NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 25: Derek Jeter #2 of the New York Yankees celebrates after a game winning RBI hit in the ninth inning against the Baltimore Orioles in his last game ever at Yankee Stadium on September 25, 2014 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Derek Jeter’s final game at Yankee Stadium was one to remember, as he hit a walk-off RBI single to win the game for the Yankees in the bottom of the 9th 6-5.
Jeter started the game off well to as he hit an RBI double of the left-center field wall eventually scoring on a fielding error. Jeter finished the game 2-5 with 3 RBIs and 1 run.
Going into the 9th inning it seemed like that Yankees had already won. They were up 5-2 in the 9th before closer David Robertson blew the save and gave up 3 runs on 2 home runs by Adam Jones and Steve Pearce.
Everything seemed to come together and set the stage for Derek Jeter as he came up to bat with 1 out and the winning run on 2nd. Jeter wasted no time as he swung at the first pitch driving it to right field.
After the game, Jeter took one final victory lap around the in-field, eventually stopping to take in his last view from the shortstop position.
Jeter said after the game that it was his final game playing the shortstop position.
Ocala, Florida — The plan of four criminals to burglarize a Silver Springs Shores residence on Juniper Pass Way on Friday, September 26, 2014, nearly turned deadly after the home owner fought back.
According to reports, a deputy had stopped a Honda occupied by five (5) black males, one of which had been shot in the stomach, for speeding. The deputy determined four (4) of the suspects were fleeing from a home that the Sheriff’s Office had just received a 911 call on.
The victim stated to deputies that he heard a knock at the front door, but ignored the knock hoping they would leave.
The victim, whose home had burglarized the day before, stated he became concerned after the person at the front door kept knocking. The victim looked out the window and saw a tall black male standing at the door. He said the man was acting suspicious and kept looking at a motorcycle he had parked on his front porch.
According to reports, the victim grabbed his .45 caliber handgun and exited his back door planning to confront the man at the front door. However, the victim was met by another man kneeling at the rear corner of his house.
When the suspect saw the home owner, the suspect jumped up and yelled, “Oh sh*t.” He then ran toward the front of the house.
The victim continued to pursue the suspect and as he rounded the corner toward the front of his residence, he saw two (2) additional black males standing on his property.
The victim held one of the suspects at gun point for a short period of time before one of the other suspects yelled, “Leave my brother alone.” He then raised a shiny handgun, fired at the victim, and missed. The victim returned fire, striking the suspect in the stomach.
All four (4) suspects then fled the scene.
Deputies found flip-flop shoes that the suspects had been wearing at the crime scene along with a baseball cap. Additionally, deputies found two (2) handguns, one of which had been stolen from the victim’s home on September 25, 2014.
Cornelius P. Lewis, 23, and Darrell J. Brutton, 20, were arrested and charged with Attempted Armed Burglary. Lewis was previously convicted of Carrying a Concealed Weapon and Battery.
Caleb O. Brown, 20, was arrested and charged with Attempted Armed Burglary, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Use of a Firearm During a Felony, Grand Theft, and Dealing in Stolen Property.
Samuel R. Brown, 24, was transported to Ocala Regional Medical Center. Once released, he will be arrested and charged. Brown was previously convicted of Lewd/Lascivious Molestation on a child and Aggravated Child Abuse.
The driver of the Honda, Shawn Brown, was not arrested.
A stolen white GMC Yukon the suspects were originally driving was taken into evidence. Authorities found multiple license plates inside the vehicle along with empty gun cases. According to reports, there were also bullet holes in the SUV.
During an interview, the suspects told detectives that they just wanted to “look” at the motorcycle at the victim’s residence.
Detectives are now investigating to see if the suspects can be linked to other burglaries or shootings in the area.
The National Weather Service in Jacksonville has issued a flood watch for portions of Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia in effect until 10 p.m.
Rain and thunderstorms will spread along the Gulf Coast from Louisiana to Florida and eventually to the Carolinas Monday into Tuesday.
A low pressure will track across Northeast Florida today producing widespread rain and embedded thunderstorms. Rainfall amount of 1 to 3 inches are excepted across the area with higher amounts of rain possible.
Excessive rainfall may produce localized flooding of a few low lying areas as well as drainage areas.
A flood watch means there is a potential for flooding based on current forecasts.
You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for any flood warnings.
Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared and take precautionary measures.
James Pearson [Mugshots]Lakeland, Florida — On Thursday, September 25, 2014, undercover detectives with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested 61-year-old James Terrance “Terry” Pearson of 702 Texas Avenue in Lakeland. Pearson was charged with one count Sale of Single Cigarettes (M-1), one count Illegal Sale of Alcohol (M-2), one count Possession of Cocaine (F-3), one count Possession of Methadone, one count Maintaining Structure for Controlled Substance (F-3), and one count Possession of Paraphernalia (M-1) after an investigation revealed he was selling alcohol, individual cigarettes, and food and snacks out of his home.
According to the affidavit, an undercover detective responded to Pearson’s home and asked [him] for some liquor and two cigarettes. The undercover detective then handed Pearson a $5.00 bill. Pearson poured liquor into a cup and handed it to the detective, along with two cigarettes.
Pearson was placed under arrest without incident.
During a search of Pearson’s home, detectives found two WD-40 canisters, which were hollowed out, one of which contained cocaine residue — the other 8.5 Methadone pills.
One of the bedrooms of the house contained beer, liquor, cigarettes, cigars, food, and snacks that Pearson was selling out of his home without a license.
Pearson was booked into the Polk County Jail on the aforementioned charges, where he is being held on no bond.
He has six prior arrests in Polk County, for resisting arrest, battery on LEO, numerous drug charges, theft charges, and traffic offenses.
Ocala, Florida — An attempted home invasion has left a family shaken.
Ocala Police responded to a residence in the 900 block of NE 11th Avenue after one of the victims dialed 911 to report a home invasion.
One of the men asked the victim for a ride, at which time the victim noticed the man standing in the doorway was holding a stun gun.
According to reports, when the man realized the victim saw the stun gun [he] hit the trigger and activated it. The intruder then attempted to force his way into the residence.
The victim told police he then tried to close the door, but the intruder tried to Tase him while kicking and pushing the door.
According to reports, after struggling for a few minutes, the victim successfully closed the door, and immediately dialed 911.
The victim’s wife was in the shower while his infant son was sleeping on the couch. The victim’s mother was also in the home at the time of the incident.
None of the victims were injured during the attempted home invasion.
The suspects are described as black males, approximately 16 to 18 years of age with short hair. They were wearing dark shirts at the time of the incident.
The stun gun is described as being the size of a large flashlight, black with a rubber grip.
Police believe the suspects thought the wife was home alone because she had just arrived and her vehicle was the only vehicle in the driveway. The incident occurred shortly after she entered the residence and got in the shower.
The Ocala Police Department is asking that all citizens be aware of their surroundings at all times, especially women.
If you have any information about this case, you are asked to contact the Ocala Police Department by calling 352-369-7000; by contacting Crime Stoppers of Marion County at 352-368-STOP (7867), www.ocalacrimestoppers.com; or by texting tips to 274637 using keyword 368STOP. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through the OPD mobile app, MYPD, which can be downloaded on Apple and Android devices.
Tampa, Florida – Lakeland Eye Clinic, a Lakeland, Florida-based organization of health care professionals, discriminated based on sex in violation of federal law by firing an employee because she is transgender, because she was transitioning from male to female, and/or because she did not conform to the employer’s gender-based expectations, preferences, or stereotypes, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit filed today. This is one of the first two lawsuits ever filed by the agency alleging sex discrimination against transgender individuals.
The other case, EEOC v. R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes, Inc. was filed today by the EEOC’s Indianapolis District Office.
According to the EEOC’s lawsuit against Lakeland Eye Clinic, the defendant’s employee had performed her duties satisfactorily throughout her employment. However, after she began to present as a woman and informed the clinic she was transgender, human resources fired her.
Such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits sex discrimination, including that based on gender stereotyping. The EEOC filed suit against Lakeland Eye Clinic in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division (Case No. 8:14-EEOC cv-2421-T35 AEP) after first trying to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process. The suit seeks both monetary and injunctive relief.
The lawsuits announced today are part of the EEOC’s ongoing efforts to implement its Strategic Enforcement Plan (SEP). The Commission adopted this SEP in December of 2012. The SEP includes “coverage of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals under Title VII’s sex discrimination provisions, as they may apply” as a top Commission enforcement priority.
In 2012, in Macy v. Dep’t of Justice, EEOC Appeal No. 0120120821, 2012 WL 1435995 (April 20, 2012), the Commission ruled that employment discrimination against employees because they are transgender, because of their gender identity, and/or because they have transitioned (or intend to transition) is discrimination based on sex, and thus violates Title VII. This appeal arose from federal sector enforcement, where the same laws apply, but the EEOC has appellate adjudicatory authority.
In Macy, the Commission relied on reasoning from well-established Supreme Court precedent, as well as on holdings from more recent lower court decisions, including Glenn v. Brumby, 663 F.3d 1312 (11th Cir. 2011), and Smith v. City of Salem, 378 F.3d 566 (6th Cir. 2004). The Commission and these courts recognize that when an employer considers an employee’s sex in taking an adverse action – for example, if an employer fires a transgender employee because the employee does not conform to the employer’s expectations or stereotypes regarding how someone “born” that sex should live or look – the employer will violate Title VII. The lawsuits filed today are consistent with the Commission’s position in Macy and binding court precedent.
“An employee should not be denied employment opportunities because he or she does not conform to the preferred or expected gender norms or roles of the employer or co-workers,” said Malcolm S. Medley, director for the EEOC’s Miami District Office. “Protections must be afforded to such employees.”
Robert E. Weisberg, regional attorney for the Miami District Office, pointed out that in 2011, the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force completed a study that found, in Florida, 81 percent of transgender individuals responding to the survey experienced harassment or mistreatment on the job and 56 percent experienced an adverse job action.
Weisberg said, “With workplace discrimination against transgender individuals reported at these levels, EEOC stands ready to enforce the rights of transgender employees secured by Title VII.”
The EEOC also filed suit today against Detroit-based R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes, Inc. for discharging a funeral director because she informed them that, as part of her gender transition from male to female, she intended to return to work presenting consistent with her gender identity as a woman.
The EEOC charged in its suit, EEOC v. R.G. & G.R Harris Funeral Homes, Inc., (Civ. No. E.D. Mich. 2:14-cv-13710-SFC-DRG) filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, that Harris violated Title VII by firing the funeral director because of her transgender status, because of her gender transition, and/or based on gender-based stereotypes.
Kids Fishing Derby [2012 file photo]Ocala, Florida — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will be conducting a Kids Fishing Derby on October 4, 2014, at the FWC’s Ocala Conservation Center.
This year’s event will be limited to the first 100 participants. Each participant will have the opportunity to fish, as well as compete in a casting contest, net some aquatic invertebrates with a biologist and participate in arts & crafts.
The FWC event is funded through donations with the hopes of every youth participant leaving with a fishing pole.
Registration will start in mid to late September. An announcement will be made as the date approaches.
The event’s success is dependent solely upon donations. The FWC would greatly appreciate any help you can offer.
Individuals or businesses can make donations for the Kids Fishing Derby through our 501(c)(3) affiliation:
Wildlife Foundation of Florida, P.O. Box 11010, Tallahassee, FL 32302. CHECKS MUST BE MARKED: Lake Eaton Kids Fishing Derby.
All proceeds or donations will go directly to the fishing derby and are tax deductible.
Marion county, Florida — Your Marion County Deputy Sheriffs need your help. They are calling 911. There is an urgent emergency!
As veterans of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, we live here. We work here and raise our families here. We have proudly dedicated our professional careers to serving Marion County as law enforcement officers. We can no longer stand by and watch our agency, our men and women, our county fail to provide the level of safety our citizens demand and deserve. It is time to speak up.
It is evident our current serving Board of County Commissioners have lost sight of their role and sworn duty to provide for the security of those they serve. We believe as an employee and citizen of Marion County that we deserve more from our elected officials.
The current situation at the Sheriff’s Office has become unattainable. Your Deputy Sheriffs have not seen a raise in eight years and their equipment has reached its useful life span and needs replacement or upgrading. Average response time to calls for service from our community have reached an average of 11.5 minutes. That’s without backup. If it is your emergency, is that acceptable? We completed a salary survey, which told us what we already knew, our professional law enforcement officers are some of the lowest paid in the state of a Florida with little or no benefits, no cost of living adjustment or career path to follow for advancement. Our folks are giving up and leaving to go elsewhere for the sake of their families.
Under the current administration of elected officials, there is no light at the end of this very long tunnel. We are asking for your help, we need you as our backup. The shortage of manpower, the long response times, the dangers of law enforcement and the dangers to our community are no longer acceptable.
Our advice to any potential candidate looking for employment at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, look somewhere else. Here you are promised low pay, no cost of living adjustments, heavy workload, worn-out equipment, and no respect from your County Commission for what you do. These are some of the reasons that there is no longer a waiting line to become a team member of the MCSO, but instead a worn path along the exit route from the office!
Sheriff Blair did go to the commissioners last year with a sizable request for funding that was clearly not received well. They asked that he form a five-year “recovery” plan and he delivered it to the commission this year. There has been no discussion concerning the plan, nor have we seen any action to achieve the goals in that plan. The sheriff needs much better negotiation skills. It was also recently released that Lee Niblock, our county administrator, was seeking employment within another community. Truth be known, this is his second attempt to vacate our county this year. His latest application is with Alachua County and the first words from one of our commissioners during a public meeting were “I think we should offer him a raise.” Seriously? This recommendation was made to all of the other commissioners based upon his last performance evaluation and the fact that he has not had a raise in eight years. He is already one of the highest paid employees of the county with a salary that exceeds $160,000.00.
At what point, when you call 911 for a law enforcement emergency and receive a delayed response does that become acceptable? It is becoming much closer to reality and the delays are numerous per day. A couple of minutes do make the difference between life and death during an in-progress call. Our men and women are professionals and are doing the best they can.
We ask for your help. Contact the County Commission and let them know we are not going to take this anymore. Fund your public safety departments as your life depends upon it.
Jim Preston, President Florida State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police
Bell, Florida — Authorities said Don Spirit, 51, a felon, routinely beat his children and grandchildren.
Don Spirit shot his daughter, Sarah Spirit, 28, as well as her six children with a .45 caliber handgun, before turning the gun on himself.
The children were 2-month-old Alanna Stewart; Brandon Stewart, 4; Destiny Stewart, 5; Johnathon Kuhlmann, 8; Kylie Kuhlmann, 9; and Kaleb Kuhlmann, 11.
An incident report indicated that the children lived in filth when they stayed with their mother and her boyfriend, James Stewart, who is also a convicted felon. Both Sarah Spirit and James Stewart reportedly used drugs in front of the children on a regular basis. The report also states that the children rarely bathed due to lack of running hot water.
In June of 2013, an Alachua County deputy wrote this information in a report with the intention of alerting the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office, but chose to wait for DCF to conduct forensic interviews with all of the children instead.
DCF spokeswoman, Alexis Lambert, said that the Spirit Family was under review by DCF’s Critical Incident Rapid Response Team.
Local residents are furious and said DCF dragged their feet, ultimately leading to the children’s death.
DCF was also aware of the fact that Sarah Spirit had failed a drug test administered by her probation officer. Sarah was then sent to jail. After she was released, she was evicted from her home and moved back in with her father in his rundown singlewide trailer. Sarah was on felony probation for grand theft and previous drug charges.
Edward Kuhlmann, the father of three of the children shot last Thursday, is currently in Calhoun Correctional Institution serving time for 12 felony convictions.
In 2001, Don “accidentally” shot his 9-year-old son with a .300-Winchester Magnum round during a hunting trip. The shooting was ruled an accident and Don was never charged. He was however, charged with Possession of a Weapon by a Convicted Felon. He served three (3) years in prison.
In 2008, Don was taken to jail after he reportedly beat his daughter while she was eight-months pregnant.
Don had an extensive felony arrest history from New Jersey and Florida.
According to authorities, some of the children were also frequently in trouble in school.
A neighbor, Mark Hall, said he knew the Spirits only through his fifth-grade son. But the family was troubled, he said.
“Kaleb had gotten into fights in school, and I was concerned that he was bullying my son. So I told my son to stop hanging out with him,” said Mark.
“My son tried to befriend him, but I had to tell him to stop being friends with him, I didn’t want him to get dragged into that lifestyle.”
Ocala, Florida — Today’s Community Prayer Vigil, that the Ocala Police Department is urging citizens to support, has atheists upset.
This is a community vigil, not an Ocala Police Department, or City of Ocala vigil.
Ocala Post has received more than a dozen “anonymous” hate e-mails from local individuals claiming to be atheist requesting the announcement from the Ocala Police Department be removed.
Citing separation of church and state, the e-mails claim it is a violation of the United States Constitution for a law enforcement agency — or any government agency — to be involved a prayer vigil. According to e-mails received by Ocala Post, if an individual citizen organized the prayer vigil, there would be no complaints.
Frances “Jean” Porgal is the organizer of the Ocala Atheists as well as the Williston Atheists groups.
A person’s right to free speech is certainly protected; however, threats are not.
Ocala Post stands firm and will not remove the announcement.
Ocala Police Chief Greg Graham and Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn are also standing firm.
Chief Graham thanked Ocala Post for standing strong on the situation. He also reiterated that this event is a Community Prayer Vigil and not the Ocala Police Departments event to cancel.
Mayor Guinn called the atheist’s actions, “ridiculous.”
[Updated on September 24, 2014, at 1:07 p.m.]
Ocala Post is currently reviewing the aforementioned e-mails. If it is determined that the e-mails are credible threats of violence — as with any media outlet — they will be turned over to local law enforcement. Until that time, they will not be made available to the public.
TUSCALOOSA, AL – SEPTEMBER 20: Jeff Driskel #6 of the Florida Gators looks to pass against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 20, 2014 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Florida Gators suffered their first loss of the season on Saturday to Alabama 42-21.
The Gators were able to force four turnovers against Alabama and turn them into 21 points, while the Gators had three turnovers of their own with two coming from interceptions off of quarterback Jeff Driskel.
The Gator secondary could not stop Alabama receiver Amari Cooper who had yet another great game finishing with 10 catches for 201 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Alabama quarterback Blake Sims just had a field day against the Gators throwing for 445 and 4 touchdowns. Backup quarterback Jake Coker had a four yard touchdown pass of his own against the Gators.
The Gators had trouble on third-down all game as they only converted 2 of 13 third-downs. Florida’s defense also had trouble getting off the field on third-downs as the Crimson Tide converted 12 of 16.
Alabama finished with a total of 645 yard while the Gators finished the game with only 200 yards.
Scoring Summary:
Sims 87 yard pass to Drake for a touchdown (ALA 7 FLA 0) 13:47 remaining in 1st quarter
Driskel 28 yard pass to Showers for a touchdown (ALA 7 FLA 7) 11:26 remaining in 1st quarter
Sims 7 yard pass to White, White fumbled, recovered by Neal, returned 49 yards for a touchdown (ALA 7 FLA 14) 9:24 remaining in 1st quarter
Sims 79 yard pass to Cooper for a touchdown (ALA 14 FLA 14) 4:12 remaining in 1st quarter
Sims 2 yard pass to Fowler for a touchdown (ALA 21 FLA 14) 7:19 remaining in 2nd quarter
Driskel 14 yard run for a touchdown (ALA 21 FLA 21) 12:42 remaining in 3rd quarter
Henry 3 yard run for a touchdown (ALA 28 FLA 21) 5:27 remaining in 3rd quarter
Coker 4 yard pass to Cooper for a touchdown (ALA 35 FLA 21) 0:21 remaining in 3rd quarter
Sims 6 yard pass to Cooper for a touchdown (ALA 42 FLA 21) 10:10 remaining in 4th quarter
Ocala, Florida—Ocala Police Chief, Greg Graham, said the City of Ocala is in a crisis over senseless crimes, and he wants to see the community come together.
According to researchers with Home Security Shield, the City of Ocala is now in the top 20 for most dangerous cities in Florida, and Marion County is number 30 out of 67 counties.
The report is based on FBI crime statics for violent and property crimes.
Researchers say if the crime rate continues to increase at the current rate, Marion County could quickly move up on the list.
Orlando is currently listed at number two (2). Ocala is number 17.
Michael Fitzwater [Mugshot]Seminole County, Florida — The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office Crimes Against Children Unit yesterday arrested Michael Scott Fitzwater, 40, of Chuluota, on one count of Unlawful Sexual Contact with a Minor.
Investigators were contacted on September 21, 2014, after a mother discovered explicit sexual text messages being sent to her sixteen-year-old daughter.
The messages were from Fitzwater, a teacher at Hagerty High School where the teen attends school.
During the course of the investigation it was discovered that Fitzwater also had sexual contact with the victim at his Chuluota home. This was substantiated following an interview with the victim by investigators.
Michael Fitzwater was booked into the John E. Polk Correctional Facility on a $15,000 bond. He has since been released.
A spokesperson for Hagerty High School said Fitzwater was suspended with pay pending the outcome of a board hearing.
He has been a teacher at the high school for five (5) years.
Investigators believe there might be additional victims. If you have any information about Fitwater’s contact with other children, call the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office at 407 665-6650.
Silver Springs, Florida — All of the details following a tragic canoeing accident have now been released to Ocala Post.
On September 21, 2014, a family borrowed a 14-foot canoe from a friend and launched it at the Halfmoon Lake boat ramp located in the Ocala National Forest.
The occupants of the boat were David Runion, 31; his brother, Todd D. Gibson, 29; mother, Lisa L. Gibson; and Todd Gibson’s two daughters — Mekenzie Gibson, 5, and Nevaeh Gibson, 7.
According to Deputy Robert Howie with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Runion stated that shortly after the family launched the canoe, his brother Todd began to rock the canoe as a joke and the canoe began to take water. The canoe then capsized, throwing all occupants in the water.
Runion was able to swim to the boat ramp.
A witness told the deputy that he could hear screams coming from across the lake, at which time he and his wife responded. They pulled Lisa Gibson and her two grandchildren out of the water and to the shoreline.
Medic Unit number four (4) responded and transported Gibson and the two juveniles to Munroe Regional Medical Center.
Lisa Gibson was pronounced deceased at the hospital.
The father’s body was not pulled from the water until Monday, September 22, 2014.
The children are were treated and released from the hospital.
“There weren’t any life preservers aboard the canoe,” Greg Workman, spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, said. “Anytime there is horseplay on the water it comes with inherent risk.”
Ocala, Florida — The Marion County Board of County Commissioners once again gave Marion County Sheriff, Chris Blair, an ultimatum to reduce his budget during a hearing held on September 11, 2014, while Commissioner Carl Zalak leaned back in his chair and mocked public safety issues.
Commissioners Carl Zalak and Stan McClain were heard several times laughing during the public safety portion of the hearing.
At one point in the attached video, McClain raises his voice and compares the situation with the sheriff’s office to Marion County Fire Rescue by stating he has had the same exact conversation about the budget with the fire chief.
During the September 11 hearing, Zalak told Sheriff Blair if he did not come to the upcoming September 25, 2014, final budget hearing with a flat budget, the BOCC would do it for him.
The current year’s adopted budget for FY2013-2014 is $67,053,024. The budget the Board of County Commissioners is proposing for the sheriff for FY201-2015 is $66,583,601. That is a reduction of ($469,423) at the direction of the BOCC.
Despite the Marion County Sheriff’s Office only being 13 percent of the county’s overall budget, commissioners are forcing the sheriff’s office to shoulder the brunt of the budget cuts.
The BOCC has told all other departments to come back flat; however, they are actually decreasing the budget of the sheriff’s office.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office was blindsided by the BOCC at the September 11 hearing when board members attempted to cut the sheriff’s office expenditures by $694,000 without Sheriff Blair’s knowledge.
Citizens have stated many times they feel the public hearings are a waste of time, and that public comments fall on deaf ears.
During last Thursday’s meeting, Commissioner McClain proved Marion County citizens’ fear when Sheriff Blair asked for more time after being blindsided, and McClain blurted out, “I am not going to change my mind, Sheriff, personally, so.”
Later in the video, Zalak disrespectfully addressed the sheriff as BOSS.
Fine & Forfeiture Fund
The Fine & Forfeiture Fund provides the monies for the Sheriff’s Regular Budget and Bailiff Budget. At the budget hearing last week, Commissioner Zalak and County Administrator Lee Niblock told Sheriff Blair he was spending all of the reserves from the Fine & Forfeiture Fund.
Jerry Holland, Marion County Sheriff’s Office Support Services Bureau Chief, said there is a problem with this statement:
“The sheriff submits his budget to the county commission for approval. Once they adopt the budget, it is the commission’s responsibility to decide how it is funded. The sheriff’s budget was approved last year and it was the commission’s decision to fund his budget using a mixture of ad valorem taxes and Fund Balance Carry Forward (or reserves as they called it). Now that the BOCC has used up the reserves, only a minimum amount is available, so they are telling the sheriff that they are not raising the millage rate to properly fund his budget and he must cut his budget because he has spent all of the reserves in the Fine & Forfeiture Fund. That is not a true statement. The BOCC chose to use reserves, not the sheriff. The sheriff had no say in how his budget would be funded by the county, he simply made his request for it to be approved and funded. Some may see this as a good thing since taxes will not be raised, however, a logical person can see it is a bad idea because of what is happening now.”
The BOCC has chosen to cut budgets instead of raising taxes. Their decision to cut the sheriff’s budget has affected public safety in a very negative way.
Since August 22, 2014, the average response time for a deputy to respond to a call for service increased from 11 minutes to 17 minutes. This was the average response time for 185 calls.
According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, an acceptable response time would be approximately six (6) to six and a half minutes (6.5).
Sheriff Blair said, “Someone is seriously going to get hurt. One of my deputies is seriously going to get hurt.”
Sheriff Blair went on to say he did not think Marion County citizens were receiving the attention they deserved.
Over the last couple of years, the sheriff has received the same level (dollar amount) of funding. However, there have been increases in things like health insurance, Florida Retirement System contributions, fuel costs, etc.
The long-term effects of the inadequate funding are many. By not receiving more funding, Sheriff Blair has had to hold open some of his vacancies in order to build up monies to cover the above-mentioned additional expenses. This magnifies a couple of issues.
He already has staffing shortages, but he cannot fill some of his existing positions due to the aforementioned reasons. He cannot “fix” the salary problem, which also affects his ability to hire qualified applicants.
MCSO recently had a salary study done that shows the sheriff’s employees (across the board) are 20 percent below in pay to comparable sheriff’s offices. Sheriff Blair does not have the funding to correct it. He also does not have funding to replace normal capital outlay items (e.g., vehicles, equipment, and computers). There are currently no monies in his budget for the normal replacement of these items. Although Sheriff Blair has obtained some new vehicles since he took office (The department purchased over 30 patrol vehicles and is leasing about 20 undercover vehicles.), they have not been replaced on schedule since 2007. Typically, MCSO would need to replace about 50 vehicles per year for about five years to catch up.
Raises
“All county (except those under union contract or collective bargaining) and constitutional officer employees received funding for three (3) percent raises for the upcoming budget year, but not for all sheriff’s office employees,” Holland said.
The BOCC does not want to give raises to those in the field of public safety, yet the public information officers for the BOCC are getting substantial raises.
In the video, Commissioner Earl Arnett tried to convince Sheriff Blair to eliminate ten (10) positions that are funded by a grant and take those deputies to fill other vacant positions. Sheriff Blair said, “You can’t keep taking positions and sending the money down the road.”
Citizens of Marion County have accused the BOCC many times of “kicking the can down the road.”
After Sheriff Blair refused, Zalak asked why it was not a good idea.
After much investigation, Ocala Post found out that Arnett’s idea is exactly how the BOCC conducts business.
According to public records, the BOCC deletes one vacant position and then uses the money from the deleted position to fund substantial raises for filled positions. The BOCC calls it a “reclass.”
The BOCC recently “reclassed” two of its public information officers. One PIO’s salary went from $54,184.75 to $58,616.99, an increase of $4,432.24. The other is from $61,001.73 to $66,614.30, an increase of $5,612.57. The raises total $10,044.81 — a lot more than three (3) percent.
One of the PIOs is reportedly a family member of McClain. A reasonable person could draw the conclusion that it is a conflict of interest for McClain to be involved. And while the BOCC will try to say it is not finalized until the September 25, 2014, meeting; it has clearly been printed in black and white.
“Reclass”
Some residents have asked when the last time one of the BOCC’s PIOs has ever been on TV or spoke on behalf of a commissioner.
McClain and Zalak have been quick to avoid raises for public safety as a whole, which includes Marion County Fire Rescue as well as the sheriff’s office.
In the video, Zalak tells the sheriff they are giving him $1 million, but in actuality, Holland said Blair would only see $320,620 of that. “At the beginning of the budget discussion earlier this year, this number was set at $197, 073,” Holland said. “It is important that the public know the facts and not just what the commission wants them to hear.”
Residents at last Thursday’s meeting said McClain’s and Zalak’s true colors came out that night.
McClain stated that the sheriff’s office received $7.4 million more last year than the year before. What McCalin did not announce in front of the public was there was a deficit of $4.5 million created by former Sheriff Ed Dean that had to be paid out of that money.
At one point Zalak interrupted the sheriff and said, “There ain’t no such thing as fair. I can promise you that.”
Even more troubling, is the fact that McClain was laughing while telling the sheriff how to manage his budget.
McClain is in charge of managing the countywide budget of more than $500 million; however, according to Federal Bankruptcy Court records, [he] cannot even manage his own personal finances. McClain filed for bankruptcy in 2007; wiping out a substantial amount of debt. In 2013, Capital One Bank filed a lawsuit against McClain in which the default final judgment was issued in December of 2013. McClain is also currently in the middle of foreclosure proceedings on a home valued at more than $250,000.
Prior to filing bankruptcy, McClain purchased a $16,000 vehicle in which he only made payments of $1,117.53 within 90 days of filing bankruptcy. McClain reaffirmed the debt with Citi Financial, which legally allowed him to exclude it from bankruptcy.
At the time of his bankruptcy, he also owed the IRS $5,000.
Many residents have also expressed concerns over the $20 million landfill deal the BOCC is involved with, namely because Zalak is in the waste services business. He is listed as the VP of C & C Recycling of Central Florida, Inc., which is also tied in with Busy Bee Waste Services.
McClain and Zalak also accused the sheriff of wanting to excessively tax property owners. However, in 2013, the sheriff requested a half-cent sales tax for a term of three years which would have solved the budget problem. Something that many counties have done and continue to do. The commissioners dragged their feet on the proposed plan and by the time they realized the half-cent sales tax would correct budget issues, it was too late.
According to the sheriff’s office, the BOCC also hounded the sheriff for a five-year plan to be drawn up. Even after presenting it to the BOCC, they have not touched it.
In an e-mail to Ocala Post, an unnamed Marion County firefighter asked, “Why is a man that has trouble managing his personal debt in charge of my raises? Why is he in charge of anything to do with budgeting?”
Another firefighter with MCFR told Ocala Post that he makes less than $10.00 an hour. “It’s not fair, but according to Zalak, nothing is fair,” he said. “By bank standards, McClain could not even qualify to be a bonded armed guard. Why is he managing the county budget?”
The firefighters asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation, namely from Zalak.
Sheriff Blair said he is also worried about the COPS grant. The COPS grant is the aforementioned 10 positions the BOCC suggested Sheriff Blair eliminate.
“The COPS grant was a contract the commission broke by federal standards which could cause our sheriff’s office in the future to not be able to receive any additional grants as it relates to adding deputy sheriffs through federal funding. The ten deputies were kept through year-end monies last year. We will wait and see if the commission picks them up as they are in our five-year plan. My concern is that McClain requested I move my air and warrant units from Fine and Forfeiture to MSTU and he would increase the millage rate to cover the cost. We made the move and he then, as of last Thursday refused to fund those units to the tune of approximately $1.5 million. At this time there is no funding for those units both for personnel and operation of the aircraft.”
By Florida law, the sheriff’s office can take this matter to the governor’s office if they feel commissioners are mishandling funding.
Citizens will now have to wait for the outcome of the September 25 hearing.
At the request of citizens through multiple e-mails to Ocala Post, the following video has been shortened. In the video, residents who have not seen the video will see McClain and Zalak disrespect MCFR, Marion County citizens, and the sheriff’s office. Citizens can also see how McClain dismissed the fact that Sheriff Blair wants deputies to be placed in elementary schools.
Shawn Cross [Mugshot]Lakeland, Florida — On Friday, September 19, 2014, Polk County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit detectives arrested 34-year-old Shawn Cross of 5417 Rebecca Lane in Lakeland, and charged him with one count of Possession of Controlled Substance and one count Child Neglect.
According to the affidavit , Cross purchased four (4) methadone prescription pills from an unknown person and brought them home. He took one pill and put the other three (3) pills in his dresser drawer.
At some point, a 19-month-old baby ingested one of the pills and became extremely sick. The baby was taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center, where he tested positive for methadone.
The baby was later transported to Tampa General Hospital for further testing.
According to doctors, the baby was treated with medication to counteract the methadone and is expected to make a full recovery.
Post-Miranda, Cross told deputies he might have dropped one of the pills, which is how the baby ingested it.
Deputies recovered one pill at Cross’ home during a search of the residence. When asked where the fourth pill was, Cross told deputies [he] took the pill before taking the baby to the hospital.
Cross was arrested without incident and booked into the Polk County Jail on the aforementioned charges.
Cross has been in the Polk County Jail on six prior occasions for Possession of Marijuana, Aggravated Fleeing to Elude, Resisting Arrest, Leaving the Scene of a Crash, Petit Theft, Grand Theft, and VOP.
Jefferson, Indiana — Last week, an Indiana man was arrested and charged with Murder, Breaking and Entering, and Abuse of a Corpse.
Police arrived at the home of Tammy Blanton, 46, because she hadn’t gone into work that day. What they saw when they entered her home was something straight out of a gruesome horror movie.
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Joseph Oberhansley [left] and Tammy Blanton [Facebook]“After you’ve been prosecuting for so long, you think you’ve seen everything. I’ve never seen this,” said Prosecutor Steve Stewart.
When police knocked on Blanton’s door at 10:00 a.m., her ex-boyfriend, Joseph Oberhansley, 33, answered.
According to the police, they asked Oberhansley where Blanton was. The police said Oberhansley was acting very suspicious.
When talking to Oberhansley, police reported they saw a fresh cut along Oberhansley’s knuckles.
According to reports, the police then searched Oberhansley and found a pocket knife covered in blood and human hair. The police then searched the house and found Blanton.
She was dead, her bloody body lying under a tarp inside her bathtub.
Upon further examination of the home, police found bloody tongs and a skillet, a plate which appeared to have human bones and blood on it, and human remains in the trash can.
Oberhansley told police that he ate Blanton’s cooked organs, as well as raw.
An autopsy report shows Blanton died from multiple strikes to her head, neck, and torso.
The autopsy report also shows that parts of her heart, lungs, and brain were missing.
When Oberhansley appeared in court, he said they had the wrong guy, his name was actually Zeus Brown, and he didn’t know his age nor if he was a U.S citizen.
Police responded to a call at 3 a.m., the same morning as the murder scene, at Blanton’s home because Oberhansley was trying to break in.
According to court records, In 1998, Oberhansley shot and killed his teenage girlfriend, critically injuring his mother and then turned the firearm on himself, shooting himself through his chin and hitting his frontal lobe portion of his brain, resulting in permanent brain damage.
Then in 2013, he was arrested when he put a man into a chokehold and then resisted police when they tried to break up the fight.
According to reports, Oberhansley’s bond was requested at $25,000 full cash.
A deputy prosecutor lowered Oberhansley’s bond to only $500.
Some reports say that the deputy prosecutor has now resigned.
