and Air Units all responded to the scene.
     According to the Jasper, Alabama "Daily Mountain Eagle" newspaper, Williamson fled on foot from a car-washing area behind the jail, around 1:45 p.m., March 23 and was incarcerated at the Walker county Jail on charges of obstruction of justice by using a false identity, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.
     According to Florida Freedom Newspapers, Ashley Williamson and Stephanie Hill are pending extradition to Bay County, Florida, where Hill will face charges of principal to armed robbery, grand theft, fraudulent use of a credit card, forgery, and criminal use of ID; and Ashley Williamson will be charged with principal to armed robbery.

Three Arrested on Meth Charges in Homosassa

According to the Citrus County Sheriff's Office (CCSO), two Homosassa residents were taken into custody on March 18, related to an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). 

Crystal Dennis, 25, and James Bole, 30, both of Homosassa, were arrested by the DEA in connection with the methamphetamine operations discovered at Dennis' 8538 W. Kimberly Court residence. 

A federal warrant was also secured for the arrest of Jeffrey Carpenter, 32, also of Homosassa, who had originally been named as a person of interest 

Shortly before 8 p.m. on March 19, members of the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office Tactical Impact Unit took Carpenter into custody at an unrelated Homosassa residence. They found him hiding in a closet, according to the CCSO.

According to Steve Cole, Public Affairs Specialist with the State Attorney's office (Tampa District), a criminal complaint has been filed against the three in U.S. District Court (Tampa) by his office, charging them with knowingly conspiring to manufacture and distribute in excess of 50 grams or more of methemphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance. The three are facing a maximum penalty of 10 years to life in federal prison, if convicted of the charges, said Cole.

The arrests were detailed by DEA Special Agent G. Tucker Cowles in a Criminal Complaint. According to Cowles, a search warrant was issued for Dennis' residence located at 8538 W. Kimberly Ct.(Homosass), based on the "probable cause" of a clandestine methamphetamine lab being inside.

During the search, Ms. Dennis was present and agreed to speak with authorities. Cowles stated that three small children, ages 7, 4 and 3, were asleep inside the residence during the search.

According to Cowles' affadavit, numerous items used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine (meth) were found inside the house and in trash piles outside. One item  found was red phosphorus. This method of meth production, wrote cowles, "is one of the most volatile methods of manufacturing methamphetamine."

Dennis stated that she lives at the residence, and that she, Jeffrey Carpenter and James Lee Bole had started manufacturing meth at the residence, about 2 to 3 months previously and had manufactured meth at her home on average of 2 to 3 times per week, yielding about 0.8 gms. of meth each time. She said Carpenter is the primary "cook" and detailed the duties that each of them took in the manufacturing process. She said she'd been using meth since 2004.

Mr. Bole also spoke with authorities. He said he lives down the street (8599 W. Kimberly Ct.), that he'd been using meth for about 2 months and had been introduced to the drug by Carpenter. He said, about two months previouly, he, Carpenter, Dennis and Roy Lashley were at Dennis' residence, and he'd witnessed Lashley manufacture meth. According to Bole, Carpenter told him he'd met Lashley in jail. Bole said he'd traveled with Carpenter to Lashley's house. where he'd seen meth manufacturing chemicals. He said that he, 
Carpenter and Dennis had cooked the drug 2 to 3 times per week, yielding about 2 to 3 grams per occasion. He gave additional details of the manufacturing process and duties of the people involved. He said he'd cooked at least 10 times with Carpenter and Dennis.

According to other sources, the children were taken from the residence and are being sheltered by the Department of Children and Families (DCF). In addition to the dangers of methamphetamine manufacturing, the conditions at the house were described as deplorable. County code enforcement and environmental health officials were called to the scene. The residence was condemned and possibly demolished after 10 days.

Two Crystal River Men Arrested for Burglarizing a Home

Two Crystal River men were arrested by the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, March 25, after a call was received of a burglary in progress.

According to the arrest reports, the victim told deputies, that while he was at work, his wife had called to tell him that two white men had loaded an air conditioning unit into a red Chevy S-10 pickup truck and had left their yard with the unit in the back of the truck. He said the air conditioner had been purchased for a rental unit and had not yet been installed. He said they'd kept the air conditioner beside a shed in their fenced-in yard located on N. Holiday Dr.in Crystal River.

According to the reports, the victim went to W. Tangerine Ln. and saw the two men cutting the air conditioning unit coils and removing the compressor.

The report stated that two other witnesses also watched the men cut the coils and remove the compressor. The witnesses identified the men as Nathan John Rowe, 32, 353 N. Rock Crusher Rd.  and  John A. Legros, 41, 6462 W. Moss Ln. 

The victim stated that he confronted the men about the air conditioner and got into an argument with them about it. He said that Rowe and Legros left in the red Chevy S-10 pickup truck. This is when the sheriff's office was notified about the incident.

A deputy called Legros on his cell phone and asked him to return to W. Tangerine Ln. He complied, and both he and Rowe returned. Two detectives met the men and asked Rowe what he was doing with the air conditioning unit. He replied that he'd made a deal with the victim to exchange the unit for some used chain link fence. He said that he and Legros had gone to the victim's residence and loaded the unit into the truck and removed it from the property. Rowe said, that during the argument, the victim told him he'd grabbed the wrong unit, however, there was only one air conditioning unit there.

Upon questioning, Legros stated that he was not with Rowe during the time the air conditioning unit was picked up, that he was on a job site on Elm St. However, Rowe said that Legros was with him during the incident.

Both men were charged with burglary of an unoccupied structure, grand theft ($300 or more, but less than $5,000), and criminal mischief ($200 or more, but less than $1,000), around 11:30 a.m. Their bonds were set at $5,500.

Three Arrested Trying to Obtain Drugs Fraudulently

Three people were arrested by the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, Feb. 16, after the Inverness B & W Rexall Pharmacy contacted the CCSO that they were attempting to fraudulently obtain controlled substances.

Joseph K. vickers, 32, 10094 S.W. 152nd Place, Dunnellon; James Allen Dethlefs, 47, 7484 S.W. 150th St., Dunnellon; and Hillary Jean McKechnie, 24, 1731 S.W. 40th Ter. E., Gainesville, had each turned in three prescriptions from a south Florida physician for oxycodone 30 mg, ocycodone 15 mg and alprazolam 2 mg. The report stated that the weight of the mens' oxycodone was 45.36 grams, and the woman's oxycodone totaled 22.68 grams, and all the prescriptions had been obtained on the same date, Feb. 15.

As McKechnie was leaving the pharmacy, the two men were still inside making their purchases. A deputy detained McKechnie while a detective apprehended the men inside the store. As the deputy approached, Vickers was handing the bag of medication to Dethlefs, the report stated. The detective identified himself to the men and escorted them outside.

The pharmacist told the detective that the three had come in together and handed-in the prescriptions for "both patients" at the same time. McKechnie had wanted to pay for her medication through Medicaid, but was denied, so she went outside to call for approval. The pharmacist stated that vickers paid for Dethlefs' prescriptions with a credit card in the amount of $363.98.

The pharmacist had contacted the assistant office manager at the physician's office and was told that the MRI's provided by "both patients" were invalid, consequently the prescriptions they had obtained had been obtained in a fraudulent manner. Both MRI's were identical with the exception of the personal information, and the physician's office requested that law enforcement be notified.

The detective contacted the diagnostic imaging company in Belleview, Florida and learned that the two MRI's were fraudulent, and neither of the patients had ever been treated in the facility.

Dethlefs told the detective that the MRI's were fraudulent and had been obtained from an acquaintance for $200. vickers and McKechnie refused to talk with law enforcement.

All three were placed under arrest and transported to the Citrus County Detention Facility. Vickers and Dethlefs were each charged with one count of trafficking in oxycodone, one count of conspiracy, and 3 counts of attempting to obtain controlled substances by fraud. Their bonds were each set at $1,015,000. McKechnie was charged with one count of attempted trafficking in oxycodone, one count of conspiracy, and three counts of attempting to obtain controlled substances by fraud. Her bond was set at $215,000.

While incarcerated, Vickers was arrested on additional charges the following day (Feb. 17) for allegedly filling fraudulent prescription written by the same South Florida physician on Feb. 4. The prescriptions were for oxycodone 30 mg, oxycodone 15 mg and alprazolam 2 mg. The total weight of oxycodone was 45.36 grams. The report stated that Vickers paid cash for all of the prescriptions, with the exception of one that his insurance paid $10.47 toward.

A supervisor with a diagnostic imaging company in Naples, Florida stated that Vickers had never had been a patient, the account number on the MRI report does not exist, the imaging system named in the mri report is not used by the company, and the patient information format is incorrect.

When vickers was arrested on the second set of charges, he declined to make a comment. He was charged with one count of trafficking in more than 28 grams of oxycodone and three counts of obtaining controlled substances by fraud. His total bond on this second set of charges was $515,000.

Distress Call Leads to Discovery of Marijuana Plants in Inglis House

     An emergency call to law enforcement on Feb. 16, resulted in the confiscation of marijuana plants and drug charges being filed with the State Attorney’s Office against two Inglis residents.
     According to the arrest report, Tracie Renee Hunt, 39, contacted the Levy County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) to complain that she’d had an argument with her boyfriend, 27-year-old Jonathan Erlandson, and he’d made threats of suicide. Hunt fled to a nearby residence to get away from Erlandson. Hunt continued to talk with a dispatcher, stating that Erlandson was out of control, using illegal drugs and threatening suicide.
Officers and deputies with the Inglis Police Department (IPD) and LCSO arrived at Hunt’s and Erlandson’s residence, located at 47 Lois Ave. They were unable to locate Erlandson. Officer Swiggett requested that dispatch ask Ms. Hunt if the residence was locked so officers could check on Erlandson. Ofc. Swiggett and Dep. Prine announced their presence and entered Hunt’s and Erlandson’s residence by way of the back door. Erlandson was not located, and officers determined that he’d left before they arrived. A BOLO (be on the lookout) was issued for Erlandson through the LCSO.
     The report stated, while officers were checking the residence for Erlandson, they saw, in plain view, several cannabis smoking pipes. In the bathroom, they saw an unspecified number of cannabis plants. 
     Officers spoke with Ms. Hunt, who stated the argument was verbal (not physical), that she was concerned for Erlandson’s welfare due to his drug use and suicide threats. She told Ofc. Swiggett that the cannabis plants belonged to Erlandson, and she was aware of them, but had feared notifying law enforcement about them due to possible repercussion from Erlandson. She said that another person (referred to on the report as a “witness”), had brought the plants to Erlandson, about two weeks earlier.
     Ofc. Swiggett spoke with the witness at his residence. He said he knew the plants were at the residence because Erlandson had shown them to him. He denied bringing the plants to Erlandson or giving them to him. The witness speculated that Erlandson had gotten the plants from a man by the name of “Pete.” He also stated that the plants had been at Erlandson’s residence for at least a couple of weeks.
     The cannabis plants were removed from the pots and weighed at the IPD. They weighed approximately 125 grams. Other items taken into evidence were two spoons and three hypodermic needles (which are pending lab analysis), “several paraphernalia items,” and two “medium sized” containers of cannabis seeds. Several prescription bottles of miscellaneous narcotics, prescribed to Ms. Hunt, were located. She told Ofc. Swiggett that she no longer takes the medication and requested that it be disposed of.
Sworn complaints were filed with the State Attorney’s Office against both Erlandson and Hunt, on possible possession of cannabis more than 20 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia. The report stated that additional charges could be filed, pending on the lab analysis of the residue on the spoons.

Citrus County Man Arrested for Infant Son's Death

     Early Saturday afternoon, Feb. 20, Citrus County Sheriff's Office detectives arrested 21-year-old Spencer Tyson Weaver of Inverness, charging him with aggravated child abuse and murder in connection with the death of his 2-month-old son, Tamarri Weaver, on Feb. 16.
     On Friday night, the Sheriff's Office had issued a BOLO (be on the lookout) for Weaver, as he had left a voice mail for the child's biological mother, threatening to harm himself. 
     When deputies and detectives located Weaver on Saturday morning, he told them he'd physically abused his son for several weeks and knew that his actions had caused the infant's death. Weaver was taken into custody and transported to the Citrus County Detention Facility, where he's being held on no bond.
     The infant's biological mother and other family members were notified of the arrest and circumstances surrounding the boy's death. The child's biological mother is Destiny Rogers, 18, of Inverness, according to the sheriff's office.
     Preliminary results of the infant's autopsy performed on Thursday listed blunt force trauma as the cause of death, and homicide as the manner of death.
     On Sunday, Feb. 14, just after 1 p.m., deputies responded to Weaver's 707 Emery St. Inverness address, due to Tamarri being unresponsive. Deputies, paramedics and fire rescue personnel alternately performed CPR on the baby. The child was rushed by ambulance to Citrus Memorial Hospital. Because Tamarri was not breathing on his own, he was airlifted to All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg for further pediatric care. At 3:30 p.m., Feb. 16, Tamarri was pronounced dead.
     Detectives interviewed the infant's biological parents, who do not reside together, along with other caretakers, physicians and hospital personnel.
     When deputies located Weaver on Saturday, he spoke with them about the voice mail threats to harm himself and Tamarri's death.
     Weaver's arrest report listed details of his interview: Sometime around Jan. 29 when caring for Tamarri, Weaver said he'd grabbed him around the stomach area and squeezed him, while shaking him "in a rough and hard way," the report stated. Weaver said he knew he'd injured the child, because he later saw bruising on Tamarri's right side. Weaver made several comments that he was often rough when picking up the child out of bed or putting him to bed. He said, when burping the baby, he would squeeze the back of his neck very hard, while choking him with his other hand. 
     On Feb. 14, Weaver said his roommate gave him the baby and a bottle, while he was in his room, lying in bed. He said his roommate left for work, and he was home alone with Tamarri. He fed Tamarri in bed, according to the report, and afterward, burped him - squeezing the back of his neck very hard, while choking him. He told detectives he was very rough with Tamarri during this time. 
     Weaver said Tamarri woke up crying, and he removed him from the bed "in a rough and forceful manner," the report stated. Weaver said he held the baby around the chest and armpit area - squeezing him hard and shaking him. He then threw Tamarri onto his waterbed, and he landed in the middle. Weaver said he then hit Tamarri, twice, with an open hand, on the right side of his head, and he saw an immediate effect on Tamarri. He was not alert, he was very limp, he was going in and out of sleep, and his heart was beating very fast. 
     At that point, according to the report, Weaver was scared and worried, because he knew he'd harmed the child. Weaver said that he should have called 911, but did not, due to concern about his actions. Weaver then took the baby into the bathroom and bathed him in the sink. During the bath, he said, he struck the back of the baby's head on the sink, and he saw an immediate effect. Weaver told detectives that Tamarri was "very limp, going in and out of consciousness," the report stated. 
     In a rough manner, Weaver said, he placed Tamarri back on the bed, and he was asleep. A short time later, he heard the baby cough or make a noise, and when he entered the bedroom, the baby was very pale. Weaver said he panicked, because the baby was not breathing, and he began slapping the baby on the face. He told detectives he knew his actions had caused Tamarri's injuries and death.

Citrus Springs Man Arrested on Drug Trafficking Charge

Jonus Serrano, 27, N. Cortlandt Dr., Citrus Springs, was arrested by the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, Feb. 12, on numerous drug charges after the CCSO Tactical Impact and Vice Narcotics Units executed a search warrant at his residence, shortly after 1:00 p.m. 

When officers arrived, Serrano was seen standing on the front porch, but when he saw law enforcement, he ran inside and locked the front door. Several deputies announced,"sheriff's office, search warrant," while another deputy knocked on the door, and when they received no answer, deputies breeched the door with a sledge hammer. When they went inside Serrano's residence, they took all the occupants into the kitchen, which included Serrano, another white male and two juveniles.

Serrano told deputies that all they would find was "a little bit of weed," according to the report. When deputies told him they intended to search the entire house, Serrano replied that they would only find a little bit of weed in the home and maybe an ounce or so in his car. He said he'd recently snorted a line of cocaine, and that was the reason he had a scale, a spoon and a $100 bill on the bathroom counter top. He said he'd flushed the rest of his cocaine before the deputies entered his home.

Members of the Tactical Impact Unit searched the home and found numerous items of contraband, approximately 175.5 grams of marijuana in a large plastic ziplock bag inside his car, under the driver's seat. Inside this bag was also approximately 27.5 grams of cocaine. In a jacket hanging in the master bedroom closet, another baggie was found that contained approximately 27.5 grams of cocaine. Inside a ceramic container on the master bedroom dresser, deputies found 7 pills that were identified as Roxycodone 30 mg. Serrano told deputies that all the drugs belonged to him."Many other items of paraphernalia were additionally located in the garage," the report stated, including $991 hidden behind the air conditioner handler and paperwork found inside the home.

During the search, Serrano's live-in girlfriend returned home and stated that Serrano had been living with her for about a year.

Serrano was arrested and transported to the Citrus County Detention Facility. He was charged with trafficking in cocaine, possessing with intent to sell/manufacture/deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond was set at $65,000.

IPD investigation leads to felony arrest of Inglis man by CCSO

An investigation by the Inglis Police Department led to numerous felony charges being filed with the State Attorney's Office against 46-year-old Inglis resident Robin Edward "Bulldog" Haley of Northwood Mobile Home Park. Four Sworn complaints were filed by the Inglis Police Department on Jan. 27.

One complaint charged Haley with theft and fraud on Jan. 10, Haley allegedly took a boat and title using "a false name of Steven Maddon." The report stated that an Inglis man traded his vessel for the stolen one, which Haley allegedly sold to another Inglis man. The victim is listed as a Key Largo resident. The report stated that Haley was identified by all parties involved in the incident.

In a related case reported as occurring on Jan. 11 involving the same people involved in the Jan. 10 complaint, Haley was again charged in a Sworn Complaint with fraud and theft. This complaint stated that Haley had identified himself to the victim as Steven Maddon and asked him if he wanted to buy a sailboat that belonged to him. The complaint stated, that according to the investigation, Haley had defrauded an Inglis man by trading him the boat that was stolen from the Key Largo man. The complaint stated that the victim paid Haley $600 for the boat and was given a title that had been received from another Inglis man. 

Another Sworn Complaint, charging Haley with theft on Jan. 16, listed another Inglis resident as the victim. Haley is suspected of taking removing several items while he was working on the victim's property. Items reported as taken include several pieces of lawn equipment, a generator, and several items from the victim's boat, which Haley then allegedly sold to the Key Largo man. Again, Haley was identified by the victim and witness.

In a Sworn Complaint filed against Haley for theft that was reported as taking place on Jan. 16, Haley allegedly told his landlord that he'd taken his (the landlord's) riding lawnmower to be repaired, but the repair man would not give it back. However, Haley would not tell his landlord where the lawnmower was, but did tell him that he would call police and report it as stolen. The complaint stated that Haley did not report the lawnmower as stolen, and when the landlord attempted to contact him the following day, Haley was gone. 

According to the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, Inglis Police Sgt. Ballard contacted them regarding two grand theft cases he was working on in which Haley was a suspect. Ballard requested that they check pawn shops within the Citrus County jurisdiction to determine if Haley had made pawns. No pawn were located in Haley's name, but three items were located as having been pawned at the Gettin Place in Crystal River in the name of Steven Madden that matched the description and serial numbers given by Sgt. Ballard, a Coleman Power Mate generator that had been pawned on Oct. 29, 2009 for $70; an 8 hp Johnson outboard motor that had been pawned on Nov. 25, 2009 for $100; and a Hummingbird depth finder that had been pawned on Dec. 9, 2009 for $20.

The sheriff's office learned that Haley had been arrested by the Citrus County Sheriff's Office on Jan. 28, 2010 with an out-of-state driver's license in the name of Steven Madden with a date of birth of August 5, 1973. During his arrest, Haley had admitted that Steven Madden was a deceased relative. Haley was charged with unauthorized possession of an identification card and giving a false name to a police officer. 

On Feb. 3, thumb prints of Haley were matched to the thumb prints on the three pawn transaction forms in the name of Steven Madden, and they were identified as Haley's prints. Haley was arrested on additional charges - 3 counts of dealing in stolen property and 3 counts of giving false information to a pawnbroker. Haley's total bond was set at $45,000.

3 Homosassa youths arrested on numerous felony charges

Two 18-year-old Homosassa youths, Eric Jatawn Rowell, 5820 Cinnamon Ridge Dr., and Arthur Louis Nesbitt IV, 2180 S.Strohs Ter.; and Ted Mark Bishop, Jr., 28, 6499 Grant St., also of Homosassa, were arrested by the Citrus County Sheriff's Office related to an investigation initiated after two complaints were made on Jan. 23 of car windows that had been struck by fishing weights.

At 11:00 p.m., a woman driving east on Halls River Rd. near the Fish Net Motel said she heard a loud bang when her passenger side windshield cracked. Around 11:15 p.m., a second victim reported damage to his car, which was parked in the 
Margarita Grill restaurant parking lot. His car had been hit several times with fishing weights, and his rear window had been broken out. An estimate to repair the damage was approximately $617.

On Jan. 26, numerous complaints were made to the sheriff's office regarding the occupants of a blue Ford pickup truck throwing fishing sinkers at occupied vehicles in the area of Hwy. 490 and Rock Crusher Rd. 

According to the arrest reports, the previous day, a deputy had received a tip from a complainant who had witnessed the vehicle and described it as a newer, clean, blue and gray Ford pickup truck. A detailed description of both occupants was given, along with a tag number, however, no record was found for the tag number until dispatch replaced the first number of the tag, a "1," with the letter "i." Rowell's name and address matched the tag number with the letter i replacing the the number 1.  

At Rowell's residence, officers spoke with his mother, who said that Rowell was in his room, but when she checked, he was not there. She contacted Rowell, and he told her that they were "just up the road." Deputies located Rowell and Nesbitt on Chive Loop. Nesbitt stopped and talked with deputies, But Rowell told deputies that he was walking home.  

One deputy went to speak with Rowell at his residence, but the deputy was contacted and informed that Nesbitt had confessed to committing the crimes involving the fishing sinkers with Rowell, so Rowell was handcuffed and read his Miranda Rights. Rowell said he would speak with the deputy, and his mother was present during the interview.

Rowell said, that over the past several days, he and Nesbitt had thrown numerous sinkers at vehicles, he said that Nesbitt had thrown the sinkers and he had just driven the vehicle. Upon questioning, he admitted that he knew Nesbitt was throwing the sinkers, and Nesbitt had hit several vehicles. When asked where the sinkers had come from, Rowell replied that Nesbitt had lots of them.

Both Rowell and Nesbitt were taken into custody and transported to the Citrus County Detention Facility. Two sinkers were located in Rowell's vehicle, by the passenger side door.

At the detention facility, both youths were interviewed. Nesbitt gave details about he and Rowell throwing sinkers at parked vehicles in the parking lot of the Margarita Grill and vehicles traveling on Halls River Rd. He gave time frames that matched the times of the incidents

Rowell and Nesbitt also confessed to a break-in that was reported on Jan. 22 to Alexander's Custom Paint and Body, located at 142 N.E. 11th St. in Crystal River where various pneumatic power tools (sanders, paint guns and drills) and stereo speakers with a value of $2,375 had been reported as stolen. Entry had been made into the shop by a hole that was punched into the drywall, and the door to the business had been opened by reaching through the hole. They said that Bishop had participated in the burglary and had taken possession of the stolen items.

Both Rowell and Nesbitt were charged with 12 counts of shooting or throwing a deadly missile into a dwelling or conveyance ($120,000 bond); 5 counts of criminal mischief more than $200 but less than $1,000 ($2,500 bond); 1 count of aggravated battery using a deadly weapon ($5,000 bond); and 1 count of criminal mischief $1,000 or more ($5,000 bond) - all related to the sinker throwing incidents. Charges related to the reported break-in at the body shop included 1 count of burglary of an unoccupied structure ($5,000 bond) and 1 count of grand theft greater than $300 but less than $5,000 ($2,000 bond). Their bonds on all the charges totaled $139,500.

On Jan. 28, Bishop was located at the Homosassa Library and arrested on 1 count of burglary to an unoccupied structure and 1 count of grand theft. He was transported to the Citrus County Detention Facility where his bond was set at $7,000.

Retired Policeman Arrested in Beverly Hills

     Thomas A. Gallagher, Jr., 67, Beverly Hills, was arrested by the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, Jan. 22, on numerous charges. According to the arrest report, a warrant was obtained for Gallagher's arrest for exposure of sexual organs, disorderly conduct and trespass to land of another. According to the sheriff's office, just after 6:30 p.m., Jan. 22, Gallagher's neighbors found him in their yard, behind their truck, performing an obscene act, wearing nothing but a woman's skirt. The report also stated that Gallagher is retired (officer) from the New York Police Department. His bond was set at $3,000.00.

Crystal River Man Charged With 15 Counts of Child Porn

     Glenn clyde Beasley, Jr., 45, 10th St., Crystal River, was arrested by the Citrus County Sheriff's Office (CCSO), Jan. 22, charged with 15 counts of child pornography. According to the arrest report, Beasley's arrest came about after a search warrant was executed at his residence, the result of an investigation by the CCSO's Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) that began in Nov. 2009. After questioning, Beasley admitted to downloading pictures and video clips of child pornography onto his laptop computer. The report stated that more charges may be added, pending the outcome of the forensics analysis on Beasley's computer. He was transported to the Citrus County Detention Facility where his bond was set at $75,000.00.

Woman Arrested For Attempted Murder

The Citrus County Sheriff's Office arrested a Spring Hill woman in Floral City, Jan. 13, stemming from a "suspicious incident," according to her arrest report. Melanie Orise Glass, 36, S. Porsch Pl., was arrested on a warrant for premeditated attempted murder.

According to Glass's arrest report, allegations were made that she was poisening her estranged husband in an attempt to kill him. The report stated that there were ongoing domestic problems, a divorce in the works, and she was seeing someone else. 

In late October, she left her marital home in Floral City. "About two weeks prior to her departure, the victim had experienced persistent headaches and other medical difficulties," the report stated, but once Glass left the home, "the victim's sysptoms subsided, and he felt so much better that he never sought any medical treatment." The couple attempted to reconcile, but Glass only returned to Floral City for a couple of days before heading back to Spring Hill.

The report stated that the victim "eventually learned from other family members and an family acquaintance," that Glass had been adding substances such as plant food and pool chemicals to drinks she prepared for him, such a iced tea and coffee. 

The sheriff's office conducted interviews, forensically analyzed computers, "and more," and turned their case over to the State Attorney's Office for review before Glass's warrant was issued.

Glass was transported to the Citrus County Detention Facility where her bond was set at $50,000.

Inmate Swims River, Escapes Custody Near Inglis

Escaped Prisoner Still at Large (updated)

IPD files complaints against escapee Davis

The Inglis Police Department has filed two Sworn Complaints with the State Attorney's Office against escaped Citrus County Sheriff's Office inmate, Terry Neal Davis, 47, of Homosassa, who escaped in Inglis while in the custody of a CCSO detective on Dec. 22.

The first Sworn Complaint was dated Dec. 22 and charges Davis with the burglary of a dwelling, theft and criminal mischief.

The burglary of the Michigan Ave. residence was reported by the owner of the residence who lives in St. Petersburg, around 10:15 p.m., Dec. 25. The owner told police that he'd arrived at his residence to find empty food containers, an empty soda can and several empty beer bottles. He also noticed that the coffee pot had been used. He told the investigating officer that he'd emptied the garbage when he'd left the residence, and had immediately contacted police because he knew of Davis' escape.

The police officer noted that a rear bedroom bed had been slept in. All the silver change was missing from a glass change container, a makeshift bed had been constructed in a bedroom closet, plus numerous items of clothing were missing.

Entry to the residence had been gained by way of a back door. Pry marks were found on the back door, a chain lock had been broken, and a screen door had been cut. The residence is located about 200 yards from a reported possible sighting of Davis, wearing only green boxer shorts, on Karen St.

Two partial fingerprints were found, one from the glass change container and the other from the soda can.

The other Sworn complaint was made regarding the theft of a cell phone that was on a podium inside a tent located on the front of a property, sometime between 5:00 p.m. on Dec. 24 and 9:00 a.m. on Dec. 25, according to the victim. Detectives with the CCSO were made aware of the call when Davis' brother contacted them stating that he'd received a call from Davis around 9:00 a.m., Dec. 25. The trace showed that the call had been made from the victim's cell phone in the area of Hwy. 40 and Daisy St. A search of the area where the cell phone had been traced did not locate Davis, but searchers located a Michigan ball cap and a knife that were positively identified by the victim as his/her property.

Davis remains at large, as of Tuesday morning. He is a 47-year-old white male, 5'10" tall, weighing 155 pounds, with brownish-gray hair and blue eyes. He may have a cast on one of his arms and may be favoring his right leg due to a previous injury requiring stitches.

If you have information on Davis's location, do not approach him, but dial 911 immediately. Tips can be texted to 274637 (CRIMES) - type CITRUS plus your information, or you can place an anonymous tip online at www.CrimeCtoppersCitrus.com 

(Crystal River) Citrus County Sheriff Jeff Dawsy is scaling back the search for escaped prisoner Terry Davis for night. Davis, who had been checked out from jail by a detective on Tuesday, jumped out of the detective's vehicle, ran down a boat ramp and swam across the Withlacoochee River near Elkins Rd. in Inglis.  There have been no confirmed sightings of him since.

Although deputies will still have a presence in the Inglis area,  plans will focus on re-interviewing associates of Davis and following-up on the leads, although few, that continue to come in.

The Sheriff's Office will remove its mobile command center from north Crystal River  and will re-establish its base of operations out of the Emergency Operations Center in Lecanto.

Anyone with information regarding Davis's whereabouts is asked to call 911 immediately, or to contact Crime Stoppers of Citrus County via text, Web, or phone.  Tips are completely anonymous.  Text the word CITRUS plus your tip to 274637 (CRIMES), submit an anonymous Web tip at www.crimestopperscitrus.com, or call 1-888-ANY-TIPS.  Tipsters may be eligible for up to a $1000 reward.

        Davis, 47, is a white male with brownish-gray hair and blue eyes.  He is believed to have shed his jail-issued orange jumpsuit.  He is 5 foot 10 inches tall and weighs 155 pounds.  He may have a cast on one of his arms and may be favoring his right leg due to stitches received from a previous injury.
     If you see Davis, do not approach him, but call 911 immediately.

Inglis PD Busts 2nd Meth Operation in as Many Weeks

Monday night the Inglis Police Department busted a meth lab at 724 Hwy 40 E Inglis. The only arrest made in the bust was Patricia White. Eric White, her husband, had been arrested the day before on a warrant from Citrus County for grand theft. 
The lab was located under a roof behind a shed in the back yard at the mobile home. Because of the explosive capabilities of the meth, the Levy County Drug Task Force was called in to suit up in protective gear and dismantle the operation. Inglis fire/rescue backed up the dismantling of the lab with charged lines in case there were problems. 
The task force moved the bucket process out back and away from the buildings to separate the addictive dangerous chemicals. This is the second meth bust in a month for the Inglis Police Department.

Inglis PD Shuts Down  Meth Lab

The Inglis Police Department was able to intercept a batch of methamphetamine that was chemically "cooking" in an Inglis backyard, Dec. 8, when two officers attempted to serve an arrest warrant on Alan E. Haley, Sr., whom IPD Officer Tim Swiggett had reason to believe may be at the residence of Larry Meadows, 33, 419 Linda St., in the Cason Acres area.

Mr. Haley is "known to flee law enforcement," according to Officer Swiggett, so he brought Deputy Lee Prine of the Levy county Sheriff's Office to serve as backup. The officers parked their patrol cars, one street over on Shearer St., and walked to the Linda St. residence. Officer Swiggett went to the front door, and Dep. Prine went to the back door, in the event that Mr. Haley Sr. might attempt to escape arrest by way of the back door.

While outside, standing at the front door, around 9:30 p.m., Officer Swiggett noticed people moving around inside the house and someone walking toward a back room. He also noticed a "strong chemical smell, similar to that commonly found during the manufacturing of methamphetamine," he reported. 

Swiggett knocked on the door and identified himself. Swiggett "heard several people moving frantically around the house," he reported, and Meadows came to the door. Meadows told Swiggett that Meadows was not there, Swiggett asked to come inside and look for Haley Sr. Meadows replied, "Well, I have weed laying out, right now," according to Swiggett's report, Swiggett replied that he was not overly concerned with a small amount of marijuana. At that point, Swiggett heard Dep. Prine yelling and looked through the open front door to see Dep. Prine speaking with Alan Haley, Jr. at the back door. Meadows said, "C'mon in, Swiggert, and look." 

Swiggett reported that he saw Naomi Gufford, 36, and Alan Haley, Jr., 22, both of 419 Linda St., Inglis, in the kitchen and Roger Brooks, 49, 1151 S. Palm Dr., Homosassa, lying on the sofa. Swiggett reported that Haley Jr. was nervous and insisted on escorting him around the house and also insisted that his father was not there. Swiggett found Barry Smith, 29, 588 Hwy. 40W, Inglis, lying on a bed in the rear bedroom. In the kitchen, several "suspicious items" were lying in plain view: a marijuana pipe, several lithium batteries, pH test strips, coffee filters, empty Gatorade bottles, Pyrex dishes and a plastic bottle that had been cut into the shape of a funnel. In the living room near where Brooks was sitting, Swiggett noticed an ashtray that contained lithium batteries, with the lithium strips cut away and missing. In the kitchen trash can, Swiggett saw additional lithium battery pieces.

Satisfied that Haley Sr. was not there, the officers walked out the back door. About 10 to 15 feet from the door, the officers saw what appeared to be an actively cooking mathamphetamine lab. Swigget saw that Meadows (near the back door) was watching him and saw him turn toward the front door. Swiggett drew his gun and ordered him to stop. Meadows complied and was handcuffed.

When he went back inside the residence in an attempt to gather all the people, Swiggett noticed that Haley Jr. had already fled out the front door. Swigget secured Gufford, while Dep. Prine contacted the Levy County Sheriff's Office Drug Task Force to come to the residence. Dep. Prine stayed in the residence, while Officer Swiggett went to retrieve their patrol cars. As he was returning to the residence in Dep. Prine's LSCO car, he saw Brooks pedaling a bicycle away from the residence. He secured Brooks and returned him to the residence. As Swiggett did not locate Haley Jr. in the immediate area, he contacted IPD Officer Tim Letson for help. Officer Letson and the LCSO Drug Task Force arrived at about the same time. Officer Letson, with the assistance of his canine partner, Elvis, made an unsuccessful attempt to locate Haley Jr., while the drug task force dismantled the lab and collected evidence. The suspected methamphetamine lab was verified by testing to be methamphetamine.


The Inglis Fire Department and Levy County Medical Unit 3 arrived on the scene, for safety purposes during the methamphetamine lab cleanup. All the people who were currently in custody - Meadows, Gufford, Brooks and Smith - were placed under arrest, transported to the Levy County Jail and charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, trafficking methamphetamine and possession of listed chemicals. A Sworn Complaint was filed with the 8th Judicial Circuit Court, charging Alan Haley, Jr. with the same charges as the others who were arrested during the incident. The LCSO Crime Scene Unit also arrived on site to assist with the packaging and collection of evidence inside the residence and also to maintain custody of the residence which was deemed safe, so Meadows was allowed to secure his residence before being transported to the jail by Officer Swiggett. Dep. Letson transported 1 to jail and Dep. Prine transported 2, according to IPD Sgt. Mack Ballard.

Dunnellon Homeowner Beats Burglar with a Stick

Matthew Gregory Gordianeer, 19, 4149 E. Fort Apache Pl., Dunnellon, was arrested by the Citrus County Police Department, early on Sunday morning, Jan. 3, charged with burglary of an occuupied residence. His bond was set at $5000.

The sheriff's office was contacted around 3:10 a.m. by a neighbor of Gordianeer, that a burglary was in progress. The residents met the deputy at the front door. They told him that they were holding Gordianeer in the master bedroom. They said that Gordianeer had entered the house through the rear bathroom window. One of the residents had heard noises in the bathroom, and alerted the others. The deputy found Gordianeer on the floor and one of the residents holding a wooden stick. One of the residents had held a crossbow, the victims explained, but had put it away before the deputy arrived.

The deputy handcuffed Gordianeer, and as he walked him to the patrol vehicle, the report stated, Gordianeer told the deputy that one of the victims had hit him with a wooden stick, and he was hurting in his rib area. He told the victim he said had hit him,"Wait until I get out of jail; I'm going to kill you." 

That same victim told the deputy, that his residence had been broken into, twice on previous occasions that week. The victim said he'd believed the perpetrator to be a relative of Gordianeer and/or an affiliate of Gordianeer's relative, whom he works with, because his house had been broken into on previous occasions when he and Gordianeer's relative had gone away on a work-related trip. The victim told Gordianeer's relative, that he was going away to Alabama for the weekend and would not return until later on that day (Sunday). He said he had parked his vehicle at a friend's 
residence and hid inside his own residence to see if anything 
would happen, and around 3:00 a.m., he'd heard noises that sounded like the rear bathroom window being opened.

The victim and another person went to investigate and saw Gordianeer climbing through the window. They tried to grab him, but he dove back out of the window. They were able to grab his legs and pull him back inside. They'd hit him several times with their hand and feet but Gordianeer had continued to resist, so the victim had grabbed a wooden stick and hit Gordianeer across the chest and told him, that if he moved again, he would continue hitting him. He'd told another of the witnesses (victims) to call the sheriff's office. All three of the people inside the residence gave the same account of the incident.

Gordianeer told the deputy that he believed that the victims were out of town, so he had walked to the back of the residence by way of the driveway and placed a portion of a boat canopy, which was in the back yard, underneath the bathroomm window and had stood on it, lifted the window and climbed inside the  residence. He said that two of the victims had attacked and beaten him, that one victim had held him while the other hit him several times with a wooden stick.

Gordianeer told the deputy that he had not planned on taking anything, that he had only planned to look around inside and check on the dogs. He also said that he had not burglarized the residence on the two previous occasions, but knew who had done it, and had told this person that the victim was was gone and when he would return. He said he had learned this information through listening to his relative's conversation.

Gordianeer was treated for his injuries at Citrus Memorial Hospital then transported to the Citrus county Detention Facility.

Three arrested at two Hernando cannabis grow operations 

Arrested were Luis Alberto Balverde,33, 1725 E. Fletcher St.; and Niuria Calzada, 35, and Michael G. Martinez, 31, both of 763 E. Gaines Ln.

According to the arrest reports, a search warrant was obtained  by the CCSO's Tactical Unit for both residences. The first search warrant was executed on Balverde's Fletcher St. residence. No one came to the door when the officers knocked and announced their presence. The officers made entry by way of the back door and found no one home. Officers found numerous marijuana plants, approximately 5 feet tall, in an added room on the east side of the residence, along with two Hispanic males who were taken into custody. Additional marijuana plants were found inside two sheds and a barn. The total number of plants confiscated at the Fletcher St. residence was 81. 

While the search was ongoing, an officer noticed a Hispanic female drive by the residence in a Ford F-150 pickup truck, so a traffic stop was made, and the woman was detained and brought into the residence. The two men and the woman all claimed that they do not speak English, so a deputy read the search warrant to them in spanish.

The second search warrant was executed at Calzada's and Martinez's residence on E. Gaines Ln. Again, no one came to the door. Deputies entered, and no one was found inside the residence. However, 7 grow rooms containing a total of 322 marijuana plants were located inside the E. Gaines Ln. residence.

Mr. Martinez was interviewed in Spanish at the Fletcher St. residence. He admitted to closely working with Balverde on the marijuana grow operation, on a daily basis. He told investigators that he lives at the E. Gaines Ln. residence, but often assists Mr. Balverde, who lives at the marijuana grow operation on Fletcher St. Martinez stated that he rents his residence for $1200 per month, but has not paid his rent recently, due to lack of money. He said he'd lived there since May of 2009 and his employment is growing the marijuana.

Balverde and Martinez were both arrested and transported to the Citrus County Detention Facility, charged with trafficking in marijuana; agreeing/conspiring with another to traffick in cannabis; and leasing/renting a structure to be used for trafficking a controlled substance or for the manufacturing of a controlled substance for sale or distribution. Due to both men being resident aliens from Cuba, they are considered flight risks, and it was requested that they be held without bond.

Ms. Calzada's name was listed on the account for electricity at the  E. Gaines Ln. residence, and she is the sister-in-law of the owner of both residences. During her interview in Spanish, she told investigators that she had been to both residences on numerous occasions, but did not know anything about the grow opoerations at either of the residences, although her arrest report stated that "it was very strange," because "the smell of marijuana is very pungent." She said that she used to reside at the E. Gaines Ln. residence, but had recently moved to a residence located off Indian Head in Citrus Hills. Calzada's arrest report also stated that Mr. Martinez told investigators that Ms. Calzada had picked him up from the E. Gaines Ln. residence and dropped him off to work the plants at the Fletcher St. residence. Calzada was arrested on a charge of agreeing to conspire, combine or confederate with another person to commit trafficking in marijuana and transported to the Citrus County Detention Facility. Her arrest report also stated, that as she is an alien resident from cuba, she was held without bond as she is a flight risk.

Bronson Man Arrested for Unlawful Sex Act and Lewd and Lacivious Molestion on a Minor

     On January 8, 2010, Detective Jay Crooms arrested Phillip Alexander for Unlawful Sex Act and Lewd and Lascivious Molestation on a minor. On January 8, 2010 the sheriffs office received a tip from an friend of the victim that the victim was being assault. The victim then confirmed the story with the sheriffs office and advised that Phillip Alexander did indeed commit those acts upon her. Later that afternoon Phillip Alexander post Miranda at the Levy County Sheriff's Office confessed to having sexual intercourse with the victim that was know to him. Phillip Alexander was arrested and booked into the Levy County Jail with a $ 200,000 bond.

Crystal River Grow House Shut Down

Barbaro Pineda Mesa, 46, 761 E. 31st St., Hialea, FL, was arrested by the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, Dec. 16, on charges of cultivation of marijuana; and renting, owning or leasing for the trafficking of a controlled substance. His bond was set at $15,000.
According to the arrest report, the CCSO's Tactical Impact Unit went to a residence located at 2610 N. Owl Point in crystal River to investigate the theft of utilities, as the electric meter had been tampered with. Calculations obtained over a 28-day period showed that approximately $579.92 in electricity had been stolen from the residence
The report stated that the seal to the electric meter had been cut, and the power had been diverted. A detective noticed the smell of marijuana coming from the residence. Officers also noticed that all the windows were covered and the sound of the air conditioner and fans inside the residence could be heard from outside. The rear glass door had been left open, and a stronger and more distinct smell of marijuana was detected there. The residence was secured, Mesa was detained, and a search warrant was obtasined for the property. 
Inside, the report stated, several bedrooms had been converted to a single grow room that contained 37 marijuana plants, approximately three to four feet tall.
Mesa, who was born in Cuba, was read his rights in Spanish. He spoke with the team voluntarily. He said he was aware of the marijuana plants, but he came to the residence only to feed the farm animals, that he'd been hired by the homeowner. He said that other Hispanic males, whom he did not know, had come to the residence on many occasions when he was there to take care of the plants. When asked, Mesa said that his fingerprints would possibly be found on articles in the grow room.
Mesa was transported to the Citrus County Detention Facility.

Hernando Man Arrested on Sexual Battery Charge

Aaron Wendell Manning, 30, Hernando, was arrested by the citrus County Sheriff's Office, Dec. 7, charged with the sexual battery of a 15-year-old Inverness girl with the threat of force or violence and showing obscene material to a minor.
According to the arrest report, the girl stated that the sexual abuse took place over a two-year period, starting when she was 12 years old. She said that if she tried to argue or resist Mannings demands, he would push or hit her, so she became submissive due to fear of being hurt. She also said that he once showed her a pornographic movie, when she was 12 or 13 years old.
On Dec, 7, a detective met with Manning at his residence, and Manning agreed to be interviewed at the CCSO Emergency Operations Center. Manning confirmed that the girl came into his bedroom on several occasions, and they had watched television together, but he denied any inappropriate behavior or touching of the girl and requested an attorney, so the interview was concluded. Manning was arrested on the charges and held without bond, as he was believed to be a flight risk, due to statements he had made to family members, the report stated.

Citrus Sheriff Dept. Locates Meth Cooking Location in Inglis

   Samuel Allen Brewer, 20, Inglis, was arrested by the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, Dec. 10, charged with possession of listed chemicals with intent to manufacture a controlled substance. His bond was set at $5000. A juvenile was also arrested in the case.
   According to the arrest report, Deputies responded to the Hollingswood Ranch in northern Citrus County On Dec. 8, due to the fence having been cut a second time. When they arrived and found the area where the fence had been cut, the officers walked a trail leading north from the property and extended to the rear of an Inglis residence in Citrus County which has been associated with methamphetamine ("meth") manufacturing cases, and allegations of stolen property. Several old meth cook sites and a newer cook site were found near the trail leading to the residence.
   On. Dec. 10, two deputies went to the area and found a new, active meth cook they knew as the "one pot, shake and bake 
method." The report stated that the officers determined that material had been pulled from the bottle once and "it was obvious that they planned to return to do a second pull." The deputies went to the Inglis residence and located a marijuana bong and items associated with meth in a 17-year-old's bedroom. The boy admitted that the items were his, that he uses meth and has cooked it, 4 to 6 times, with the help of Brewer, who came by the meth cook area with another male While a crime scene technician was collecting evidence. Brewer admitted his role in the drug manufacturing and was arrested on the charges. The Juvenile Assessment Center allowed the 17-year-old to be released to the custody of his father.

Inglis Meth Lab Dismantled

   The Inglis Police Department was able to intercept a batch of methamphetamine that was chemically "cooking" in an Inglis backyard, Dec. 8, when two officers attempted to serve an arrest warrant on Alan E. Haley, Sr., whom IPD Officer Tim Swiggett had reason to believe may be at the residence of Larry Meadows, 33, 419 Linda St., in the Cason Acres area.
   Mr. Haley is "known to flee law enforcement," according to Officer Swiggett, so he brought Deputy Lee Prine of the Levy county Sheriff's Office to serve as backup. The officers parked their patrol cars, one street over on Shearer St., and walked to the Linda St. residence. Officer Swiggett went to the front door, and Dep. Prine went to the back door, in the event that Mr. Haley Sr. might attempt to escape arrest by way of the back door.
   While outside, standing at the front door, around 9:30 p.m., Officer Swiggett noticed people moving around inside the house and someone walking toward a back room. He also noticed a "strong chemical smell, similar to that commonly found during the manufacturing of methamphetamine," he reported. 
   Swiggett knocked on the door and identified himself. Swiggett "heard several people moving frantically around the house," he reported, and Meadows came to the door. Meadows told Swiggett that Meadows was not there, Swiggett asked to come inside and look for Haley Sr. Meadows replied, "Well, I have weed laying out, right now," according to Swiggett's report, Swiggett replied that he was not overly concerned with a small amount of marijuana. At that point, Swiggett heard Dep. Prine yelling and looked through the open front door to see Dep. Prine speaking with Alan Haley, Jr. at the back door. Meadows said, "C'mon in, Swiggert, and look." 
   Swiggett reported that he saw Naomi Gufford, 36, and Alan Haley, Jr., 22, both of 419 Linda St., Inglis, in the kitchen and Roger Brooks, 49, 1151 S. Palm Dr., Homosassa, lying on the sofa. Swiggett reported that Haley Jr. was nervous and insisted on escorting him around the house and also insisted that his father was not there. Swiggett found Barry Smith, 29, 588 Hwy. 40W, Inglis, lying on a bed in the rear bedroom. In the kitchen, several "suspicious items" were lying in plain view: a marijuana pipe, several lithium batteries, pH test strips, coffee filters, empty Gatorade bottles, Pyrex dishes and a plastic bottle that had been cut into the shape of a funnel. In the living room near where Brooks was sitting, Swiggett noticed an ashtray that contained lithium batteries, with the lithium strips cut away and missing. In the kitchen trash can, Swiggett saw additional lithium battery pieces.
   Satisfied that Haley Sr. was not there, the officers walked out the back door. About 10 to 15 feet from the door, the officers saw what appeared to be an actively cooking mathamphetamine lab. Swigget saw that Meadows (near the back door) was watching him and saw him turn toward the front door. Swiggett drew his gun and ordered him to stop. Meadows complied and was handcuffed.
     When he went back inside the residence in an attempt to gather all the people, Swiggett noticed that Haley Jr. had already fled out the front door. Swigget secured Gufford, while Dep. Prine contacted the Levy County Sheriff's Office Drug Task Force to come to the residence. Dep. Prine stayed in the residence, while Officer Swiggett went to retrieve their patrol cars. As he was returning to the residence in Dep. Prine's LSCO car, he saw Brooks pedaling a bicycle away from the residence. He secured Brooks and returned him to the residence. As Swiggett did not locate Haley Jr. in the immediate area, he contacted IPD Officer Tim Letson for help. Officer Letson and the LCSO Drug Task Force arrived at about the same time. Officer Letson, with the assistance of his canine partner, Elvis, made an unsuccessful attempt to locate Haley Jr., while the drug task force dismantled the lab and collected evidence. The suspected methamphetamine lab was verified by testing to be methamphetamine.
     The Inglis Fire Department and Levy County Medical Unit 3 arrived on the scene, for safety purposes during the methamphetamine lab cleanup. All the people who were currently in custody - Meadows, Gufford, Brooks and Smith - were placed under arrest, transported to the Levy County Jail and charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, trafficking methamphetamine and possession of listed chemicals. A Sworn Complaint was filed with the 8th Judicial Circuit Court, charging Alan Haley, Jr. with the same charges as the others who were arrested during the incident. The LCSO Crime Scene Unit also arrived on site to assist with the packaging and collection of evidence inside the residence and also to maintain custody of the residence which was deemed safe, so Meadows was allowed to secure his residence before being transported to the jail by Officer Swiggett. Dep. Letson transported 1 to jail and Dep. Prine transported 2, according to IPD Sgt. Mack Ballard.

Lecanto Meth House Busted

Joseph Shane Damron, 31, 5359 S. Destin Pt., Lecanto, was arrested by the Citrus County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) on numerous drug charges, NOv. 30. According to the arrest report, the sheriff's office spoke with residents at Damron's address while investigating an unrelated robbery. The report stated that three individuals at the residence told officers that Damron had been manufacturing methamphetamine at the residence for the past few months. They also said that many items related to the manufacturing of the drug were in Damron's bedroom.

Officers obtained a search warrant and searched the residence for the drug. During the search of Damron's bedroom, bathroom and yard, numerous items were found that are used in the manufacturing of 
methamphetamine: an active methamphetamine "cook," which tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine and had a weight of more than 28 grams; a partially full anhydrous ammonia 
tank (discovered outside, near a shed), pseudo-ephedrine blister packs, ether cold packs, and coffee filters. Officers found other items located inside a metal safe in Damron's bedroom, which included syringes, digital scales, rolling papers and a glass pipe (commonly used for smoking methamphetamine). 

Damron, who had previously been arrested (on Nov. 30), was already incarcerated at the Citrus County Detention Facility. He was informed of the drug charges, arrested on them, and his bond was set at $65,500. The previous charges were burglary, grand theft and dealing in stolen property, for allegedly stealing a riding lawnmower and gas container from a Homosassa church property (a shed at Life Point church) and selling the mower for $300 (it was recovered). Damron was also arrested on Nov. 15, on charges of petit theft ($115 in merchandise from Wal-Mart) and possession of one gram of methamphetamine.

One of the names used for the methamphetamine cooking method used by Damron is the "one pot," because all the ingredients are added to one container and allowed to "cook" by chemical reaction, said CCSO Public Information Officer Gail Tierney. She said that Damron used a plastic, 2-liter bottle for cooking the methamphetamine. The "one Pot" method is highly volatile, as the mixture can explode if agitated before the cooking (chemical) process is completed. The lithium metal strips used in the process can react with moisture in the bottle to explode the flammable fuel used in the cooking process. "In essance, it is a bomb, ready to explode," said Tierney.

According to Dep. Brian coleman, "There are many different methods for producing methamphetamine. Each method has its own inherent dangers. Many of the chemicals used are caustic or corrosives, and some of the processes create noxious and harmful fumes. One variation is called the 'Nazi Method,' because it allegedly mirrors a meth-making procedure followed by the Germans during WWII. Instead of hydriodic acid, the Nazi method uses anhydrous ammonia, a chemical found in fertilizer. Anhydrous ammonia can produce a poisonous gas if its liquid form is released into the air. This was the method being used in the Lecanto single-wide mobile home (Damron's residence) where detectives with the CCSO Tactical Impact Unit served a search warrant on Monday (Nov. 30). Besides law enforcement, fire and Haz-Mat (Hadardous Chemical Unit) also responded to the scene. A cleanup crew from Orlando under contract with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) was called to safely clean up the lab and its contents." 

Two Men Arrested for Aggravated  Assault


David Joseph Harrison, 24,  N, Amphibian Pt., Crystal River, was arrested by the Citrus County Sheriff's Office on a warrant, Nov. 28, charged with robbery with a firearm or other deadly weapon, aggravated battery using a deadly weapon and armed burglary. He was held on $85,000 bond and also charged with violation of probation (original charge of driving while license suspended) and failure to appear, with additional bond set at $2205.

Harrison had remained "at large" since his co-defendent, 24-year-old Derek Robert Berstein (also known as Derek Robert Bernstein), , had been arrested on Nov. 22, charged with robbery with a firearm or other deadly weapon, aggravated battery using a deadly weapon, armed burglary, and driving while license suspended (habitual traffic offender) and held on $87,000 bond. 

According to Berstein's arrest report: The victim stated that he'd visited a friend and had walked outside around 11:00 p.m. to go to his vehicle and saw someone sitting in the front seat of his vehicle with the door partially open. As he got closer, he recognized the person sitting in his car as Derek Bernstein, whom he's known for about ten years. When he approached his car to ask Bernstein what he was doing, he saw that Bernstein was stealing his Magellan GPS and IPOD Touch. He said Bernstein jumped out of his car, brandishing a pistol, and yelled to another man (possibly Harrison), "Get him!" He said the second man (possibly Harrison) came out from the side of the house with a shotgun and smacked him on the back of the head, sending him to the ground. While he was on the ground, he said, Bernstein and the other male (possibly Harrison) were hitting him with their weapons and that Bernstein continued hitting him on the left side of his face with his pistol, telling him that he'd better give him his money. He said he attempted to locate his wallet, which he did not have with him, but he was able to give him the cash he had, which was approximately $400. He said that both men stopped hitting him for a moment, so he crawled back to his vehicle, got into his car and started the ignition. While he was attempting to leave, Bernstein and the other male (possibly Harrison) reached into his vehicle in an attempt to keep him from leaving and also to look for additional cash, then both men took off on foot. 

The victim provided officers with a description of the vehicle the two men were driving, a green 1994 Cadillac, along with the name of the registered owner of the car and the last three digits of the tag number, due to his having seen the two men in the vehicle on a regular basis. Deputies issued a BOLO (be on the lookout) for the Cadillac and located and stopped it at the Race Track gas station on Hwy. 44. Bernstein was driving the vehicle, although he had a suspended driver's license. Berstein was taken into custody, but Harrison remained at large until his arrest on Nov. 28 at 7855 W. Gulf to Lake Hwy. in Crystal River.

Homosassa Pack N Post Reports Robbery 

      (Homosassa)  The Pack N Post at 5455 S. Suncoast Boulevard reported being robbed Monday not long after 2 p.m.
      A white male, around 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing between 200 and 220 pounds, entered the business and approached employees wearing a black knit cap with holes cut out that was rolled down over his eyes.  He was wearing glasses under the makeshift mask.
      The lone suspect also was wearing a yellow hoodie, jeans and white tennis shoes.  Although it was never displayed, he may have had a gun in a pocket of the hoodie.
      The suspect took an undisclosed amount of cash and was last seen exiting a back door of the business.  No injuries were reported.
      It is unknown at this time whether or not a vehicle was involved.
      Anyone who has information about this crime or the suspect’s identity is asked to use Crime Stoppers of Citrus County, Inc.  Report your tip by texting CITRUS to 274637 (Crimes), clicking on www.crimestopperscitrus.com or calling 1-888-ANY-TIPS toll-free.  Tipsters may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $1,000.

Pizza Delivery Man Robbed at Gunpoint   

     
(Lecanto)   Shortly before 11 p.m. on Wednesday, a Papa John’s pizza delivery man told deputies he was robbed at gunpoint while making a late night pizza run.  Two suspects remain at large.       The 31-year-old Citrus Springs victim was called to a residence on S. Leisure Boulevard, which turned out to be vacant.  As the delivery man was turning to leave, he was confronted by two men wearing masks and dark clothing.  The shorter suspect, about 5 feet 8 inches tall, was displaying a handgun, while the taller one, between 6 feet and 6 feet 1 inch tall, was pointing a shotgun.       
They both demanded cash from the victim, and then ordered him to the ground and began beating the man with an unknown object.  They tied the 31-year-old’s legs together, and then tied one of his arms to a pole of the carport.  He was told to lie facedown as the two suspects fled the scene.       
     The victim’s personal vehicle was entered by the pair, and his cell phone, keys and wallet were stolen.  The suspects took the delivery bag containing the pizza, too.The victim was able to free himself and get help from a house nearby.  Sheriff’s Office deputies responded, as detectives and crime scene technicians were dispatched to the incident location. The victim suffered various lacerations and abrasions, as well as a large lump on his head; however, he refused medical treatment.  The delivery man told detectives that he remembered hearing a vehicle, but could offer no physical description or direction of travel. Detectives are following up on a few possible leads, but could use the public’s help. Anyone who may have information about this armed robbery is asked to call 911 right away.  To remain anonymous, use Crime Stoppers of Citrus County, Inc.  To report a tip, text CITRUS to 274637 (Crimes), click on www.crimestopperscitrus.com or call 1-888-ANY-TIPS toll-free.  Tipsters may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $1,000.

Lecanto man charged with attempted premeditated murder


Joseph Michael Rairick, 55, N. Brighton Rd., Lecanto, was arrested by the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, Nov. 19, charged with the attempted, premeditated murder of a 74-year-old Lecanto man. According to the arrest report, Rairick got into an argument with the victim and told him, "This is your last day on earth." The report stated that Rairick then left the living room and returned shortly with a Philips head screwdriver and attacked the victim, stabbing him in the neck at least twice. The victim also had what a appeared to be a defensive stab wound to his right hand, the report stated. As the victim fell to the floor, he managed to take the screwdriver away from Rairick, who commented, "It's all going to end now," the report stated. Rairick then walked to the other side of the living room and closed the sliding glass door, according to the report. The victim managed to get outside, by way of the front door, and yelled for help. As witnesses approached, Rairick was seen standing over the victimn, struggling for the screwdriver, the report stated. When deputies arrived, Rairick fled inside the house with deputies in pursuit, and they were able to take him into custody without incident. A deputy spoke briefly with the victim, as he was waiting to be flown to a trauma center (Tampa General Hospital). He identified his assailant as Joseph Rairick. Rairick initially agreed to speak with a detective, but changed his mind, stating he did not want to talk.

Homosassa Man Arrested for Numerous Sex Charges

     George Harrison Nussbaum, 38, Homosassa, was arrested by the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, Nov. 14, charged with 20 counts of the sexual battery of a girl between the ages of about 14 and 18 and 3 counts of showing the girl pornographic material. He was held without bond.
     According to the arrest report, The sheriff's office became involved in the case on Nov. 13, a day after a medical exam was performed on the girl by a child protection team. The girl said that Nussbaum had molested her on Sept. 25 after giving her two glasses of wine, and that he had molested her a total of 20 to 25 times - none of which were consensual, and that the last incident had occurred on Nov. 12. She said that he had slapped her on some occasions, which left marks, and also that he'd shown her pornographic material on three occasions. He told her "many times," according to the report, that he'd kill her if she told anyone.
     The report also stated that Nussbaum submitted to a buccal swab for DNA testing and he corroborated some, but not all, of the girl's allegations. The report also stated that Nussbaum became very upset when he was placed under arrest and told of the charges. He told officers that he wanted to tell the whole story, the whole truth, if he could just go home, the report stated. 

Two Men Arrested for Fraudulent Prescriptions

     Robert L. Dey, 27, 1316 Claymore St., Inverness, was arrested by the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, Nov. 18, charged with obtaining a controlled substance by fraud or deception. According to the arrest report, Dey was arrested for allegedly turning in a fraudulent prescription for methadone at a local pharmacy on Oct. 6. The prescription was made out to Dey by a local physician who said that Dey had mever been a patient and the prescription had not been authorized and was fraudulently made. Dey admitted that the charges were true. He was arrested on the charge. His bond was set at $5000.
     Michael William Allender, 35, 3536 S. Apopka Ave., Inverness, was arrested by the citrus County Sheriff's Office, Nov. 16, charged with obtaining a controlled substance by fraud or deception. His bond was set at $2,000. According to the arrest report, Allender attempted to turn in a fraudulent prescription for methadone at a local pharmacy that was written for Allender by a local physician who said the Allender had never been a patient and the prescription was fraudulently made. Allender admitted that he'd assisted a female in attempting to fill the prescription. He was arrested on the charge. The woman codefendent's name was not listed on Allender's arrest report.
     On the same day, Allender was also cited with driving while license revoked, habitual offender. His bond on this charge was $2.000.

Man Arrested in Rosewood Murder Case

Rosewood, Florida-On November 5, 2009 Detective Mike Narayan arrested Charles Edwin Duke for murder, armed kidnapping and possession of a firearm during commission of a felony.
 
On November 4, 2009 at 8:37 p.m. Crystal Fine called the Levy County Sheriff's Office and stated that she received a text from Justin White.  The text message stated that somebody was dead.  Ms. Fine called the Sheriff's Office and reported this incident, but was unable to provide an address on the whereabouts of White.  Deputies had knowledge that the White's had property near Carters Store on CR-345 and responded to the area and began a search.  While deputies were on the White's property the Sheriff's Office received a call from a male subject that was later identified as Charles Duke.  Duke stated that he killed his wife, Felicia Duke and we would find her body at the Peters hunting camp in Rosewood.  Duke stated that he had Justin White hostage at gun point and was located at the power lines but would not be taken alive.  The power lines are a known area where people mud bog with their four wheel drive trucks.
 
The Levy County Sheriff's Office and the Florida Wildlife Commission responded to the area off N.E. 128 Lane and County Road 337.  Sheriff Johnny Smith negotiated with Duke for over six hours by cellular phone attempting to have him release White and surrender to authorities.  White was extremely adamant that if law enforcement attempted to approach him he would kill White and the officers.  Duke parked his truck in the middle of the wet lands and during negotiations stated he would release White if he could talk to his father.  Duke's father was located in Archer and transported to the area.  After a lengthy dialogue with Duke he was allowed to speak to his father and after many tense moments he surrendered to the Sheriff's Office.
 
The investigation revealed Duke and Felicia Fine Duke were married less than two weeks.  On the night of November 4, 2009 an altercation occurred between Duke and his wife.  During the argument the Levy County Sheriff Dept. alleges that Duke shot his wife multiple times at their residence at 6490 SW 95 Ave.
 

Citrus County Woman One of 55 Cited in Sex Crime Roundup

A law enforcement operation to catch prostitutes, who use popular websites to advertise services, netted 55 arrests. Operation S.T.O.P. - Stop The Online Prostitution - is a Central Florida law enforcement initiative to combat prostitution. This operation started midway last week and continued through Saturday (Nov. 7). S.T.O.P. marks the first time for an operation with multi-jurisdictions going after sex crimes at the same time. The motivation behind S.T.O.P. is the recent increase of online prostitution services.

Twelve drug/vice task forces, from every corner of Central Florida, set up S.T.O.P. operations at various locations. Calls were made, by detectives, to phone numbers advertised online. A “date” was set. And law enforcement undercover procedures were initiated. When the suspect agreed to sex for pay – an arrest was made.

Here’s the breakdown from the seven task forces that participated: MADET Ocala/Marion County – 14 arrests; MBI/Orange County Sheriff’s Office/Orlando - 14 arrests; Osceola County Sheriff’s Office – 12 arrests; East Volusia Narcotics Task Force – 6 arrests; Sumter County Sheriff’s Office – 6 arrests; Alachua County Sheriff’s Office – 2 arrests; and Citrus County Sheriff’s Department – 1 arrest.

The Citrus County woman, Theresa A. Kersey, 43, 3107 N. Thornapple Terrace, Beverly Hills, was issued a notice to appear in court for a misdemeanor citation for solicitation of prostitution. She was apprehended at 614 Hwy. 19, Crystal River, around 9:30 p.m.

Homosassa Man Arrested on 10 Counts of Posessing Child Porn

     Joseph Samuel Sullivan, 39, 3430 S. Suncoast Blvd. Apt. RV 9, Homosassa, was arrested by the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, Nov. 4, charged with 10 counts of knowingly possessing child pornographic videos. He was held on $50,000 bond. According to the arrest report, the Citrus County Sheriff's Office Internet Crimes against Children Unit was contacted by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office that they had located a computer that appeared to be in the Plact City area, connected to the internet via Bright House Networks. The detective viewed the video and determined that the video depicted inappropriate contact between a girl who appeared to be 12-years-old or younger and an adult male. A subpoena was obtained and detectives learned that the internet subscriber in Sullivan. On Nov. 3rd, a search warrant was obtained for Sullivan's residence, which was executed on Nov. 4. Sullivan admitted to searching for and downloading child pornography. Detectives learned that several pornographic files had been saved onto Sullivan's hard drive. The arrest report stated, that after a forensic examination of the items taken from Sullivan's residence, there may be additional charges.

Beverly Hills Man Charged With Internet Sex Crime

     Brian S. Wilson, 30, a resident of 97 S. Harrison St. in Beverly Hills, and a U.S. Coast Guard employee, was arrested by the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, Oct. 22, charged with two counts of lewd and lascivious exhibition, live over an internet service, while in the presence of a child under the age of 16. His bond was set at $10,000.
     According to the arrest report, on August 24, a detective with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office contacted the CCSO that she had been posing as a 14-year-old girl over the internet looking for people over the internet who seduce or solicit children for inappropriate activity and had received a complaint that there were people in a certain Yahoo chat room acting inappropriately toward children. She was contacted by a person, via the Yahoo messenger service, whom she had a sexual conversation with and who also performed a sexual activity for her over the internet, thinking she was a 14-year-old girl. 
     The detective traced the person through Yahoo and Bright House Networks and learned that the person was Wilson. She placed Wilson's screen name on her friend's list, so she could determine when he was online and continue with instant message conversations. On Oct. 19, the detective again exchanged instant messages with Wilson, and he again performed a sexual activity for her over his internet web camera.
     On Oct. 22, a search warrant was executed on Wilson's residence. He admitted that he had conversed with the detective using his screen name, thinking she was a 14-year-old girl, and also to exposing himself via his web camera.

Man  Arrested For Strangling Bronson Woman

Bronson, Florida- On October 22, 2009 Deputy Ella Anderson arrested Leon Wiggins for felony battery and he was transported to the Levy County Jail. The victim reported that she went to 450 Alvin Road in Bronson to purchase drugs from Wiggins on October 22, 2009 around two in the morning.  Upon arriving Wiggins wanted to exchange drugs for sex and the victim refused.  This infuriated Wiggins and threw the victim on the ground and started strangling her with both hands.  The victim reported that she fought Wiggins and he covered her nose and mouth and she lost unconscious on two different occasions.  The victim was able to free herself from Wiggins and fled the scene on foot.  Deputy Anderson observed bruising around the victim's throat, face and shoulders and she was upset. Patrol deputies located Wiggins at 550 Hurst Street in Bronson sleeping in a vehicle and he was arrested without incident.

Bronson Man Tasered, Pepper Sprayed During Arrest

October 17, 2009 Deputy Ella Anderson arrested Matthew Edward Devers for two counts of domestic battery and resisting arrest without violence.
     Deputy Anderson responded to 11711 NE 106th Court in reference to a domestic disturbance. Upon arrival victim # 2 stated that Devers was mad at a relative and spit on the victim when they walked past him in the kitchen. Devers was mad at victim # 2 from an argument that occurred a few days prior. Devers then began striking victim # 1 repeatedly with a closed fist in the face, chest and arms. Victim # 2 stated that she attempted to intervene and Devers directed his anger at victim # 2 by shoving her several times in the stove and kitchen counters. Deputy Anderson observed red marks and bruising on both victims and they were extremely upset and crying. The victims stated that Devers was hiding in the laundry room and to be careful because he will be extremely violent and explosive.
     Deputy Anderson removed her taser from the holster and ordered Devers to lie face down on the ground. Devers was hesitant but finally complied with the order. Deputy Anderson told Devers not to move or he would be tazed. When Deputy Anderson attempted to handcuff Devers he rolled over and yelled to “Shoot Me” and attempted to get up. Deputy Anderson deployed her taser and Devers screamed and pulled the probes out and ran out of the residence. Devers ran down the road and Deputy Anderson apprehended Devers one block from the residence and ordered Devers to the ground several times. Devers refused the lawful orders, and he was pepper sprayed and told to lie face down on the ground. Devers complied and went to the ground but then continued to get up. Devers was held at gun point until back up arrived on the scene and he was arrested.
     Devers was treated on the scene by Levy County medics for the chemical spray and he was transported to the Levy County Jail.

Correctional Officer Charged with Sex Crimes

Grow house dismantled, 4 arrested, in Rainbow Lakes Estates, Dunnellon

     On Oct. 1, the Levy County Sheriff's Office Drug Task Force received information that a group of people may be operating an indoor marijuana grow house at 11471 S.E. 136th Terrace in Dunnellon. After an initial investigation, information for a search warrant was obtained, then executed, during the late afternoon of Oct. 1. 
     When the Task Force team entered the residence, they discovered a passageway, located behind a refrigerator, that led to three hidden rooms that were being used for the cultivation and processing of marijuana. They had an intricate support mechanism, made up of an advanced watering system, several grow lights and air conditioning that was needed to make the mechanism work. 
According to Capt. Evan Sullivan, Public Information Officer with the LCSO, agents said it appeared that one marijuana crop had already been harvested since the group moved into the residence, early this year. 
     Investigators seized 4.5 pounds of processed marijuana, along with 105 marijuana plants. The street value of the confiscated marijuana is in excess of $100,000. 
Arrested in the investigation were: (1) Duniesky Alfonso Soccorro (born in Cuba), age 33, 20255 S.W.122 Ave., #103, Miami, charged with conspiracy to traffic marijuana and possession of marijuana more than 20 grams; (2) Abelardo Mesa Rojas (born in Cuba; married to Rocio I. Mesa, below #3), age 56, 11471 S.E. 136th Terrace, Dunnellon, charged with conspiracy to traffic marijuana,cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana more than 20 gms., possession of drug paraphernalia, and maintaining a drug dwelling; (3) Rocio I. Mesa (born in Columbia; married to Abelardo Mesa Rojas, #2, above), age 45, 703 S.W. 100 Court Cir., Miami, charged with conspiracy to traffic marijuana and cultivation of marijuana; (4) Andres Camilo Gonzales (born in Columbia), age 20, 8842 W. Flagler St., Apt. 208, Miami, charged with conspiracy to traffic marijuana and driving while license suspended or revoked.

Crystal River Man Arrested on Precription Drug Fraud Charges     

Hubert Terry Doss, 55, 8221 W. Edgehill Ct., Crystal River was arrested by the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, Oct .1, on a charge of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud. He was later released on his own recognizance. According to his arrest report, Doss had been seeing local and out-of-county physicians and getting prescriptions filled at local and out-of-county pharmacies withing the same 30-day time frame.
     The report stated that Doss had filled a prescription on April 6 for 180 oxycodone tablets at a local pharmacy by an out-of-county physician, and nine days later on April 15, had filled a prescription for 120 oxycodone tablets at a Citrus County pharmacy by a Citrus County physician. On May 21, the report stated, Doss filled two prescriptions for controlled medications (240 oxycodone tablets and 270 methadone tablets) at an out-of-county pharmacy, from an out-of-county physician. Eight days later on May 29, Doss filled two prescriptions (210 oxycodone tablets and 180 methadone tablets) at a Citrus County pharmacy from a out-of county physician. A physician gave the arresting deputy a card signed by Doss, indicating that he knew the laws on withholding information from a practitioner and attempting to obtain controlled substances by fraud. According to the arrest report, Doss continued to see other out-of-county physicians up to July 26 and filled prescriptions for controlled substances at local and out-of-county pharmacies.
     Doss was arreated at the Emergency Operations Center on one count of obtaining controlled substances by fraud, the alleged May 29 incident. He was transported to the Citrus County Detention Facility, where he was later released on his own recognizance. 

Couple Arrested on Capital Sexual Battery Charge

      Jesse Edward Laramee, 35, and Jane Marie Marcy, 27, both of Homosassa, were arrested by the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, Sept. 15, each on a capital felony charge of the sexual battery of a child less than 12 years old. According to the sheriff's office, the children involved are 7-years-old and 2-years-old. 
      The 7-year-old girl stated that Laramee had abused her sexually and that he had also pulled her hair, slapped her, yelled at her and called her names while sexually battering her, the reports stated, and that most of the incidents had occurred at Marcy's house, the house of a relative of Laramee's, or in Marcy's van, and that Marcy had usually been present when the incidents had occurred. The child also stated that Laramee had made her perform inappropriate actions on her little sister, while he watched, and told her not to say anything to anyone or he would kill her, the report stated. 
      The sheriff's office attempted an interview with Laramee, and he agreed to answer questions, but after several questions were posed to him, he asked for an attorney, and the interview was stopped.
      However, Marcy answered questions and told investigators that the victim was accurate in her statements. According to Marcy's arrest report,"The defendent (Marcy) stated that the codefendent (Laramee) is very abusive to her and the victim." Marcy also admitted to knowledge of the sexual abuse and admitted that she had participated in some of the sexual abuse. Marcy said that some of the incidents had taken place in a van while she was driving, some had taken place at Laramee's residence and some had taken place at her residence, and that on several occasions. they had driven to a residence to purchase crack cocaine.
      Laaramee and Marcy were both transported to the Citrus County Detention Facility and held without bond.

Hernando Man Arrested on Lewd Molestation Charge

      William Ben Butler, 69, 3334 E. Nancy Ct., Hernando, was arrested by the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, Sept. 16, on a charge of lewd and lascivious molestation of a child under the age of 12. The 11-year-old victim told authorities that she spent several afternoons at Butler's house during the summer, the report stated, and that on several occasions he hugged her and touched her inappropriately when he pulled away, that on one occasion while they were eating lunch, he'd made an inappropriate gesture with his tongue, and on another occasion he'd made a remark about seeing an undergarment. She said he'd stared at her and made her feel uncomfortable. Butler was interviewed and admitted to hugging the victim, but denied any deliberate touching, and corroborated the account of the gesture he'd made, but denied making a remark about the victim's undergarment. The report stated that Butler "kept repeating that all the girls are lying about him." Butler was placed under arrest and transported to the Citrus county Detention Facility. His bond was set at $20,000.

Missing woman located in VA, arrested for shoplifting

      A woman Citrus County Sheriff's Office detectives have been attempting to locate since Sept. 8, has been located in Amherst County, VA where she was arrested for shoplifting. Jean Marie Doerr, 45, contacted dispatchers just before 1:00 a.m., Sept. 8, saying she was being battered, but hung up before providing any additional information. Officials were unable to reach her, via the cell phone she used to make her call to dispatchers, but they learned that the cell phone was registered to Doerr, with a Volusia County address. Law enforcement officers were unable to locate her Volusia County address or at another address in Bradford. Deputies also checked all of Doerr's known local residences, along with hospitals and urgent care facilities, but still were unable to locate her. The CCSO also issued a BOLO (be on the lookout) for her and entered her into the National Database for  Missing Persons. Doerr's name was removed from this database after she was located.

If you have a tip or information about your crime or any other crime, you can call  Crime Stoppers at 1-877-349-8477.