CCSO makes numerous arrests in cooperation with national domestic violence program

Citrus County Sheriff's Office (CCSO)

Citrus County, Florida - Toward the end of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month on October 27, the CCSO participated in the 18th annual National Family Violence Apprehension Day. The purpose of recognizing this month is to raise awareness of domestic violence issues and to connect individuals and organizations working through domestic violence issues.

"We are humbled to be part of this event and serve beside our law enforcement brothers and sisters across the nation," said Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast. "We will not sit idly by and allow these people to take advantage of their victims. We must come together as a community, every day, to safeguard those who are sometimes afraid to use their voice, even for their well-being. Through the combined efforts of our Behavioral Health, Tactical Impact, and Community Crimes units, we have brought justice to many who have not faced the consequences of their actions..."

Within Florida this year, the CCSO was joined by the Hendry County Sheriff's Office, Miami Dade County Sheriff's Office, Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, and Jacksonville County Sheriff's Office. National arrest statistics will be available on November 1.

In 2019, 355 law enforcement agencies from over 32 states, which included the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, participated in a similar sweep, where more than 3,700 attempts were made to serve 784 people with outstanding family violence warrants. Due to COVID, this event did not take place in 2020.

Thisd year, the CCSO attempted to serve 45 arrest warrants, conducted 8 pre-trial release checks, and served 18 writs of bodily attachment for failure to pay child support related to domestic violence. While attempting to locate the people with the domestic violence warrants, detectives arrested several people on other types of warrants.

During the week of October 16-22, 2021, the CCSO partnered with the Florida/Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force of the U.S. Marshals Service to arrest 58 year-old Keith Eddy in Tampa, Florida, on a charge of lewd and lascivious battery of a child under the age of 12, and on October 25, the agency assisted in the arrest of 33 year-old Charles Rice in Jacksonville, Florida, on a charge of felony domestic battery by strangulation. According to the CCSO, Mr. Rice has an extensive criminal record that includes child abuse, domestic disturbance, numerous domestic battery charges, and numerous burglaries.

By 5:00 pm on October 27, the CCSO had arrested 14 people, both men and women, on various warrants, many of which were domestic violence-related. See the arrest details below:

ARRESTS BY CCSO DURING EVENT

• Fred Loetscher, III, 47 - violation of probation for possession of methamphetamine. Loetscher has an extensive criminal record that includes maintaining a nuisance drug dwelling, battery, domestic disturbance, and assorted narcotics charges.

• Kyle Lufcy, 25 - violation of pre-trial release for domestic violence.

• Damien Shade, 20 - violation of probation for possession of methamphetamine.

• Destiny Taylor, 25 - failure to appear for driving with a suspended license.

• Joanne Gonter, 56 - warrant for domestic battery

• Jeremy Phillips, 32 - violation of probation for felony battery and two counts of grand theft.

• Melanie Ramos, 34 - warrants for possession of methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Betty Nava, 62 - failure to appear for driving with a suspended license (repeat offense).

• Nicholas Belmonte, 23 - violation of probation for felony uttering a forged document (four counts).

• Edward Stuart, Jr., 49 - writ for failure to pay child support.

• Steven Lamar Sheffield, 49 - violation of probation for domestic battery.

• Faith Bergman, 43 - judge-issued pick-up order.