The National Weather Service has issued a significant weather advisory for Marion, Citrus, Clay, Hernando, Sumter, Pasco, Putnam, Alachua, Flagler, and St. Johns counties.
At 3:21 p.m., doppler radar tracked a line of strong thunderstorms along a line extending from Interlachen to Beverly Hills moving east at 55 mph.
Hail up-to nickel size in diameter and gust of winds up-to 55 mph can be expected. These winds could produce minor damage.
Locations impacted would be Ocala, Palm Coast, St. Augustine, Palatka, Rainbow Lakes Estates, Flagler Beach, Bunnell, Crescent City, Interlachen, Pomona Park, Hastings, Andalusia, Citra, Lynne, Fort McCoy, Juniper Springs, Salt Springs, St. Augustine Beach, and Hawethorne.
Torrential rainfall will occur with these storms, which might lead to flash flooding.
Frequent cloud to ground lightening will also occur.
Report downed power lines or other damage to the nearest law enforcement agency or emergency management center.
The National Weather Server said these storms could intensify. Be sure to monitor local radio and TV stations if possible.
The National Weather Service has extended this weather advisory from 4:15 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., for Parts of Marion, Citrus, Clay, Sumter, Pasco, Hernando, Flagler, and St. Johns counties.
Ocklawaha, Florida — Friday, Firefighter Paramedics responded to a structure fire, located at 12361 Southeast 135th Court, Ocklawaha, and were able to save the family’s pets.
Five dogs were pulled from the flames: Bingo, Shadow, Bear, Bo, and Buddy. All of the pets are recovering and doing well.
According to reports, firefighters were on scene within 14-minutes. When they arrived, the home was already 40 percent consumed by fire.
Fire crews worked diligently and had the blaze under control in 26-minutes.
The home was located in station 27’s zone in Weirsdale, however, the engine and rescue from that station did not respond because they were on another call.
The crews that did respond include Engine and Rescue 17 from Silver Spring Shores; Engine, Rescue, and Tanker 4 from the Ocala National Forest at Hwy 314A and SR 40; Ladder 30 from across Spruce Creek Del Webb on US 301; Rescue 18 from Belleview; Tanker 24 from Marion Oaks; and Tanker 27.
Records show that neighbors called in the fire at 1:53 p.m.; the homeowners were not home at the time.
Among the equipment many units with Marion County Fire Rescue carry, is oxygen masks for pets. These masks are utilized when animals are rescued from a fire. Firefighters use the equipment to treat the animals for smoke inhalation just as they would a human. The masks are a one-size-fits-all for dogs, which fits over the snout.
Article continued below
The masks were donated by the community, not purchased by the department.
“We know that the people we protect consider their pets as family and we do all we can to help save them,” Ryan O’Reilly, Public Relations Director with the Professional Firefighters of Marion County said. “We are very proud of the efforts made by the crews that responded to the fire.”
The State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire.
The American Red Cross was called in to assist the family with temporary living arrangements and other needs.
Marion County — Florida Highway Patrol Public Information Officer Sergeant Tracy Hisler-Pace said that 8-month-old Lucas Joseph Golebiowski passed away from his injuries following a car crash that occurred on Friday morning. The announcement was made Saturday morning.
According to reports, A Nissan Altima driven by Kristiana B. Golebiowski, 33, of Ocala, was headed south on County Road 225A. Her son was strapped into his car seat in the back.
Kristiana was traveling in front of a 1994 GMC van driven by Matthew W. Floyd, 34, of Nicholls, Gerogia, when Kristiana began to slow down to make a left-hand turn into a driveway.
Floyd told troopers he saw the Nissan slow and traveled into the northbound lane in an attempt to pass the vehicle. In other words, Floyd passed Kristiana on the left as she was making a left-hand turn. Troopers said they have not determined whether or not Kristiana had used her turn signal.
As the Nissan turned left, the GMC slammed into the left rear of the car. The impact forced the Nissan in an easterly direction onto the grassy shoulder of County Road 225A.
The GMC flipped one time and came to its final rest facing north on all four tires.
The force from the impact crushed the rear of the Nissan up into the back seat, where the baby had been sitting in his car seat.
The infant was transported to UF Health Shands, where he died at 3:28 p.m., on April 17, 2015.
Floyd was transported to Ocala Regional Medical Center with minor injuries.
According to reports, the accident occurred at County Road 225A and Northwest 14th Street.
Trooper Sergeant Hisler-Pace said FHP is still investigating the accident and that charges are pending.
Ocala Post made the decision not to contact the family for an interview during this devastating time.
Credit card skimmer found at the Qwik King, located at 2400 Southeast 36th Avenue. [OPD][Last updated on April 17, 2015, at 12:14 p.m.]
Ocala, Florida — A fourth credit card skimmer has been found at a gas station in Marion County.
This one was found at the Qwik King, located at 2400 Southeast 36th Avenue.
According to reports, when Ocala Police Officer Miguel A. Gauthier arrived on the scene he was greeted by Agricultural Inspector Ed Underhill. Underhill informed the officer that while conducting an inspection of the fuel pumps, he located a skimmer attached to the credit card reader inside of pump number four.
Underhill stated that the pump was last inspected in January 2014.
The manager of the store, Neil Patel, told police that he does not have security surveillance by the gas pumps.
In previous incidents, skimmers were found at three separate Kangaroo gas stations.
A skimmer was found on April 10, at 12995 North U.S. 441; March 26 at 14870 South U.S. 441; and on April 1 at 1986 Southwest 27th Avenue.
Authorities said it’s best to use a credit or debit card inside the store when paying for gas. If you pay at the pump and notice a broken or voided security seal, report it immediately and choose a different gas station.
Example of what a voided or broken seal might look like.
Here’s what consumers should do to avoid skimmers at gas stations:
Pay in cash inside the store to ensure credit card information stays safe.
Check to make sure the gas pump dispenser cabinet is closed and has not been tampered with. Many stations are now putting a piece of security tape over the cabinet to ensure it has not been opened by unauthorized individuals.
Try to use a gas pump closer to the front of the store. Thieves often place skimmers at the gas pumps farther away from the store so they aren’t noticed as quickly.
Use a credit card instead of a debit card. Credit cards have better fraud protection, and the money is not deducted immediately from an account.
If using a debit card at the pump, choose to run it as a credit card instead of putting a PIN number in. That way, the PIN number is safe. Monitor bank accounts regularly to spot any unauthorized charges.
Consumers who suspect their credit card number has been compromised should report it immediately to authorities and their credit card company.
Consumers who have questions can contact The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services information hotline at 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352).
If anyone has any information about this crime, please call the Ocala Police Department at 352-369-7000. Information may also be submitted through our free mobile app MYPD or through Crime Stoppers of Marion County by calling 352-368-STOP(7867), texting tips to 274637 using keyword 368STOP, or submitting tips to www.ocalacrimestoppers.com. Anonymity is guaranteed.
Marion County — It has been nearly one month since a mobile home fire claimed the life of 9-year-old James Atkinson Jr., and questions still remain over the response times of firefighters to the emergency.
The closest fire station to the home, located at 14675 Northeast 206th Lane, Hog Valley, was station 8, an all-volunteer fire station which was three miles away.
It would have only taken 5-minutes to get to the scene from station 8, which is the national standard response time set by the National Fire Protection agency.
However, no one came to fight the fire from that station.
Reports show that the volunteer firefighter for that station was in the City of Ocala asleep — without his pager. The volunteer had been mourning the loss of his wife. Regardless if the firefighter was a volunteer, what does that say when a person cannot even take time off to mourn a loved one?
Records show that the first to arrive to the deadly fire were career firefighter paramedics from fire station 7 located in Fort McCoy, which was over 11.5 miles away. Information obtained by the Ocala Post showed they arrived as fast as they could at 14-minutes and 28-seconds. Sadly, by the time they arrived the home was completely engulfed in flames.
James Atkinson Sr., who was sleeping, was alerted by a roommate after she smelled smoke. While awaiting firefighters, the boy’s father, Atkinson Sr., was able to get his wife, Renee Atkinson, their son Skylar Atkinson, 2, and roommate Angelica Nowak out of the home. Tragically, despite his best efforts, Atkinson Sr. was unable to rescue their other son. Officials said the father’s feet were burned and his hands cut from glass from trying to get his son out of the home.
But even more troubling is the fact that station 7 was unable to arrive with a full complement of firefighters. Five firefighter paramedics were assigned to the station that day. The sixth firefighter normally assigned to the station was moved to cover an opening at another fire station, a common occurrence with the staff shortages and budget deficits plaguing Marion County Fire Rescue for the last few years. Three firefighters were assigned to the fire engine and two were assigned to the rescue, a firefighter-based ambulance that transports people to the emergency room as well as performing all firefighting activities.
However, the ambulance, Rescue 7, was not at its station covering the area for emergencies. Records show that the unit was 25 miles away on stand-by, just outside Ocala city limits, awaiting potential emergency calls for the residents of Ocala.
Information obtained by the Ocala Post showed that this, too, has become a common practice: placing fire-based ambulances from all over the county temporarily inside the City of Ocala. This not only jeopardizes the health and safety of the citizens residing in the areas those rescues cover, but it is a disservice to the taxpayers who live in that area paying for Fire and EMS protection.
Areas constantly robbed of their firefighter paramedic staffed ambulances include Rescues 21 and 521 in On Top of the World; Rescues 18 and 518 in the city of Belleview; Rescues 31 and 531 in the Dunnellon area; Rescue 28 in Rolling Greens near Baseline and Maricamp; Rescue 19 in Sparr; Rescue 1 in Anthony; Rescue 7 in Fort McCoy; and Rescue 16 in between Ocala and Belleview.
In addition to Rescue 7 being in the City of Ocala, only two firefighters were aboard the engine that initially responded that night. This is because the crew was split so the third man could drive the tanker, a specialized firefighting apparatus designed for transporting water from a water source to a fire scene.
That unit took 23 minutes to arrive due to its weight and inability to move fast. With only two firefighters initially on scene, a very limited amount of work could be accomplished. The only task that could be performed was making sure the fire did not spread.
Deputy Chief Paul Nevels indicated that having Rescue 7 in its zone would not have made a difference; however, no one will ever know since they were not there. But if the department had been fully staffed, three firefighters would have been at station 8 and would have been on scene in five minutes, which is the national standard. Also, five more firefighters would have been able to make it to the scene within 14 minutes to aid the initial responding crew. This would have quadrupled resources that were available the night of the tragic fire.
Studies performed by the National Fire Protection Agency, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, United Laboratories, and the International Association of Fire Chiefs show that initial crew size as well as response times matter when it comes to rescuing victims and getting fire scenes under control.
These studies show that when a house catches fire, depending on conditions, the 10- to 15-minute mark is when the heat causes everything to combust at once; making the event nearly impossible to survive. The studies also show that being able to quickly get water onto a fire-consumed room greatly reduces the heat in the entire building, Thereby increasing the chances of a victim’s survival. Furthermore, while it takes crews of two to get a fire under control in 22 minutes, a crew of six could get the same fire under control in less than 14 minutes.
Unfortunately, the County Commissioners are still dragging their heels on these issues. And because of their inaction, the fire rescue department is still in deficit spending, is understaffed, and is experiencing an exodus of experienced Firefighter Paramedics.
Records obtained by the Ocala Post show that since the beginning of March, MCFR was forced to shut down for the day at least one ambulance — 11 out of the last 41 days, or 26 percent of the time. This comes on the heels of MCFR being forced to close down Squads 21 and 16 due to being understaffed. These units provide initial advanced life support care to patients while awaiting an ambulance, as well as performing in HAZMAT and technical rescue operations.
Last year, Fire Chief Stuart McElhaney told the commissioners that in order to rectify response time issues the county would need an additional five ambulances staffed 24-hours daily. But commissioners did nothing.
Last January, the fire chief told commissioners that in 2016 the department would not only be out of money, but also $3 million dollars in the hole. Yet, Commissioner Stan McClain recently stated that all departments are to hold the line on tax rates.
While the past cannot be changed, officials should be able to learn from these events and make improvements.
What will it take to make commissioners understand? One life? Two lives? An entire family?
A logical person could conclude that one life lost, is one too many.
And as Ocala Post has reported multiple times: sadly, it is the citizens of Marion County that, in the end, will pay the ultimate price.
The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.
Silver Springs — Marion County sheriff’s deputies are searching for a burglar in the Silver Springs area after a man came home to find his house had been burglarized.
The homeowner saw a white van pulling away from his home and called 911.
As deputies responded, a white male driving a white Chevy van rounded a curve on County Road 314 and flipped.
The driver fled on foot into some nearby woods.
The suspect is described as 6 feet tall with a thin build and light colored hair.
He was last seen wearing dark pants and light colored shirt.
The suspect reportedly stole a Glock handgun during the burglary.
Information is still coming in.
If anyone has information, please call the Marion County Sheriff’s Office at 352-732-9111, Crime Stoppers at 352-368-STOP, text a tip to 274637 using keyword 368-STOP, or visit www.ocalacrimestoppers.com. Anonymity is guaranteed.
The closing of several Walmart stores has left nearly 2,000 employees jobless and looking for answers, while some say they believe it is military-related.
On April 13, 2015, several Walmart stores suddenly closed.
A sign was taped to the door of the businesses that read: “We apologize for the inconvenience. This location will close for maintenance and upgraded beginning today, April 13, 2015, at 7 p.m. At this time, we do not have a reopen date. Until the store reopens, we invite you to visit one of our other locations.”
The stores that have closed are located in Tulsa, Oklahoma; Brandon, Florida; Midland and Livingston, Texas; and Pico Rivera, California.
The Texas stores are reportedly in the top 10 of Walmart’s busiest and highest-earning stores.
Walmart stated that the stores — all at the same time — had plumbing problems.
“The issues mostly relate to clogs and water leaks in the plumbing – we’ve had persistent issues over the last several years. These incidents impact the availability of water and create drainage issues for critical areas of the store which impacts our ability to serve customers,” a Walmart spokesperson said.
Employees and other businesses that rent space from Walmart inside the stores said they were not given any warning. Business owners said not only were they not told about the closing, but they were very rudely only given a few hours to gather their belongings and exit the store.
Walmart had not even cleared perishables out of the store. Something employees said they would normally help with.
Employees from all stores have stated that they have never seen a contractor inside the store that suggested there were problems.
Walmart says the stores could be closed for up to six months.
City and county officials in every location where a store has closed have said that not one permit for any type of plumbing or construction has been issued. And, a long-time employee of the Brandon store told officials that the store has not had any major plumbing issues since she has worked there.
City officials said it is very suspicious, and that anytime any Walmart has ever done repairs the store has always remained open.
Officials said that when a plumbing contractor showed up at the Brandon store and offered to help with the permit process, he was turned away.
Employees reported that customers were standing in line at the locked doors hoping to get their prescriptions, but Walmart executives in suits turned them away. Security guards were later placed outside the pharmacy.
Analysts said the abrupt closing of the stores without warning any to its vendors or employees, and only giving a 5-hour notice, falls right in-line with the way Walmart has always treated customers and employees.
In fact, in 2014, Credit Suisse analyst Michael Exstein predicted there would be store closures.
“High sustained transportation costs and broader consumables distribution appear to be reshaping consumer shopping behavior,” Exstein wrote in a research note. “Walmart and Target have been slow to react thus far, but we think the broader trend will call for the rollout of smaller ‘big boxes.’ ”
In 2014, Walmart announced that its earnings had fallen. The retailer also said that sales were “slightly negative” on its third-quarter report, which meant U.S. store sales fell relatively flat.
“There are just entirely too many Walmart stores,” Exstein said.
Officials said the cover story of plumbing issues is lacking in credibility. They said it just seems a little weird that all of the stores had the same exact problem on the same day, and would be closed for the same length of time — six months.
Some analysts have speculated that Walmart’s recent wage increase for some of its employees might be the cause of the closures.
The increase in wages most certainly would have to be made up in some other way, because everyone knows that Walmart executives would not take it from their own salaries. And the company would have a very difficult time passing the “buck” onto its customers. After all, Walmart advertises itself as the “low price leader.”
If the increase was not passed onto customers, then it would be passed onto its vendors. Vendors would then be forced to lower their prices or stop servicing Walmart as a supplier. This in-turn usually causes a domino effect of layoffs.
Employees have turned to social media by the thousands. Many have accused Walmart of giving raises knowing it would layoff workers. While others have accused the retail giant of closing the stores in an attempt to prevent Union organization.
Then, of course, there is the conspiracy theory of Jade Helm 15, a new Special Operations exercise that runs from July 15 to September 15. Army Special Operations Commandannounced it in March, saying the size and scope of the mission set it apart from many other training exercises.
Many have the idea that Walmart executives would allow its stores to be used as a holding area for FEMA camps, and that the exercise is nothing short of a Martial Law training exercise.
Right now officials are investigating to see if Walmart has broken any laws, or handled the closing of its stores in an ill manner.
It is too early in the investigation to tell, and officials said they do not want to speculate.
Whatever the reason, there are now at least 2,000 more unemployed people in the U.S.
Ocala Post reached out to Walmart and asked: “Does Walmart foresee any “plumbing problems” at any of the Walmart stores in Ocala, Florida, that would cause a closure?”
Fort McCoy, Florida — Marion County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested a 18-year-old after it was determined he was the suspect in a home burglary last month.
Authorities said that on March 17, 2015, Brandon Algarin, 18, entered a home in the 22-thousand block of Northeast 107th Avenue, through a doggie door.
Once inside, Algarin stole a PS3 gaming system and the game Ni No Kuni.
During the investigation, an anonymous person told deputies that Algarin had just moved into the neighborhood and he was suspected of breaking into other homes. This person provided the suspects full name.
According to reports, investigators ran Algarin’s name through a pawn records search and learned that he had sold a PS3 gaming system to the GameStop, located at 4920 East Silver Springs Boulevard, on the same day of the burglary.
On April 15, Algarin was located.
Algarin told investigators that his friend had given him the PS3 to sell. However, that friend denied knowing anything about the PS3.
The transaction ticket from GameStop contained Algarin’s thumbprint, name, driver’s license number, and signature.
GameStop surveillance video also confirmed that Algarin was the person that sold the PS3.
Algarin was arrested and charged with Burglary of a Dwelling, Grand Theft, and Dealing in Stolen Property.
Officer Michael Rapiejko [left] and Mario ValenciaA dash cam video from a February 19, incident was finally released to the media following the completion of an investigation.
The video showed a Marana, Arizona, police officer intentionally run down 36-year-old Mario Valencia with a police car.
The video has stirred up debate of whether or not the officer’s actions were justified.
Police Chief Terry Rozema said as far as he is concerned, the officer’s actions were completely justified.
Police in Arizona said, yes, an officer intentionally used his car to run into a suspect who had a rifle, and he probably saved lives.
“Everything in the video seems to point towards an obvious excessive use of force. It is miraculous that my client isn’t dead,” said attorney Michelle Cohen-Metzger.
In the video, an officer can be heard over the radio saying that the suspect had fired one round in the air with a rifle he had just stolen from a Walmart. The officer was following the suspect at a slow speed.
Then, another patrol car races past the officer, and rams the man from behind. The officer then slammed into a short cinder block wall next to a driveway.
Video from Officer Michael Rapiejko’s camera shows the officer ramming the man and the windshield cracking as the car hit the block wall.
“Oh Jesus Christ. Man down,” the officer in the first car said.
Police in Marana, which is about a half-hour from Tucson, have justified Rapiejko’s actions.
“If we’re going to choose between maybe we’ll let him go a little bit farther and see what happens, or we’re going to take him out now and eliminate any opportunity he has to hurt somebody, you’re going to err on the side of, in favor of the innocent people,” Chief Rozema said. “Without a doubt.”
Rozema said the situation warranted deadly force because the suspect was headed to an area where several hundred people were working.
Marana police said this situation was part of a crime spree that began with Valencia’s robbery at a 7-Eleven while he was wearing only underwear. He then broke into a church and set it on fire, followed by a home invasion. He then stole a car.
“This officer made a split-second decision, and in retrospect, when all the dust clears, I think we look at this and say, yeah, there’s things we can learn from this,” he said, “but the entire community is safe, all the officers are safe, and even the suspect in this case is safe.”
Cohen-Metzger said officers didn’t make any effort to de-escalate the situation of a man “clearly suicidal, clearly in crisis.”
When Valencia arrived at the hospital he was in serious condition. He was released into police custody two days later.
Valencia faces 15 charges, including Aggravated Assault (x3), three counts of Armed Robbery (x3), and Possession of a Deadly Weapon by a Convicted Felon.
His next court appearance is May 18. He is in the Pima County Jail. Authorities said no charges would be brought against the officer.
Officer Rapiejko has received a tremendous amount of support from members of the community and business district where the incident occurred.
Officer Rapiejko, whose nickname is ROBOCOP, previously worked for the New York Police Department.
Ocala, Florida — Timothy Haley, father of fallen Ocala Police Officer Jared Forsyth, said Carnival Cruise Line refused to refund his money for a family cruise that had been planned prior to Forsyth’s death.
Officer Forsyth was shot during a training exercise on April 6, 2015. He was transported to Ocala Regional Medical center where he was rushed into surgery. Officer Forsyth passed away while on the operating table.
The cruise was supposed to be in celebration of Haley’s 60th birthday.
The family said that after burying their son, emotionally, they just couldn’t take the trip.
“I needed help, and with something as tragic as this, and all I got back from Carnival was how much of my money they could keep,” Haley said.
Haley said he told one of the Carnival operators, “I want you to just turn on the news and see that I’m not lying to you about my son’s service, and refund my money.” Haley said, “And when I said that, she said, ‘Well, if you want to play the dead son angle,’ and I just lost it. I called her a bad name and hung up.”
Ocala Post Contacted Carnival Cruise Lines on April 14, about Haley’s situation.
On April 15, Carnival wrote: “We recently provided Mr. Haley with a full refund. Our most heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Haley and his family during this tragic situation.”
Mr. Haley believes it was pressure from the media and a story that aired on Local 6 that made them change their view of the situation.
Ocala Post also asked Carnival about the insensitive response from one of their operators that was directed to Mr Haley. However, Ocala Post is still waiting on that answer.
UPDATE
Due to multiple unprofessional messages from individuals that clearly have an interest in Carnival Cruise Line, Ocala Post took the investigation a step further.
Further investigation revealed that there have been situations similar to Haley’s in the past.
According to Consumer Reports and the Better Business Bureau, Carnival has had more than 1,000 complaints filed against it in the last few years. Many of the complaints were filed in 2015. While it is understandable that a company cannot please everyone, the situation with Haley is not the first time the media has had to step in and force Carnival to take action.
Carnival Cruise Line publicly announced on its Facebook page that the insensitive comment allegedly made by a Carnival representative was completely false.
Also, many of the unprofessional and rude comments than have been posted toward those concerned for Officer Forsyth’s family were clearly posted by individuals that have some sort of connection to the cruise industry; whether it be an employee, travel agent, or entertainer.
The media has also been accused of fabricating the story. However, all information included in any article was provided by Haley, or Carnival Cruise Line. And some of the earlier statements made by Carnival seemed to change the more the media got involved.
Ocala Post asked carnival about the conversation between Haley and the representative.
In an original statement to Local 6, Carnival stated that they do their best to train its employees on these types of situations.
On April 16, Carnival released the following statement to Ocala Post:
“In call centers, it is not uncommon to record phone interactions and we have a recording of this phone call which has been carefully reviewed. Based on the review of the call recording, the alleged quote by one of our call center employees making reference to ‘the dead son angle’ or ‘dead son card’ as we have been told he stated to another media outlets is not accurate,” Carnival Cruise Line Vice President of Public Relations Jennifer de la Cruz wrote.
Ocala Post told Cruz that the allegations made by Haley could potentially harm Carnival’s business and offered the cruise line a chance to clear its name.
Ocala Post then requested a copy of the recording between Haley and the representative.
Carnival refused to produce the recording. Cruz said the recording was for training purposes only.
Ocala Post also asked Cruz about the travel insurance Haley had purchased for his bookings, as well as the 75 percent penalty Haley was told he would incur if he canceled.
Cruz said, “When Mr. Haley originally contacted Carnival, because there was travel insurance on the reservation, he was given instructions for how to file a claim.”
Cruz said that neither the third-party insurance provider nor Carnival mentioned anything about a 75 percent penalty to Haley for canceling his reservation. She went on to say, “I can only assume that he completely misunderstood the information he was being given.”
“I would add that we are transparent in terms of our cancellation policies and how the insurance coverage, which is provided by a third party insurance provider, works,” Cruz said.
If Carnival is transparent on policies, then why not produce the recording?
Cruz said, “We did make an exception and refund Haley for the cruise and insurance fees.”
Ocala Post also contacted James M. Walker of Walker & O’Neill P.A., a well known maritime attorney based in Miami, Florida. Walker has been handling cruise line disputes since 1983.
Ocala Post asked Walker about Haley’s situation.
“Carnival’s decision to change its mind and refund the cruise fare to the grieving family of Officer Jared Forsyth was damage control by its PR experts,” Walker said. “The family had to resort to contacting the media before Carnival would do the right thing. And Carnival is notorious for accessing hefty penalties for the cancellation of a cruise.”
Walker asked, “Before the media storm, where was Carnival’s ‘heartfelt thoughts and prayers’ for the family?”
“Carnival has done this before,” Walker said. “Submitting a travel insurance claim can easily take three to six months, or more. And there were no guarantees the travel insurance company would pay the claim. Many of the insurance policies do not provide coverage where the policy holder (the surviving family member) is neither ill or dies unexpectedly themselves.”
Remember, the insurance policies that are sold to customers by Carnival are through a third-party vendor, which Carnival profits from. It is not uncommon for travel insurance claims to be denied. And in the past, many individuals that have attempted to cancel have been told the same information about hefty cancellation fees.
Walker said, “Cruise lines usually sell the cabin to another guest when a passenger has to cancel a cruise due to a family emergency or tragedy. Making double profit when a police officer, or anyone for that matter, was killed seems to be a repugnant notion. There needs to be legislation prohibiting this practice. A grieving family shouldn’t have to appeal to the media for justice.”
Ocala Post gave Carnival 24-hours to change their mind on the audio recording, but they remained steadfast.
Ocala, Florida — A woman that was caught stealing clothes from a Dillard’s thought she would be released if she paid.
Ocala Police Officer Jason Rodriguez said he responded to a Dillard’s, located at 4414 Southwest College Road, in reference to a grand theft.
Upon arrival, Loss Prevention told Officer Rodriguez that a female, later identified as Rakika Tasin, had entered a fitting room with four pairs and pants and a blouse. However, when she exited the fitting room she was empty-handed.
The loss prevention officer stated that Tasin immediately exited the store without paying for any merchandise.
Store security approached Tasin in the parking lot and walked her back into the store.
Tasin was then asked to identify herself, at which time she opened her purse to retrieve her driver’s license and the security officer saw jeans and a blouse in the purse. The merchandise still had the tags on it.
Officer Rodriguez then spoke with Tasin. According to reports, before Officer Rodriguez could say anything, assuming she would be released, Tasin said, “I have the money to pay for the merchandise.”
Officer Rodriguez then asked her why she stole the merchandise if she had the money. Tasin replied, “It was just a mistake, I will pay for the merchandise.”
Tasin was arrested and charged with Retail Grand Theft.
Gainesville, Florida — The same group that attacked the City of Ocala and wanted the words “God be with Us” removed from the city seal, has now launched an attack on the University of Florida.
The Freedom from Religion Foundation said that UF has a bible verse carved into an archway of one of its building and it must be removed.
The group said a student at the school was offended by it and sent them a picture. The identity of the student is not being released to the media for fear of retaliation from other students.
UF’s Heavener Hall building has a bible verse on an archway that reads, “He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your god. Micah 6:8.”
On Monday, FFRF said they filed a complaint with university president W. Kent Fuchs.
FFRF says it is the nation’s largest association of nonbelievers, and serves as a state church watchdog with more than 22,000 members nationwide, including more than 1,000 in Florida.
A number of atheist websites have also joined in on the attack.
“The First Amendment prohibits the University from lending its voice to sectarian religious speech,” FFRF wrote on its website. “When a school chooses to display an excerpt from a religious text, it signals to students who hold differing beliefs that they are outsiders, that they are excluded from the campus community.”
“This inscription violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment and cannot remain on university property,” wrote FFRF Staff Attorney Andrew Seidel.
Seidel also said that the choice of verse was “in poor taste.” Chapter 6 of Micah is “a scathing indictment of the tribe of Israel,” said Seidel, in which “God declares that neither animal sacrifice nor human sacrifice will appease him, promises Israel to ‘make you ill and destroy you,’ and swears to kill infants: ‘what you bring to birth I will give to the sword.’ ”
Seidel went on to say the passage directly preceding the inscription, Micah 6:7, “contemplates killing one’s own child to obtain absolution,” charges FFRF, quoting the verse: “Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
“While the University of Florida most certainly does not endorse child sacrifice or genocide, chapter 6 of Micah does. If adhering to the Constitution is not reason enough to remove the quote, perhaps a desire to condemn genocide is,” concluded Seidel.
Heavener Hall is named after a local business leader who made a generous contribution toward its construction.
Hemant Mehta from Patheos.com, a group that refers to itself as “friendly atheist” wrote, “Why anyone thinks that belongs on the property of a public university, I don’t know. Walking humbly with God certainly won’t improve your prospects in the business world.”
FFRF said the only solution is to remove the bible verse.
Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn and the City Council did not back down to the group, and kept the city seal intact.
Gainesville, Florida — The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office has launched an internal investigation after deputies in a Lenco BearCat Armored Personnel Carrier (APC), or Light Armored Vehicle (LAV), conducted a traffic stop.
The deputies that occupied the APC were dressed in tactical clothing.
The man they pulled over, Lucas A. Jewel, 23, was stopped after he gave the deputies the middle finger. As the traffic stop was initiated, he immediately began recording with his cell phone.
In a 5-page “information report” released to Ocala Post by the ACSO, the deputies stated that Jewell violated Florida Statute 316.157, which addresses the use of hand signals. However, the statute does not cover giving someone the middle finger. In fact, in 2013, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit wrote a 14-page opinion that ruled that the “ancient gesture of insult is not the basis for a reasonable suspicion of a traffic violation or impending criminal activity.”
Florida Statute 316.157 reads:
Method of giving hand and arm signals.—
(1) All signals herein required to be given by hand and arm shall be given from the left side of the vehicle in the following manner and such signals shall indicate as follows:
(a) Left turn.—Hand and arm extended horizontally.
(b) Right turn.—Hand and arm extended upward, except that a bicyclist may extend the right hand and arm horizontally to the right side of the bicycle.
(c) Stop or decrease speed.—Hand and arm extended downward.
(2) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a moving violation as provided in chapter 318.
The deputies said they had left the University of Florida Orange and Blue football game in the BearCat and were traveling east on 1400 West University Avenue when they saw a gold four-door Ford being driven by a man with blondish brown dreads pulled up on top of his head.
Deputy Charles Drake wrote that Jewel then extended his middle finger.
Deputy Drake wrote, “At this time I observed a head of black hair sit up from his lap and observed a white female wearing a white shirt with glasses and dark black hair. The female smiled.”
Deputy Kevin Davis wrote, “As we approached the area of West 13th Street, I heard Deputy Howell yell loudly out the back door of the APC, ‘Pay attention to where you are going!'” He added, “I turned to Deputy Howell and asked, What’s going on?” Davis wrote, “Howell pointed at a gold car that was traveling east, approximately 15-yards behind us, and advised me that the driver of the vehicle appeared to be receiving oral sex and just shot us the bird.”
As the APC came to a stop, Jewel’s vehicle drove past the APC. Deputies said they looked at each other, at which time Deputy Howell said, “You gotta’ be kidding me! Was she really giving him h**d?”
Deputies said they traveled several blocks before they initiated a traffic stop on Jewel.
Deputies reported that once they had stopped the vehicle, they removed their Colt Commando’s prior to exiting the APC.
Deputy Howell reported that during the traffic stop he ordered Jewel to stand between the lights of the APC. When he didn’t, Deputy Howell grabbed Jewel by the wrist and “escorted” him to the correct position. Deputy Howell then threatened to arrest Jewel and charge him with “resisting arrest.” However, Jewel was not under arrest at the time.
The charge of resisting arrest is supposed to be reserved for when a suspect truly resists while actually being arrested.
Deputy Howell also wrote, “Once I identified Jewel, I informed him that I was aware that there was no law against someone ‘shooting the bird’ at a law enforcement officer.” However, that is not exactly what Deputy Howell stated in the video.
Deputy Howell then told Jewel he had been pulled over for improper hand signal and for his girlfriend allegedly performing oral sex on him.
Jewel told the deputy that his girlfriend was just sleeping in his lap.
In the report, Deputy Davis wrote, “Jewel exited his vehicle from the driver’s seat and I immediately noticed that he was attempting to record the traffic stop via his cell phone. At that point, it appeared that Jewel’s potentially dangerous actions while operating his motor vehicle on a public road way were an effort to intentionally get pulled over by law enforcement and create a scene.”
State Attorney Bill Cervone said he has never heard of an investigation initiated because of someone who gave the middle finger.
Cervone also said that this case seems to involve some constitutional free speech issues.
ACSO Public Information Officer Art Forgey said the situation is under investigation, and that the investigation would include the conduct of the deputies, whether or not they violated any department policies, and the video itself. Forgey said that they couldn’t comment beyond that.
In an interview with Ocala Post, Jewel was very candid about his encounter with the ACSO.
Jewel said, “I find it funny that Deputy Davis accused me of trying to intentionally get pulled over in his report. I don’t think anyone would try to intentionally get themselves pulled over by a cop.”
Jewel said, “In the video, when I was told to stand between the headlights, you can see the camera ‘suddenly jerk.’ That’s was because Deputy Howell punched me then grabbed my arm.”Adding, “He threatened to arrest me for resisting arrest, but I was not being arrested and I was not resisting.”
Jewel said, “Deputy Howell left the fact that he punched me out of his report.”
Jewel said that when he “flipped the bird” it was directed at the fact the deputies were driving a military vehicle in the city.
“The Bear Cat is a military vehicle and was never intended to be in the hands of police that want to become militarized. It is much better suited for places like Iraq,” Jewel said. “I am not just against it in Gainesville, I am against it worldwide.”
He said as a Navy veteran he was absolutely insulted over the entire situation. Especially when police are supposed to uphold the U.S. constitution, not destroy it.
“I was also insulted when a deputy accused me of lying about being in the Navy, “Jewel said. “I wasn’t just insulted, I was becoming very angry at that point.” He went on to say,” In the video you can see that I said, ‘We can go back…but then I stopped.” He added, “I was about to say then we could go back to my apartment and I will show you my paperwork. But, then I realized I didn’t want those thug-cops in my home.”
Jewel said he is hopeful about the investigation. He said that when he spoke to Sheriff Sadie Darnell she seemed genuinely concerned about the situation as a whole.
“I am hoping there will be some policy changes that come out of this, ” Jewel said. “It is not okay to violate a person’s Constitutional Rights.”
He said he has been in contact with several attorneys, but has not made a decision on how he wants to proceed.
Ocala, Florida — A young boy remained in critical but stable condition on Tuesday after being struck by a truck while he was riding his skateboard.
Daniel Mahoney-Langione, 16, was riding his skateboard on CR 200A when he attempted to cross over Northeast 24th Street. He crossed over the westbound lane, but failed to yield to traffic in the eastbound lane.
According to reports, a 2001 Dodge Ram pickup, driven by Clay W. Johnson, 19, was traveling eastbound on CR 200A, and had crossed the intersection of Northeast 8th Avenue Road onto Northeast 24th Street when the front of the vehicle hit Langione.
Langione was trauma alerted to Ocala Regional Medical Center with severe injuries.
Johnson was not ticketed for the accident, however, he did receive a citation for failure to show proof of insurance.
The accident happened at 8:23 p.m, Sunday.
According to Ocala Police Department Public Information Officer Sergeant Angy Scroble, the boy was not identified until Monday.
Authorities also had some trouble locating the boy’s parents following the accident.
Just before 4 a.m., Sunday, the Florida Highway Patrol responded to a four-vehicle crash northbound on I-75 near the 367 mile marker.
One person has been confirmed dead.
There were two tractor-trailers and two passenger vehicles involved in the accident.
Northbound lanes reopened at approximately 12:00 p.m. Sunday. Traffic was diverted into the emergency lane to bypass the debris and emergency workers near the accident scene.
Due to the slow moving traffic, motorists were urged to exit at County Road 326 and take U.S. 441 to County Road 318. Traffic in those areas were also heavily congested.
Northbound traffic was backed-up for more than 20 miles by 10 a.m. At approximately 12:21 p.m. the back-up had decreased to 12 miles.
At the County Road 326 exit, drivers were illegally using the emergency lane to exit the highway. Three accidents were a near miss because drivers were speeding in the emergency lane. One vehicle pulled into the emergency lane and into the path of an oncoming tow truck as it attempted to make its way to the crash scene. The driver of the tow was forced onto the grassy shoulder of I-75. FHP was only utilizing the emergency lanes near the crash site.
Florida Highway Patrol spokeswoman Sergeant Tracy Hisler-Pace said A 2012 Toyota Camry, driven by Dujuan Naughton Capehart, 26, of Pensacola, Florida, was traveling northbound on I-75 behind a 2006 Kenworth 18-wheeler, driven by Thomas L. Free, 56, of Lake Alfred, Florida, when the Camry struck the rear of the 18-wheeler
The Camry then rotated clockwise and came to rest straddling the outside and center lane facing southbound.
Free pulled his semi into the emergency lane.
A 2013 Volvo tractor-trailer, driven by Anthony Vincenti, 39, of Houston, Texas, was traveling northbound in the center lane and slammed into the Camry. The semi then propelled over the guardrail, across all three southbound lanes of traffic where it came to rest in the tree line on the southbound side of the interstate.
The Camry was vaulted across the northbound outside lane and emergency lane where it came to its final rest in the tree line on the northbound side of I-75.
The driver of the Camry came to rest in the northbound lanes of I-75.
A 2008 Hyundai Elantra, driven by Christine E. Milton, 22, of New Market, Alabama, was traveling northbound and ran over Capehart. Investigators are not sure if the driver of the Camry was ejected, or had exited the vehicle.
Milton exited her vehicle and notified law enforcement that she had just hit someone in the road.
Capehart was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation is ongoing.
No further details have been released at this time.
Jessica Vega-Lizardi [Mugshot] and the 1999 Toyota CamryOcala, Florida — On Friday, Marion County Sheriff’s Deputies and Marion County Fire Rescue responded to a two-vehicle crash on County Road 484 east of Marion Oaks Boulevard, just feet from the Marion Oaks entrance.
A 2005 Chevrolet DURAMAX DIESEL 3500 pickup truck, driven by Pedro Gutierrez, 53, of Mexico, was traveling westbound in the outside lane as it approached a 1999 Toyota Camry, driven by Jessica Vega-Lizardi, 37, of Dunnellon.
According to reports, Vega-Lizardi had just started slowing down to stop at a red-light when the front of the pickup truck slammed into the back of the Camry. The impact forced the Camry in a southwesterly direction. It was propelled past the intersection and into the inside eastbound travel lane of oncoming traffic.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the lane was free from oncoming traffic as the vehicle came to its final rest.
Prior to the arrival of FHP, the driver of the Camry, Vega-Lizardi, and front passenger, Elixis Cruz, 19, of Dunnellon, were transported by MCFR to Ocala Regional Medical Center where they were treated and later released.
The rear passenger of the Camry, Ashanty Cruz, 12, of Dunnellon, was transported to UF Health Shands Hospital, Gainesville. According to reports, when she awoke she was in shock and didn’t immediately remember the accident. As of Saturday, FHP had not received an update on her condition.
Gutierrez was ticketed for following too closely.
Vega-Lizardi was arrested and charged with Driving While License Suspended – Habitual Offender- Felony. She also has previous convictions for Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer and Violation of Probation. She was released on $500 bond.
Marion County sheriff’s Deputies kept the scene secure until FHP could arrive.
Ocala, Florida — Marion County sheriff’s deputies secured an accident scene Friday evening as Marion County Fire Rescue prepared victims for transport. Deputies kept the accident scene secure until the Florida Highway Patrol was able to arrive.
Preliminary reports indicated that a Toyota Camry was traveling west on Country Road 484, and might have been stopped at a red-light when the Camry was rear-ended by a Chevrolet DURAMAX DIESEL 3500 pickup.
The rear-end of the Camry was shoved into the backseat.
The impact of the accident “shot” the Camry into oncoming traffic in the eastbound lanes.
The accident occurred just feet from the Marion Oaks entrance.
The occupants of the Camry — three females– were transported to Ocala Regional Medical Center. Their condition is not known at this time.
The driver of the pickup truck did not appear to be injured.
This is just a preliminary report, Ocala Post will bring you more information once FHP completes its investigation.
Ocala police on the scene of the TD Bank robbery in Ocala. [Photo by Jenny Diaz][Last updated on April 10, 2014, at 11:00 p.m.]
Bank robbery suspect, James C. Collier captured.
Ocala, Florida — Ocala Police said two banks were robbed within hours.
On Friday, at approximately 9:20 a.m., the TD Bank, located at 2437 Southeast 17th Street was robbed at gunpoint.
According to Ocala Police, a man, later identified as James Christian Collier, entered the TD Bank and gave one of the tellers his identification, which had his name on it. The teller told police that Collier wanted to inquire about “his account” with the bank.
However, when she typed in Collier’s personal information into the banking computer there wasn’t any information about him in the system. Collier then gave the teller his Social Security Number.
When nothing came up in the system the teller asked Collier if he had an account. Collier replied, “I should have a savings account.”
According to reports, the teller again told Collier the system did not show anything, at which time he asked for his identification back and left the bank.
Moments later, Collier re-entered the bank and approached a different teller. The teller told police that he pulled a gun and motioned with his free hand for her to hand over the money. Once she handed Collier the cash, he ran from the bank.
Then, at 11:25 a.m., the SunTrust Bank in the 3500 block of State Road 40 was robbed.
According to reports, Collier handed the teller a note that was written on the back of a deposit slip.
The note read: “All the cash.”
According to reports, the teller handed Collier some cash and he fled the bank.
Investigators said that while they were investigating the SunTrust robbery a witness approached them. The witness told investigators that someone with a gun had entered a Kangaroo gas station earlier in the day.
According to reports, just prior to the robberies Collier had gone into the Kangaroo and asked for a job. When he was denied he told the clerk that he might be forced to “do something crazy.” The clerk said Collier then motioned under his clothing and pointed out that he had a gun.
The clerk said that when she saw police responding to SunTrust she followed them so she could tell them what had happened.
The clerk positively identified Collier as the man who had entered the store.
At approximately 3:30 p.m., Collier was caught trying to break into a motor home located in the 4900 block of East State Road 40.
As officers approached Collier, he fled on food. Collier was chased and caught by a Marion County Sheriff’s K-9. As the K-9 attempted to bite Collier, he began striking the K-9 with closed fists. Collier was then tased and taken into custody.
Collier was charged with Robbery with a Firearm(x2), Possession of a Weapon by a Convicted Felon, Resisting Arrest, and Public Order Crimes/Striking a K-9 Police Dog.
He has previous convictions for Burglary, Fraud, Grand Theft, Dealing in Stolen Property, Reckless Driving, Drug Possession, Larceny, Falsifying Pawn Broker Forms, Defrauding a Food Establishment, and multiple Violation of Probation arrests.
Collier’s bond was set at $120,000.
Police said Collier was in possession of $1,600 at the time of his arrest.
Thomas Gaines, the father of one of the tellers, told Ocala Post that his daughter was really shaken up after the robbery.
Ocala, Florida — SunTrust Bank is taking heavy fire after they sent out letters to some of its business customers telling them their accounts would be closed.
Vinny’s Super Pawn, located at 8810 Southwest Highway 200 Unit 121, Ocala, is just one of thousands of customers affected.
Pawn shop owner, Evie Mostacci, told Ocala Post that she firmly believes that SunTrust is targeting businesses that sell guns and ammunition. Mostacci received a letter from SunTrust informing her that she had to close both her savings and her business checking account in August 2014.
American Gun & Pawn Inc., owner Steve Champion, who also received a letter from SunTrust, said he too believes it is because he sells guns.
A spokesperson for SunTrust told Ocala Post that they are not targeting businesses that sell guns or other types of weapons. SunTrust said they adopted a policy and have decided not to allow accounts for pawn shops, payday lenders, and check cashing businesses. Businesses that SunTrust said it considers “high risk.”
The owners said they feel that the Obama administration has influenced the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) with a program called “Operation Choke Point,” which is an operation that was started by the U.S Justice Department in 2012. The U.S. Justice Department said that “Operation Choke Point” was implemented as a way to stop banking fraud. The operation allegedly only investigated banks’ relationships with “third-party payment processors,” which are the payment services that online stores often rely upon, to determine if they were defrauding consumers.
SunTrust denies that the FDIC has influenced the bank’s decision.
“SunTrust is pro-small business, and we are proud to serve more than 400,000 small business clients. SunTrust fully supports all of the rights that Americans are granted under the Constitution, and we continue to maintain banking relationships with licensed firearms dealers. It is consistent with long-standing industry practice to review relationships to ensure they satisfy a range of business and risk considerations. We have decided to discontinue banking relationships with three types of businesses – specifically payday lenders, pawn shops and dedicated check-cashers – due to compliance requirements. We remain committed to serving the needs of our communities while meeting the standards of our industry,” SunTrust wrote in a statement.
Mostacci said that despite what SunTrust has told the media and the public, her personal experience tells a different story.
“We first noticed that there was a big change in almost all of the employees working at SunTrust, including tellers and loan officers. We used the drive-thru all the time, and after 17 years of banking with SunTrust we got to know the people there. Well , that changed,” Mostacci said. “Just prior to receiving a letter I had visited SunTrust; and during my visit I was specifically asked by a bank employee if I sold firearms, which I answered yes.”
Mostaccis said, “Thinking the employee was interested in a firearm, I told him to come down and check us out. Days later, I received a letter from SunTrust’s corporate office telling me I had to close my accounts.”
The Justice Department also denies that the program was implemented to intimidate the FDIC into not doing business with those that sell firearms. However, a list that was created by the FDIC in 2011 specifically named firearms sales, coin dealers, dating services, fireworks shops, tobacco sales, pornography, travel clubs, lottery sales, cash advance businesses, and pharmaceutical sales as businesses that should be targeted.
Oddly enough, the only businesses that have reported receiving letters have been those that sell firearms and a few tobacco shops. Additionally, many believe there is also a direct link between “Choke Point” and the fact that pharmacies have recently refused to fill prescriptions for many people.
On May 29, 2014, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) released a staff report, citing that the DOJ’s creation of “Operation Choke Point” illegally choked off legitimate businesses. It was suggested that the list created by the FDIC had become a “hit list” of sorts that specifically targeted small businesses in the categories that were on the list.
Pawn shop owners said the operation was a back door for the Obama administration to be able to prevent the sale of guns.
“Operation Choke Point is the Justice Department’s newest abuse of power,” Issa said. “If the administration believes some businesses should be out of business, they should prosecute them before a judge and jury. By forcibly conscripting banks to do their bidding, the Justice Department has avoided any review and any check on their power.”
So why are business owners just now hearing about this? Because until now, the operation was kept secret.
It wasn’t until gun rights advocates and pawn shop owners like Mostacci and Champion started to “connect the dots” that they realized what was happening, and why.
The DOJ said they have never targeted those that sell guns or ammunition using “Choke Point.”
However, the American Banking Association said banks had most likely been influenced by federal guidelines. And the proof was in a letter from the FDIC to banks urging them to deny service to customers in the categories on the list created by the FDIC. On February 12, 2015, the letter was “corrected.”
It now reads:
“The FDIC is issuing this statement to encourage institutions to take a risk-based approach in assessing individual customer relationships rather than declining to provide banking services to entire categories of customers.”
Then, on July 28, 2014, one month before SunTrust began sending out letters informing pawn shop owners that their accounts would be closed by a certain date, the FDIC removed the “hit list” they had published. However, they did revise it and republished a list of guidelines.
Brian Wise, senior advisor for the U.S Consumer Coalition, said, “Choke Point has one purpose the government won’t admit, and that’s to go after businesses they couldn’t legislate out of existence for the last two decades.” Adding, “In late 2014, the Obama Administration began a process that would protect the effectiveness of Operation Choke Point by transferring the program from the DOJ and FDIC to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The program was never intended to be made public, and as such, would have been most effectively executed through Attorney General Holder’s leadership of the Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force with DOJ and FDIC at the lead. Once the program was made public, and victims began coming forward, the Administration had to find a way to protect the program and its ability to prevent lawful industries from operating. Due to the lack of congressional oversight, and the unique funding and leadership structure of the CFPB, the Administration knows that it will make the perfect agency to carry on the legacy of Operation Choke Point. The Administration will continue to remove any obstacles in their way.
The U.S. Consumer Coalition has been warning lawmakers and industry leaders about the plan for the CFPB to take over Operation Choke Point since the FDIC took down their list of ‘high-risk’ merchants in 2014. Now, everyone can begin to see that the CFPB is one of the the nation’s most dangerous, unaccountable, and out of control agencies in the federal government.”
“I’m not saying ‘Choke Point’ is the only reason why SunTrust is closing accounts, but it’s pretty suspicious,” Champion said.
Mostacci said that what SunTrust is doing to small businesses is illegal and wrong. She also said she plans to protest against SunTrust this Friday.
Business analysts said that the main goal of “Choke Point” is to cut off financial services to businesses that the government deems as “risky,” thus forcing small businesses to close their doors.
If you have been a victim of SunTrust’s “new policy,” or just want to express your opinion, leave a comment on Ocala Post’s Facebook. You can also log-in with Facebook in the comment section below.
