Renee Phillips [Mugshots]Ocala, Florida — On February 23, 2014, deputies responded to the 5600 block of NE 22nd Avenue in reference to a 911 call involving domestic violence.
Upon arrival, Deputy Daniel Jones, made contact with a gentleman whom told Deputy Jones that [his] ex-wife, Renee A. Phillips, 39, tried to slit his throat.
The man said he was sitting in the garage when his ex-wife came up behind him, grabbed him by the neck with one hand, and placed a knife to his throat with the other. The man said when he turned to look at his ex-wife she dropped the knife and ran into the kitchen.
A short time later, the man said he was standing in the kitchen when Phillips again came up behind him and placed a different knife to his throat, and said, “I’m going to kill you.” At which point the man grabbed her wrist, forcing her to remove the knife from his throat.
Concerned for his own safety, he dialed 911.
The man told Deputy Jones that each time she put the knife to him, he could feel the steel blade pressing against his throat.
The man stated that his ex-wife had been accusing him all day of “drugging her.”
While Deputy Jones was questioning Phillips, she said that she was not “feeling herself,” and she believed her ex-husband had been “drugging her.” She said, “I don’t feel normal.”
Phillips denied putting a knife to her ex-husband’s throat. However, the man had injuries consistent with having a blade pressed to his throat and there was also fresh blood on the man’s neck, along with finger nail marks, according to reports.
Phillips was arrested and transported to the Marion County Jail. She was charged with Aggravated Domestic Battery with a Deadly Weapon.
Deputy Jones later determined Phillips had been drinking throughout the day.
Polk County, Florida — On Friday, February 21, 2014, Polk County Sheriff’s undercover detectives conducted a Vice initiative at Saddle Creek Park in Lakeland, focusing on complaints about indecent activity at the park. A total of nine men were arrested for soliciting lewd acts.
60-year-old Stephen Cyr, of 3305 Skyview Drive #105 in Lakeland, solicited an undercover detective to commit a lewd act. Cyr told detectives he is a roofer for Springer Peterson. He is a Registered Sexual Predator from a case in Hillsborough County in 1997 and has been in the Polk County Jail on three prior occasions, between 2009 and 2011, for DUI, and VOP. He was arrested and charged with Soliciting Another to Commit a Lewd Act. He was booked into the Polk County Jail and has been released after posting $250.00 bond.
68-year-old Fred Keith of 226 Esther Street in Lakeland, solicited an undercover detective to commit a lewd act. He told detectives he is retired from Dupont. He was arrested and charged with Soliciting Another to Commit a Lewd Act. He was booked into the Polk County Jail and has been released after posting $250.00 bond.
51-year-old David Giddens of 1545 Eagle Lake Loop Road in Eagle Lake, solicited an undercover detective to commit a lewd act. Giddens told detectives he works at Autozone. He was arrested and charged with Soliciting Another to Commit a Lewd Act. He was booked into the Polk County Jail and is being held on $250.00 bond.
55-year-old Peter Fortier of 802 Hill Colony Circle East in Lakeland, solicited an undercover detective to commit a lewd act. Fortier attempted to flee from law enforcement when they told him he was under arrest. He was arrested and charged with Soliciting Another to Commit a Lewd Act, Resisting Arrest, and Battery on a LEO. He was booked into the Polk County Jail and has been released after posting $2250.00 bond.
48-year-old Timothy Reed of 300 Collins Street West in Lakeland, solicited an undercover detective to commit a lewd act. Reed told detectives he is an operations manager at Bunch Care Solutions. He was arrested and charged with Soliciting Another to Commit a Lewd Act. He was booked into the Polk County Jail and has been released after posting $500.00 bond.
70-year-old Marcel Couture of 804 Osprey Avenue in Davenport, grabbed an undercover detective and made lewd comments. He told detectives he is a driver for Disney World. He was arrested and charged with Battery. He was booked into the Polk County Jail and has been released after posting $500.00 bond.
76-year-old Robert Lash of 3435 Crestwood Drive in Lakeland, solicited an undercover detective to commit a lewd act. Lash told detectives he sells cars at Lash Auto Sales. He was arrested and charged with Soliciting Another to Commit a Lewd Act, 3rd or Subsequent Offense, and Trespassing. He has been in the Polk County Jail on two prior occasions, in 2007 and 2012, for Exposure of Sex Organ in Public and Offering to Commit Lewdness. He was booked into the Polk County Jail and has been released after posting $1250.00 bond.
61-year-old Thomas Bigsby of 211 Moss Road in Auburndale, solicited an undercover detective to commit a lewd act. Bigsby told detectives he is a self-employed auto mechanic. He was arrested and charged with Soliciting Another to Commit a Lewd Act. He was booked into the Polk County Jail and has been released after posting $250.00 bond.
49-year-old David Krusyna of 1705 Branch Lane in Auburndale, solicited an undercover detective to commit a lewd act. Krusyna told detectives he is a valet at 717 Enterprises. He was arrested and charged with Soliciting Another to Commit a Lewd Act. He was booked into the Polk County Jail and is being held on $250.00 bond.
“Polk County’s parks are beautiful places where we can relax, fish, play, and enjoy time together. They are notplaces for committing lewd acts or exposing yourself. If you choose to commit illegal acts in our parks, you will be arrested and booked into the Polk County Jail,” said Sheriff Grady Judd.
Joy McCall [Mugshot]Marion Oaks — On February 24, 2014, a 12-year-old boy and his mother made contact with the Ocala Police Department to report that [he] had been sexually involved with a 35-year-old woman known to him as Ms. Joy, on multiple occasions.
The woman was later identified as Joy McCall of 343 Marion Oaks Lane.
The incident came to light after the boy told a church member about his sexual encounters, along with several text messages that were discovered. The text messages helped provide investigators with a timeline of the events.
The boy said he began receiving Facebook messages from McCall and each message she sent became more and more heated. He said she eventually sent him pictures of herself wearing only underwear.
On January 13, 2014, the boy said McCall sent a text message stating she wanted to meet at the Paddock Mall. The boy said he and his older brother then drove to the mall and when they arrived [he] told his brother he had to go to the restroom, at which point he met McCall outside and left with her.
McCall then drove to the outer portion of the Belk Parking lot and parked. The boy stated he and McCall then got into the back seat of the car where McCall removed his pants. The boy told investigators she then performed oral sex on him. McCall then removed her pants and the two had sex, according to the boy.
On January 18, 2014, McCall contacted the boy and wanted to meet again. The boy pretended to go on a bike ride, but instead, she picked him up and drove to a wooded area where the boy said they both engaged in oral sex as well as sexual intercourse.
On February 16, 2014, the boy said she picked him up again and returned to the same wooded area where they engaged in more sexual activity.
After questioning the boy, investigators made contact with McCall at her residents. During questioning, she did not deny her interactions with the boy. She admitted to having sex, as well as oral sex with him on multiple occasions, specifically the dates mentioned by the boy.
McCall was arrested and transported to the Marion County Jail. She is currently being held on a $45,000 bond and has been placed on suicide watch at the jail.
She was charged with three felony counts of Lewd and Lascivious Battery on a Child Age 12 to 16.
McCall reportedly has two children of her own, approximately the same age as her victim.
Marion County, Florida — A new report for Florida shows that President Obama’s promise of affordable health insurance is anything but reality, and Marion County residents are feeling the effects as local businesses began cutting work hours in August of 2013.
Last year Ocala Post reported on Medicaid expansion and how the Florida House chose to vote against expanding Medicaid under Obama’s “Affordable Care Act” in fear it would cost the state to much money.
The new report shows that Floridians are too poor to even qualify for the “Affordable Care Act.” Residents earning approximately $24,000 a year for a family of four are not eligible for tax credits, according to the standards set by “Obamacare.” Over one million Floridians, according to market place standards, are too poor.
The Florida House says they do not want to cover “lazy” people, however according to the Medicaid guidelines, many residents make too much money to qualify for Medicaid. So now… not only can residents not qualify for Medicaid, they are too poor to qualify for “Obamacare.”
Analysts said that the poor, who should be qualifying for something, will not be able to because the House chose to vote against Medicaid expansion. The lack of tax credits will prevent everyone that is living below the poverty level from being able to afford coverage. This will certainly affect pregnant women, children, the disabled and single parents.
Vice President Jo Biden is placing the blame directly on Governor Rick Scott, while others are pointing the finger at Obama and his administration.
Only 300,000 people in Florida have signed up with the marketplace, a far cry from the millions that President Obama was expecting.
Biden said if Governor Rick Scott had accepted the Medicaid dollars that were offered to the state, then Florida would be in much better shape. Biden says Governor Scott can still get on board if he chooses to do so.
Analysts are predicting that by the year 2017 there will be an additional 1.2 million people out of work as employers continue to cut work hours below 28 hours a week.
The Obama administration fired back by stating that the reason people will be out of work is because they will choose to be, that way a person who doesn’t work can qualify for Medicaid and other government funds; completely placing the burden and the failure of ‘Obamacare” on U.S. residents.
An e-mail to Ocala Post from the White House stated that the economy is recovering and the employment rate is up. Citing that real estate is beginning to boom because home purchases are on the rise, namely in Florida.
However as Ocala Post pointed out in November of 2013, it is not hard working Americans that are buying homes, or businesses for that matter, it is foreigners.
“I signed an Executive Order to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 for federal contract workers,” Obama wrote.
“It’s the right thing to do. But what’s more, companies have found that when their employees earn more, they’re more motivated, they work harder, and they stick around longer.”
Experts argue that raising the federal minimum wage will cripple the economy. Employers can barely afford to pay benefits to employees, much less a higher wage. McDonalds workers are demanding $15.00 an hour for asking, “Do you want fires with that?”
Meanwhile, college graduates are working two jobs to pay back student loans because employers cannot afford to pay graduates what they are worth.
We want to hear from you. Do you think Medicaid should be reformed? Do you think federal minimum wage should be increased? Leave comments below.
Justina Pelletier [Facebook]Boston — The parents of Justina Pelletier reacted as any decent parent would, with tears and shouts of anger after learning at a Boston courthouse today that the Department of Children and Families wants to place their teenage daughter in foster care on Boston’s North Shore, according to reports.
The media was not allowed near the court room due to the gag order that was issued by the judge in past weeks still being in place.
The judge told the parents they are not to speak of their daughters illness or the fact she has been held captive for one year by the Boston Children’s Hospital and DCF.
However, Justina’s father did break his silence. And shortly after Justina’s father, Lou Pelletier, broke his silence, the DCF immediately filed court papers requesting Lou Pelletier be held in contempt of court and arrested.
The judge involved in this case also ordered a seal on Justina’s medical records at DCF’s request. The judge said that the parents are not to have access to the medical records, but if they do the records are not to be release to the public and Justina’s condition cannot be discussed with another doctor.
The Pelletiers’ primary attorney declined comment, citing the gag order. However he did say that he has never in his career seen, nor has he ever read any case law about a judge ordering parents to remain silent about their own child’s medical treatment at the request of DCF.
Justina has a condition called mitochondrial disease. It is caused by a disruption in the cellular energy centers of our bodies, the mitochondria, and it is very difficult to diagnose. Justina’s gut stopped working a couple of years ago, a common problem for mito patients, resulting in a tube to help her digest and eliminate food. Mito patients also struggle with muscle weakness, pain, memory loss, erratic blood pressure, vision problems, hearing problems, and debilitating fatigue.
13 months ago Justina was referred to Boston Children’s Hospital by her primary doctor because she was having severe GI issues. However after looking at the child, Boston Children’s Hospital doctors felt it was all in Justina’s mind.
Justina was diagnosed with a psychiatric condition at Boston Children’s Hospital, moved to a locked psychiatric unit, and was not treated for her current illness or for the mitochondrial disease, which requires a daily regimen of supplements and dietary adjustments. She became even more sick, she was unable to eat, and even after her body weakened to the point that she became confined to a wheel chair, doctors continued to tell Justina her condition was all in her head. The doctors at Boston Children’s Hospital even refused to consult with Justina’s primary doctor.
Despite the court ruling, the family and advocates for the family plan to fight.
Ocala Post sent several e-mails to DCF in Boston as well as Boston Children’s Hospital. All replies back to Ocala Post cited the gag order.
The family has now hired the legal group Liberty Counsel. The group plans to have the gag order removed by the end of the week.
Marion County, Florida — Investigators are now trying to find the person or team responsible for shooting windows and causing thousands of dollars in vehicle damages.
This crime spree took place from 2 p.m., Friday, February 21, 2014 through 10 a.m., Saturday, February 22, 2014 in neighborhoods from Ocklawaha to Belleview to Silver Springs Shores to the Forest community. The Marion County Sheriff’s department does not have any leads at this time.
More than two dozen vehicles were damaged. Each incident had similar elements: a window was damaged by someone shooting a BB gun at the vehicle. The vehicles were SUV’s, cars, pickup trucks and vans. The attacks were on side and back windows or front windshields.
“Apparently, the suspect(s) didn’t target any specific model of vehicle. Also, it is apparent, the suspect(s) are committed to criminal mischief,” said Judge Cochran, Public Information Officer for the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
These incidents are very similar to several occurrences that took place in Marion Oaks recently, but no connection between the two have been made.
Investigators need your help. If you know anything, saw anything or heard anything, please call the sheriff’s department immediately.
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.
Ocala, Florida — Head on down to Tuscawilla Park tomorrow February 22, 2014 for the 2nd Annual Rotary Discovery Fest. Games and activities for the kids, Cow Pie Bingo, fresh vittles and live music! Be there early to watch the cattle drive through down town! For more information call the Discovery Center at 352-401-3900.
Matthew Rossi’s Vehicle [Click to Enlarge]Ocala, Florida — Today at approximately 2:15 p.m., a serious car accident claimed the life of 92-year-old Matthew Rossi of Ocala.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Rossi was northbound on SW 73rd St. Rd. (near Jasmine Plasa) at the stop sign at the intersection of SR 200. The second driver, William Watkins, 27, of Ocklawaha was traveling eastbound (towards Ocala) on SR 200 in the inside (left) lane.
Rossi attempted to cross the eastbound lanes on SR 200 and crossed into the path of Watkins, violating his right of way. The front end of Watkins’ Chevy S10 slammed into the left front side of Rossi’s Toyota Corolla, causing Rossi’s vehicle to veer to the right where it then came to its final resting place facing northeast.
William Watkins’ vehicle [Click to Enlarge]Matthew Rossi was transported to West Marion Community Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.
Watkins had only minor injuries, according to FHP.
It has not yet been determined if alcohol played a part in the accident.
It is standard procedure for toxicology testing in accidents of this caliber.
Melinda Johnson [Mugshot]Ocala, Florida — On Wednesday, the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team (UDEST) was conducting an undercover operation on Pine Street in Ocala. The undercover operation was for the sole purpose of catching street walkers (hookers) in the act of soliciting sex in exchange for money.
It didn’t take long! Almost immediately, two undercover officers operating an unmarked vehicle were approached by a woman, later identified as Melinda Johnson, 34, in front of the Star Motel, an establishment well known for drugs and prostitutes.
Johnson engaged in conversation with both of the undercover officers and told them she would “Blow them both” (oral sex) for $20.00 each.
Johnson was then placed under arrest.
She denied offering to exchange sexual favors for money, however, the operation was recorded and monitored as it occurred.
According to reports, Johnson was very uncooperative during her arrest, and she claimed she was only making casual small talk about sex.
Records indicated that Johnson is registered as a resident at the Star Motel.
A search of her person turned up a crack pipe tucked away under her left breast.
Johnson was transported to the Marion County Jail and charged with Prostitution and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Nestlé USA’s Prepared Foods Division today announced the voluntary recall of HOT POCKETS® brand Philly Steak and Cheese in three different pack sizes and HOT POCKETS® brand Croissant Crust Philly Steak and Cheese, in the two pack box.
The voluntary recall is limited to these two products, which were distributed nationwide. No other batches, sizes, including multi-packs, or varieties of HOT POCKETS® brand products are affected by this recall. The reason is due to the recall announced last week by Rancho Feeding Corporation which affects many companies. Our teams at Nestlé have reviewed our vendor records and have determined that one Nestlé brand has been impacted by the Rancho meat recall.
While Nestlé did not purchase meat directly from Rancho, their procurement teams worked with their supply chain to understand whether any company in this chain may have purchased meat from Rancho Feeding at any time during 2013, the period of time covered by the Rancho Feeding recall.
From this review they have confirmed that a small quantity of meat from Rancho was used at Nestlé’s Chatsworth, California production operation, a facility devoted entirely to HOT POCKETS® brand sandwiches. The affected batches of the two varieties in our range of HOT POCKETS® brand sandwiches are being removed from the marketplace.
Consumers who may have purchased the affected batches of HOT POCKETS® brand Philly Steak and Cheese should not consume the product, but instead should return it to the place of purchase for a full refund or contact Nestlé Consumer Services at (800) 392-4057.
USDA notes that no illnesses have been reported in relation to the Rancho Feeding Recall.
4. HOT POCKETS CROISSANT CRUST Philly Steak and Cheese 8x9ozUS
43695 05634 1
3211544512 3248544512 3283544512
SEP ‘14 NOV ‘14 DEC ‘14
Nestle released the following statement–“Nestlé is dedicated to food quality, and the health and safety of its consumers. For these reasons, the company initiated this recall. We apologize to our retail customers and consumers and sincerely regret any inconvenience created by this voluntary product recall.”
Mugshots starting from the top left: Amos Oliver, Angel Marin, Dewayne Lambert, Dexter Lewis, Grechen Walker, Joseph Buddington, Joshua Moore, Julian Mesa, Justin, Ojeda, Kaadir Pollins, Kirkland Small, Mitchel Davis, Ralph Blackmon, and Zayd Pollins.
Ocala, Florida — The Marion County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with the United States Postal Inspection Service conducted a month long interdiction operation that targeted illegal drugs and firearms shipped through the U.S. Mail destined for Central Florida.
The operation ran from January 13, 2014 to February 12, 2014 and involved numerous law enforcement agencies throughout Central Florida. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office Tactical Investigations Unit and Interdiction Unit assisted Postal Inspectors in locating suspicious inbound packages at Post Offices throughout Marion County and then conducted investigations to determine their contents and identify the drug distributors.
To no surprise, officials said majority of the packages were mailed to addresses in the Silver Springs Shores area. Officials said most of the names on the packages were fake and some of the packages were delivered to vacant homes.
During the operation, investigators recovered six weapons, three of which had been reported stolen, according to the sheriff’s office. Drugs that were recovered include, 25 pounds of synthetic marijuana, 1/2 kilogram of cocaine, 69 pounds of high grade marijuana, 79 oxycodone pills, more than 30 methadone pills, 300 Viagra pills and 370 Cialis pills.
In regards to cash, investigators recovered more than $6,000.
In total, 14 criminals were arrested, many of them are already convicted felons.
Marion Oaks — Diamond L. Polycarpe, 19, of Marion Oaks is in jail facing numerous charges related to the sexual assault of a child.
A case concerning Polycarpe was developed when detectives learned that the victim was taken to MRMC by her mom, to be treated for alcohol intoxication. According to reports, the victims blood alcohol level was .189, more than twice the state’s legal limit of .08.
The victim told investigators she met Polycarpe (a.k.a “Majesty”) on Facebook, and she and a friend went to the Marion Oaks Community Center park to meet him. The victim stated that she saw him pull up, walked over to his car to give him a hug and began a conversation. Sometime during the conversation the two decided to leave, the victim turned to her friend and asked, “Are you comfortable with this?” Her friend responded, “No.”
Polycarpe and the victim left the community center and drove to a wooded area behind the community center, where Polycarpe parked. The victim said it was at that time [he] got out of the vehicle and retrieved a bottle of liquor from the trunk. When Polycarpe returned to the vehicle the victim said he forced her to drink with him.
Polycarpe then asked her to get into the backseat, where she says he asked her to consume more liquor. According to the victim, Polycarpe pulled her out of the car and began pulling down her pants. The victim stated that she told him no, but he was successful because she was to weak from consuming so much alcohol.
The victim told investigators that Polycarpe told her to get on her knees and she did. She said that is when Polycarpe forced her to perform oral sex on him. She said he then stood her up, and finished removing her pants while kissing her. The victim stated they then had sex in the car, but told investigators that Polycarpe did not ejaculate during intercourse. The victim also told investigators that she passed out during the intercourse, and woke up on the ground as Polycarpe was pulling away. The victim described Polycarpe as a light skinned black boy with a crooked eye.
Polycarpe was located at the McDonalds on 484 and transported to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office for questioning. During questioning, Polycarpe admitted to having sex and drinking with the victim, and said [his] encounter with the victim was not forceful in any way. Polycarpe told investigators that the victim told him she was 18.
Polycarpe was not actually charged with Sexual Assault, he was charged with two counts of Lewd and Lascivious Battery and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. He is currently being held at the Marion County jail.
If you know anything about Polycarpe’s activities involving children, you are urged to call your local law enforcement agency. 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.
Ocala, Florida — In November Ocala Post reported the Marion County jail was understaffed and studies showed corrections officers are being put at risk.
The Department of Justice and the Florida Sheriff’s Association provided a strict and precise criteria to have the risk factor at the Marion County Jail evaluated. The evaluation showed that corrections officers were unable to take days off due to under-staffing. The evaluation also showed the under-staffing was so critical that corrections officers would have to obtain a note from a doctor, sometimes costing $30.00 for an appointment, just to get a day off in order to rest. The conclusion of the evaluation, according to the Department of Justice criteria, was that the Marion County Jail is dangerously understaffed and officers’ lives are being put in jeopardy; all due to the lack of funding.
Sheriff Chris Blair estimates the jail to be understaffed by approximately 60 officers. And because of the lack of officers to guard the inmates, the jail closed two pods; making the remaining pods over crowded by more than 300 inmates.
If the jail does not receive the funding to hire at least 60 new corrections officers, Marion County residents could soon see more criminals whom are currently in jail, released and on the streets.
While nothing has been set in stone, Sheriff Chris Blair is pushing for electronic GPS ankle monitoring.
Inmates would be released and monitored by an electronic GPS ankle bracelet, however research shows electronic monitoring does not stop a criminal from breaking the law, or removing the monitoring device.
Studies within the last six months have indicated monitoring is not fail safe, and often times alarms go unanswered, or are reported after the criminal being monitored has committed another crime.
“I think the perception … is that these people are being watched 24 hours a day by someone in a command center. That’s just not happening,” said Rob Bains, director of court services for Florida’s Ninth Judicial Circuit Court, which last spring halted its monitoring programs after two people wearing the devices were involved in separate shootings.
More than 100,000 sex offenders, parolees and people free on bail or probation wear ankle bracelets that can sound an alarm if they leave home without permission, fail to show up for work or linger near a playground or school.
In 2013 Corrections officials in Orange County, Florida reported they were so inundated with alerts that they halted all real-time notifications except when people tried to remove their bracelets; allowing Bessman Okafor, awaiting trial for a home invasion, to violate his curfew 53 times in a single month without any action being taken. During one of those outings last September, Okafor shot three people, killing a 19-year-old man who was a witness set to testify against [him.]
In Apopka, after a man on a GPS monitor was involved in an Easter Sunday shooting, administrators in Florida’s Ninth Judicial Circuit Court pointed to a “lack of procedures” for handling alarms. In a June 2013 report, the company in charge of monitoring more than 80 inmates that had been released on the electronic monitoring program, only had one person on duty. After the shooting, it took six hours before the company notified law enforcement that the criminal had removed his tracking device and disappeared.
Ocala Post reached out to a few of the manufacturers of the bracelets to inquire about the reliability of the systems and got a surprising response. The manufactures said, ” We stress that these devices were never intended to be foolproof.”
Reports also indicate that if agencies are understaffed, alarms for monitors often times go unanswered, or the officer responds after it is too late.
With the Marion County Sheriff’s Department being understaffed in the jail as well as on the streets, Marion County residents could possibly be put at risk if criminals are released on the electronic monitoring program.
Often times, even a non-violent offender released on GPS monitoring can turn tragic, or lead to witness intimidation, according to reports.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office did make it clear that this issue could be resolved, and the closed jail pods reopened with funding to hire at least 30 more corrections officers.
Sheriff Blair maintains that his first priority is the safety of his officers, as well as the safety of Marion County residents.
“We would only be releasing non-violent offenders back into the community, and it would only be done with the blessing of the court,” said Sheriff Blair. “The monitoring system that would be used, is not the standard monitoring system. For example, the monitors would issue an alert to victims of domestic violence and if the subject places themselves in an area that is off-limits, both the victim and law enforcement would be notified.”
New technology for bracelet monitoring has come a long way. For instance, the monitoring ankle bracelet called the BI TAD (TAD) could be used for non-violent criminals suck as habitual DUI offenders.
TAD is a monitoring device which measures an offender’s alcohol consumption levels through vapors and perspiration passing through the skin.
TAD consists of an ankle-worn bracelet, which includes a sensor that detects drinking events; a base station placed in the offender’s home, communicates with a host computer maintained at BI’s national monitoring center. The TAD sensor measures for drinking via sweat or vapor, logs that data in the home base station, which then wirelessly forwards that data to the host server. That data is then matched against an offender’s profile, and supervising authorities are alerted if abnormalities exist for someone who is on a probation that prohibits drinking.
Residents should also know that if the monitoring devices the sheriff’s office plans to use are tampered with or removed, a signal will automatically prompt a response from law enforcement.
Kayla Finley [Mugshot]Pickens County, South Carolina — A South Carolina woman was arrested for stealing an ancient artifact nine years ago; that artifact was a VHS movie.
Kayla Finley, 27, rented the Jennifer Lopez VHS tape ‘Monster-in-Law’ when she was just 18 years old, but forgot to return it. She rented it from Dalton Video, a now nonexistent video store.
Finley reportedly went to the sheriff’s office to report a crime, and when her name was taken and entered into their data base, it returned information showing [she] was wanted on a nine year old warrant.
The former owner of the video store had taken the matter to court nine years ago and was able to get a judge to agree to a warrant, however Finley was never served with papers.
“It’s obvious that Pickens County has nothing better to do,” Finley said. “I fully intend on fighting this, it’s ridiculous I had this happen to me,” she said.
Finley was arrested and charged with Petit Larceny.
The charge is a misdemeanor, and authorities said they had no choice but to arrest her for the warrant no matter how old or ridiculous it sounds.
Alexandra Westover [Mugshot]Palm Beach, Florida — A woman who told authorities she had been raped on the Florida Turnpike has been arrested.
On Tuesday, February 11, 2014, at approximately 9:00 a.m., Alexandra Westover, 21, told deputies she had been traveling north on the Florida Turnpike between the Palm Beach Gardens and Jupiter exits when she got a flat tire and pulled over to the side of the road.
Shortly after, she said a white male driving a white vehicle pulled over and asked if she needed assistance. Westover told deputies that the suspect asked [her] to retrieve an object to assist in removing the hubcap. Westover said she walked over to the passenger side of her car, opened the door, and as soon as she leaned inside the vehicle, the suspect came up behind her and pushed her in the vehicle.
Westover told deputies after she was forced into the vehicle, the suspect raped her.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s said, “it was all a lie.”
Investigators said the already had suspicions about Westover’s story after FHP did not find her vehicle on highway security footage.
According to the sheriff’s office, Westover’s father called the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s office a few days later and told them his daughter had fabricated the entire incident.
Westover said, “I made up the story because I needed a good excuse to miss work.”
Authorities said they wasted over 100 man hours on one person’s false claim of sexual assault.
Westover was arrested and charged with Falsely Reporting a Crime.
Miranda Barbour [Left] Elytte Barbour [Right]Sunbury, Pennsylvania — Nineteen-year-old Satanist and Craigslist killer Miranda Barbour, says Troy LaFerrara of Port Trevorton was not her only victim.
In a prison interview Friday night with The Daily Item, Barbour said LaFerrara was just one of dozens of victims she killed.
She and her husband, Elytte Barbour, 22, have been charged by Sunbury Police in the November 11, 2013, fatal stabbing of Laferrara after the couple lured him in through Craigslist.
Miranda told reporters that she has killed so many people, that after 22 victims, she stopped counting. Miranda claimed she has murdered multiple people across four states is six years. She said she has killed in Alaska, Texas, North Carolina, and California; with majority of the killings taking place in Alaska.
Police confirmed they had been investigating other possible Craigslist killings prior to Miranda releasing her statement, however, police would not go into detail about the case.
Miranda told police, “I can pinpoint on a map where you can find them.” Meaning the other bodies.
“I remember everything,” Miranda Barbour said. “It is like watching a movie.”
She said she agreed to sex for $100 with LaFerrara, whom she met through a Craigslist ad. The two met in the parking lot of the Susquehanna Valley Mall in Hummels Wharf, and drove nearly six miles to Sunbury. Miranda said she was going to let LaFerrara out of her car, but didn’t.
“He said the wrong things,” she said. “And then things got out of control. I can tell you he was not supposed to be stabbed. My husband was just supposed to strangle him.”
According to police reports, Miranda Barbour knifed LaFerrara 20 times as Elytte Barbour sprang from the floor of the back seat to strap a cord around LaFerrara’s neck. Miranda said that LaFerrara tried to grope her, but she said it was his words that set her off.
“I lied to him and told him I just turned 16,” she said. “He told me that it was OK. If he would have said no, that he wasn’t going to go through with the arrangement, I would have let him go.”
Miranda told reporters she wanted to come clean and get everything off of her chest, tell her life story and stop living a lie.
She said she was molested by a relative when she was just four-years-old. Elizabeth Dean, Miranda’s mother, confirmed Saturday that her sister’s husband was later arrested and charged with sexual abuse of a minor and sentenced to 14-years in prison.
“It was bad,” Dean said. “I never let [her]stay anywhere except for my sister’s house, and I was devastated when I found out.”
Miranda also claimed she was introduced to murder at the age of 13, when she was a member of a Satanic Cult. She said she has always held on to [her] Satanic beliefs.
Miranda said she does not feel remorse for any murder she has committed. “I only kill bad people,” she said.
Even though police would not comment on the case, they did say that they are very concerned about the claims [she] has come forward with.
Investigators said they are not leaving any stones un-turned, and will be reviewing all of Miranda’s statements.
Tammy Hamilton [Mugshots]Ocala, Florida — On Saturday February 15, 2014, Officer Barry with the Ocala Police department responded to the 200 block of SW Fort King Street in regards to a vehicle being stolen.
When Officer Barry arrived at the scene, he met with the victim who stated that a female by the name of Tammy Hamilton, 53, had taken his SUV without permission. The victim stated that on February 14, 2014 he picked up Hamilton from down the street and took her back to his apartment where they spent the day and night together.
The victim told police that on February 15, 2014 when he exited his apartment he realized Hamilton had fled with his SUV. “I checked my bedroom dresser where I left the keys and they were gone,” he told police.
After Hamilton was located in possession of the vehicle, she denied stealing SUV.
According to reports, while Hamilton was being questioned by Officer Barry Hamilton yelled to the victim, “We f***ed last night, you F***ed me.”
Hamilton began to tell the officer that the victim had paid her to have sex, but after Hamilton was placed in handcuffs, she changed her story. As officer Barry was escorting Hamilton to his patrol car she began to scream, “he raped me, he raped me.”
The victim admitted to having sex with Hamilton, but says he did not rape her.
Hamilton was transported to the hospital for examination. Further investigation by officer Barry as well as the hospital determined Hamilton made the rape story up in an attempt to stay out of jail.
Hamilton was arrested and charged with Grand Theft Auto and False Report to Law Enforcement.
Hamilton has previous convictions for Battery, Grand Larceny, and Robbery With a Weapon.
Hamilton is currently begin held at the Marion County Jail.
Ocala, Florida — The Florida Department of Health in Marion County will launch the WIC electronic benefits transfer system in all Marion County WIC offices March 3, 2014.
Marion County WIC offices in Ocala, Belleview, Dunnellon, Lynne and Reddick will close February 24th–28th to allow staff to complete the conversion from paper checks to the electronic benefit transfer, or EBT debit card system. WIC offices will reopen March 3, 2014 and begin issuing the new EBT cards.
WIC, the federal Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, is rolling out the EBT system statewide to better serve Florida families who rely on the program. The EBT debit cards will replace the paper check system currently in use.
“The EBT system will make it easier for families who need WIC services to get the nutritious foods they need,” said Cheryl Brown, acting health officer for the Florida Department of Health in Marion County. “Easier access to healthy foods will mean better health for moms, kids and babies.”
“The transition to the EBT system will be more efficient and cost effective for the WIC program, for vendors, and for Marion County families,” said Mary Anne Hitson, director of the Public Health Nutrition Program at the Florida Department of Health in Marion County. “The electronic card will allow for faster checkout times for families, and easier processing for vendors.”
WIC is a federally funded program that provides healthy food, as well as breastfeeding education and nutrition counseling to needy families. Marion’s WIC Program operates five sites throughout the county where families improve their diet and food choices with the assistance of licensed nutritionists and nutrition educators. In Marion County, the average annual value of WIC foods received by WIC clients is more than $7 million.
For more information on WIC services in Marion County call 352- 622-1161.
Belle Glade, Florida — As of February 11, 2014, ROTH FARMS Inc. of Belle Glade, Florida, is recalling its “ bunched Curly Parsley” because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.
The recalled “Curly Parsley” was distributed in South Florida distribution centers.
The product comes in a Three Wire Wooden Crate with the lot # AG01GN on the outside tag.
No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem. The potential for contamination was noted after routine testing by the company revealed the presence of Salmonella in some “Curly Parsley” samples.
Production of the product has been suspended while FDA and the company continue their investigation as to the source of the problem.
Consumers with questions may contact the company at 561-996-2991
EU — The European Parliament should withhold its consent to an EU-U.S. trade deal unless it fully respects EU citizens’ data privacy, says an inquiry report on U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) and EU member states surveillance of EU citizens, approved by the Civil Liberties Committee on Wednesday. It adds that data protection rules should be excluded from the trade talks and negotiated separately with the U.S.
The text, passed by 33 votes to 7 with 17 abstentions, condemns the “vast, systemic, blanket collection of personal data of innocent people, often comprising intimate personal information”, adding that “the fight against terrorism can never be a justification for un-targeted, secret or even illegal mass surveillance programs”.
“We now have a comprehensive text that for the first time brings together in-depth recommendations on Edward Snowden’s allegations of NSA spying and an action plan for the future. The Civil Liberties Committee inquiry came at a crucial time, along with Snowden´s allegations and the EU data protection regulation. I hope that this document will be supported by the full Parliament and that it will last beyond the next European Parliament’s mandate”, said rapporteur Claude Moraes (S&D, UK), after the vote.
Data protection must be excluded from trade talks
Parliament’s consent to the final Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) deal with the US “could be endangered as long as blanket mass surveillance activities and the interception of communications in EU institutions and diplomatic representations are not fully stopped and an adequate solution for data privacy rights of EU citizens, including administrative and judicial redress is not found”, MEPs say.
Parliament should therefore withhold its consent to the TTIP agreement unless it fully respects fundamental rights enshrined in the EU Charter, the text adds, stressing that data protection should be ruled out of the trade talks.
MEPs call for the “immediate suspension” of the Safe Harbor privacy principles (voluntary data protection standards for non-EU companies transferring EU citizens’ personal data to the US). These principles “do not provide adequate protection for EU citizens” say MEPs, who urge the US to propose new personal data transfer rules that meet EU data protection requirements.
The Terrorist Finance Tracking Program (TFTP) deal should also be suspended until allegations that US authorities have access to EU citizens’ bank data outside the agreement are clarified, say MEPs. The EU-US data protection framework agreement to be struck in spring 2014 must ensure proper judicial redress for EU citizens whose personal data are transferred to the US, they add.
Digital “new deal”
The EU needs a “digital new deal”, to be delivered by the joint efforts of EU institutions, member states, research institutions, industry and civil society, say MEPs, noting that some telecoms firms have clearly neglected the IT security of their users and clients.
MEPs also urge member states to accelerate their work on draft EU data protection reform legislation so that it can be passed by the end of this year.
Trust in US cloud computing and cloud providers has been damaged by surveillance practices, MEPs note. They propose that Europe should develop its own clouds and IT solutions to ensure a high standard of personal data protection. They note that by 2016, the cloud market is likely to be worth $207 billion a year, double its 2012 value.
EU whistle-blower and media protection program
The resolution urges the European Commission to examine whether a future EU law establishing a “European whistle-blower protection program” should also include other fields of EU competence “with particular attention to the complexity of whistleblowing in the field of intelligence”. EU member states are also asked to consider granting whistle-blowers international protection from prosecution.
MEPs also cite the UK’s detention of David Miranda and seizure of material in his possession under the UK Terrorism Act and its demand that the Guardian newspaper hand over or destroy such material. They see these acts as “possible serious interference with the right of freedom of expression and media freedom”, as recognized by the European Convention on Human Rights and the EU Charter.
EU countries should check their own secret services
The UK, France, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands and Poland should clarify the allegations of mass surveillance – including potential agreements between intelligence services and telecoms firms on access to and exchange of personal data and access to transatlantic cables – and their compatibility with EU laws, it says.
Other EU countries, in particular those participating in the “9-eyes” (UK, Denmark, France and the Netherlands) and “14-eyes” arrangements (those countries plus Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain and Sweden) are also urged to review their national laws and practices governing the activities of intelligence services, so as to ensure that they are subject to parliamentary and judicial oversight and public scrutiny and that they comply with fundamental rights obligations.
MEPs deem bilateral “anti-spying” arrangements concluded or under negotiation between some EU countries (the UK, France and Germany) and the US as “counterproductive and irrelevant, due to the need for a European approach to this problem”.
Next steps
The full Parliament will vote on the resolution on 12 March in Strasbourg.
The Civil Liberties Committee inquiry into mass surveillance of EU citizens began in September 2013. A total of 15 hearings have been held since then.
