Michelle Lucus [Mugshot]Ocala, Florida — On October 25, 2013, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office received a report that a six-year-old boy was sexually battered by an adult female, later identified as Michelle Lucus, 46, of Ocala.
During a forensic interview, the six-year-old told authorities that on October 25, 2013, he was walking to the Chevron gas station located at 5895 west highway 40, Ocala, with family friend Michelle Lucus to buy items for their family.
The boy said that once they entered the store, Lucus went to the bathroom and asked him to come in too. The boy stated that he told her no, but she grabbed him by the arm and pulled him into the bathroom locking the door behind them.
The boy said that once inside of the bathroom; Lucus kissed him then pulled down his pants and “licked his private part,” referring to his penis. The boy told investigators that after Lucus did [that] she asked him if he was mad at her. The boy told her yes, then pulled his pants up and they left the bathroom.
According to reports, they left the store and went to Lucus’ friends house for a few minutes. The boy told investigators that on the way to the house Lucus stated “your d**k got hard” and asked why the boy was scared because she had locked the door.
The boy stated that once they left her friend’s house they went back to the store, and again Lucus attempted to get the boy into the bathroom, but he said no and would not go in. The boy said Lucus got mad and walked out of the bathroom, bought chicken wings, then they left to go back home.
The boy told investigators that Lucus told him not to tell anyone.
The boy said when he left with his parents he told his dad about the incident.
Lucus was arrested and charged with Sexual Battery on a victim younger than 12 and False Imprisonment of a child under the age of 13.
Detectives would like to know what you know about Lucus’ contact with children. If you have details about Lucus, please call 352-368-3544. You can phone anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers of Marion County at 368-STOP or 368-7867. Text tips to 274637 using keyword 368STOP. Tips can also be submitted at www.ocalacrimestoppers.com.
Harrison Prater [Mugshot]Seminole County, Florida — On October 29, 2013, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) Crimes Against Children (CAC) Unit arrested Harrison Jonathan Prater, 27, of Orlando, for lewd and lascivious behavior after he inappropriately touched a teenage girl.
Prater is a dance instructor and teaches at multiple dance schools in Orange and Seminole County.
The CAC was contacted after one of his students disclosed to her mother that Prater had inappropriately touched her after he drove her home from a dance function earlier this month.
The victim told authorities that when they arrived at her house, Prater parked the car and asked the victim for a hug. The victim stated that when she leaned over the center console to hug him, he slid his right hand in the back of her pants and grabbed her buttocks and used his left hand to rub her on her vagina on the outside of her pants. The victim told authorities that Prater was kissing and sucking her neck at the time. The victim said that she was in complete shock at the time and did not know what to do.
According to reports, Jonathan Prater stopped and asked her if she wanted to drive down the street and she replied “no.” He then asked her why not, and she said “because I’m fourteen and you have a girlfriend.”
Jonathan Prater tried to persuade the victim by telling her that he and his girlfriend were having problems, she and again told him that she was only fourteen, grabbed her belongings, and exited the vehicle.
Prater was charged with one count of Lewd and Lascivious Behavior on a Victim over 12 and booked into the John E. Polk Correctional Facility on a $10,000 bond.
Investigators are looking into the possibility of additional victims and are asking anyone with information to call the Sheriff’s Office at 407- 665-6650.
Ocala, Florida — The blame game and finger pointing over the past few days has seemed to have spiraled out of control when it comes to Healthcare.
Marion County residents are blaming the Governor for removing Medicaid from Express Care of Belleview and employees of Express Care of Belleview are jumping in on the finger pointing, but as it turns out, the Governor had nothing to do with Express Care of Belleview no longer being a Medicaid provider.
Ocala Post investigated and the results are in.
Changes for Marion County Residents on Medicaid:
Recently, Marion County residents that are on Florida Medicaid have been notified that as of November 1, 2013 they will need to pick a new plan. Medicaid users have also been notified that some of their assigned primary care doctors may not be accepting Medicaid or have been dropped.
On Facebook’s Ocala’s Word of Mouth, there have been concerns posted from people that are patients at Express Care of Belleview and patients claim they were notified that Express Care of Belleview has been dropped and will no longer be accepting Medicaid. Patients were informed that there were only two locations in Marion County that would be accepting Medicaid patients which were federally funded: Langley and Heart of Florida.
However, after speaking with the Area 3 Medicaid office this morning, Ocala Post was informed that this is not the case. Ocala Post was told that Express Care of Belleview was dropped from Medicaid for undisclosed unrelated reasons to the new change in Florida Medicaid, and due to the amount of the patients that needed to be transferred from Express Care of Belleview, the only two facilities in Marion County that could accommodate such a high number of patients in such a short period of time, were Langley and Heart of Florida. Additionally, patients are not required to keep those facilities as their primary doctor. Nevertheless, these two facilities are NOT the only offices in Marion County that are accepting Medicaid patients.
Medicaid In A Nut Shell:
When Ocala Post reached out to the Area 3 Medicaid office, Ocala Post was informed that the Florida Medicaid system is undergoing significant changes. Medipass is being dissolved completely; it will be no more. Only a very few select patients will remain on straight Medicaid. For all others, there will be managed health plans that are divided into two groups: Long-term Care and SMMC (State Medicaid Managed Care); which will have HMO plans. In Marion County, there is only a very few select HMO plans available. Under the Long-Term Care plan, the options are Sunshine State and United Healthcare. Under the SMMC, the options are Well-care (aka Staywell/Healthease), United Healthcare, and Sunshine State. There is also a PSN plan under the SMMC which is called Prestige Health Choice. Guidelines have been put in place to assist patients in knowing what group they are required to enroll in and then which managed care plans are available to choose from. Each plan (United Healthcare, Prestige Health Choice, etc) has a list of contracted providers in the area that you may choose from for your primary care doctor. The letter that patients will receive will tell them which group they have been enrolled in and a list of the plans/insurances available to choose from.
Keep in mind that if recipients do not respond to the letter and elect a plan, one will be assigned to a recipient along with a primary care doctor assignment, so it’s best to respond quickly. Furthermore, Ocala Post was informed that even though these changes start November 1, 2013, it will be changing again in March or April of 2014. Ocala Post was told “don’t get too comfortable.”
The reasoning for Express Care of Belleview being dropped from Medicaid have not been made public at this time. One thing is clear though, all healthcare changes made in recent months throughout the U.S. stem from Obama and the train wreck ‘Obamacare’, and according to experts; this is just the beginning.
Ocala, Florida — Sixty years after their use over the skies of enemy territory, they embark on a new mission over the skies of America to honor our veterans of World War II, promote education of our future generations about the role of the aircraft, the flight crews of World War II, and to preserve these treasures of American aviation history where they belong; the sky.
Americas veterans are often forgotten by our government, The Collings Foundation does just the opposite by keeping their memory alive.
The “Wings of Freedom Tour” has two goals: to honor the sacrifices made by our veterans that allow us to enjoy our freedom; and to educate the visitors, especially younger Americans, about our national history and heritage. The Foundation encourages people to tour the planes, talk to the veterans who come to visit the aircraft, and participate in a “flight experience”. In twenty-two years, the tour has made more than 2,600 visits to airports across the United States and Alaska. While the exact number of visitors is difficult to gauge, it is estimated that between 3.5 and 4 million people see these war-birds annually.
This not-for-profit event will be held at the Ocala International Airport on November 8th-10th. The event is to honor the heroes & WWII veterans who saved our freedom and to get an up-close experience with the aircraft that brought the heroes safely home.
If you would like more information you can contact Collings Foundation by phone 978-562-9182 or e-mail info@collingsfoundation.org .
Belleview, Florida — On October 29, 2013, at approximately 9 a.m., a Belleview Middle School student was hit by a car as she rode her bicycle to school.
The accident happened on a street where residence say speed is a problem on a daily basis. According to residence, motorists travel the area at high rates of speed without concern for students making their way too or from school.
According to FHP, Keelin Hailey Morris, 11, was traveling north on Southeast 36th Avenue on the northbound shoulder near the white line on the road.
As a 16-year-old student approached Morris and tried to go around her, FHP said for reasons unknown Morris may have lost control of her bicycle crossing into the path of the 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse driven by the 16-year-old. He was also on his way to school.
The rear of Morris’s bike was struck by the right front of the car. She was thrown from her bike on impact, Morris was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.
Morris was taken to Shands Hospital via helicopter, and is listed in critical, but stable condition.
Charges have not been filed against the 16-year-old driver.
According to FHP the investigation is still open.
Messages to Keelin Morris can be left in the comment section below.
Daytona Beach, Florida — Volusia County Sheriff’s investigators filed a murder charge Monday night October 28, 2013 against Luis Toledo, the man at the center of the disappearance of his wife and her two children. Investigators charged Toledo with 2nd-degree murder in the death of his wife, 28-year-old Yessenia Suarez. No charges have been filed yet related to Suarez’ two children, 8-year-old Michael Otto and 9-year-old Thalia Otto. Suarez and the children went missing last week from their Deltona home and are presumed dead. A search for their bodies is ongoing.
Suarez apparently had been talking about leaving Toledo, and her family has told investigators with the Sheriff’s Office Major Case Unit of violent squabbles between the two that were never reported to law enforcement. The conflict apparently came to a head Tuesday afternoon, when Suarez showed up at his wife’s workplace in Lake Mary to confront her and a co-worker who she had been seeing. Toledo ended up fleeing the scene after slapping Suarez in the face. The next morning, deputies were at the Deltona house checking on Suarez and her children after Suarez’ mother had called to report that she couldn’t get a hold of her and was concerned that Toledo may have harmed her. While deputies were at the house, Toledo drove up in a silver Saturn. He claimed that after he and his wife argued at the house the night before, he drove off in the Saturn at about 10 p.m., then returned to the house an hour later and slept in his car. Toledo said that when he woke up at about 8 a.m. the next morning, his wife and her children were gone. He said he left for work a short while later, but then turned around while on his way and came back home because he had forgotten his wallet. That’s when he encountered the deputies at his house.
After Suarez was arrested on Lake Mary’s battery charge, deputies continued their investigation into the whereabouts of Suarez and their children. That’s when a neighbor revealed that Toledo had knocked on the neighbor’s window at about 6 a.m. on Wednesday and asked for his help dropping off his wife’s car. The neighbor agreed and followed Toledo to Lake Mary, driving the silver Saturn while following behind Toledo in his wife’s black Honda. Then the neighbor and Toledo drove back to Deltona in the Saturn. Subsequent searches of the couple’s house confirmed the presence of blood.
Toledo, who said he’s trained in martial arts and knows how to deliver strikes, initially denied having any involvement in the disappearance of his wife and her children. But during a subsequent interview with investigators, he admitted that while arguing with Suarez last Tuesday night, she became aggressive and so he struck her in the throat with an open hand and she subsequently died from the blow. He has so far refused to disclose the whereabouts of her body. Based on the Sheriff’s Office’s investigative findings, Volusia County Court Judge Bryan Feigenbaum issued an arrest warrant Monday night charging Toledo with 2nd-degree murder. Sheriff’s investigators met with Suarez’ family Monday evening to inform them of the impending arrest. Toledo is being held without bond at the Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach. Toledo has denied killing the children and has implicated someone else in their deaths. The Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation.
Manhattan, New York – On October 25, 2013 Brian R. Crowell, the Special Agent in Charge for the New York Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, George Venizelos, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Toni Weirauch, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), announced the unsealing of a protective order authorizing the seizure of approximately 144,336 Bitcoins found on computer hardware belonging to Ross William Ulbricht.
Ross William Ulbricht, a/k/a “Dread Pirate Roberts,” a/k/a “DPR,” a/k/a “Silk Road,” is the alleged owner and operator of “Silk Road,” a hidden website designed to enable its users to buy and sell illegal drugs and other unlawful goods and services anonymously and beyond the reach of law enforcement. Along with a prior seizure of approximately 29,655 Bitcoins, federal law enforcement agents have now seized a total of approximately 173,991 Bitcoins in connection with the Silk Road case, which, at today’s Bitcoin exchange rate, are worth over $33.6 million.
Bitcoins
The Bitcoins have been seized in connection with a civil action previously filed in Manhattan federal court on September 30, 2013, seeking the forfeiture of all assets of Silk Road, including its website and all of its Bitcoins because those assets allegedly were used to facilitate money laundering and constitute property involved in money laundering. Also in connection with that civil action, federal law enforcement agents previously seized the Silk Road website itself. In addition to the civil action, a criminal Complaint against Ulbricht was filed in Manhattan federal court charging him with one count of narcotics conspiracy, one of count of conspiracy to commit computer hacking, and one count of money laundering conspiracy.
Ulbricht was arrested in San Francisco, California, on October 1, 2013, he was subsequently ordered detained, and he is expected to appear in Manhattan federal court within the next few weeks. Ulbricht has also been charged in a separate indictment pending in federal court in Baltimore, Maryland.
DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian R. Crowell said: “The Silk Road underground website was the global venue for drug trafficking and money laundering, producing millions in dirty profits. DEA and others followed the money throughout this investigation, leading to this seizure. The website was used by drug dealers to put illicit drugs into our communities and literally at our doorsteps nationwide. 200,000 people die annually from drug abuse throughout the world, and our investigators worked tirelessly to bring to justice a facilitator who made every effort to hide behind highly encrypted technology while providing 24/7 anonymous services to global drug traffickers and money launderers. Ulbricht’s goals were to make millions from drug use and money laundering while protecting the world’s criminals from law enforcement. Our goal is to shut these people down and protect our children and DEA will continue to be relentless in this effort.”
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “As alleged, Ross William Ulbricht operated Silk Road – a global illegal cyber business designed to broker criminal transactions – protected by a presumed anonymity and motivated by profit. With his arrest and our subsequent seizures of millions of dollars’ worth of Silk Road’s Bitcoins, we have sent a clear message to him and everyone else running criminal enterprises on the dark web: we are determined and equipped to hold you to account.”
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Venizelos said: “As alleged in court documents, the creator of Silk Road, Ross William Ulbricht, created a black market bazaar for drugs and illegal services where customer service and anonymity were added value to shoppers and sellers. This market generated millions in illegal profits for Ulbricht in the form of Bitcoins. However, what Ulbricht didn’t count on was that Silk Road’s coffers would not be out of reach of the FBI and our partners to seize. We want to thank our law enforcement partners here and abroad for their support and work on this case.”
IRS Special-Agent-in-Charge Toni Weirauch said: “This seizure sends a clear notice to those who think they can commit crimes and conceal the fruits of their criminal activities in digital anonymity. The resolve of the government to uncover criminality and identify criminal proceeds is strong and its investigative capabilities are magnified when different federal agencies, each with its own areas of expertise, unite to achieve a common objective.”
According to the allegations in the Complaint, the civil forfeiture action, and the application and protective order unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:
Background on Silk Road and Ross William Ulbricht
Since approximately January 2011, Ross William Ulbricht owned and operated the underground website known as Silk Road, which emerged as the most sophisticated and extensive criminal marketplace on the Internet. Throughout the time that Ulbricht controlled Silk Road, it served as a sprawling black-market bazaar where unlawful goods and services, including illegal drugs of virtually every variety, were bought and sold regularly by the site’s users.
During its approximately two-and-a-half years in operation, Silk Road was used by several thousand drug dealers and other unlawful vendors to distribute hundreds of kilograms of illegal drugs and other unlawful goods and services to well over a hundred thousand buyers, and to launder hundreds of millions of dollars derived from these unlawful transactions. All told, the site generated sales revenue of more than 9.5 million Bitcoins and collected commissions from these sales totaling more than 600,000 Bitcoins. Although the value of Bitcoins has varied over time, these figures are roughly equivalent to approximately $1.2 billion in sales and approximately $80 million in commissions, using the Bitcoin exchange rate in effect when the Silk Road website was seized.
Ulbricht deliberately operated Silk Road as an online criminal marketplace designed to enable its users to buy and sell drugs and other illegal goods and services anonymously and outside the reach of law enforcement. He sought to anonymize transactions on Silk Road in two principal ways. First, Ulbricht operated Silk Road on what is known as “The Onion Router,” or “Tor” network, a special network of computers on the Internet, distributed around the world, designed to conceal the true IP addresses and therefore the identities of the networks’ users. The Tor network is designed to make it practically impossible to physically locate the computers hosting or accessing websites on the network. Second, Ulbricht required that all transactions on Silk Road be paid with Bitcoins, an electronic currency that is as anonymous as cash. Although Tor and Bitcoins have known legitimate uses, they were intentionally used by Silk Road to further the site’s unlawful goals.
The Silk Road website provided a sales platform that allowed vendors and buyers using the site to conduct transactions online. Silk Road is believed to have been visited by hundreds of thousands of unique users from countries across the globe, nearly 30 percent of who indicated upon registering on the site that they were from the United States. The illegal nature of the items sold on the website was readily apparent to any user browsing through its offerings. Indeed, the vast majority of the items for sale on Silk Road were illegal drugs, which were openly advertised as such on the site. As of September 23, 2013, Silk Road had nearly 13,000 listings for controlled substances, listed under such categories as “Cannabis,” “Dissociatives,” “Ecstasy,” “Intoxicants,” “Opioids,” “Precursors,” “Prescription,” “Psychedelics,” and “Stimulants.” From November 2011 to September 2013, law enforcement agents made more than 100 individual undercover purchases of controlled substances from Silk Road vendors. These purchases included heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, and LSD, among other illegal drugs, and were filled by vendors believed to be located in more than ten different countries, including the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, the United Kingdom, Spain, Ireland, Italy, Austria and France.
In addition to illegal narcotics, other illicit goods and services were also openly bought and sold on Silk Road. For example, as of September 23, 2013, there were: 159 listings under the category “Services,” most of which offered computer-hacking services, such as a listing by a vendor offering to hack into social networking accounts of the customer’s choosing; 801 listings under the category “Digital goods,” including malicious software, hacked accounts at various online services, and pirated media content; and 169 listings under the category “Forgeries,” including offers to produce fake driver’s licenses, passports, Social Security cards, utility bills, credit card statements, car insurance records, and other forms of false identification documents.
The only form of payment accepted on Silk Road was Bitcoins, an anonymous, decentralized form of electronic currency, existing entirely on the Internet and not in any physical form. Silk Road’s payment system essentially consisted of an internal Bitcoin “bank,” where every Silk Road user had to hold an account in order to conduct transactions on the site. Every Silk Road user had at least one Silk Road Bitcoin address associated with the user’s Silk Road account. These addresses were stored on wallets maintained on servers controlled by Silk Road. In order to make a purchase on Silk Road, a user had to obtain Bitcoins (typically through a Bitcoin exchanger) and then send those Bitcoins to a Bitcoin address associated with his or her Silk Road account. Once a user’s account was funded in this way, the user was free to make purchases on Silk Road. When a purchase was made, the user’s Bitcoins were first transferred to an escrow account maintained by Silk Road, pending completion of the transaction. When the transaction was completed, the buyer’s Bitcoins were transferred from the escrow account to the Silk Road Bitcoin address of the vendor involved in the sale. Silk Road also used a so-called “tumbler” which, as the site explained, “sent all payments through a complex, semi-random series of dummy transactions…making it nearly impossible to link your payment with any coins leaving the site.” Silk Road charged a commission for every transaction conducted by its users. The commission rate varied depending on the size of the transaction, but generally ranged from 8 to 15 percent of the total sales price.
Using the online moniker “Dread Pirate Roberts,” or “DPR,” Ulbricht controlled and oversaw every aspect of Silk Road. Ulbricht, for example, maintained the computer infrastructure and programming code underlying the Silk Road website; determined vendor and customer policies, including deciding what can be sold on the site; managed a small staff of online administrators who assisted with the day-to-day operation of the site; and controlled the enormous profits generated from the operation of the site. Ulbricht did so while fully aware of the illegal nature of the enterprise; indeed, he deliberately sought to ensure the anonymity of the drug dealers and other illegal vendors operating on the site, as well as to conceal his own identity as the site’s owner and operator.
Ulbricht was also willing to use violent means to protect the Silk Road enterprise and the anonymity of its users. For example, in March and April 2013, Ulbricht solicited a murder-for-hire of a Silk Road vendor, known as “Friendly Chemist,” who was threatening to reveal the real names and addresses of a long list of Silk Road users unless Ulbricht paid him $500,000. Upon receiving the threat from “Friendly Chemist” to expose the names of Silk Road users, Ulbricht wrote to another Silk Road user, telling that user that “Friendly Chemist” is “causing me problems,” and adding: “I would like to put a bounty on his head if it’s not too much trouble for you. What would be an adequate amount to motivate you to find him?”
“Necessities like this do happen from time to time for a person in my position.” Ulbricht later explained that the threat by “Friendly Chemist” to expose the names of Silk Road users “is unforgivable to me. Especially here on Silk Road, anonymity is sacrosanct.” However, there is no record of a homicide at or about that time in the area where “Friendly Chemist” supposedly lived.
Ulbricht was arrested in San Francisco, California, on October 1, 2013. At the time of his arrest, Ulbricht was using a laptop computer, which was seized in connection with his arrest and subsequently searched pursuant to a search warrant. Ulbricht’s residence was also searched on October 1, 2013, pursuant to a search warrant, and federal law enforcement agents conducting that search found several pieces of computer hardware belonging to Ulbricht (collectively, along with Ulbricht’s laptop, the “computer hardware”). Through forensic analysis of the computer hardware, federal law enforcement agents recovered a Bitcoin wallet containing approximately 144,336 Bitcoins.
Ulbricht, 29, of San Francisco, California, is charged with one count of narcotics conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison; one count of conspiracy to commit computer hacking, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; and one count of money laundering conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Joseph Politsch [Mugshot]Ocala, Florida — On October 28, 2013, Marion County Sheriff’s Deputy Daniel Barker, responded to the 3000 block of NE Jacksonville Road in reference to a 911 hang-up relayed from the Ocala Police Department.
Barker checked a frequent problem area at 3027 NE Jacksonville Road when he heard what appeared to be a physical altercation taking place.
According to reports, Deputy Barker observed Joseph Politsch, 23, exiting a garage bay and screaming at another male. Deputy Barker made contact with Politsch and separated him from the other two males who were in the garage.
Deputy Barker then made contact with the other two males, Politsch’s father, and one eyewitness.
The eyewitness told Deputy Barker that the father had told Politsch to go to bed because he had to work the next morning.
The witness said that was when a verbal argument started over some chicken that was in the refrigerator.
During the argument, Politsch suddenly attacked his father. Politsch punched his father in the mouth, which caused him to fall.
According to the witness, Politsch then picked up a knife and started swinging it in the direction of his father in an attempt to cut him. The witness stated he then separated the father and son.
Deputy Barker questioned the father, and according to Deputy Barker, the statements of the witness and the father matched.
According to reports, Politsch advised that he and his dad began fighting over some chicken that was left in the refrigerator. However, Politsch claimed that his father was the one who threw the first punch. Politsch told the deputy that he only pushed his dad out of self-defense.
Politsch then advised Deputy Barker that if he did not take him [Politsch] to jail; he was going to kill his father, the eyewitness, and then himself.
Politsch was arrested and transported to the Marion County Jail without incident.
The father and eyewitness refused to provide a written statement of the incident.
Deputy Barker stated he was unable to locate the knife used in the assault.
Politsch was also arrested for two felony warrants out of Marion County. In 2012, Politsch was arrested twice for battery.
The 29th Annual Ocklawaha River Raid will be held on November 2 and 3, 2013, and is hosted by the 2nd Battalion, Hardy’s Brigade Civil War Re-enactor/Living History units.
We are pleased to announce this re-enactment will be held on a new site. In cooperation with the Florida Horse Park the event will take place on their grounds located at 11008 South Highway 475. The site is south of Ocala and west of Belleview. This Living History event commemorates the March 1865 Union army raid on area plantations and the resulting skirmish with local Southern troops that was the only battle of the Civil War to occur in Marion County
A Brief History of the Original Raid and Battle
By the spring of 1865, nearly four years of war had gone by and though numerous battles had occurred in surrounding areas, no engagement had yet taken place in Marion County. But this fact was about to change. On March 7, 1865, Sergeant Major Henry Thomas and a company of Union soldiers of the 8th United States Colored Troops from the Union garrison at Jacksonville moved up the Saint Johns River by boat, disembarking at a place known as Fort Gates. From here the Federal soldiers marched overland into Marion County. Crossing the Ocklawaha River, the raiding party fell upon the Marshall’s Plantation, a large syrup and sugar making facility that supplied provisions to Confederate forces. Here the attacking Federals destroyed some 80 gallons of syrup and 200 hogsheads of sugar along with the machinery and the main plantation house. Taking the slaves, wagons, horses, and assorted property with them, the Union troops started back toward the Ocklawaha River. Before long local Confederate troops became aware of the Federals’ presence. While the Union men were setting about their actions at the plantation, a servant took to horseback and rode into Ocala and brought word of the raid. Captain Samuel Howse and the Ocala Home Guard militia were soon on the march to the Marshall’s Plantation. Further, Captain John J. Dickison of Company H, 2nd Florida Cavalry, was near Ocala at the time and received similar notice of the enemy’s action. The Home Guard soon caught up with the raiding force just as they left the plantation, and a running battle now began toward the Ocklawaha River.
Falling back to the Marshall’s Bridge (near the site of the present-day Sharpes Ferry Bridge), the Union troops withdrew across the Ocklawaha River and set fire to the bridge, blocking the pursuit of the Home Guard. The skirmish resulted in two of the Home Guard killed and two mortally wounded, with two dead and four wounded among the Federal ranks. Once across the Ocklawaha, the Federals attacked another plantation but did not destroy it. They soon resumed their march, but the challenges for the Union force were not ended yet.
Upon hearing of the raid, Captain Dickison moved toward the scene with 50 Confederate soldiers. The skirmish had concluded by the time he arrived in the area. Still, his command crossed the Ocklawaha River and continued in pursuit of the Union force, which was now headed toward the Federal garrison at St. Augustine. Within a few miles of the city, Dickison’s troops nearly caught up with their adversaries. Realizing the enemy was close behind, Thomas’ Union soldiers abandoned their captured prizes and successfully entered the safety of Saint Augustine. All that they had taken from the plantations, save one horse killed during the raid, was returned to Marion County by the Confederates.
Each year on the first weekend of November, the past comes to life in the annual Ocklawaha River Raid Civil War Reenactment and Living History Weekend. From its humble beginnings in 1985 with some 85 re-enactors, the event has grown into a full Living History weekend that presently involves some 400 to 500 participants. These re-enactors gather from all across Florida, offering the public a look at life as it was in the 1860s.
Upon entering the site, the visiting public finds themselves surrounded by the sights and sounds of a bygone era. Numerous aspects of this time period are portrayed by Union and Confederate soldiers as well as civilians of all ages. Spectators are welcome to wander the grounds at their leisure and to converse with these Living Historians, many of whom are well versed and very knowledgeable about the time period and the role they portray. The weekend is filled with a full roster of events for the entire family.
The civilian aspect of the era is also portrayed. Some may be seen about the authentic camps portraying family members and friends visiting loved ones serving in the military forces. Others portray civilian in their daily lives on the home front and similar locations. Like their military counterparts, these civilian re-enactors offer a look at another part of this time period.
While one may experience “living history” encounters all around the site, several distinct areas are set up on the grounds. Authentic military encampments of both are present. These camps are arranged in streets and rows according to military regulations of the day. The tents, equipment, weaponry, and so forth are all authentically correct. Soldiers may be seen on duty at guard posts, drilling, or attending to assigned tasks about camp. Others may be on leisure time while cooking meals, cleaning muskets and gear, writing or reading letters and newspapers from home, or engaging in a game of cards, checkers, horseshoes, or chess. Re-enactors attend portraying soldiers of all branches of military service, including infantry forces, artillery batteries, and mounted cavalry units.
Another place to peruse can be found at Sutler’s Row. Originally, sutlers were private businesses that traveled with the armies. From canvas tents, wagons, and so forth, they sold items to the soldiers not always provided by the military. Today the term refers to those who set up shop at re-enactment events, offering items relating to the time period, including re-enactor gear, original and reproduction goods, and other Civil War related wares. Many of these persons, who attend authentically dressed in 1860s attire and are knowledgeable about this time period themselves, are also open to engage in conversation with the public as well.
The public is encouraged to keep their eyes and ears open as they tour the grounds.
Living History scenarios of the many facets of life can occur at any time. Various demonstrations of musket and cannon firings, period music, cookery, a period church service, historic talks and lectures, and a host of other are featured throughout the weekend. Each day the actual battle re-enactment will be preceded by a period music concert featuring songs of the 1860s era on period instruments.
The weekend is highlighted by two authentic battle re-enactments. Muskets crackle and cannon boom as Union and Confederate forces meet in simulated combat, involving infantry, artillery, and cavalry units. The weaponry, commands, and tactics are all accurate to those employed in battle in the 1860s. The Ocklawaha River Raid is open from 9:00 A. M. to 4:00 P. M. both Saturday and Sunday. The actual battle re-enactments are at 2;00 P. M. both days. The public are encouraged to arrive early and tour the grounds and authentic camps before the battles. Admission to the re-enactment event is $ 5.00 per carload. Various food concessions will be available on site.
The Florida Horse Park is ideally situated on 500 pristine acres in the heart of Central Florida. This year-round, world class facility is fast becoming the centerpiece of Florida’s equestrian lifestyle community. The Park offers international caliber competition courses, an exciting schedule of world class events that is drawing top competitors and spectators from every horse sport discipline, locally and globally and educational opportunities for the horse enthusiast. This increasingly popular destination for family tourism offers visitors hundreds of miles of pristine riding trails that wind through the lush Florida Greenway.
The Park is ideally suited to many other community activities, such as dog shows, competitive trail runs, festivals, to name just a few. The Park is located at 11008 S. Highway 475, Ocala, FL 34480.
For more information on the Ocklawaha River Raid re-enactment email to ltcol2ndbattalion@gmail.com. All are invited to come and enjoy seeing this part of our rich American heritage and history brought to life.
Williston, Florida — A young man by the name of David Eugene Harrington Jr., 22, of Williston, Florida was killed in an accident on October 27, 2013.
Harrington was traveling westbound on CR 326 approaching the intersection of NW 150th Avenue when his 2000 Chevy Pickup truck left the paved portion of the roadway and entered the north grassy shoulder. According to FHP, Harrington was traveling at a high rate of speed when he lost control.
Harrington’s vehicle continued to travel westbound on the north grassy shoulder, he then crashed into a fence and entered a pasture on the 9000 block of NW 150th Avenue. After Harrington entered the pasture and continued in a northwesterly direction, he hit two more parallel posts causing the vehicle to flip, coming to its final resting place.
Harrington was ejected from the vehicle as it flipped and was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. Harrington was not wearing his seat belt.
Condolences can be left in the comment spaces below.
Daytona Beach, Florida — Luis Toledo was at the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office’s Operations Center talking with investigators Saturday morning. Toledo is the person of interest in the disappearance of Yessenia Suarez and her two children, 8-year-old Michael Otto and 9-year-old Thalia Otto.
The mother and her two children are suspected to be deceased, although their bodies have not been located.
At one point during the interview Toledo was permitted to use the bathroom with a deputy guarding him. Toledo forced the doorway shut, smashed the mirror and used the mirror shards to attempt suicide by cutting himself. Deputies were able to quickly access the room and secure Toledo. His injuries were determined to be non life-threatening and he was transported by EVAC ambulance to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach for treatment for his cuts at about 11:30 a.m.
Additionally, investigative teams, with the assistance of a Sheriff’s Office helicopter, have been searching several locations dictated by information developed in the investigation. Meanwhile, the Sheriff’s Office has been re-tracing all of its investigative steps to try to develop additional information that hopefully will lead to the recovery of the bodies. No charges have been filed in the case.
As residents in the Volusia and Seminole County areas go about their business this weekend, the Sheriff’s Office urges them to be observant and immediately contact law enforcement if they see anything that appears suspicious.
FDLE has also joined the search for the missing mom and her two children.
Danvers, Massachusetts — Philip Chism, 14, murdered Danvers High School math teacher Colleen Ritzer, 24, of Massachusetts on Tuesday October 22, 2013.
According to reports Chism may have been infatuated with Ritzer and became enraged after she didn’t show any interest in him.
Students from Ritzer’s Algebra class told investigators that she had asked Chism to stay after class because he had additional work he needed to complete.
Ritzer was reported missing after she did not come home from teaching that day and her cell phone went unanswered.
The school was searched and after police found blood in the bathroom on the second floor they knew something sinister had happened.
Surveillance video showed Chism moving Ritzer’s body in a recycling bin.
Authorities say it was a brutal murder, Chism reportedly beat her, used a box cutter to cut her, slit Ritzer’s throat, stuffed her in a recycling bin, and then dumped her body in the woods behind the school.
Authorities say Chism was so narcissistic about the murder that after dumping her body he walked 20 miles to get a bite to eat at a Wendy’s then went to a nearby theater to watch a movie as if nothing had happened.
Philip Chism in court
Police spotted Chism at 1 a.m. walking on the side of the road, after questioning him it was determined he was the suspect police were looking for.
“She was talking on Saturday about this year was a good year. She was teaching freshmen for the first time. She was happy,” said Jen Berger, Ritzer’s best friend. “I don’t even know what the world is like without her. It’s a scary thought.”
Dzerkacz said, “She was energetic, she was compassionate, you couldn’t ask for anything more from a teacher or a friend.”
According to students, Colleen Ritzer was one of the nicest teachers they had ever met. “She will be greatly missed and she can never be replaced”, one student said.
Chism was charged as an adult. Chism’s mother had his attorney ask for his identity not to be released, but the judge declined that request.
Officials including former FBI Special Agent Brad Garret say this was not a random act of murder. They believe she was definitely singled out for an unknown reason at this time.
Prosecutors are not releasing any further details at this time.
Tallahassee, Florida — In accordance with state law, the Attorney General’s Office on October 24, 2013, petitioned the Florida Supreme Court for an advisory opinion on the validity of a proposed constitutional amendment regarding medical marijuana. Florida law requires that proposals be presented fairly and accurately. The petition filed by the Attorney General’s Office outlines concerns that the medical marijuana proposal does not meet this legal standard.
Attorney General Pam Bondi drafted a letter to Chief Justice Polston and Justices on October 24, 2013.
A political committee called People United for Medical Marijuana has sponsored an initiative petition to amend the Florida Constitution. On September 26, 2013, the Attorney General’s Office received the initiative petition from the Secretary of State, along with a certification the sponsor obtained sufficient signatures to initiate the courts review.
The Attorney General’s Office says when asked to amend our Constitution, Florida voters deserve full disclosure. Floridians deserve proposals presented accurately and fairly, proposals that allow “an intelligent and informed vote.” Some proposals, though, use “wording techniques in an attempt to persuade voters.” These techniques can hide an amendment’s true meaning, and when they “render a ballot title and summary deceptive or misleading to voters, the law requires that such proposal be removed from the ballot regardless of the substantive merit of the proposed changes.
Bondi Says in this case, the Sponsor has presented its proposal in a way that does not convey its “true meaning and ramifications “but the Sponsor has obscured the most fundamental issue underlying its proposal; the nature and scope of marijuana use that the amendment would allow. The ballot title and summary suggest that the amendment would allow medical marijuana in narrow, defined circumstances, and only for patients with “debilitating diseases.” But if the amendment passed, Florida law would allow marijuana in limitless situations. Any physician could approve marijuana for seemingly any reason, to any person, of any age – including those without any “debilitating diseases.” So long as a physician held the opinion that the drug use “would likely outweigh” the risks, Florida would be powerless to stop it.
The letter was also served to John Morgan, Chairperson People United for Medical Marijuana.
Attorney John Morgan of Morgan & Morgan is representing the pro-medical marijuana group pushing for the initiative. He contends that the Legislature would oversee sales of cannabis through a joint process of licensing and regulations.
Legalizing marijuana is on the political agenda for Former Governor Charlie Crist. Charlie Crist an attorney with the Morgan and Morgan Law Firm, he plans to run for Governor during the 2016 election.
Florida Ag stands firm on their feeling that supporters want to legalize marijuana for more reasons than just that of a medical use. Charlie Crist denies it is for his political agenda.
Benjamin Boles [Mugshot]Belleview, Florida — Belleview High School Student Benjamin Austin Boles,18, has been arrested and charged with Aggravated Battery.
On October 23, 2013, Deputy Nickolas Frost responded to Munroe Regional Medical Center in reference to an incident that occurred at Belleview High School.
Upon Frost making contact with the victim and his parents he [Frost] was told that after an intense football practice the victim was involved in a disagreement with Boles, another team member.
The victim stated that during the disagreement Boles grabbed a small wooden stool and struck him [the victim] on the left side of his face with it leaving to deep one inch cuts just shy of his left eye. According to Deputy Frost, the victims tooth had also been cracked/chipped during the incident.
Reports show the victim needed 15 stitches to repair the wound, and the victims ‘Orbicularis Oculi’ muscle within the wound had also been torn and required several stitches to repair it. Injuries were confirmed by the victims doctor.
Deputy Frost photographed all injuries during the interview with the victim.
Frost made contact with the Belleview High School Football coaches both of whom said they did not witness the attack. However Frost indicated that the coaches said Boles did admit to hitting the victim and admitted he was wrong for doing so.
Two unnamed eye witnesses did confirm the victims statement. One of the witnesses stated he escorted Boles away from the victim to prevent further injury to the victim. Both witnesses provided Frost with written statements.
Frost then made contact with Boles who stated he felt intimidated by the victim because he is a foot taller and that’s why he grabbed the stool and hit him in his face. Boles told Frost he was very sorry for his actions.
Benjamin Boles was arrested without further incident and charged With Aggravated Battery Causing Bodily Harm or Disability which is a felony.
Deltona, Florida — The investigation into the disappearance of a Deltona mother and her two children is continuing today, with the woman’s husband , Luis Toledo,31, who was arrested and now being questioned a person of interest in the disappearance. The last known sighting of Yessenia Suarez and her two children, 8-year-old Michael Otto and 9-year-old Thalia Otto, was Tuesday. Suarez has two vehicles registered in her name. One was found in the driveway of her home. The other, a 2013 Honda Accord, was recovered on Wednesday in the parking lot of a Publix store in Lake Mary.
Based on leads and intelligence information gathered in the investigation, the Sheriff’s Office is actively searching various locations for Suarez and the children while continuing to investigate the circumstances of their disappearance.
According to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office’s Major Case Unit, the missing Deltona mother and her two children are deceased.
The search for their bodies and the investigation into their deaths is still ongoing and no one has been charged at this time. Sheriff’s investigators and a victim advocate met a short time ago with the family to brief them on the status of the case. Investigators are continuing to talk to Luis Toledo.
Suarez had been the victim of domestic violence in Lake Mary on Tuesday when her husband attacked her at her job then eluded police.
According to police reports they have been talking about separating and on Tuesday October 22, 2013 Luis showed up at Yessenia’s work angry over text messages discovered on her phone. The couple argued outside then Luis wanted to talk to her bosses and was buzzed in by the secretary. Yessenia followed Luis who was walking up and down the halls trying to locate a manager. Luis and Yessenia began arguing at the end of one of the hallways when Luis slapped her on the left side of her cheek.
Toledo is being held on domestic Violence charges.
Search efforts will be continuing into the evening. Because of the ongoing investigation, no additional details are being released at this time. New information will be released as developments dictate.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at (386) 736-5999.
Matthew Cordle [Mugshot]Columbus, Ohio — Matthew Cordle, 22, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison on October 22, 2013 for Aggravated Vehicular Homicide.
Cordle is the Ohio man who confessed in an online YouTube video nearly three months after he hit and killed 61-year-old Vincent Canzani while driving drunk. Cordle fled the scene and was never caught, but was finally arrested after his online confession went viral.
During the sentencing on October 22 the video was played for the court. After the video Canzani’s daughter, Angela Canzani spoke on behalf of her father and said, “My father got a death sentence. Eight-and-a-half years is nothing,” she told the judge, referring to the maximum sentence Cordle could have received. “After eight-and-a-half years, Matthew Cordle will have his life back, my father is never coming back.”
Cordle also spoke at the hearing, offering another apology to the victim’s family. “It should have been me instead of an innocent man. I vow that I’ll do everything I can to prevent it from happening again and his memory from fading.”
Cordle says he will make it his life goal to make sure that Canzani did not die in vein, and will make sure his memory lives on.
Cordle says he has not touched a drink since the day of the accident.
Jonathan A Whatley [Mugshot]Ocala, Florida — On Wednesday, October 23, 2013 at approximately 3:11 p.m., Ocala Police Department Detectives Michael Bowman and Melissa Buetti arrested the suspect in the Smash and Grab Burglaries that occurred to three Diamond Oil stores in Ocala. During the burglaries, glass windows were smashed out and beer & cigarettes stolen.
The first occurrence was on September 28, 2013 at approximately 11:38 p.m. at the Diamond Oil located at 2375 NE 25th Avenue. The second occurred approximately four and a half hours later at the Diamond Oil located at 3685 SW 20th Street, at approximately 4:00 a.m. on September 29, 2013.
Video surveillance on both was obtained and the suspect appeared to be the same person in both incidents, as well as the same suspect in similar incidents that have taken place throughout Marion County. On October 12, 2013 at approximately 6:40 a.m., the Diamond Oil at 2534 SE 17th Street, was also burglarized by the subject seen in the video stealing a container full of cigarettes and beer. In this third incident, the suspect has a t-shirt over his face that falls down and enables video to capture his face. Video and stills from this incident and the two previous incidents was put out to the public.
On October 23, 2013, Detective Bowman received an anonymous tip via Crime Stoppers advising that the subject pictured in the video from the October 12th incident is a subject named “John” who lives at 505 NE Sanchez Avenue in Ocala. Detective Bowman responded to that location and the suspect was identified by management as Jonathan Wade Whatley,44. Detective Bowman also spoke with Whatley’s employer, who identified the hat, long-sleeve shirt, and dust mask worn in the videos of the first two incidents as clothing items worn by Whatley when working. Whatley was called in from a job site to the business’ office where Detectives Bowman and Buetti, along with members of SDU and UDEST, were waiting for him.
Whatley was taken into custody for the three burglaries, but he refused to speak with detectives.
Whatley was charged with three Counts of Burglary Commercial and three Counts of Petit Theft .
Additionally, Whatley was on Probation for previous charges of Burglary and Dealing in Stolen Property, therefore he was also arrested for the Violation of Probation.
The Ocala Police Department thanks the community for it’s assistance in identifying and locating the suspect in these three cases. Without the cooperative efforts of law enforcement and the community, cases such as this would not be able to to be successfully closed so quickly.
Scott Michael Johns [Facebook]Ocala, Florida — The Marion County Sheriff’s Office received a call on Monday, October 21, 2013, from an Ocala woman claiming that she had caught her “significant other” molesting her daughter in the child’s bed.
According to reports, the mother told deputies that she woke up around 5:40 a.m., and discovered her significant other, Scott Johns, 31, was not in their bed with her. That’s when she got out of bed to look for him, first checking the bathroom and when he wasn’t in there she turned on the hall light to look in her daughter’s room, according to reports.
When the mother looked into the girl’s room, she found Johns sitting on the bed wearing loose shorts and a t-shirt. The woman said Johns was leaning over top of the 9-year-old and he had her pajama shirt pulled all the way up leaving her chest exposed, according to Deputy Counts.
The mother then confronted Johns, asking him what he was doing. Johns claimed that he was just saying goodbye to the girl before he went off to work. The mother told authorities that Johns does not normally tell the children goodbye before going to work and stated that the children were going to sleep in that day because it was a teacher’s workday, therefore school was out.
According to reports, Johns left the child’s room and returned to his own bedroom.
The mother asked her daughter what had been going on and before getting very upset and beginning to cry, the girl told her mother that Johns had been licking her chest and trying to get her to touch him, but she pulled her hand away.
The girl was then taken to Kimberly’s Center for Child Protection to be forensically interviewed.
According to reports, during the interview the girl disclosed several incidents of sexual abuse by Johns. She told investigators, that Monday morning Johns woke her up by grabbing her hands in an attempt to make her [the victim]touch his “wiener”. She advised that Johns then pulled her shirt up and began licking her “breast”.
The victim told authorities that the sexual abuse occurred at three different locations in Marion County. The girl advised that the abuse began while they were living in the Carlton Arms Apartments, continued when they moved to the Bahia Oaks Subdivision, and then in their current residence.
Authorities say the girl advised that Johns would lay her on her side and force her to have anal sex, in other instances force her to perform masturbation on him, and told her to put his wiener in her mouth “like a lollipop” on multiple occasions.
According to the victim, all incidents took place in her [the child’s] bed.
Scott Michael Johns was arrested and charged with Capital Sexually Battery. If convicted he could face life in prison.
He is currently being held on a $100,000 bond.
Scott Michael Johns worked for the Florida Department Of Corrections at The Lowell Correctional Institution, he was hired in 2009, he was terminated upon his arrest.
William Clark [Mugshot]Winter Haven, Florida — On Monday, October 21, 2013, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office detectives arrested Todd William Clark, 41, of Winter Haven, charging him with Grand Theft and Business Burglary.
On May 19, 2013 Marc’s Auto Repair/Thrift Store was burglarized. Approximately $500.00 in miscellaneous items were stolen to include a child’s bicycle, stuffed animals along with several CD’s and DVD’s. It was also learned several outgoing calls from the business to an unfamiliar number were made during the time of the burglary.
A pair of jeans, a shirt, and a pair of socks were discovered in the bathroom of the business, none of which the business owners could identify. It appeared the unknown suspect had undressed prior to leaving the scene. The discarded clothing was collected as evidence.
The discarded clothing was sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for DNA testing. When the results were returned in September 2013, the DNA on the clothing turned out to be a positive match for Clark. Clark’s criminal arrest history includes 21 felony charges, 13 misdemeanor charges and 15 charges with an unknown level, and one failure to appear. His past charges range from Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud, Petit Theft, Carrying Concealed Weapon, Grand Theft Auto, Battery, Assault on Law Enforcement Officer, multiple Drug related offenses, and Trespassing to Disorderly Intoxication. Clark has been to state prison three times, in 1994, 2001, and 2008.
Detectives located Clark and arranged to meet him at the PCSO Central District office where a post Miranda interview was conducted. Clark told detectives he had consumed a large amount of alcohol, illegal narcotics and controlled substances the night of the burglary telling detectives he did not “remember” committing the burglary, but remembered the clothing he wore the night of the incident which positively matched the clothing found in the business.
Clark told detectives he remembered being completely unclothed (except for boxer shorts) in the area of Lake Howard Drive (Winter Haven) the morning after the incident occurred. Clark was placed under arrest and transported to the Polk County Jail without further incident. He has since bonded out of jail.
Rocky Estes [Mugshot]Ocala, Florida — On October 19, 2013 Deputy Paul Hahn responded to the 5200 block of SW 21st Place in reference to a disturbance.
According to Deputy Hahn when he arrived he quickly determined that Rocky Estes, 43, had several loaded weapons and Estes had advised his girlfriend he was not going back to jail without a fight.
Estess’ girlfriend advised Deputy Hahn that he [Estes] had been drinking heavily and passed out. When Estess’ girlfriend tried to wake him he punched her in the head then pushed her to the ground.
The girlfriend then called 911 and she says that is when Estes began breaking items in the house and yelling, “I am not going back to jail without a fight.”
After Deputy Patrick Doody arrived on the scene he made telephone contact with Estes. Deputy Doody tried several times to get Estes to drop his weapons, but Estes simply stated, “I am not going back to jail.” Deputy Doody says shortly after Estes made that statement he [Estes] racked his shotgun. Estes then yelled, “I got a gun and so do you. I got something for you.”
Finally after several more orders were given for Estes to exit the residence, he walked out the front door and he was detained.
Several loaded weapons were found in the residence, they were collected and placed in evidence By Deputy Turner.
Estes was arrested and transported to the Marion County Jail without further incident. He was charged with Domestic Simple Battery and Assault On A Law Enforcement Officer.
Estes was also arrested in April of 2004 for child abuse.
![Scott Michael Johns [Facebook]](https://www.ocalapost.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/scott-johns-300x223.jpg)
