Travian Sesler [Mugshot]Ocala, Florida — At around 8 a.m. Thursday morning, Marion County Sheriff deputies responded to 5840 N.W. 2nd Street, Ocala, in reference to an attempted armed burglary in progress.
The homeowner called 911 and stated that two (2) people were attempting to break into their home and one of the intruders was armed with a handgun. The victim was home with their 3-year-old child.
When deputies arrived on scene, they pursued and caught one of the burglars — later identified as 16-year-old Travian Sesler.
Deputies recovered a Ruger LCP .380 that Sesler was in possession of when he attempted to burglarize the residence.
Sesler had dumped the gun during the pursuit.
According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Sesler admitted that he was in possession of the gun and that he intended to burglarize the residence.
Sesler faces charges of Armed Burglary, Altering/Remove Serial Number from a Firearm, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, and Resisting Without Violence.
Sesler is being questioned about other burglaries in the area and might be facing additional charges.
The second suspect is still at large. The homeowner said he was a black male wearing a black hoodie.
Ocala Post will release Sesler’s photo once it has been made available.
Marion County Sheriff’s Public Information Officer, Valerie Strong, said, “If anyone has information about this case, they are asked to call Detective Craig Evans at 352-402-6081.”
I don’t feel bad about the taxpayer funding my life and my child’s medical problems, because I don’t treat myself or buy anything excessive.
Wigan, England — Christina Briggs, 26, from Wigan, says she hates weighing 350lbs, but she can’t do anything about it because she is being forced by the government to eat junk food.
Briggs told Closer Magazine that she can’t go to the gym because she doesn’t have the money and the government won’t pay for that.
The mother-of-two says she needs more of the taxpayers’ money to overhaul her lifestyle.
‘It’s not easy being overweight and on government assistance. If I was well off, I’d be able to buy fresh food and afford a gym membership,” said Briggs. “I tried swimming but it cost $36 a month and it meant I had to cut back on my favorite pizza and Chinese takeout.”
Briggs is unemployed, receives $32,189.20 in benefits a year, and lives in public housing with her two children by different fathers; she pays nothing for home expenses. Including housing, healthcare, and miscellaneous reimbursements, Briggs receives more than $62,000 a year in total government assistance.
She left school as a teenager after she got pregnant with her daughter following a one night stand.
Briggs said the family feasts everyday on takeout, chocolate, and chips because they can’t afford low fat foods.
She has been warned by her doctor that her health is in danger because of her size, but she insists it’s not her fault. “Healthy food is too expensive,” said Briggs.
She feels her only hope is for the government to give her more money so she can afford to buy fruit, vegetables, and maybe join a gym.
“I should be paid to lose weight because that would give me the motivation to fight the flab,” she said. “If the price of healthy food was lower that would help. I need help, but I need it from the government.”
She added that she can’t get a job to earn more money because she’s needed at home to care for her children. “Especially because my daughter has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and issues with her kidneys,” said Briggs.
Briggs said, “There’s no way I could get a job. I don’t feel bad about the taxpayer funding my life and my child’s medical problems, because I don’t treat myself or buy anything excessive. I just get enough money to live on – the taxpayers should help fund my diet.”
Adrian Wyllie, Libertarian for Governor of Florida
Palm Harbor, Florida – Adrian Wyllie, Libertarian candidate for governor of Florida, is calling into question the relationship between Dean Ridings, the Florida Press Association and the Democratic Party of Florida, and possibly, Charlie Crist. This week, the Florida Press Association and Leadership Florida, two organizations for which Mr. Ridings serves on the board, were successful in federal court to exclude Mr. Wyllie from the largest televised gubernatorial debate in 2014.
These claims stem from the fact that Intersect Media Solutions, a subsidiary of the Florida Press Association, is conducting business with a well known Democratic consulting firm Greer, Margolis, Mitchell and Burn (GMMB) and their interactions with Democrat candidate Charlie Crist.
Intersect Media Solutions, who is owned by the Florida Press Association’s for-profit company, Florida Press Services, provides marketing research and media advertising purchases for marketing companies around the state and country. One of their clients, Greer, Margolis, Mitchell and Burns is a political consulting firm located on K Street in Washington DC and is known for running campaigns for major Democratic candidates including Barrack Obama and, most recently, Charlie Crist.
GMMB’s partner, Brad Perseke said, “I call them for virtually all of our newspaper advertising. Working together with Intersect Media Solutions, our agency can focus on all aspects of a client’s campaign while with Intersect Media Solutions’ [sic] provides us with the necessary research and data needed for effective newspaper advertising,” when speaking of their relationship with Intersect Media Solutions.
This election cycle alone GMMB has done extensive work with the Charlie Crist campaign and the Democrat Party of Florida. The company [Greer, Margolis, Mitchell and Burns] has been paid $6,455,903.22 this election cycle with $1,888,859.67 coming from Charlie Crist, $4,101,653.40 from the Democrat Party of Florida and $465,390.15 coming from SEIU of Florida. While it is unclear if GMMB used Intersect Media Solutions for either Charlie Crist or the Democratic Party of Florida in this year’s gubernatorial election, it is clear that Intersect Media Solutions does, and has, profited from the Democrat Party and its candidates.
The Florida Press Association and Leadership Florida set debate criteria in August of this year, after having the knowledge that Adrian would be polling at least as high as 12% and, at the time, slightly hurting Charlie Crist. The person who makes that decision, and sits on both boards, is Dean Ridings who is not only the president of the Florida Press Association and Intersect Media Solutions but also sits on the board of directors of Leadership Florida.
“At this point, given the circumstantial evidence of an incestuous, multi-million dollar relationship between Dean Ridings, GMMB, and Charlie Crist, I have to call into question whether this was the ultimate reason for my exclusion in the debate,” said Wyllie. “It is clear to me now that when Ridings set the debate criteria specifically to exclude me, it was not based on public interest — it was based on personal profit motive.”
The campaign calls into question whether debate organizers can be a trusted source to the people of Florida when the president of the Florida Press Association and the association itself, through its subsidiaries, profits from candidates and campaigns. While it does not change the outcome of Wyllie’s exclusion in the debate, it is something that must be considered by the people of Florida.
Sean Johnson [Mugshot]Brooksville, Florida — Sean Johnson, 19, was released from jail on $1,500 bond after being arrested on Tuesday.
Brooksville Police said they responded to a Brooksville Walmart after receiving a call about someone exposing himself.
Loss Prevention said they had followed Johnson through the store with cameras because he “was acting suspicious and kept looking around.”
Security said at one point, Johnson went to the toy section and chose a brown stuffed horse from the shelf. He then walked over to the bedding department.
According to police, Johnson then pulled out his penis and began humping and masturbating with the stuffed horse to the point of ejaculation.
After Johnson was finished, police said he zipped up, returned the contaminated stuffed horse to the shelf with other items, and walked away.
A spokesperson from Walmart said all of the items would be properly discarded.
Johnson was arrested in the parking lot and charged with Indecent Exposure.
Ravenna, Italy – Nurse Daniela Poggiali, 42, was arrested on October 10, 2014, on charges of murder.
The nurse, whose nickname is the “smiley blonde nurse,” is accused of murdering as many as 38 patients.
Authorities in Italy became suspicious after her colleagues reported what they called suspicious deaths during Poggiali’s shifts.
Poggiali, who lives in Lugo, Italy, was taken into custody after a 78-year-old patient she was caring for died from a mass dose of potassium, which had been injected into her body.
During Poggiali’s arrest, police confiscated her cell phone and found that she had taken a “selfie” with a patient who had just died. Police said even more disturbing than her taking the photo, was the fact that she was giving a thumbs-up in the picture.
Her co-workers told police that even though she was always smiling, she was a cold person.
Other nurses also told police that Poggiali would give patients high doses of a laxative at the end of her shift. The nurses that came in after Poggiali would then be forced to clean up the mess.
Investigators are still combing through records, hoping they can determine the exact number of patients Poggiali might have killed.
[Click photo to enlarge] Holly Pomeroy [left], Brian Golden [middle], and Anthony MarshallOcala, Florida — An Ocala man attempted to defend himself during a home invasion at Redwood Track Radial on Saturday, October 11, 2014 at 3:48 a.m.
The 34-year-old-victim, Daniel Tooker, heard a loud banging on his door by suspect, Holly Brooke Pomeroy, 22, who kept asking for her computer.
Tooker informed her to leave the residence immediately, but the banging continued and grew louder.
A second suspect, Anthony Marshall, 34, then kicked in the door shattering the frame and damaging the doorknob, at which time three suspects — Pomeroy, Marshall, and Brian Golden, 31 — gained entry into the residence. Marshall and Golden then assaulted the victim. Tooker attempted to deflect their blows and was able to place one of the assailants in a choke hold.
When deputies arrived, Pomeroy was standing outside of the residence while Marshall and Golden were still inside. Deputy Cameron witnessed Marshall kicking Tooker while he was lying on the floor.
The deputies noticed the broken doorframe, which contained a shoe impression and a large indentation in the drywall.
Marshall was standing over the victim and was immediately detained. Golden attempted to flee, but was caught in the backyard. When Deputy Schanding attempted to place Marshall under arrest, he turned and ran inside the residence. Deputy Schanding grabbed Marshall’s arm and a struggle ensued. Deputy Cameron then rushed inside and witnessed Marshall on top of Deputy Schanding, attempting to strike him. Marshall was handcuffed after Tooker and Deputy Cameron subdued him.
Pomeroy and Golden were both arrested without further incident.
Pomeroy claims that she did not enter the residence and was only there to retrieve her computer. Golden stated that his brother, Marshall, was the only one to enter the residence. Marshall declined to cooperate with deputies. All three suspects were intoxicated at the time of the home invasion.
Marshall was charged with Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer, Residential Burglary, Battery, and Resisting Arrest with Violence. Pomeroy and Golden were both charged with Residential Burglary.
Neither the victim nor the deputy sustained any serious injuries during the incident.
Marshall injured his lip and knees during the struggle with the deputies, and EMS was dispatched.
Brittany Gitterman [Mugshot]Ocala, Florida — An Ocala man recorded footage of Brittany Gitterman, 22, his roommate and the mother of his daughter, setting all of his belongings outside in the hallway of their Ocala apartment on October 12, 2014, at approximately 12:22 p.m.
The victim stated that Gitterman became aggressive after noticing she was being recorded. The video showed her approaching him and then striking him in the arm. Afterward, she taunted him to “do something” and to “put his hands on her.” The video then proceeded to show her grabbing at his forearms followed by her smacking the phone out of his hands, which ended the video.
Ocala Police Officer, Rossi, interviewed the two parties at their Tuscany apartment on 34th Street, Ocala, at which time the victim had scratches on his forearm along with some minor swelling and redness.
Officer Rossi noted that the couple’s daughter was present throughout the entire incident.
Their daughter can be seen on the video as her mother placed all of the victim’s belongings in the hallway. Gitterman claimed that she was acting in self-defense and that the victim was aggressively approaching her. When told that the video did not show such an act, she replied she was in an abusive relationship before and felt threatened prior to her attacking the victim.
Gitterman was placed under arrest and transported to Marion County Jail against the wishes of the victim, as he did not want to press charges. He was unaware she would be arrested for such an act when he placed the call to the police.
He advised Officer Rossi that he would be dropping the charges as soon as possible. Before being transported, Gitterman requested that their daughter remain with the victim even though he is not on her birth certificate.
Ocala, Florida — Right now, Major Crimes is working the suspicious death of 34-year-old Edward Moffitt, who was found in his yard this morning.
He was found at 11401 N.W. 17th Place, Ocala, lying face up.
According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Moffitt, who was in the middle of a divorce, leaves behind two young daughters, ages 7 and 9.
Moffitt’s body was sent to the medical examiners officer, where an autopsy will be performed.
Marion County Sheriff’s Public Information Officer, Valerie Strong, said, “We are still waiting to hear back about the cause of death, but we were able to determine it was a homicide.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
If you have any information about this case, please call the Marion County Sheriff’s Office at 352-732-9111 or Marion County Crime Stoppers at 352-368-STOP.
Ocala, Florida— Thanks to social media, information was received through Crimestoppers that Louis Sepulveda, 48, was responsible for the Dollar General armed robbery that occurred on October 12, 2014, and the CVS armed robbery that occurred on October 13, 2014.
Sepulveda, originally from New York, was identified by the store clerks through a photo lineup.
According to the Dollar General assistant manager, Melody Hall, Sepulveda also had a “slight Bronx” accent, which she said she would be able to recognize.
Subsequently, detectives with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office arrested Sepulveda on an unrelated traffic charge. At the time of his arrest, he was driving a red Ford Focus, which matched the description of the getaway vehicle.
Detectives noted that Sepulveda does have a “slight Bronx” accent as described by the store clerks.
Sepulveda had been living at the Vacation Host Inn, Room 135. Detectives searched his room and found a black pellet gun manufactured to look like a semi-automatic handgun.
According to court records, Sepulveda is a convicted felon. He has previous convictions for Robbery, Possession of Cocaine, Flee and Elude Law Enforcement, Resisting Arrest, Grand Theft, Burglary, Driving While License Suspended, and Criminal Mischief.
He now faces charges of Driving While License Suspended or Revoked and two counts of Robbery with a Firearm.
Sepulveda would not cooperate with detectives and denied any knowledge of the robberies or the handgun found in his room.
This was a joint investigation between the Ocala Police Department and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
Jerry DeMeola looks over the sod that Sod Central threw off the truck before he stopped them. The sod shown in the picture is the amount of sod that Sod Central told Jerry DeMeola they would charge him $69 for.
Ocala, Florida — Would you send back a delivery of sod if it arrived in pieces and not as promised?
That was exactly what 73-year-old Jerry DeMeola, of Ocala, did when Sod Central, 7860 SW State Road 200, attempted to deliver 300 square feet of sod today, July 24, 2014.
Prior to ordering the grass, DeMeola said he called the sod company on two separate occasions and inquired about the sod.
He said he asked Sod Central multiple times about the health of the sod and that they guaranteed him the sod would be delivered lush and green. He said Sod Central told him that with all the rain, the grass would be nice and green.
Instead, he said the grass was delivered in pieces and nearly dried out.
“The grass looked like it was all chewed up,” said DeMeola. “I am 73-years-old, I can’t lay sod that is in little pieces when it should have been delivered as rectangles.“
“It would have been like trying to put a jigsaw puzzle together,” he added.
DeMeola said his 13-year-old grandson came to help him, but when the boy arrived, he had to send him home. “I felt bad for wasting his time,” he said.
DeMeola said he believes in being fair, so he called the company and gave them a chance to “make good.”
“The owner of the company didn’t want to hear anything,” said DeMeola. “All they wanted to do was argue and make excuses. They told me this is how sod comes.”
DeMeola stated that Sod Central told him they have no way of knowing what condition the sod is in until it is delivered to [them.]
“They don’t know what condition it is in, yet they told me over the phone it would be lush and green. It, it just doesn’t make sense, ” DeMeola said in frustration.
DeMeola holds up his receipt. Neither the receipt, or the invoice indicate a policy of no refunds.
While Ocala Post was speaking with DeMeola, Sod Central actually called his home.
During the conversation, DeMeola was told that they would be willing to give him partial credit, but keep a $69 delivery fee due to the few chewed up pieces of sod that the delivery driver had pulled off the truck.
DeMeola refused the $69 deal and asked why they told him over the phone that the grass would come lush and green , and then deliver something that was unusable.
“Any sane person can see that the sod looks like leftover scraps they tried to deliver me,” said DeMeola.
DeMeola refused the delivery and the company would not refund his money. The owner told him they have a sign in their office that states no refunds.
“How am I supposed to read the sign in your office if the transaction was done over the phone?” DeMeola asked. “The receipt that was provided to me also does not state ‘no refunds.'”
The company continued to argue before they abruptly terminated the phone call with DeMeola.
“I feel like I am being taken advantage of,” said DeMeola. “I have ordered Bahiagrass before and it was always delivered on a pallet…nice, neat, and green. It didn’t look like leftover scraps thrown in the back of a truck.”
He went on to say, “I don’t think I am being unreasonable at all.”
Photo taken by DeMeola’s grandson while the delivery truck was still on scene.
Ocala Post reached out to Sod Central and they released the following statement via e-mail:
First off we must be very clear that the sod being delivered was Bahia Grass. Bahia is a field grass and is not expected to be a groomed mowed perfect grass and the grass taken to to Mr Demeola is and was perfectly good quality grass. Unfortunatly most people that do not deal with grass on a regular basis do not understand what they can resonably expect from Bahia even when we do our best do educate them. With Bahia grass you need to get it on the ground water it and let it root and it will become a nice yard grass once being mowed.. If a customer wants to receive a pre groomed treated grass that will hold together perfectly they would need to order a more expensive st augustine or Zoysia grass.
As for our refund policy it is simple we have a NO refund policy on all grass. We do this simply because grass is a parishable product that we get in based on special order and need. If a customer does not take there grass it is not like we can just stick it on a shelf and resell it later. Also if a customer takes the grass and does not take care of is properly it is a living organism without proper care it will not survive .and we have no way of knowing how it will be cared for. As you can imagine, everybody says they did exactly as they were suppose to but the proof is simply in the result and there is always someone that had the best of intentions but did not water care for or install properly and wants to blame it on someone else. So this makes it neccisary to have a no flexability no refunds pollicy for everyone.
As for this specific situation with Mr Demeola, We loaded the perfectly good grass, spent my employees time and payroll dollars to take the grass to Mr Demeola’s location using my fuel and milage on my truck unloded part of the grass before he then decided he did not want the rest due to his lack of knowledge of what to resonably expect from Bahia sod. We then had to bring the balance of the grass all the way back to our location and unload it there. He kept 20 pieced of the Grass. We went against our pollicy of NO Refund no matter what (since we had another person begging us to let them buy the very grass that MR Demelola said he did not want) And offered MR demeola a refund of his purchase minus what he actually got wich was delivery of ther grass and twenty pieces of grass that he kept. He is apparently unhappy because he does not feel he should have to pay for what he got. I don’t think anyone would find that resonable. We fullfiled our obligaton and it would not be resonable to not expect him to pay for what he did take and get. We really have no obligation based on the situation and pollicy to returen any of his money.
We trulely do care about our cusomters and if the grass was actually bad we would take care of it, Unfortuantly the only issue in this situation is the customer does not have resonable expectations of what they are getting when they order Bahia Sod. We installed ourselves or sold 32 pallets of the same grass from the same field that came in on the same trucks and have had no other complaints at all.
If Mr Demeola would like the refund he has been offered I will still be happy to honor that refund.
Sod Central
Because We Care!!
Ocala Post conferred with two other sod companies and showed them photos.
An unnamed employee of one of the companies said, “We would never sell sod in that condition (referring to the photos)…not even Bahiagrass.”
The second company concurred.
DeMeola contacted his financial institution and they are now handling the dispute.
[Updated on October 15, 2015, at 7:13 a.m.]
On October 14, 2014, after providing his bank with color photographs, DeMeola’s financial institution decided in his favor.
“I will never order from them again,” said DeMeola. “I thank everyone that helped me in this situation, especially my bank, who went to bat for me.”
DeMeola said, “$139 may not seem like a lot, but when you are on a fixed income, it certainly makes a difference.”
Tallahassee, Florida — The Florida Department of Health and local law enforcement agencies carried out Operation Jack-O-Lantern, October 8, 2014, through October 11, 2014.
The operation to stop potentially dangerous sales of designer, colored, or Halloween themed contact lenses culminated in 47 cease-and-desist notices served to individuals and establishments practicing health care without a license throughout the State of Florida.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers all contact lenses a medical device (this includes plano lenses also known as non prescription lenses) and can only be sold with the involvement of an eye care professional.
They are not cosmetics or over-the-counter merchandise, they are medical devices regulated by the FDA. Places that advertise them as cosmetics or sell them without a prescription are breaking the law.
Designer contacts were removed as over-the-counter merchandise several years ago when hundreds of people were permanently blinded after improperly using these types of contact lenses.
They are not “one size fits all.”
An eye doctor (ophthalmologist or optometrist) must measure each eye to properly fit the lenses and evaluate how your eye responds to contact lens wear.
A poor fit can cause serious eye damage, including:
Scratches on the cornea (the clear dome of tissue over the iris – the part of the eye that gives you your eye color)
Corneal infection (an ulcer on the cornea)
Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
Decreased vision
Blindness
Places that sell decorative lenses without a prescription may give you few or no instructions on how to clean and care for your lenses.
Failure to use the proper solution to keep contact lenses clean and moist can lead to infections, said Bernard Lepri, O.D., M.S., M.Ed., an optometrist at FDA. “Bacterial infections can be extremely rapid, result in corneal ulcers, and cause blindness—sometimes within as little as 24 hours if not diagnosed and treated promptly.”
“The problem isn’t with the decorative contacts themselves,” said Lepri. “It’s the way people use them improperly—without a valid prescription, without the involvement of a qualified eye care professional, or without appropriate follow-up care.”
You should never buy lenses from:
Street vendors
Salons or beauty supply stores
Boutiques
Flea markets
Novelty stores
Halloween stores
Music or video stores
Convenience stores
Beach shops
Internet (unless the site requires a prescription)
The Department’s Division of Medical Quality Assurance (MQA) Unlicensed Activity (ULA) program, under authority of Florida Statute 456.065, protects Florida residents and visitors from the potentially serious consequences of receiving health care services from an unlicensed person. The ULA program investigates all unlicensed health care activity complaints and allegations, and works in conjunction with law enforcement and the state attorney’s offices to prosecute individuals practicing without a license.
Practicing health care without a license is a felony-level criminal offense in many instances. Treatment by an unlicensed provider is dangerous and could result in further injury, disease, or even death.
Ocala, Florida — On October 13, 2014, a man entered the CVS on 6042 SW State Road 200, Ocala, and robbed the clerk at gunpoint.
He left the CVS in a newer model red vehicle, which appeared to be a Nissan Rouge.
Detectives said it could possibly be the same man that robbed the Dollar General on Sunday, October 12, 2014.
The robber is described as a Hispanic male, 5 feet 2 inches with glasses, and weighs approximately 130 pounds.
In both cases the man demanded cash and flashed a gun at the clerk.
If you have any information please call 352-732-9111 or you can phone anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers of Marion County at 368-STOP or 368-7867. Text tips to 274637 using keyword 368STOP. Tips can also be submitted at www.ocalacrimestoppers.com.
Bogota, Colombia – An international undercover law enforcement operation culminated Saturday with the arrests of 12 individuals involved in sex trafficking and the rescue of 55 sex trafficking victims, all minors.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Attaché Office in Colombia and the Colombian Attorney General’s Technical Investigative Corps Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit conducted the operation that was carried out simultaneously in Cartagena, Medellin and Armenia, all Colombian cities.
Eleven Colombian citizens face charges for human trafficking of minors, pimping and pandering. Details regarding the remaining individual are not being disclosed pending the completion of the investigation.
Individuals arrested in Armenia include: Erwin Rene Ordonez-Ortiz, Javier Giovanny Aguirre-Garcia and Lina Maria Gonzalez-Henao. Cartagena arrests include: Horacia Rebolledo Pacheco, Kelly Johana Suarez Moy, Eduardo Ortega, Juan Manuel Oquendo Sierra and Samuel David Olave Martinez. Four individuals – Veronica Builes-Bonet, Luisa Fernanda Velasquez, Alexander Alberto Villegas and a non-disclosed individual – were arrested in Medellin.
The Colombian Attorney General’s Office is prosecuting the Colombian nationals. If convicted, the defendants face between five and 20 years imprisonment.
The rescued victims are all Colombian minors, some as young as 11 years old. They are in the care of Bienestar Familiar (Colombia’s Child Protective Services). Eighty-five percent of those rescued were females. Some of the victims were allegedly drugged with ecstasy and cocaine.
During the takedown, one 11-year-old girl broke down in tears thanking the officials who rescued her. She was allegedly sold for $1,000 in U.S. currency since she was a virgin.
“It’s unconscionable that people engage in the sexual trafficking of innocent children,” said HSI Colombia Attaché Luis Sierra. “Through this successful bilateral operation, the U.S. and Colombia are sending a clear message that we will go to any length to identify and catch the monsters that exploit our vulnerable children.”
Women and girls account for 80 percent of the people trafficked across international borders each year, most often for sexual exploitation. In Columbia and many other parts of the world, families submit their own relatives to forced prostitution, benefiting financially from their exploitation and creating a cycle that is difficult to break. Authorities say most are virgins that will have their innocents stripped away because the dollar amount offered is typically much higher.
Breaking Chains and Underground Railroad, both U.S. nonprofit organizations dedicated to eradicating the sexual exploitation of children, assisted with this case. The Colombian Navy and Coast Guard also participated.
HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators.
Ocala, Florida — The Marion County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Division is currently working a homicide investigation at the Quail Run Apartment Complex off of County Road 475A in southwest Marion County.
38-year-old Gregory Keith Ellis, was found shot to death in a 2006 blue Ford Taurus at 1765 S.W. 107th Lane.
A resident told detectives that around 8:30 p.m. on Monday, October 13, 2014 she heard a “pop” noise outside her apartment.
She looked through her window and saw a man sitting in a dark colored car. She then dialed 911 and Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene.
Detectives said the vehicle did not belong to Ellis and he did not live at the apartment complex. At this time, investigators do not know why Ellis was at the apartment complex.
The investigation is ongoing.
If you have any information about this case, please call Detective Zach Hughes at 352-843-2611 or the Marion County Crime Stoppers at 352-368-STOP.
STARKVILLE, MS – OCTOBER 11: Josh Robinson #13 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs rushes for a touchdown against the Auburn Tigers at Davis Wade Stadium on October 11, 2014 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Mississippi State jumped to No.1 in this week’s college football rankings after they beat former No.2 Auburn 38-23. With the win over Auburn, Mississippi State has built a pretty good resume for why they should be No.1, as they have beaten three top 10 teams in their last 3 games. Mississippi State’s next big test does not come until November 13, when they play Alabama.
Even after beating Syracuse 38-20, former No.1 Florida State dropped to the No. 2 seed. Florida State will have a chance to regain their No.1 ranking this week as they play undefeated No.5 Notre Dame this weekend in Tallahassee.
No. 3 Ole Miss followed up an impressive win last weekend against Alabama by beating Texas A&M 35-20. Ole Miss has already shown that they are no joke this year as they rank 2nd in the nation in points allowed at 11.8.
Baylor jumped to No.4 this week after beating former undefeated TCU 61-58, while Notre Dame jumped up to No.5 after beating North Carolina 50-43.
UCLA and Georgia Tech fell from the rankings this week and No.25 Marshall (6-0) entered the rankings for the first time this season.
Full rankings below (team’s record in parenthesis)
Ocala, Florida — The Dollar General store located at 2371 NW 45th Terrace, Ocala, was robbed at gunpoint at approximately 9:10 a.m. on October 12, 2014. According to the Dollar General assistant manager, Melody Hall, she was alone at the time of the robbery.
Hall stated that a customer came to the counter, pointed a gun at her, and demanded she give him money. Hall told police the robber kept repeating, “Give me all the money, hurry up get it now. I swear b**ch I will kill you if you don’t give it to me now.”
Hall stated she complied and gave all of the money out of the top drawer of her cash register to the robber. He then left the store.
According to Hall’s account, the suspect was able to get away in a small red or burgundy car, although she did not see him enter the vehicle.
The suspect, who is still at large, is described as being a darker-skinned male possibly of Hispanic descent. He is described as approximately five feet two inches tall, and weighs approximately 139 pounds.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Ocala Police Department at 352-369-7000 or tips may also be submitted through our mobile app, MyPD. Tips may also be submitted through Crime Stoppers of Marion County at 352-368-STOP (7867), at www.ocalacrimestoppers.com , or by texting keyword 368STOP to 274637.
Ocala, Florida — An Ocala man was able to successfully hide his cell phone from two individuals as they robbed him and was able to call 911 as a result.
Benjamin Schneider, a 46-year-old male from Ocala, was approached by two black males at approximately 11:19 p.m. on October 12, 2014.
Schneider was attempting to fix his car at an Advanced Auto Parts store located at 1601 West Silver Springs Boulevard, when the two men started questioning him and told him that they were waiting for a ride. Schneider stated that the two men were acting “fidgety” and one starting circling around him while the other one remained in front.
Schneider tried to flee, but the individual behind him put him in a choke hold while the other one removed his wallet from his pocket. Meanwhile, Schneider told the men he did not have a cell phone after they demanded that he give his phone to them. The men quickly took off and he was then able to successfully call 911.
The suspects were described as 5’8″, clean shaven, and in black clothing with one of the males having a stripe across the shoulder of the shirt he was wearing. Police setup an immediate perimeter along with air support, but they were unable to locate the suspects.
Schneider suffered a scratched up right forearm and scratches around his neck from being choked. He refused to go to the hospital so he was treated on sight by Marion County Fire Rescue 54 rescue who took his vitals and applied bandages to his wounds. Schneider lost the keys to his vehicle (it is unknown if he lost his keys or if the two black males took them) so he secured it the best he could. He was then escorted home by Officer Ferguson who advised Schneider to come back the following day during daylight hours and attempt to finish repairing his vehicle.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Ocala Police Department at 352-369-7000 or tips may also be submitted through our mobile app, MyPD. Tips may also be submitted through Crime Stoppers of Marion County at 352-368-STOP(7867), at www.ocalacrimestoppers.com , or by texting keyword 368STOP to 274637.
Texas – Ebola can infect humans and animals, and spreads through bodily fluids. Scientists believe that fruit bats are the natural carriers of the virus. According to the World Health Organization, African pig farms often play host to bats, allowing the disease to spread from the bats to pork. Eating “bushmeat”—or the meat from wild animals, such as gorillas, monkeys, or bats—can put you at risk for exposure. Recently, the government of the Cote d’Ivoire (otherwise known as Ivory Coast)—which borders two of the countries enduing the outbreak—prohibited the sale of bushmeat.
Texas CDC chief, Thomas Frieden, said his agency will investigate how a nurse in full protective gear contracted the Ebola virus.
The woman was among caregivers for Thomas Eric Duncan, who died Wednesday at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital. A state test finding that she had Ebola was confirmed Sunday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, making it the first known case transmitted in the U.S.
“At some point there was a breach in protocol,” Frieden said. “That breach in protocol resulted in this infection.”
The CDC believes the nurse that contracted the Ebola virus either improperly put on or removed her protective gear.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said there “certainly had to have been an inadvertent, innocent breach of protocol of taking care of a patient within the personal protective equipment.”
“A single inadvertent slip can result in contamination,” Frieden said during a briefing.”It is up to the individual person to properly protect themselves.”
And a day after the nurse tested positive for Ebola, health officials are still trying to figure out how exactly she caught it.
The CDC concedes the Texas nurse’s case is worrisome.
“It is possible in the coming days that we will see additional cases of Ebola,” Frieden said.
The CDC said that healthcare workers should sef monitor and, if symptoms surface, they should isolate themselves immediately.
Officials said the virus doesn’t live for long outside the body. Ultraviolet rays from sunlight destroy it, as does heat. Bleach kills it and plain soap and water can wash it away. Warm body fluids such as blood, vomit and feces carry the virus. And it has to get into the body to infect you — it doesn’t soak in through the skin, for instance. It must get in through the nose, mouth, eyes, through a cut or by a needle stick.
The virus lives in saliva, semen, feces, vomit, blood, and sweat; basically any bodily fluid. The sicker a patient is, the more virus there is in the bodily fluids. Thomas Geisbert, who tests Ebola drugs and vaccines at the University of Texas Medical Branch, says using high-pressure sprays to clean animal cages can splash the virus into the air. “If you blast it, you can create a manmade aerosol,” Geisbert said. But that is not the same as the virus being airborne. It’s not. And the mess, in general, should be fresh. “I don’t think there’s a whole lot of evidence that there is going to be virus on door handles,” says Geisbert.
People who have just died of Ebola are the most infectious. CDC says people who have just died of Ebola should be placed in not one, but two sealed plastic bags and then a hermetically sealed casket.
So why do crews cleaning the apartment wear hazmat suits? Because they may be handling wet or damp soiled sheets or towels, and because cleaning may cause splashes that could carry virus-laden fluids into the eyes, nose or mouth, or if the virus splashed onto someone’s skin and they later touched it, they could carry it into their own eyes, nose or mouth.
The World Health Organization estimates more than 8,300 people have contracted Ebola during this year’s outbreak. Of those, more than 4,000 have died.
The CDC and the Texas Department of State Health Services told Ocala Post that they remain confident that wider spread in the community can be prevented with proper public health measures, including ongoing contact tracing, health monitoring among those known to have been in contact with an infected patient, and immediate isolations if symptoms develop.
Tallahassee, Florida – Florida Department of Corrections (DOC) Secretary Mike Crews today announced unprecedented steps to ensure safer practices and policies are in place. In the coming weeks, the Association of State Corrections Administrators (ASCA) will review the Department’s policies, rules and procedures related to use of force. The ASCA will provide a full independent audit of the Department’s policies and procedures through site visits, inspections and evaluations on use of force methods. The ASCA will also identify the Department’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. A report detailing the ASCA findings will be available following the audit. The ASCA is a nationally recognized organization with qualified experts in the corrections profession.
Secretary Crews said, “I look forward to having an independent party review our policies to ensure the Department is taking every step possible to improve our facilities, educate our staff and protect our inmates. In the past few months, I have met personally with staff at each and every one of our 49 facilities and have communicated with clarity that there is no tolerance of the excessive use of force, inmate abuse, inappropriate behavior, or criminal activity by our staff. We should be held to the highest standards of professionalism. An agency-wide review of policies and procedures by the ASCA will help identify any remaining or connected issues and reinforce our zero-tolerance policy for misconduct and commitment to continued improvement for the Department.”
This past summer, Secretary Crews assessed operations, met with leadership and officers, and took action on activities that run counter to the Department’s mission of maintaining a secure environment for officers and inmates. Secretary Crews completed his statewide tour of all DOC institutions on September 23, 2014.
