Ocala, Florida — This charity event will benefit Toys For Tots. Hosted by Jacked up for a Cause. Live music, food, raffles, and fun. November 22, 2014, 12:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
FWC: Two cited for shooting at buck from vehicle
Ocala, Florida — While patrolling the area of Forest Road 8 and Old Forest Road 573, FWC Officer, Washburn Wear, heard gunshots in the distance.
As Officer Wear headed in the direction of the gunshots, he saw a vehicle with one headlight driving slowly toward him. When the driver spotted the FWC officer, the vehicle turned east on Old Forest Road 573.
Officer Wear followed and initiated a traffic stop.
When the officer approached the vehicle, he saw a 12-gauge pump shotgun in plain sight lying on the rear floorboard of the vehicle.
The occupants, identified as Justin Matthew Reynolds, 18, of Umatilla, and Michael Ray Harrison, 33, of Groveland, were then asked to exit the vehicle so the officer could secure the firearm.
The officer advised Reynolds, the driver, he had a headlight out and asked where he was coming from. Reynolds paused from a moment, and then stated that the two had just shot at a deer on the side of the road.
Both men admitted to shooting at a whitetail buck from a moving vehicle while using a spotlight.
They also stated that they had thrown the spent shotgun shells out the window of the vehicle after firing the shots.
FWC K-9 Officers Joe Simpson and Mike Rice responded to the scene. They utilized K-9 Moose to locate the spent shells.
Harrison was cited for Discharging a Firearm from a Roadway, and Reynolds was issued a warning for the headlight; both received citations for Attempting to take a Whitetail Deer at Night by Firearm and Light.
The citations are for mandatory court appearances.
Reckless driver had to urinate
When she arrived, she made contact with Sergeant Hay, who had been in the area of NW 2nd Street and NW 6th Avenue.
Sergeant Hay had seen a black 1998 Ford Contour driving recklessly in the area. The Ford was traveling at a high rate of speed, jumped a set of railroad tracks, and could be heard slamming into the road because the car was traveling so fast.
Sergeant Hay then saw the vehicle speed recklessly into Parkside Apartments, where it stopped in front of building 1200. The vehicle nearly stuck a group of children that were standing on the sidewalk as the driver attempted to park the car.
Once stopped, the driver, identified as Keisha Ann Feeney, 23, from New Jersey, angrily exited the vehicle, walked over to the sidewalk, squatted, and then began to urinate. Multiple people witnessed the incident.
According to reports, Feeney was very agitated when she learned she was going to be arrested. Once in the patrol car, she attempted to kick out the back windows several times. Subsequently, Feeney was placed in leg restraints in order to prevent her from harming herself and/or cause any property damage.
Feeney has two prior convictions and her driver’s license has been suspended since September 2011.
She was charged with Disorderly Conduct, Reckless Driving, and Driving while License Suspended Third or Subsequent Offense (F).
Three arrested in fuel theft ring
The thieves went to three different gas stations in Marion County and used a van equipped with an elaborate gas siphoning system to steal over $3,000 worth of diesel from the businesses.
The van had a cut-out in the floorboard. They would pull up to a gas station, remove the cover for the diesel storage tank, and use their siphoning system to pump diesel into the storage tanks in the van. The storage tanks could hold over 300 gallons of fuel at a time.
On November 11, 2014, Deputy Nathan McClain pulled over the Dodge van after having worked two previous diesel fuel theft cases involving that vehicle description.
The deputy attempted to question the suspects, but they claimed they didn’t speak English. They are refusing to cooperate with investigators.
All three suspects were arrested. Linares and Gonzalez were charged with three counts of Grand Theft. Oliva was charged with two counts of Grand Theft.
Linares and Gonzalez remain behind bars.
Alondra Oliva was released on $4,000 bond. However, detectives later learned she would be charged with a third count of grand theft. She is now on the run. Detectives believe she fled to the Miami area.
The trio has stolen more than $1,000 gallons of diesel fuel in Ocala; however, detectives believe they are responsible for more diesel fuel thefts across the state of Florida. All three suspects are from Miami.
Gas was stolen from SN Food Mart, 7440 SE Maricamp Road; Kwik King, 502 Oak Road; and Kangaroo Express, 6820 SE Maricamp Road. All of the stores are located in the Silver Springs Shores area.
If you have information on Oliva’s whereabouts or about this case, 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.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office asks that you share this information and help capture the wanted fugitive.
[Updated at 2:18 p.m. on November 14, 2014.]
Oliva, the wanted fugitive, turned herself into the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
style=”display:inline-block;width:468px;height:60px”
data-ad-client=”ca-pub-0875608592842799″
data-ad-slot=”4633312117″>
Florida doctors are not required to carry malpractice insurance
Recent e-mails about the legality of doctors operating without malpractice insurance in Ocala, sparked an investigation by Ocala Post. What Ocala Post found might surprise you.
There is a law in Florida (458.320, F.S.) that states doctors must carry $100,000 in malpractice insurance in order to practice medicine at all, and in order to have hospital staff privileges (they see patients in hospitals and not just in their offices) they must have at least $250,000 in malpractice insurance. As an alternative to having an actual malpractice insurance policy, Florida law also allows doctors to use other types of pre-arranged secured assets to cover claims in these amounts, like trust accounts, bank letters of credit, and similar arrangements. There is nothing inherently wrong with these other types of security, but they are rarely used.
Unfortunately, these amounts of insurance are often woefully inadequate to pay the actual damages in medical negligence claims. What good is a $250,000 malpractice policy if the patient’s injuries result in medical bills of $600,000? What about wage losses and other damages? And the $250,000 is gross, not net after paying for expenses and attorney fees to collect the money. Fortunately, some doctors and virtually all hospitals carry insurance policies in larger amounts.
But hold on, the law also has a loophole that does not require doctors to carry insurance at all.
According to the loophole, in Florida, if your doctor practices without insurance, he or she should have a sign posted in a conspicuous place, which advises patients to that fact. Unfortunately, many times, it is not posted. But what will you do, sue them? According to the McMillen Law Firm, you would have a difficult time of collecting, since the doctor has no insurance.
If a hospital is involved in a patient’s injury, they might actually be able to sue the hospital for allowing the doctor to practice without the required insurance or assets.
Many doctors hold title to their assets in ways to make it difficult to collect a judgment from them personally. CPAs routinely give seminars to doctors with names like “How to Protect Your Assets From the Trial Lawyers.” They never give those seminars more appropriate names, like “How to Commit Malpractice, Cause Enormous Pain and Financial Injury to Your Patients and their Families, Yet Escape Any Responsibility to Them.” And CPAs most always instruct their clients to become a LLC (Limited Liability Corporation).
The law firm says individuals should certainly think twice about knowingly going to a doctor who does not carry malpractice insurance.
Legislation passed in 2013 by Governor Rick Scott, makes suing a doctor almost impossible. Florida’s Malpractice Act requires that an injured patient must first obtain a sworn affidavit from a doctor to even initiate a claim, which can be a very expensive and difficult barrier to cross for any lawyers who sue doctors in Florida. Most doctors are afraid and reluctant to testify against another doctor who practices in their community and medical specialty. A major radical change contained in the bill permits a defendant doctor’s or hospital’s lawyers to request a meeting with a plaintiff’s treating physician — initially with the patient’s attorney present, but after 15 days without the lawyer, to discuss the claimants’ medical records, diagnosis, and prognosis, and even recommend a defense lawyer. This means that a medical malpractice defense lawyer will be able to confer with a treating doctor and discuss the confidential medical history of a patient as well as the defense’s strategy,which invades the doctor-patient relationship and has significant potential to influence the testimony and opinions that a treating physician may have in a particular case. Reasons like this is why many attorneys today will not even accept malpractice claims.
A good doctor wants to have malpractice insurance for two reasons. First, it pays for a lawyer if the doctor ever needs one to fight a claim that is believed to be without merit. But most importantly, if the doctor does make a mistake, the insurance is there to help the patient who has been unintentionally injured.
The law firm said if the doctor is a decent human being, he or she knows they can actually make a mistake, and care enough about patients to want them compensated if something goes wrong.
The McMillen Law Firm said, “There is something discomforting about any doctor who feels adversarial enough toward his patients that he is even willing to post a sign in his office advising to them that they can’t get any money from him if he hurts them.”
According to the law firm, if a doctor does post a sign, it might be that the doctor has had so many prior claims, the physician simply cannot afford to buy insurance because the insurance premiums got too high, or no insurance company is willing to underwrite for that doctor.
The law firm said that should worry you as a patient.
Out of 10 doctors interviewed by Ocala Post, three of them did not have malpractice insurance. Out of the three, one did not have a sign posted. Because none of the physicians had any prior claims against them, Ocala Post will not name the doctors.
Board members are trying to ban all tobacco in “their” town
Westminster , Massachusetts — A small town in Massachusetts has become the latest battleground against Big Tobacco.
Many, including military veterans, are calling it tyranny.
Residents of Westminster were supposed to get the chance Wednesday night to debate a health board proposal that will ban the sale of all tobacco and nicotine products — potentially making it the first community in the country to snuff out everything from e-cigarettes to flavored cigars. But while public health groups are lauding the proposal, smokers, their advocates and shopkeepers alike are fuming.
Bruce Siebert, who said he is a Vietnam veteran, said he started smoking when the government gave soldiers cigarettes as part of their rations. He said he has since quit and it was a choice he made.
“As a veteran, I fought to make sure people had a choice,” he said. “When people tend to want to make choices for us, that’s tyranny.”
Resident Jennifer Shenk said she was raised by smokers and a family member recently died of lung cancer. She said she does not smoke, but is opposed to the ban.
“What I find terrifying is government overstepping,” she said.
David McKeehan, president of the North Central Chamber of Commerce and a Westminster resident, said his concern and the concern of the Chamber of Commerce is the idea of restraint of trade.
“It will not only have a negative impact on businesses in this town, but it could have a negative impact on the growth of businesses in this town,” he said.
At the start of the meeting, Board of Health Chairman Andrea Crete outlined the process for how the hearing would be held. Among the rules was that board members would not answer any questions at the meeting. She also said those attending would be expected to be considerate of other speakers.
Sixty or more residents in the packed Westminster Elementary school gymnasium were registered to share their opinions. Some among the audience of several hundred toted signs opposing the ban; some had participated in a rally earlier.
But amid shouts of “America!” and “Freedom Now,” Board of Health chairwoman Andrea Crete gaveled the hearing to a close just 25 minutes into it instead of taking comments. The meeting was cut short, board members said they didn’t want to hear it. The crowd got rowdy just minutes into the meeting. “It just got too unruly, no one is respecting the ground rules,” Board of Health Chair Andrea Crete said. “We have to close it.”
Only a handful of people were able to speak on a proposal.
Residents said they are excepted to follow the rules, but board members are walking all over the Constitution.
Despite the ban having a 90 percent disapproval rate, the board said they would attempt to move forward anyway. The board said they don’t care how many signatures the town presents.
The health board chairman said the main focus on the regulation is children. She said that banning tobacco sales in town would make them less accessible to children.
After Ms. Crete spoke, resident Charles Roundtree asked her how the proposal is going to help him as a community member. He questioned whether the board would next ban candy cigarettes and bubble gum cigars, and said the issue should be put to a vote.
“I’m a veteran and I don’t think it is fair that you are taking away my rights not to vote for something that affects me,” he said.
Joyce McGuire, a Westminster resident and nonsmoker who opposes the ban, also was disappointed the hearing ended early.
“I think people are really angry because they feel this is being shoved down their throats,” she said. And with the proposal drawing national media attention, she added, “I think we all feel really embarrassed. I don’t think this is the way our town is.”
One audience member said, “Tyranny is widespread, just like New York banning the Big Gulp.”
Cindy Hastings-Brutvan said, “This is inexplicable, I can’t even believe it. Nationally, we feel like a laughing stock in America right now, and we’re not.”
“I find smoking to be one of the most disgusting habits anybody could possibly do. On top of that, I find this proposal to be even more of a disgusting thing,” resident Kevin West said.
The decision rests solely with the board, which says it is fed up with bubblegum-flavored cigars, electronic cigarettes and other new products that appeal to young people. Board members say the easiest course of action is to enact a total ban on all sales within town lines.
Fearing the crowd, Crete and the two other board members were escorted out by police, and the crowd dispersed. She said the board would accept written testimony until Dec. 1 and would vote later. She didn’t specify a date. The crowd reportedly sang “God Bless America” as board members were escorted out.
Ocala Post contacted the health board and they said, “We are just trying to save the lives of our children.”
We want to hear your thoughts on this issue. Comment below.
Scheduled protest against Churchill Dentistry, LLC, formerly Polliwog Dental, LLC
Ocala, Florida — There will be a protest against Churchill Dentistry, LLC., formerly Polliwog Dental, LLC, at 255 Se 17th Street, Ocala, on Saturday, November 15, 2014, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The protest is being organized by E.j. Raines, and many other concerned parents in Marion County.
The protest is in regards to the multiple patient abuse complaints filed with the Ocala Police Department against the dentistry.
For more information and to sign up, visit the Churchill Dentistry, LLC protest.
WESH 2 news might also be present during the protest.
If you are unfamiliar with the allegations against the dentistry, you can read it here.
2014 Ocala Christmas Parade
Ocala, Florida — The annual Ocala Christmas Parade is December 13, 2014, and begins at 5:30 p.m.!
The 2014 parade theme is “Home for the Holidays.”
The friends of the Christmas Parade are striving to make being a part of the parade easier than ever by selling Bleacher Seat tickets online! Tickets are only $8 (Plus a $1 service charge) and are the best seats in the house for watching Florida’s Largest Night-Time Parade! Just fill in your information, and your tickets will be e-mailed to you for your convenience. All you have to do is print them out and present them on the day of the parade.
Tickets for bleacher seats can be purchased here.
Bleacher seat map can be seen here.
If you want to be in the parade and need registration information, or want to register as a food vendor, click here.
[Updated on December 14, 2014, at 12:55 p.m.]
Post by Ocala Post.
Michael Bloomberg says forget college, become a plumber
New York — Former New York City Mayor and billionaire Michael Bloomberg has some advice for high school seniors: forget college, become a plumber instead.
“Today if your kid wants to go to college or become a plumber, you’ve got to think long and hard,” said Bloomberg Monday at the annual meeting of Wall Street trade group SIFMA.
“If he’s not going to go to a great school and he’s not super smart academically, but is smart in terms of dealing with people and that sort of thing, being a plumber is a great job because you have pricing power, you have an enormous skill set,” he said.
The founder of financial data and news services company Bloomberg L.P. even went as far as to say that students considering Harvard should do the math.
You could pay $50,000 to $60,000 a year to Harvard or you could make that much as an apprentice plumber, he explained.
Is college worth it? Bloomberg — who attended Johns Hopkins University and Harvard Business School — knows what it takes to build a business, and he sees a lot of opportunity for middle class Americans entering the service trades.
He mentioned the plumber father of one of his employees to help make the case.
“He’s got six plumbers working for him, he’s a scratch golfer, he goes around playing golf courses I only dream about,” quipped Bloomberg, drawing chuckles from the audience. “He’s built a business, he’s had a chance to do that. He never went to college.”
The former mayor claimed that such careers are more important now than ever as technology has made it so middle class professions don’t pay like they used to. He believes that’s why the latest labor statistics show that wages remain stagnant even as employment has gone up.
“In law firms now you hit a button and get research. It used to be law clerks looking through books,” said Bloomberg.
Is the American dream still alive? His remarks were echoed at the SIFMA event by David Rubenstein, co-founder and CEO of private equity behemoth The Carlyle Group. He pointed out that neither of his parents graduated from high school and his father worked at the post office making $7,000 a year. Still, he was a big believer in the American dream.
“Today many people in our society do not believe any longer that if you work hard, you go to school, you get a scholarship and you can get to the top,” Rubeinstein said. “The idea that social mobility is gone, that is a big problem and a residue of the great recession.”
—By Jesse Solomon—
FHP: “Stuff the Charger” food drive
Tallahassee, Florida — What do Thanksgiving turkeys and Florida Highway Patrol cars (Chargers) have in common? They are both “stuffed” to feed Florida families for the holidays.
The Chargers were stuffed last week as part of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles’ inaugural “Stuff the Charger” food drive.
Each DHSMV location across the state spent the past few weeks collecting non-perishable food items to help feed Florida families who are less fortunate this holiday season.
Last week, the donated food was loaded into the chargers and delivered to local food banks.
Federal prisoners allowed to attend formal Daddy-Daughter Dance
Miami, Florida — On November 4, 2014, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (Bureau) held a Daddy-Daughter Dance for offenders in the Federal Detention Center (FDC) in Miami, Florida.
Federal prisoners came dressed in their Sunday best, as did their daughters. You would have never known the formal dance was being held at a prison. It was like a scene from any school Daddy-Daughter Dance.
The Bureau said this event is an example of the Bureau’s latest efforts to reach out to the children and families of offenders in their care, to renew relationships and strengthen bonds. The Bureau’s mission to help offenders return to their communities as productive law abiding citizens does not end at the prison walls; connections to families and children are critical aspects of reentry, along with employment, housing and medical care.
Distinguished guests from the Department of Justice included Federal Bureau of Prisons Director Charles E. Samuels, Jr., Assistant Attorney General for Justice Programs Karol Mason, Director of the Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships Eugene Schneeberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Wifredo Ferrer, FDC Warden William T. Taylor, National President of the Council of Prison Locals Eric Young and Miami-Dade Police Department Chaplain Dr. Walter T. Richardson.
“You are a key to the success of your father,” Director Samuels told the daughters. He reminded the fathers of the theme of the dance, “There is Still Time at the Ball” – still time to take an active part in the lives of their daughters. The Director encouraged the men to take advantage of the Bureau’s many self-improvement programs, remain involved with their children while in prison, and become positive members of the community following release.
Director Samuels reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to hold more events like this and to implement even more innovative programs for parents to improve relationships with their children. Eric Young, National President of the Council of Prison Locals, American Federation of Government Employees also addressed the attendees, echoing many of the sentiments expressed by Director Samuels. He recognized and thanked the staff for their unyielding efforts achieving the mission and protecting public safety.
What do you think? Should prisoners be allowed to participate in this type of event? Leave your comments below.
Man with Schizophrenia heard voices; charged with 3 felonies
The victim told the dispatcher that her husband had choked her and she was bleeding from her nose and chin.
When Deputy Richard Peters arrived at the 10,000 block of SW 186th Avenue, Dunnellon, he saw the victim standing in the yard bleeding. Deputy Peters then saw Green standing next to a fire pit holding a small child’s hand.
According to reports, the deputy told Green he needed to walk toward the deputy. Green refused, then positioned his daughter between himself and the fire pit.
Green then let go of the child’s hand and began to fight the deputy. Deputy Peters and Green grappled on the ground for approximately three minutes. During the fight, Green tried several times to put the deputy in a choke hold.
Deputy Peters deployed his Taser, at which point Green got up and ran toward the back of the property, breaking free from the Taser probes.
Green then picked up an axe handle and charged the deputy, raising it over his head.
According to reports, Deputy Peters then drew his weapon and held Green at gunpoint until backup arrived.
Once backup arrived, Green was handcuffed and placed in the back of a patrol car without further incident.
The victim told deputies that Green suffers from Schizophrenia, and his medication had recently changed. She stated that Green had been hearing voices and had not been himself.
Due to a child being present during the incident, DCF was notified.
Green remains behind bars.
No shots were fired during the incident.
Marion County mobile jail cell
Ocala, Florida — The Marion County Sheriff’s Office has developed an extensive crime prevention program that includes many tools such as their award-winning kiosks, DUI prevention vehicle, their PSA “Hummer” vehicle, and other PSAs involving billboard ads, TV, and radio spots.
Because they do not have a Scared Straight program at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Blair added a mobile jail cell to his arsenal of public safety and awareness fixtures to simulate such a program.
The mobile jail cell will be taken to schools and community events in an effort to discourage those young and old from committing unlawful acts that could lead to jail time.
The mobile jail cell is an 8X12 foot utility trailer, which has very similar dimensions to an actual cell in the Marion County Jail. The trailer has a stainless steel toilet and sink, a mattress, pillow, and uniform — all handmade by Marion County inmates.
Basic amenities like a toothbrush, food tray, and shoes are on display. To top it off, the trailer has a jail door with iron bars attached to its side. Razor wire along the roof completes the look.
Signs inside the trailer give the history of the jail, the costs of being incarcerated, and the impact it has on families.
This educational tool was paid through Marion County’s Crime Prevention Fund and comes at no cost to Marion County taxpayers.
Arrests continue over feeding the homeless
Florida residents are outraged over Fort Lauderdale citizens being arrested for feeding the homeless.
The controversy is also the reason dozens of e-mails were recently sent to Ocala Post about the homeless that have arrested in Ocala, and charged with Open Lodging.
Many have turned to social media, blasting Fort Lauderdale officials, accusing them of trying to rid the city of its homeless population.
Ocala Post investigated and found Fort Lauderdale is not the only city in Florida, or the only state, to impose a Public Food Sharing Ordinance which prohibits the feeding of homeless people in public places.
In the most recent arrest, which occurred on November 7, 2014, Fort Lauderdale Police arrested a 17-year-old, Nikki Rye, 25, and an unidentified male. All three were arrested and charged with violating the city’s Public Food Sharing Ordinance. They were serving food to the homeless at Stranahan Park.
When Rye refused to stop feeding the homeless and would not produce her identification, police put her in handcuffs.
One officer told the 17-year-old to, “Cease feeding immediately.”
The 17-year-old said, “I am embarrassed to call Fort Lauderdale my home, I am disgusted that the officers put their hands on me.” He went on to say. “I thought it was a sick joke. They can’t stop me from feeding the homeless.”
On Wednesday, November 5, 2014, police cited two ministers and a 90-year-old man, identified as Arnold “Chef” Abbott, for organizing and feeding the homeless in a Fort Lauderdale park near a Beach. Police said, “Instead of taking Mr. Abbott to jail, we fingerprinted him at the scene and wrote him a citation, and notice to appear before a judge.” This was not Abbott’s first run-in with the police over feeding the homeless.
Abbott said he was threatened with 60 days in jail if he continued to feed the homeless.
Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler has received more than 2000 e-mails criticizing the ordinance.
“If you are going to simply feed them outdoors to get them from breakfast to lunch to dinner, all you are doing is enabling the cycle of homelessness. We are not going to stop enforcing the law just because it has got the attention of the media,” Seiler stated in an e-mail.
Seiler claims the ordinance is meant to protect the citizens of Fort Lauderdale as well as the homeless. He said it is not meant to reduce the homeless population. “I believe Fort Lauderdale residents will stand by me on this,” Seiler said.
Abbott disagrees. “The mayor is trying to rid the city of its homeless people,” Abbot said. “Seiler and the rest of the city commission are the puppets of business owners who want to run the homeless out of town …or at least not have to see them. If we cannot feed the homeless they will resort to dumpster diving… and possibly try to steal food.”
City officials said the new ordinance would protect the city. They say it would help prevent homeless people from urinating and defecating in parks, on beaches, and under bridges. It will also help keep the city clean of trash left behind after the feedings have ended.
“I want the homeless to utilize government and church services to get help,” said Seiler.
Abbott said he was treated like a criminal. “One officer that came up said, ‘Drop that plate now,’ as if I were holding a weapon.”
Daytona Beach has the same ordinance in place. In May 2014, a husband and wife who have been feeding the homeless at Manatee Island Park for a year, were banned from the park after police cited them for illegally feeding a crowd.
Chico and Debbie Jimenez, and their volunteers, were cited by police.
“The ordinance is there, so if we catch you, we’re going to cite you,” Police Chief Mike Chitwood said. “If you want to feed people, and you want to do a good, Christian act, we encourage you to coordinate with the social service agencies.”
Chico quit his job as a construction manager and Debbie quit hers as a manager of an auto-parts store to open a ministry. They said their ministry helps in ways other than just feeding the homeless.
Through donations, they have paid electric bills, water bills, and rent. They have also purchased backpacks, clothes, and bicycles for people.
Diane Clester, one of the volunteers, said, “If we were criminals, it would be one thing, but we’re not. And when we leave the park, there isn’t a scrap of paper on the ground, not one thing.”
“Within an hour and a half, we are done and gone,” she said.
“We allow anyone to eat that is hungry. You don’t have to be homeless. If you are hungry, eat,” Debbie said. “Our home-cooked meals are better than any of the food served at shelters. We have made so many good friends since we started doing this.”
The citations cost the Jimenez’s and their volunteers more than $2,000.
Orlando, Florida; Birmingham, Alabama; St. Louis, Missouri, and at least 30 other cities are just some that have enacted or attempted ordinances aimed at the homeless.
After several people in Orlando were arrested for feeding the homeless in Lake Eola Park; protesters gathered with signs that read “Food Not Bombs.”
Mayor Buddy Dyer ultimately had the charges dropped.
Ocala does not have an ordinance that prohibits citizens from feeding the public; however, the city does have an ordinance against open lodging — as do many cities. Over the past several months, dozens of homeless people have been arrested for open lodging within Ocala city limits. Two were arrested just this past weekend.
The cases have created a serious divide between local government and its citizens.
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.”
A group in Fort Lauderdale said they would continue to feed the homeless until the mayor realizes his arrogance. One of the arrested said, “This is clearly a way for the city to take out what they consider trash. The only people I see that agree with the ordinance are the rich.”
Abbott sued the City of Fort Lauderdale in 1999 after they tried to stop him from feeding the homeless on a public beach. Abbott won the case three times in circuit court and twice in the court of appeals.
The Fort Lauderdale Public Food Sharing Ordinance was passed by the commission on October 21, 2014.
“The city has waged war against the poorest of the poor,” Abbott said.
Seiler said there will be more arrests if people continue to feed the homeless and violate the ordinance.
Abbott said a lot of the homeless people in his area are military veterans. Many of them are injured, suffer from PTSD, or other mental illnesses. They fought for our county to end up forgotten and on the street he said.
Abbott, a second world war veteran himself, and founder of the interfaith Love Thy Neighbour non-profit group, said he would continue to try to feed Fort Lauderdale’s homeless and planned to file a lawsuit against the city to try to get the ordinance overturned.
We want to hear from you. What do you think? Is the city protecting the homeless?
Entire county board arrested following citizens arrest by 2 military veterans
Clark County, Illinois — Sometimes citizens can be so frustrated with county board members they wish someone could just place them under arrest. Well, that is exactly what citizens in Clark County, Illinois did.
Illinois’ number one manufactured product is corruption. More than 95 percent of the Illinois legislature is safe in gerrymandered districts. The incumbent governor has three current federal investigations of his administration, but the Attorney General/state’s attorney class can’t find public vice anywhere.
Residents that voted in the recent election said they are hoping officials have learned from the past mistakes of others.
So what can a law-abiding citizen do? The answer is coming from some regular guys in southern Illinois who decided to hold public officials accountable. They call themselves the “Watchdogs.”
Kirk Allen and John Kraft — two military veterans — live in Edgar County, which just might be the most corrupt county in the country. For a couple of watchdogs, it’s a target-rich environment.
In an effort to take back their government from self-serving politicians and bureaucrats, Kraft and Allen established a group called the Edgar County Watchdogs. Through a combination of public pressure, Freedom of Information filings, lawsuits, and media exposure, they have created a system that deeply threatens Illinois’ corrupt, entrenched political establishment. They operate a blog called Illinois Leaks that exposes corruption at the state and local levels. The blog is so popular that it is trusted more than the local paper.
Considering the fact that, according to Forbes, their home county’s government has racked up over $79 million in debt all on its own while serving only 18,000 residents, Kraft and Allen have their work cut out for them.
By relentlessly pursuing justice for even the smallest infractions by bureaucrats and politicians, the Edgar County Watchdogs have driven 102 public officials to resign from their posts, including 33 officials in Edgar County alone. The pair busted the mayor of Redmond for attempting to hold office while living out of town. They represented themselves in court and beat Illinois Assistant Attorney General Emma Steimel in a lawsuit seeking access to state e-mails.
Officials who have resigned due to the Watchdogs’ efforts include a property tax assessor, the Edgar County board chairman, an entire airport board and its manager, the attorney for Kansas Township’s fire department, Shiloh’s superintendent of schools, and Effingham’s health department administrator, among others. After they exposed corrupt, illegal, and self-serving spending habits by the Ford-Iroquois County health department, the entire bureaucracy was dissolved. In some cases, federal agents have even stepped in to investigate and issue subpoenas to local officials after receiving tips from Kraft and Allen.
Public boards are used to facing angry crowds, but most have never encountered what happened at one recent meeting in central Illinois.
In what was one of their most epic displays of political crime-fighting, which was captured on video, Allen and Kraft held the entire Clark County Park District Board under citizen’s arrest on May 13, 2014, for violating the Illinois Open Meetings Act, a Class C misdemeanor.
When asked if there would be public comment, one of the board members said, “I vote no,” followed by five other board members.
Board attorney Kate Yargus could be heard on video saying there would be no public comment that night and telling the board members they were “free to go,” even after Kraft’s citizen’s arrest announcement. She tried to cite statute to Kraft, but before she could finish, he said, “Just sit down, you are making yourself look like a fool.”
Deputies were dispatched to the scene, but Clark County Sheriff Jerry Parsley personally responded that night. Parsley said he knew it was a heated situation and felt it would be best if he handled it. He said that Kraft handled the citizen’s arrest responsibly, and the board was definitely in violation of the Open Meetings Act by not allowing the public to speak.
“It’s not that they should have. They’re mandated to,” Parsley said. “The people need to have their voice. It’s not a dictatorship. It’s a democracy.”
The sheriff arrested six of the board members. The seventh board member was not arrested because he voted against the other members. As they were escorted out of the building, the crowd cheered.
The board had previously laughed at the watchdog group and called them troublemakers, However, the Sheriff and the State Attorney’s Office didn’t see it that way.
Kraft said, “Every citizen, in every state, county, and city, should take note. Make sure their local government officials are working for the people and not for themselves.”
A lawsuit against the board is still pending. Their next board meeting is scheduled for late November.
–Barry Donegan, Adam Andrzejewski, and the Better Government Association contributed to this story.–
Man hit by bus in front of strip club
Ocala, Florida — A pedestrian that was arguing with staff at Body Shots strip club on U.S.-411, Ocala, was struck and killed by a bus early Saturday morning.
According to witnesses, Body Shots staff were walking toward Charles Davis Jr., 52, of Ocala, attempting to make him vacate the premises. Witnesses said Davis was walking backward as staff continued to approach him.
Staff told Cpl. Susan M. Barge with the Florida Highway patrol, they turned around and had stopped pursuing Davis, but he continued to walk backward into the road. Staff said they warned him to get out of the road, but he didn’t listen.
At approximately 1:38 a.m., Davis was struck by what FHP referred to as a 2012 Preo bus. It might have actually been a Prevost RV Bus.
Marion County Fire Rescue pronounced Davis dead at the scene.
According to reports, it is unknown if alcohol played a part in the accident.
The investigation is ongoing.
UPDATED: Missing / Endangered teen in Ocala / Marion County
Ocala, Florida — SHE HAS BEEN LOCATED! 17-year-old Hayle Wallace was last seen at 24 Pecan Run Way, Ocala, at around 6 p.m. on November 5, 2014. She was wearing a red shirt, black cargo pants, and a black backpack. She did not show up for school at Forest High Thursday and Friday. Hayle moved to Ocala approximately four months ago from Clearwater, Florida, and she might be headed in that direction. She does not have a cell phone and she has deleted her Facebook account. If you have any information on her whereabouts, please call 911 or 352-732-9111.
Unsportsmanlike penalty for praying?
Fort Myers, Florida — Sam Turner, a 16-year-old tight end for the Fort Myers High School Green Wave, was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct after scoring a touchdown.
Turner earned the penalty after raising his hands in the air to honor a teammate who was murdered, and then took a knee to thank God. The celebration last all of about five seconds.
“I felt like I had to thank God for blessing me with the talent and passion to play football,” Turner said. “So I dropped to a knee and thanked God for everything he’s done in my life.”
This penalty has sparked much debate about whether or not Turner was penalized for prayer or not. Although, the Florida High School Athletic Association or FHSAA and the South Gulf Football Officials Association said Turner was not penalized for praying, but instead was penalized for violating Rule 9-5, Article 1 of the 2014 National Federation of State High School Associations football rulebook. The rule states “any delayed, excessive, or prolonged act by which a player attempts to focus attention upon himself.” The league stated that any gesture lasting 5 seconds or more is considered delaying the game.
“It was deemed excessive celebration in a manner that drew attention to the player,” FHSAA spokesman Cory Sober said. “I believe the arm motion is what drew the flag and not kneeling or the prayer.”
Sobers also stated “It’s a judgment call. The penalty is not because he prayed. It’s because the official determined he was trying to focus attention on himself and that’s the bigger issue in the official’s viewpoint.”
Turner said he was never trying to draw any attention. “I was trying to thank God in my own personal way,” Turned said. “What better way to do it than to drop down on a knee and humble yourself before him?”
Turner said he will follow the rules from now on and will give all of his praise to God on the sidelines.
—By Brandon Wilson—
Scam alert issued for Ocala/Marion County
Ocala, Florida — Residents are warned about a nationwide phone scam now in Marion County, after a 74-year-old man was harassed multiple times yesterday.
The caller was threatening to arrest the man’s son-in-law for “illegally possessing rental property” if money was not paid. The man said he immediately knew it was a scam and called his son-in-law to tell him what had happened. While he was on the phone, the scammer called two more times. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office was immediately notified.
Oscar & Gamble, or also known as Oscar & Gamble Law Firm, is calling residents from phone number 888-394-0265 and threatening arrest if money is not paid.
The scam goes something like this:
Someone calls you, or a relative, and says he or she is with a government agency, law firm, or sheriff’s office and threatens that you will be sued or arrested if you do not pay a supposed debt or fine.
Many times the caller will state a warrant for you or a relative has already been issued and you must pay the fine over the phone with a credit card in order to have the warrant canceled.
The caller might claim you or a loved one is in possession of stolen property, an illegal rental home, or illegal downloads, and demand money be paid via Western Union, Money Gram, or credit card. The caller might also claim your loved one has already been arrested and demand bail money for their release.
The fraudsters might also call pretending to be with the IRS. With the IRS scam, the caller might claim a person would be arrested if back-taxes were not paid immediately. If this happens, again, hang up and notify authorities. It might also be a good idea to notify the IRS. Unless of course you are hiding from the IRS.
These types of scammers can be very convincing, and often times they prey on the elderly.
How the scammers get family information
Many companies sell customer information, including birthdates and references that were provided to the merchant if applicable. Scammers will buy the information and do research on individuals included on the list. Con artists sometimes seek out the elderly and their known family members.
Things to remember
Government agencies or legitimate law firms will not:
Cancel arrest warrants over the phone
Call and request a fine be paid over the phone
Threaten arrest if a debt is not paid
Threaten criminal charges if a debt is not paid
Ask you for your Social Security number
Request bail money for a family member
Debt collectors
Residents, you cannot be arrested for an unpaid debt.
If a law firm threatens you with arrest or with violence for a legitimate unpaid debt, report them immediately. If you feel you are being scammed, report them immediately.
Some law firms, instead of telling people they are debt collectors, emphasize words like “federal” and “U.S.” in their threats, or have it as part of their company name. According to the Federal Trade Commission, companies cannot state or even imply they are with federal or state officers.
Repo companies are notorious for using this tactic. Often times, repo personnel will pull out badges and claim they are special investigators or an agent. If this happens, call FTC and local law enforcement immediately. While repo companies are required by law to disclose a repo to a local law enforcement agency, repo laws must still be followed. Also, in Florida, repo companies cannot force their way onto gated property, threaten violence, or harass you at your place of employment. If this occurs, report them immediately. Law enforcement officers are required to uphold the law, not help with the collection of a debt.
What’s more, many companies fail to give people information they are legally entitled to, or to investigate the legitimacy of debts, even when they were told the consumers did not owe them.
What to do
If you feel you have been a victim, or were almost the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement agency. While law enforcement may not be able to make an arrest, the report will be on file. If the scammers are ever identified, these reports can be used either by law enforcement or by the FTC at a later time.
Here is the FTC complaint form.
Man arrested for wearing Guy Fawkes mask
Officer Tuck was patrolling the Downtown Square area when he saw what appeared to be a man, later identified as Christian Mimms, 24, sitting on a park bench wearing a Guy Fawkes mask, or also known as an ‘Anonymous’ mask. The mask was worn in the movie “V for Vendetta.”
According to reports, due to recent burglaries, robberies, and other violent crimes in the area, Officer Tuck became suspicious.
When Officer Tuck approached the area, he was met by a man who stated the man in the mask had been acting suspicious. The officer then stated, “That is why I am here.”
Officer Tuck approached Mimms and told him it was unusual for a man to be sitting on a bench at the Downtown Square wearing a mask.
Officer Tuck asked if he had any identification and Mimms said “No.” He also refused to provide his name or remove his mask while speaking with the officer.
According to reports, the officer asked Mimms why he was wearing the mask, to which he replied, “Because it’s inspirational, and I don’t like the government.”
Mimms then stated he wanted to be left alone. Officer Tuck advised Mimms he was not detained and was free to leave, but he would be making a report on the incident.
One of Mimms’ friends stated to the officer, “It’s not a Guy Fawkes mask, but a “V for Vendetta” mask.”
A short time later, Officer Tuck saw Mimms enter the Starbucks while wearing the mask, but by the time the officer entered the business, Mimms had the mask on top of his head.
When Mimms saw the officer look at him, he pulled the mask over his face. Officer Tuck asked the manager if she allowed customers to wear masks in the store, and she stated, “No.” The manager of Starbucks told the officer that Mimms could stay as long as he didn’t cause trouble and removed the mask. He then refused to remove his mask.
Mimms then looked at the manager, mumbled something, and walked out of the business.
The manager then requested Mimms be trespassed.
Once Officer Tuck approached Mimms outside, he became upset and started shouting that the officer was making him remove his mask and a small crowd began to gather.
Mimms was asked for his identification and to remove the mask several times. He was told he would be arrested for obstruction if he did not comply. The officer explained that he needed his identification to complete the trespass. He eventually removed his mask and provided identification.
Mimms began to curse at the officer in a very loud tone and continued to yell that he was being arrested for wearing a mask, which incited the crowd. Mimms also yelled to his friends and requested they video his arrest.
Just as the crowd began to turn on the officer, Mimms was escorted to Officer Tuck’s patrol car and placed in the backseat.
It was later determined that the individuals in the crowd were personally known to Mimms. The Starbucks manager also asked the police to remove his friends if they were going to continue to cause trouble.
Mimms was transported to the Marion County Jail and charged with Wearing a Hood or Mask on Property of Another, FSS 876.14-876.155(4).
FSS 876.14 – Knowingly and Unlawfully commit the offense of Wearing a Mask, Hood, or other Device on Property of Another, where “No person or persons over the age 16 years of age shall, while wearing a mask, hood, or device whereby any portion of the face is so hidden, concealed, or covered as to conceal the identity of the wearer, demand entrance or admission or enter or come upon or into the premises, enclosure, or house of any other person in any municipality or county of this state. Applicability of the charge being 876.155(4), “While he or she has engaged in conduct that could reasonably lead to the institution of a civil or criminal proceeding against him or her, with the intent of avoiding identification in such a proceeding.”
876.16; exemptions.—The following persons are exempted from the provisions of FSS. 876.11-876.15:
(1) Any person or persons wearing traditional holiday costumes;
(2) Any person or persons engaged in trades and employment where a mask is worn for the purpose of ensuring the physical safety of the wearer, or because of the nature of the occupation, trade, or profession;
(3) Any person or persons using masks in theatrical productions, including use in Gasparilla celebrations and masquerade balls;
(4) Persons wearing gas masks prescribed in emergency management drills and exercises.
Mimms has previous arrests for Unlawful Body Piercing (Operating a piercing business without a license), Larceny, Aggravated Battery with Deadly Weapon while Committing a Felony, Battery (x2), Violation of Probation, and Resisting Arrest.
He is scheduled for release on November 7, 2014.
For those that don’t know, Guy Fawkes is the infamous insurgent who tried to blow up the British Parliament in 1605.
The iconic version of the Guy Fawkes mask owes its popularity to the graphic novel and film “V for Vendetta,” which centers on a vigilante’s efforts to destroy an authoritarian government in a dystopian future United Kingdom. Although he didn’t predict the mask’s role in popular protest, David Lloyd, the artist who illustrated the comic, said, “It’s a great symbol of protest for anyone who sees tyranny.”
Before “V for Vendetta” (which was published in serial form throughout the 1980s before being made into a 2006 film), Guy Fawkes costumes and effigies were only popular in the U.K. on Halloween and Guy Fawkes Day, a November 5 celebration that, by the 20th century, had been largely divorced from Fawkes’ violent plot.
Mimms’ arrest took place on Guy Fawkes Day, as well as the very day the group ‘Anonymous’ called for a Million Mask March.
Although there is a statute (FSS 876.11 – 876.155(4)) that clearly states a person cannot cover their face in a place of business, we want to hear from you. What do you think about his arrest?
[Last updated on November 7, 2014, at 9:45 a.m. to include the full statute and the history behind Guy Fawkes.]