Mathew Smith [Mugshot]Ocala, Florida — An Ocala man is out of jail on $8,000 bond after he choked and body-slammed a child.
According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Mathew Smith, 25, was outside a residence in the 3400 block of SE 92 Street, when he picked up a child by his throat and body-slammed him.
A witness who called 911, stated she saw Smith lift the child up in the air by his throat and “slam” him to the ground.
A second witness told deputies that he also saw Smith slam the child to the ground while holding him by his throat. “Like they do on UFC,” the witness stated.
Smith attempted to flee the area on his motorcycle when he saw deputies, but quickly stopped when deputies activated their emergency lights.
Smith jumped off the motorcycle and stated, “I wasn’t driving.”
Smith continued to walk away from deputies and resisted arrest until he saw a second deputy moving in to assist.
According to reports, deputies quickly determined that Smith was heavily intoxicated.
Smith denied putting his hands on the boy. Additionally, he told deputies that he did not know the child.
Smith refused to perform any sobriety or breath tests.
The deputy called the abuse hotline and spoke with “Operator Adrian,” ID 242, who advised she would not be doing a report on the incident. The deputy then notified the Crisis Intervention Specialist (C.I.S.).
The relationship between Smith and the boy was not released to Ocala Post.
According to reports, the boy might have suffered broken bones, but no further details could be obtained.
Smith was arrested and charged with Child Abuse, DUI, and Resisting Arrest.
Crystal River, Florida — On Saturday, at 4:20 p.m., the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office received a call in reference to a dog attack on a child.
Deputies, Fire Rescue, and EMS responded to a residence at 8352 West Oak Street, Crystal River. Upon arrival, they discovered the lifeless body of Christopher Camejo Jr., 2, in the backyard of the home. His body showed clear signs of a vicious dog attack.
There were four Rottweilers and another dog in the backyard at the time of their investigation.
Deputies also discovered that there were several people inside the residence at the time the attack occurred, but no one was outside with the child. The parents of the boy, Christopher Camejo Sr., 29, and Claudia Scarbrough, 31, were both inside the residence, along with some friends and two additional children — ages 1 and 5.
Camejo Sr., the father of the boy, was found to be in violation of an injunction for protection and was taken into custody at that time. The injunction had been served in another county on behalf of Claudia Scarbrough.
Animal Control Officers responded and removed the four Rottweilers and an additional dog from the home. A Chihuahua and several puppies found at the residence were left at the home.
After the Department of Children and Families was notified, the other two children were placed in state custody.
“This is a horrific situation,” Lt. Kevin Purinton said. “It’s unimaginable what that poor baby went through and we’re going to do everything we can to determine exactly what happened and if any charges should be brought forth.”
For now, the dogs are not being put down.
The investigation is ongoing.
If you have any information related to this incident, please call the Sheriff’s Office at 352-726-1121 or, to remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-888-ANY-TIPS.
Johanna Stone [Mugshot]Ocala, Florida — An Ocala woman that caused a scene at the Checkers fast food restaurant, located at 1239 E. SR 40, was arrested after employees called police.
According to reports, Johanna Stone, 28, became angry when Checkers employees refused give her the food she had ordered. Employees told police that Stone attempted to use three different credit cards, but they were all declined.
When employees would not give her the food for free, she began yelling at them through the drive through window. When asked to leave, she refused to do so without her food.
When officers arrived, Stone spotted them and sped off from the business — squealing her tires.
The officer then observed Stone drive through a red light. She stopped her vehicle after she had passed under the light and through the intersection. To avoid Stone possibly causing a traffic crash, a traffic stop was initiated.
Stone told the officer the brakes on [her] vehicle didn’t work and that’s why she ran the red light.
According to reports, the officer could smell the strong odor of alcohol emitting from the vehicle. The officer also reported that Stone’s speech was extremely slurred.
Stone told the officer she had not been drinking. She also provided the officer with her sister’s ID. Stone told the officer all information on the driver’s license was correct.
Stone failed all sobriety exercises and refused a breath test. When the officer advised Stone of Implied Consent, Stone replied, “F**k you b***h.”
A search of the vehicle turned up a large bottle of Rain Vodka that was half empty. The bottle had been stuffed between the driver and passenger seat.
Stone’s true identity was revealed after she was fingerprinted.
She has been arrested multiple times for DUI and has had her license suspended for refusal to submit to a breath test.
She has had 10 suspensions and her driver’s license is currently under a five-year revocation.
In 2004 Stone was convicted of Aggravated Child Abuse and Retail Theft in 2010.
Stone was arrested and charged with DUI, Driving While License Suspended/Habitual Offender (F), Failure to Submit to Breath Test, Fraud, Impersonating/Displaying Another’s Driver’s License, and Displaying False ID to Law Enforcement.
Stone was not cited for “running” the red light.
She was released from jail on $23,000 bond a few hours after she was arrested.
Ocala, Florida — In July 2014, Tom Rebman, an English teacher in a Title 1 middle school in Orlando, Florida, went homeless for 30 days so his students could understand how difficult it is to live without shelter and food. He also wanted to keep them reading and writing during the summer.
His journey began with nothing but his ID and the clothes on his back.
“I didn’t know what would happen, where I would eat, or sleep. I was homeless for 30 days, and it was one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life,” Rebman said. “I used only legal government services (shelters, food pantries, etc.) to live. I donated plasma to earn money for bus fare. I took candid video to show how homeless people are viewed and treated. I came to know many members of our homeless community, and lived as a part of their culture.”
Rebman decided to continue his journey, thus the organization Homeless and Hungry was born.
Rebman said he has a completely different outlook on life and feels homeless people are unjustly getting a bad reputation.
Teacher Chose Ocala
Rebman has now chosen Ocala to live homeless.
His goal is to promote awareness, remind everyone of the struggles the homeless face on a daily basis, and decriminalize being homeless in the city.
Over the past several months, dozens of homeless people have been arrested for open lodging within Ocala city limits. Unlike many Florida cities, Ocala does not have an ordinance prohibiting citizens from feeding the public; however, the city does have an ordinance against open lodging — as do many cities. Several were arrested just this past weekend. In one recent arrest, a man fell asleep on the steps of a local business. The police were called and the man was arrested and charged with Open Lodging.
Officials said, “What the public needs to realize is many of the homeless people chose to be homeless. They chose to live off the grid, and many of them are criminals; some have been convicted of violent crimes. The ordinance is meant to help the homeless as well as protect the individuals around them.”
However, citizens in Marion County disagree and say the police have their facts wrong. Many have expressed anger because they feel the city has not done more to help the homeless and leave it up to police to track the number of homeless people in Ocala.
Many of the homeless are veterans that have returned home to nothing. In 2010, more than 20,000 active-duty veterans and reservists with government-sponsored mortgages lost their homes, a 32-percent increase from 2008 and the largest loss since 2003. The number could have been worse were it not for Veterans Administration programs that helped 66,000 military families avoid foreclosure in 2010.
Even worse, military members are often victims of foreclosure fraud. In November 2011, federal regulators released data showing that more than 5,000 military members were illegally foreclosed upon by the nation’s 10 largest banks, and veterans continue to battle banks to stay in their homes on a daily basis. A large portion of veterans that lost their home during this time, are still homeless today.
Rebman, a military veteran himself, served for 23-years.
Homeless, Day 1
On Rebman’s first day in Ocala, he quickly learned that the compassion from volunteers and faith-based organizations are much greater than that of individuals who are paid to help the homeless. He also said despite it not being that cold, the lower temperatures are usually what gets him the fastest.
He only takes money if it is offered or earned. “If I don’t raise enough money to eat, I don’t eat,” Rebman said. When he visits shelters he also refuses to take a bed from a person that needs it more.
Ocala is the fifth city in which Rebman has chosen to live homeless. He has also lived homeless in Orlando, Daytona, St. Petersburg Beach, and Sarasota. In Daytona Beach — Like Fort Lauderdale — it is illegal to feed the homeless in public. Rebman rated Daytona with an “F” because of the city’s lack of compassion for the homeless.
Redman is hoping he does not have to give Ocala the same rating.
“I will not leave town until there is a discussion about the homeless situation in Ocala,” Rebman said.
If you would like to follow his journey and read more about the organization, you can visit his Facebook page at Homeless and Hungry.
Ocala, Florida — Thieves are using online advertising methods instead of pawn shops more than ever to get cash for stolen goods. Law enforcement agencies everywhere have seen a tremendous spike in theft this holiday season.
Thieves are brazenly using Facebook yard sale pages, craigslist, and many other sites that offer free classified advertising. Even though this is nothing new, the rate at which it happens has substantially increased.
The public is warned to be wary of “good deals” that sound almost too good to be true.
From Marion County to Polk County, investigators have busted multiple organized theft rings in recent months. Many of these theft rings focused on personal hygiene and household products, such as laundry detergent, shampoo, toothpaste, and more. Officials warn that if a person is offering a large quantity of an item for sale, it might be stolen. That’s not saying it is the case every time; however, how many individuals have 20 bottles of laundry detergent sitting around the house?
Products found in a suspects car.
If a person is offering jewelry, watches, electronics, or other expensive items at a heavily discounted price or has multiple high-ticket items (multiple watches) for sale, it should be a red flag for the buyer. Additionally, if a person is selling firearms via Facebook, be sure and call the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and have the serial number checked prior to purchasing the weapon. If the seller refuses to supply the serial number, then chances are the weapon is stolen.
Other stolen items being sold include power tools, silverware, dishes, utility trailers, and lawn equipment. If possible, always check serial numbers. If the serial number has been removed, do not purchase that item.
Investigators also said people should use caution when buying gift cards offered at discounted prices. It is not impossible to pull off a scam with gift cards. Detectives said criminals do it all the time. Often times, gift cards are purchased with a stolen credit card or debit card. A scam artist could very easily sell a gift card, then cancel it even after the buyer has verified funds.
In addition to purchasing items, buyers should beware of fakes sales. In recent weeks, two separate buyers were robbed when meeting someone from Facebook to purchase items. In one of the cases, a victim was pistol whipped.
The holiday season is a huge opportunity for thieves, and they will take advantage of people in every way they can.
Law enforcement officials do not want people to be scared to buy from other individuals. They just want everyone to do so safely and with caution.
Law enforcement officials said they are watching the aforementioned sites very closely. Dealing in Stolen Property (sometimes called “trafficking in stolen property”) is a second degree felony, regardless of the value of the item.
If you think you may have been a victim, call the Marion County Sheriff’s Office at 352-732-9111.
Clayton Lundy [left] and Stephanie Lundy [Mugshots]Ocala, Florida — Sheriff’s deputies arrested a husband and wife after an investigation revealed the pair were ripping off storage units.
Deputies responded to the Neighborhood Self Storage at 4701 SE Maricamp Road, Ocala, after a victim reported her storage unit had been emptied.
After checking surveillance video, deputies learned that the maintenance man, Clayton Lundy, 54, was stealing items out of the victim’s storage unit.
Clayton also had his wife, Stephanie Lundy, 37, meet him at the storage facility with a van, which was used to haul the stolen items away.
The assistant manger provided additional video that showed Clayton and Stephanie loading boxes into their van. What investigators saw on the video disgusted them. The husband and wife team had also used their three young children to remove items from the storage unit and load them into the van.
After learning of the investigation, the Lundys’ discarded most of the stolen items in a dumpster. Those items could not be recovered because Clayton refused to tell investigators what dumpster he used to discard the items. However, deputies were able to recover some jewelry from the Lundy’s home.
According to reports, despite video evidence, they both denied any wrongdoing and were uncooperative. During questioning, neither seemed to show any remorse for involving their children .
Clayton Lundy has been the center of several criminal investigations in the past. He has never been convicted because each time a case was presented, the State Attorney declined to prosecute.
Due to the Lundys’ involving their children, the Department of Children and Families was notified. DCF said they would document the incident, but a formal report would not be written.
The Lundys’ were charged with Grand Theft, Destroying Evidence, and Child Neglect. They were released from jail on $6,000 bond each.
Consumer Reports released the 2014 vehicle reliability list. Despite Toyota-Lexus having thousands of recalls in 2014, they still made the top of the list.
Infotainment systems cause lots of problems
Just as a brain surgeon isn’t the best person to do a heart transplant, it turns out automakers aren’t the ideal source for sophisticated, cutting-edge infotainment electronics. As evidence, these systems remain the leading source of trouble among new cars, especially if it is a brand-new design.
The good news: Improvements in previously trouble-prone systems such as MyFord Touch and HondaLink show that automakers can typically work the bugs out of the systems as the years tick by.
Lexus and Toyota stay in front
Once again, Toyota’s luxury brand Lexus proved to be the most reliable brand overall, with Toyota a close second. Part of the secret for accomplishing this feat is that as a rule, Toyota and Lexus usually avoid fully redesigning their products, reusing enough components to support good reliability out of the box.
The most reliable car isn’t necessarily the best car to buy. And vice versa.
The most reliable new car honor goes to Toyota’s Scion xB. Seven years of building the same car gave Toyota plenty of time to get this roomy little box right, but, to drive, the xB lacks refinement and gets worse fuel economy than many larger SUVs. Likewise, the Toyota Tundra wins most reliable pickup truck honors, but even with a new, gigantic grille, it feels well past its sell-by date compared to the much-fresher competition.
More proof that road test scores don’t match reliability: The updated-for-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee rates high in Consumer Reports tests. But recent changes, including a new version of Chrysler’s Uconnect infotainment system, put its reliability into a tailspin. The high-scoring Ram pickup also fell below average in reliability.
Signs of life at the ‘new’ GM
Look beyond the near-daily barrage of safety recalls. They’re important, but when it comes to things breaking, it looks like the “new” GM has left its pre-bankruptcy days behind. For the second year in a row, GM is the most reliable domestic car company. Important new products—including the Cadillac CTS, Chevrolet Corvette, and Chevrolet Impala V6—have proven reliable in their first year. Buick is the top domestic brand, with every one of their models being reliable.
Not all GM news is good news, though
The new Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra pickup truck is a problem-child for the company, suffering from many early bugs. They’re the least-reliable new half-ton pickup in our survey. The Chevrolet Cruze, with its turbocharged 1.4-liter engine, is also trouble-prone
Ford improves as its products mature
Ford’s corporate reliability dropped over the last three years as the company moved from conservative product updates to total top-to-bottom redesigns. But as products such as the Fusion and Explorer mature, their bugs are getting worked out. A big reason for the gains: reliability improvements in the MyFord Touch infotainment system. Maybe next year Ford will break its trend and cleanly kicks off its all-new Mustang and F-150 pickup.
And then there’s Fiat-Chrysler Group
Fiat-Chrysler sits at the bottom of the pack, with four of its brands—Dodge, Ram, Jeep, and Fiat—sweeping our least-reliable rankings. Partly to blame: The new Jeep Cherokee four-cylinder is the least-reliable new small SUV on the market. The Fiat 500L is the least reliable new car in our 2014 survey, with a reliability score that is 219 percent worse than average. The smaller Fiat 500 is better, but it still scores poor for reliability. The Dodge Dart was updated for 2014, but still falls short. This car does have some good points: Handling is taut and agile, and the ride is composed. Besides that, the front cabin is quite spacious and the optional Uconnect touch screen is one of the better infotainment systems. Updates include improvements to the interior and seats, but the rear remains cramped. The primary powertrain is now a 2.4-liter four-cylinder and smooth six-speed automatic. The 2.4 lacks refinement but is a better choice than the sluggish base 2.0-liter and thrashy optional 1.4-liter turbo four-cylinder. Reliability of the 2.0-liter has been average, the turbo four-cylinder is below average, and the 2.4-liter is unknown. The biggest complaints with the Dodge Dart are engine stalls without warning and turbo failure.
Nissan struggles after big product line revamp
With ambitious plans to increase sales, Nissan extensively redesigned many of their cars within a short window of time. Too bad many of them, including the Altima midsize sedan, Pathfinder SUV, and Sentra small car, now rank among the least-reliable choices in their segments. The Rogue small SUV had an average first year.
It’s hard to buy an unreliable new midsize family sedan
The Nissan Altima’s woes especially stand out because almost every new midsize family sedan has average or better reliability. Even some newly designed models that you might not expect to be reliable, such as the Mazda6 and Volkswagen Passat with its new 1.8T gasoline engine, proved excellent. Yet after its second year on the market, the Altima still has below-average reliability.
Luxury car buyers shouldn’t rely on conventional wisdom
Want a reliable luxury car? Conventional wisdom says to buy a Japanese brand. But that only really works for Lexus. Acura has a reputation for high reliability, but its new RLX luxury sedan and MDX SUV had only average reliability in their first year. Again, blame their complicated infotainment systems.
Nissan’s luxury brand, Infiniti, fared even worse. Reliability of its new products has plummeted. The new-for-2014 Q50 is meant to phase out the super-reliable G37 (now Q40), but the Q50’s first-year reliability is abysmal. Its new InTouch infotainment system is even less reliable than MyFord Touch was in its famously troublesome first year. That takes some doing. The QX60 SUV (formerly JX35) is also unreliable, even without InTouch.
German luxury can be very reliable—or not
For the second year in a row, Audi ranks among the top five most reliable brands, even showing some improvement from last year. Their six-cylinder Audi Q5 is more reliable than an Acura RDX, and in its first year, the Audi Allroad had fewer problems than the Honda Crosstour or Toyota Venza.
But models on both ends of their price spectrum hurt Mercedes-Benz. Starting at $29,900, the new entry-level CLA looks great. But you get what you pay for with this baby Benz’. Not only does it have a low road test score, it’s also the least reliable new compact luxury car you can buy, falling just below the Infiniti Q50.
Perhaps no cost was spared for the range-topping Mercedes-Benz S-Class flagship sedan, but this hyper-complex car had lots of problems. Maybe that’s to be expected for a car that can (almost) drive itself and even pumps perfume through the interior.
The one place where the Tesla Model S proves to be only average
Elon Musk’s all-electric luxury sedan tops Consumer Reports’ test scores, and it outsells many conventional uber-luxury sedans. Reliability holds steady at average. Older Model S’s show some problems, but extensive updates are improving the lot for newer Teslas.
Eric Garner being choked by Officer Daniel Pantaleo
New York — Protesters poured onto the streets of New York late Wednesday, upset over a grand jury’s decision not to indict a police officer in the death of Eric Garner.
They marched at the same time U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced that federal officials were moving ahead with a civil rights investigation.
The fatal encounter in July was captured on video and seen around the world. But after viewing the footage and hearing from witnesses, including the officer who used the chokehold, a defensive tactic move that is banned by New York Police Departments, the jurors deliberated for less than a day before deciding that there was not enough evidence to go forward with charges against the officer, Daniel Pantaleo, 29, in the death of the man, Eric Garner, 43.
Police said that the public could not rely on a short video clip; however, the actual video is 14-minutes long.
“This fight ain’t over. It’s just begun. I’m determined to get justice for my husband because he shouldn’t have been killed in that way. He shouldn’t have been killed in any way,” said Esaw Garner, his widow.
“He should be here, celebrating Christmas and Thanksgiving and everything else, with his children and his grandchildren. And he can’t. Why? Because a cop did wrong. Somebody that gets paid to do right did wrong and he’s not held accountable for it. But my husband’s death will not be in vain. As long as I have a breath in my body I will fight the fight till the end.”
Esaw Garner, said she did not accept the officer’s apology.
“Hell, no; the time for remorse for the death of my husband was when he was yelling to breathe,” she said. While she mourns, the officer can go home to his family, she said.
Even more disturbing to the family is the fact that Officer Pantaleo has had two other law suits filed against him for the same issue. One lawsuit was thrown out in 2013 and the other remains open.
Protesters gathered at various points in Manhattan, including Times Square and Union Square, marching peacefully north as crowds formed near Rockefeller Center for the lighting of the Christmas tree. Columbus Circle was blocked for quite some time.
Rep. Peter King, R-New York, said he is glad the officer was not indicted. He said Garner died because he was obese and had a heart condition. He also denied the officer held Garner in a chokehold. King said, “It is not against the law to use the chokehold.” However, the NYPD strictly forbids it, except in life or death situations.
“The police had no reason to know he was in serious condition,” King said. “You had a 350-pound person who was resisting arrest. The police were trying to bring him down as quickly as possible. If he had not had asthma and a heart condition and was so obese, almost definitely he would not have died.”
“People were saying that he said seven times, ‘I can’t breathe.’ But if you can’t breathe, you can’t talk,” King said. “So police hear that all the time.”
King also defended the officer’s decision to use the chokehold as an arrest procedure, contradicting his previous statements that the officer did not use the chokehold.
President Barack Obama said Wednesday that he and outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder are “not going to let up” in the effort to solve the problem of racial tensions that exists between law enforcement officers and minorities in communities nationwide. President Obama said law enforcement must be held accountable for their actions.
The last officer in New York to be found not guilty for using a chokehold and killing a man, was later sentenced to seven years in prison after the Department of Justice launched a federal civil rights investigation.
Many are hoping that will be the turnout for Officer Pantaleo.
The protest in New York has been peaceful, leaders said protesters in Ferguson should take lessons on the proper way to organize a protest.
Leaders said, “Despite Garner’s previous arrests, he was basically killed for selling loose cigarettes to put food on his table.”
One New York rep said, “We have politicians in this country that break the law every day, yet they never see the inside of a jail cell, are never harassed by police, or put in a chokehold.”
New York Rep. Charlie Rangel also said at a press conference that he hopes the Justice Department will “take this cancer (meaning police brutality) and cut it out once and for all.”
The medical examiners report states that Garner died from compression to the throat (chokehold) and chest, and “prone positioning during apparent physical restraint.” In layman’s terms, Garner’s chest was compressed to the point where he could not breathe while he was already on the ground in prone position. The medical examiner ruled Garner’s death a homicide. There was no mention of heart attack in the reports obtained by Ocala Post.
Ramsey Orta, the man that shot the video of Garner being killed by police said, “I have been harassed by police everyday since I released the video.” He also said the video that police are showing media, is not the full video. He said the video was shortened, but he provided the full length video to actor and director, Spike Lee. Spike Lee confirmed that he is in possession of the video. It is unclear what Spike Lee intends to do with it.
Duane Helvie [Mugshot]Summerfield, Florida — Marion County Property Crimes Detectives are actively investigating 44-year-old Duane Helvie, of Summerfield, in a string of burglaries that might extend beyond Marion County.
Helvie was apprehended this morning while he was attempting to burglarize a storage shed in the 9000 block of Baseline Road in Ocala.
After interviewing Helvie and witnesses, detectives determined stolen items might be at Helvie’s residence located at 17020 S.E. 99th Avenue, Summerfield. Once they arrived at the home, several stolen items, including a utility trailer stolen yesterday (Tuesday), were recognized in plain view in Helvie’s front yard. Other items stolen include power tools, TV’s, silverware, dishes, and an abundance of other items.
Helvie’s motive as to why he stole these items is being investigated at this time.
He was also in possession of multiple burglary tools, including bolt cutters, box cutters, and screwdrivers.
Helvie is currently being held at the Marion County Jail on $7,500 bond. Detectives are working with both Lake and Sumter County Sheriff’s Offices to determine whether any items located at Helvie’s residence are related to cases in their areas.
Helvie is currently facing multiple burglary and grand theft charges. Additional charges are expected to be filed.
If you think you may have been a victim, call the Marion County Sheriff’s Office at 352-732-9111.
Ocala, Florida —What residents thought to be a sonic boom, turned out to be the sound of an explosion from inside a Honda Civic.
On Tuesday, shortly after 11 p.m., Marion County Sheriff’s Deputies and Marion County Fire Rescue Engine 32 responded to an explosion at 14721 SW 35th Terrace Road in Marion Oaks.
Upon arrival, firefighters discovered that a Honda Civic had been intentionally lit on fire from inside the vehicle. Gasoline was used as an accelerant in the blaze. Investigators said it appeared that all windows in the vehicle were in the up position when the fire was set.
The force of the explosion blew out all four side windows, rear window, and sunroof of the vehicle. The explosion also blew out a front window of the home. The force of the explosion was so intense glass was found more than 100 feet away. The blast was reported as being heard and felt in houses as far as a mile away.
A gas can was found approximately 15 feet from the charred vehicle.
A witness reported seeing someone running from the scene. Officials said the description that was given matches a male tenant that lives at the home. Officials said the incident is very suspicious, and neighbors agreed.
More than a dozen neighbors came out to investigate the commotion.
One neighbor stated that there is a lot of suspicious activity taking place in the home on a regular basis. Several neighbors reported that the vehicle that was blown-up used to speed up and down the street — day and night — with extremely loud “bumble bee” type mufflers. Neighbors said a male that lives their leaves and returns to the house at least 10 to 15 times a day.
One guy said, “Good, maybe now I can get some sleep.”
A woman standing near him stated, “If you live that kind of lifestyle, bad things happen,” she added, “and who parks their car right up to the front door?”
Despite the danger of the situation, most were not surprised by the incident.
One of the young female tenants at the home said, “If somebody did this on purpose, I will f**k them up if I find them. I had my grandbaby in the house.”
Another guy uttered, “This should be considered attempted murder if it was done intentionally.”
Firefighters taped off the area and used their fire engine to block one end of the street, while the captain used his SUV to block the other end. The State Fire Marshal was called out to investigate. Firefighters had to keep the area secure for more than an hour while waiting for the fire marshal to arrive from an area north of Gainesville.
No one was injured during the incident.
The investigation is ongoing.
If you have any information about this case, you can call the Marion County Sheriff’s Office at 352-732-9111 or Marion County Fire Rescue at 352-291-8000. Anonymity is guaranteed.
Ocala, Florida — The Marion County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspect(s) who burglarized a home and killed a child’s pet turtles.
On Monday, a home in the 4800 block of Southwest 166th Loop was burglarized, at which time the thief stole some loose change from the son’s bedroom. What the homeowners found next left them shocked and horrified.
The thief had taken the granddaughter’s pet turtles, placed them in a pot of water, and boiled them alive.
A spokeswoman for the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said the woman’s granddaughter had named the turtles after characters from the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” movie.
The woman’s granddaughter was devastated.
Deputies said the victims left their home around 8 a.m. and returned to find that someone had broken in through a window. Deputies said the home looked as if a tornado went through it.
If you have any information about the heartless crime, 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.
Donald H. Davidson Jr (Considered armed and dangerous)
Jacksonville, Florida — At 11:26 p.m., the Florida Department of Corrections issued an alert to law enforcement in Clay County regarding an offender on court ordered conditional release who removed his GPS monitor this evening.
The offender, Donald H. Davidson Jr., 34, is considered armed and dangerous.
The Florida Department of Corrections said Public safety is the Department’s first priority and they are working closely with all law enforcement agencies to extend every available resource to apprehend this individual.
Davidson is 6’1″, weighs approximately 250 pounds, and has brown hair and brown eyes.
He was convicted for Lewd and Lascivious Molestation of a Child Under 18 (x2) in 2003. After his release, he was then convicted of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon on a Pregnant Female. Davidson was sentenced in November 2010; however, a judge recently ordered a conditional release for Davidson. He was to be monitored by a GPS ankle monitor and supervised by a probation officer until June 2015.
He might attempt to flee to other areas in Florida. If you see Davidson, do not approach him and call 911 immediately.
The Florida Department of Corrections has asked for the public’s help in circulating this information.
[Updated on December 2, 2014 at 9:07 a.m.]
Davidson has been captured. The Florida Department of Corrections said they are extremely grateful for the help they received from the public, as well as law enforcement agencies.
Reginald W. Howard [Mugshot]Ocala, Florida — After arriving at Sam’s Big Apple, 1943 West Silver Springs Boulevard, a woman and her three children were threatened at gunpoint before they had a chance to exit their vehicle.
When Ocala police arrived on scene, they found the suspect, Reginald Howard, 36, hiding in the bathroom of the business.
Upon searching Howard, police found a loaded Glock 19 in his back pocket.
Police said Howard worked at a nearby business selling CD’s and left his work station to enter another business. Howard entered Sam’s Big Apple then later exited the store and ran up to the passenger side of the victim’s car. The victim told police that Howard reached into his waistband, pulled out a black handgun, and pointed it at she and the children. She stated that Howard then said, “I’m gonna’ f**k ya’ll up.”
The victim stated that she feared for her children’s lives. According to the victim, Howard ran back into the store after the she told him she had called 911.
According to reports, Howard told police he was hiding in the bathroom because he feared for his safety. He also told police he had found the handgun near a dumpster behind Sam’s Big Apple.
Police said it is unclear why Howard targeted the mother and her children, but believe it might be related to a previous dispute between Howard and a friend of the victim.
Howard was arrested and charged with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon (x4), Possession of a Weapon by a Convicted Felon, and Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon.
Howard is a career criminal with an extensive arrest history.
Ocala, Florida — The Professional Firefighters of Marion County say they are absolutely fed up with the politics and treatment they receive from the Marion County Board of County Commissioners.
Tomorrow, December 2, 2014, firefighters will be protesting at the county commission chambers from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., expressing concerns in many areas.
Firefighters say their turnover rate is extremely high, and in the last four years, have lost nearly 200 employees; costing taxpayers of Marion County nearly $3 million. It costs approximately $15,000 to hire and train an individual before they can be released and work on their own.
Response time for a call for service is currently 33 percent higher than the minimum national average of 9 minutes for transport services. This puts Marion County residents at risk when awaiting emergency personnel.
According to reports, a resigning firefighter typically has provided seven years of service to the county, but is replaced by firefighters with no experience, and this causes concern to Marion County’s Medical Director.
Since 2008, Marion County Fire Rescue has lost nearly 45 percent of its revenue, and is currently one of the lowest paid departments in the region behind Lake, Citrus, and Sumter Counties. On average, Marion County Firefighters are paid nearly $10,000 less per year compared to comparable fire departments.
Most firefighters are paid so little that they qualify for food stamps. Some residents may have seen the billboards that state this fact. Many firefighters are paid less per hour than the starting hourly wage of some cashiers.
A firefighter’s beginning salary is $8.98 per hour.
Firefighter/EMTs begin at $9.83 per hour.
A paramedic’s beginning salary is $10.98/hr.
An EMT’s beginning salary is $8.98 per hour.
Firefighter/paramedics begin at $11.93 per hour.
Starting annual salaries for firefighter/paramedics in The Villages is $42,653; Pasco County $43,389; Gainesville $44,188; and in the City of Ocala, $37,553. Meanwhile, Marion County firefighters must work as many overtime hours as possible to even make ends meet. Many of them hold second jobs, and are forced to spend countless hours away from their wives and children. While firefighters say this is the career they have chosen because they love the job, they would also like to be able to provide for their family.
Many firefighters said they were sought out by the government and offered assistance, including Obama phones, but every family Ocala Post spoke with said they turned it down.
Ryan O’Reilly, Secretary of Professional Firefighters of Marion County said, “Firefighter pay is based on a 53 hour work week, and overtime is calculated at anything over 106 hours in a two week pay cycle according to the fair labor standards act. So we get three different pay checks every two weeks: One with 104 hours; one with 112 hours, and one with 120 hours. This might be one of the reasons people think we make good money. They are used to the idea of overtime pay after 40 hours in a week.”
Marion County Fire Rescue #54 still smoldering after the fire was extinguished.
On top of salary issues, emergency responders are forced to use deteriorating equipment, including vehicles.
In a recent incident, after arriving at a hospital with a patient, the emergency vehicle caught fire while parked in the ambulance bay. A fire unit happened to be in the area and was able to extinguish the fire before it spread or caused injury. Firefighters said the situation could have turned out much worse had they not been in the area.
The Professional Firefighters of Marion County are hoping county commissioners will soon come to their senses. Read more HERE.
Orlando, Florida — The integrity of the Orlando Police Department is being questioned after the agency purposely withheld evidence from the State Attorney’s Office against one of their officers.
The agency withheld body cam video that showed Orlando Police Officer, William Escobar, punching and kicking a military police officer while he was already handcuffed and on the ground following an illegal arrest.
It all started in March 2014, when police responded to a call about a possible fight between six individuals.
The first paragraph of the police report showed that officers already had a preconceived notion of who they thought they would be dealing with when they responded to the area by stating they knew criminals lived in the area. The officers also claimed that when they arrived on the scene and stepped out of the car, they could smell marijuana in the air. Officer Williams stated, “I am familiar with the odor of cannabis due to my training and experience in street level drugs.” It was later determined there wasn’t any marijuana on the scene.
While on the scene, Officer Williams reported he saw the silhouette of a handgun in the pocket of Verrell Sheals, one of the individuals at the location.
While arresting Sheals, officers reported that Refus Jerome Holloway “charged” officers while his hands were in his pockets. Further in the report, officers contradicted themselves and stated that Holloway’s hands were outside his pockets because he was holding up his military officer ID. Witnesses testified that Holloway did in fact have his hands up, attempting to show the officers his ID. Holloway was asking the officers why his cousin was being arrested.
Officer Williams stated that he took Holloway’s actions as threatening, drew his weapon, and pointed it at Holloway. As Holloway was telling the officer to look at his ID, Officer Williams delivered a front kick to Holloway’s abdomen, at which point Holloway caught the officer’s foot. Holloway immediately released the officer’s foot and began to back away once he realized the officer had lost his balance.
Officer Williams then emptied an entire can of OC spray in Holloway’s face. As Holloway fell to the ground, he was still sprayed. An innocent bystander was also hit in his face by the spray, causing him to fall to the ground as well.
Holloway was then handcuffed and punched by Officer Escobar. Officer Escobar punched Holloway in the back of the head while he was handcuffed and face-down in the dirt. Officer Escobar said, “I am a cop, you understand you stupid mother f***er.” The officer also kicked Holloway.
Holloway can be heard in the video saying, “I didn’t touch you, I didn’t touch you.”
After kicking Holloway, the officer then dragged him and tossed him like a ragdoll.
Officer Williams and Escobar wrote in their police reports that Holloway was punched in the head because he was resisting being handcuffed and tried to stand up. However, when Holloway was punched in the back of the head, he was already handcuffed. Officer Escobar also stated that he kicked Holloway because [he] attempted to kick him.
Holloway said the only time he moved was when he attempted to turn his head to the side because he had been OC sprayed, and could not breathe with his face directly in the dirt.
An investigation reveled that the officer’s police reports were completely fabricated. It was also learned that the officers didn’t even write their own reports. The reports were written by an officer that was not even present at the scene.
Holloway was arrested and charged with Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer based on the arresting officer’s sworn statements.
The State Attorney was forced to drop the charges against Holloway after the 1:49 cell video surfaced in June that contradicted parts of the officer’s police report. The video also prompted prosecutors to ask about body cam video, even though Escobar had put in the police report that there wasn’t any body cam video of the arrest. The incident happened in March, but the body cam video was not presented to prosecutors until October — four months after the cell phone video surfaced.
Escobar has yet to be criminally charged, although prosecutors now say they are considering charges.
The Orlando Police Department refused to supply Ocala Post with the body cam video, citing an open investigation against Officer Escobar.
“Thank you for your inquiry however the case is still active at this time and nothing is being released at this time. Should the information become available it will be released,” Orlando Police Department Public Information Officer, Lieutenant Lovetta Quinn-Henry, wrote in an e-mail to Ocala Post.
An officer with OPD who requested anonymity said, “As of November 24, 2014, Escobar is still on the job at the Orlando Police Department, but is on ‘alternative’ duties.”
In the officer’s reports, they stated that the area is a known drug area and is overridden with criminals; however, Holloway’s family are not the common criminal type.
Holloway has been a military officer for five years and has served overseas twice. His father also owns a very prosperous bail bonds company in the Orlando area. Holloway said the officers clearly had their minds made up before they even arrived. “As soon as they saw me, they profiled me because of what I look like,” Holloway said. “I did not disrespect the officers and I had my hands up with my ID out, I was treated like a criminal. I am a military police officer, I know how to act and respect the law.” Holloway went on to say, “The truth is the reason they concealed the body cam video.”
Holloway went on to say, “How are people supposed to trust the Orlando Police Department if they cover up crimes committed by officers.”
“The integrity of the department has been compromised,” Holloway said.
Officer Escobar has been investigated eight other times for similar disciplinary actions. Each time Escobar was investigated, he was cleared.
The State Attorney’s office claimed the investigation is ongoing.
Volusia County — A stolen GPS unit led Volusia County sheriff’s deputies straight to the victim of a weekend car burglary and helped put the suspect behind bars.
The suspect, Dewey Smith, 31, of Deltona, was the passenger in a pickup a deputy pulled over for just before 4 a.m. on Saturday. When the deputy, Sgt. David King, first approached the truck, he noticed a purple bag of electronics in the back seat.
Later, when King came back to the pickup after performing a license check, he noticed Smith had covered the bag with a jacket.
Deputy King asked the driver for permission to search the vehicle, and he agreed.
The deputy found the purple bag contained a GPS unit, cell phones, sunglasses, a gift card, and other items.
Smith told the deputy the items belonged to him – even the sunglasses, which he said he wore even though they were women’s frames.
However, the GPS unit told a different story. A recent address in the system lead deputies to a home in Deltona, where the resident confirmed his SUV had been burglarized.
The victim went to the scene of the traffic stop and identified some of the items in the purple bag as items taken from his SUV.
Other items belonged to other burglary victims.
Smith was charged with Burglary and Grand Theft. The driver of the pickup, Christopher Lucas, 33, was charged with Possession of Cocaine after Deputy King found a plastic baggie of cocaine in Lucas’ pocket.
Lindsay Taylor [Mugshot]Belleview, Florida — Authorities said the mother of a 10-month-old infant put her child in serious danger after she drove drunk while the infant was in the back seat.
Lindsay Rose Helen Taylor, 22, of Belleview, was pulled over on County Road 484 by a deputy when he noticed the vehicle weaving and following other traffic too closely. The vehicle’s tail lights were also not working properly.
According to reports, the deputy could smell the strong odor of alcohol once he approached the vehicle, and reported that Taylor’s speech was noticeably slurred. At first, Taylor denied drinking, but later stated that she had only consumed one beer.
Taylor’s passenger was also intoxicated and doesn’t possess a valid drivers license. The SUV Taylor was driving belonged to the passenger.
Taylor, who was reportedly smug about the situation, failed her sobriety tests and was arrested.
She was charged with DUI with Person Under 18 in Vehicle. Her blood alcohol level was nearly twice the legal limit.
The baby was placed in the custody of Taylor’s step-father.
Taylor bonded out of jail a few hours after she was arrested.
A search of the vehicle turned up a bottle of gin that was almost empty.
Sources said Taylor has two other children that are no longer in her custody.
Tallahassee — The Florida Department of Health has received notification of two influenza associated pediatric deaths in Orange and Pasco Counties. While most cases of FLU are mild, there are exceptions. Pre-existing health conditions often play a role in how individuals react to the flu.
“Our hearts go out to the family and friends of these children,” said Deputy Secretary for Health and Deputy State Health Officer for Children’s Medical Services Dr. Celeste Philip. “Getting the FLU vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and others from the FLU. You can help prevent the spread of FLU or other viruses by staying home from work or school when you are sick, covering your coughs and sneezes and washing your hands frequently.”
The majority of deaths from FLU in the United States each year occur in persons with underlying chronic health conditions. Pregnant women, young children, cancer patients, people with asthma, diabetes, suppressed immune systems, heart disease, and kidney disease need to pay particular attention to personal hygiene, avoid close contact to infected persons and consult with their healthcare provider regarding the influenza vaccine.
Additional FLU prevention steps include washing your hands often, keeping your hands away from your face and covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when sneezing and coughing. Symptoms of the FLU include headache, fever, severe cough, sore throat, runny nose or body aches. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, see your primary care provider immediately for guidance on treatment.
In Florida, the most common influenza subtype detected at the Bureau of Public Health Laboratories (BPHL) in recent weeks has been influenza A (H3). Each year scientists try to match the viruses in the vaccine to those most likely to cause the FLU that particular year. Currently available vaccine formulations protect against all strains of influenza that have been identified by the BPHL as circulating in Florida this season.
Officials said it is important for families to get a FLU vaccine every year. FLU vaccines are offered in many locations, including doctor’s offices, clinics, health departments, retail stores, pharmacies, health centers and by many employers and schools.
Check with your physician, or visit http://www.floridahealth.gov/prevention-safety-and-wellness/flu-prevention/locate-a-flu-shot.html to search for a location to receive a FLU vaccine.
Officials would not release the ages of the victims, but did say they were young.
Ocala, Florida — The Trinity Catholic Celtics lost Friday night’s regional final playoff game against the Trinity Christian Conquerors. This makes it two consecutive years the Celtics have lost in the playoffs to the Conquerors.
The Celtics gave the Conquerors everything they couldn’t handle on defense, holding the Conquerors to only 14 offensive points. The score was 14-10 on the Celtics last offensive play, when quarterback Noah Schaffer threw an interception to Chris Barr, who returned it 30 yards for a touchdown as time expired to make the final score 20-10.
The Conquerors had the first score of the game on a Rasheed Martin five yard run, but the Celtics answered with their own five yard touchdown run by Marquis Hendrix.
The Celtics went up 10-7 in the second quarter on a 33 yard field goal by Tanner Riggs. Trinity Christian’s kicker, Frankie Onate, missed a field goal at the end of the first half.
Trinity Christian went down the field on their opening drive in the second half connecting on a 37 yard touchdown pass. From then on, it was a defensive battle as neither offense scored the rest of the way.
Trinity Catholic will return next year in hopes of filling in the holes that will be left by 19 seniors.
![Duane Helvie [Mugshot]](https://www.ocalapost.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/DUANE-HELVIE.jpg)
