Car Accident As The Result Of Texting While Driving
On October 1, 2013 at 12:01 a.m., the new “Florida Ban on Texting While Driving Law” goes into effect.
s. 316.305 (3)(a) is defined as the following:
A person may not operate a motor vehicle while manually typing or entering multiple letters, numbers, symbols, or other characters into a wireless communications device or while sending or reading data on such a device for the purpose of non-voice interpersonal communication, including, but not limited to, communication methods known as texting, e-mailing, and instant messaging. As used in this section, the term “wireless communications device” means any handheld device used or capable of being used in a handheld manner, that is designed or intended to receive or transmit text or character-based messages, access or store data, or connect to the Internet or any communications service as defined in s. 812.15 and that allows text communications. For the purposes of this paragraph, a motor vehicle that is stationary is not being operated and is not subject to the prohibition in this paragraph.
(b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to a motor vehicle operator who is:
1. Performing official duties as an operator of an authorized emergency vehicle as defined in s. 322.01, a law enforcement or fire service professional, or an emergency medical services professional.
2. Reporting an emergency or criminal or suspicious activity to law enforcement authorities.
3. Receiving messages that are:
a. Related to the operation or navigation of the motor vehicle;
b. Safety-related information, including emergency, traffic, or weather alerts;
c. Data used primarily by the motor vehicle; or
d. Radio broadcasts.
4. Using a device or system for navigation purposes.
5. Conducting wireless interpersonal communication that does not require manual entry of multiple letters, numbers, or symbols, except to activate, deactivate, or initiate a feature or function.
6. Conducting wireless interpersonal communication that does not require reading text messages, except to activate, deactivate, or initiate a feature or function.
(c) Only in the event of a crash resulting in death or personal injury, a user’s billing records for a wireless communications device or the testimony of or written statements from appropriate authorities receiving such messages may be admissible as evidence in any proceeding to determine whether a violation of paragraph (a) has been committed.
Committing the infraction of texting while driving will be a secondary offense, same as the seat belt law when it was first introduced.
Simply put; a law enforcement officer cannot conduct a traffic stop based solely on a person texting while they were driving. The officer must first have the intention of stopping someone say for a broken tail light, at which time if the officer observes the driver texting, a citation can then be issued for both offenses.
If a driver is cited for texting while driving during a traffic stop, the fine will be $30.00 for the first offense and $60.00 for a second offense.
According to the Florida Highway patrol, one out of five people are killed in distracted related accidents involving cell phones on a daily basis.
Officials have indicated driving while texting is just as dangerous, possibly even more dangerous than driving while drunk.
Many law enforcement agencies feel the fines are not high enough to actually prevent drivers from texting while driving, but they also say it’s a start that is long overdue.
We want to hear from you. What do you think about the new “Florida Ban on Texting While Driving Law?”
Joseph Hunter (AKA Rambo) [Far Right]Michele M. Leonhart, the Administrator of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) and Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, today announced the arrests of three defendants – Joseph Manuel Hunter (AKA: Rambo) and Timothy Vamvakias, both citizens of the United States, and Dennis Gogel, a citizen of Germany. Hunter is expected to arrive in the Southern District of New York this evening and will be presented before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Manhattan federal court tomorrow.
Vamvakias and Gogel arrived in the Southern District of New York yesterday and were presented in U.S. Magistrate Court yesterday afternoon. As part of the same case, Slawomir Soborski and Michael Filter, citizens of Poland and Germany, respectively, were arrested in Estonia at the request of the United States on September 25, 2013.
Hunter, Vamvakias, and Gogel are charged in five separate counts with conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States; conspiracy to murder a law enforcement agent and a person assisting a law enforcement agent; conspiracy to kill a person to prevent communications to law enforcement agents; conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence; and conspiracy to distribute cocaine on board an aircraft. Soborski and Filter are charged with conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States and conspiracy to distribute cocaine on board an aircraft. On September 25, 2013, the DEA’s Special Operations Division (SOD), Bilateral Investigative Unit (BIU) Narco-Terrorism Group (NTG), concluded a long-standing undercover operation conducted in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, Europe and elsewhere. Hunter was arrested in Thailand; Vamvakias and Gogel were arrested in Liberia and all three subsequently were expelled to the United States. Soborski and Filter were arrested in Estonia, where they remain, pending extradition to the United States.
DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart said: “The targets of this investigation were hardened global criminals involved in everything from drug and arms trafficking to contract assassinations. Besides being international cocaine traffickers, members of this criminal organization conspired in an elaborate scheme to murder a DEA Special Agent and an informant for a six figure payday. Their intent was to commit the most serious and ruthless crime that can be directed against any law enforcement officer, and one that has our highest investigative priority. I wish to thank our foreign law enforcement partners for their outstanding efforts and partnership in completely dismantling this sophisticated and dangerous international criminal enterprise.”
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “The bone-chilling allegations in today’s Indictment read like they were ripped from the pages of a Tom Clancy novel. The charges tell a tale of an international band of mercenary marksmen who enlisted their elite military training to serve as hired guns for evil ends. Three of the defendants were ready, willing and eager to take cold hard cash to commit the cold-blooded murders of a DEA agent and an informant. Thanks to the determined, skillful and intrepid efforts of the DEA’s Special Operations Division, an international hit team has been neutralized by agents working on four continents.”
According to the Indictment against Hunter, Vamvakias, Gogel, Soborski, and Filter unsealed today:
All five defendants have previously served in the armed forces of their respective nations. Hunter and Vamvakias served in the U.S. Army until 2004; Gogel and Filter served in the German armed forces until 2010 and 2009, respectively, and Soborski served in the Polish armed forces until 2011. Hunter served as a sniper instructor and a senior drill sergeant, training other soldiers in marksmanship and tactics; Vamvakias attained the rank of sergeant and served both as an infantryman and a military police officer; Gogel, Soborski and Filter were trained as snipers.
Since leaving the U.S. Army in 2004, Hunter has acted as a “contract killer” and successfully arranged for the murder of a number of people.
During meetings in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean, beginning in January 2013 and continuing through late September 2013, Hunter communicated with two confidential sources (the “CSs”) working with the DEA, who purported to be Colombian narcotics traffickers. Hunter agreed to serve as the head of security for the CSs’ purported narcotics trafficking organization, and assembled a “security team” consisting of Vamvakias, Gogel, Filter, and Soborski. Hunter also told the CSs that he had previously been involved in contract killings – referred to as “bonus jobs” – and that some team members wanted to do as much “bonus work” as possible.
Hunter and his co-defendants thereafter agreed, in meetings and communications with the CSs, to provide security and surveillance services to the narcotics trafficking organization. Furthermore, Hunter, Vanvakias, and Gogel agreed to commit murder-for-hire in Liberia by assassinating both a Special Agent of the DEA and a person who purportedly was providing information to the DEA about the CSs’ narcotics trafficking organization. In exchange for the murders, Hunter, Vamvakias, and Gogel were together to be paid approximately $700,000, and Hunter was to receive an additional $100,000 for his leadership role. Communications between the defendants and the CSs occurred by telephone, over e-mail, and in a series of surreptitiously audio-recorded and videotaped meetings over an approximately nine-month period.
Hunter and his four co-defendants provided a variety of services to the CSs’ purported narcotics organization. In late March 2013, in Thailand, at Hunter’s direction, Gogel, Filter, and Soborski surveilled a vessel on behalf of the CSs’ purported narcotics trafficking organization. In April 2013, in Mauritius, at the direction of the CSs, Gogel, Filter, and Soborski provided security for a meeting at which the participants discussed the distribution of illegal narcotics to the United States. In late June 2013, in the Bahamas, Vamvakias, Gogel, Filter, and Soborski conducted surveillance of a purported U.S.-registered aircraft at the direction of a third CS (“CS-3”) working with the DEA, who posed as a member of the CSs’ narcotics trafficking organization. CS-3 informed the defendants that the aircraft was to be loaded with 300 kilograms of cocaine to be shipped to New York.
With respect to the murder-for-hire scheme, in mid-May 2013, at a meeting with the three CSs in Thailand, Hunter, Vamvakias, Gogel, and Soborski were told that a “bonus job” – that is, a contract killing – was in the offing, due to a leak within the CSs’ narcotics trafficking organization. In late May 2013, in e-mail communications, Hunter confirmed that his team would be willing to murder both a U.S. law enforcement agent and a source (a boat captain) that was providing information to U.S. law enforcement authorities. Hunter confirmed by e-mail that his team would kill both the DEA agent and the informant who was providing information to law enforcement about the CSs’ narcotics trafficking organization. At a meeting in late June 2013, in the Bahamas, CS-3 explained to Vamvakias and Gogel that “the job is to kill a U.S. DEA agent and a source with the DEA,” who would be located in Liberia. Vamvakias and Gogel discussed the weapons that could be used and masks to be worn for the murders, and Vamvakias stated that it would be better to “hit the agent first” and then “the snitch.” In early July 2013, Hunter sent via e-mail a list of the items needed for the murders, including “Two Submachine Guns with silencers and two .22 caliber pistols with Silencers.”
In mid-August 2013, at a meeting in Thailand, Hunter told CS-3 that Vamvakias and Gogel would commit the murders. Hunter, Vamvakias, and Gogel discussed in detail the weapons that would be used and the possibility of entering Liberia without having their passports stamped. They suggested that CS-3 fly them out of the country via private plane following the murders. Vamvakias stated that among other weapons, a sub-machine gun and two .22 caliber pistols would be needed for the murders, and CS-3 agreed to deliver the weapons to Liberia. The next day, at a meeting with Gogel, CS-3 confirmed that an order for the requested weapons had been made. Later that same day, Gogel met again with CS-3 and provided CS-3 with two highly sophisticated latex facemasks, which can make the wearer appear to be of another race, for CS-3 to transport to Liberia.
In late September 2013, Gogel and Vamvakias arrived in Liberia to commit the planned murders-for-hire.
Hunter, 48, Vamvakias, 42, Gogel, 27, Filter, 29, and Soborski, 40, have each been charged with conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States (Count One). Hunter, Vamvakias, and Gogel are also charged with conspiracy to murder a law enforcement agent and a person assisting a law enforcement agent (Count Two); conspiracy to kill a person to prevent communications to law enforcement agents (Count Three); and conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence (Count Four). Vamvakias, Gogel, Filter, and Soborski are also charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine on board an aircraft (Count Five). Each count carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain.
The arrests and transfers of the defendants were the result of the close cooperative efforts of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York; DEA’s SOD; DEA’s Bangkok, Ghana, Pretoria, Bucharest, Manila, Nassau and Copenhagen Offices; the Royal Thai Police Narcotics Suppression Bureau and Crime Suppression Division; Royal Thai Immigration; the Royal Thai Attorney General’s Office; Republic of Liberia’s National Security Agency; the Republic of Liberia’s Attorney General’s Office; the Estonian Police and Border Guard; the Estonian National Criminal Police, Investigative Bureau; the Estonian State Prosecutor’s Office; the Royal Bahamas Police Force and Drug Enforcement Unit; the Romanian National Police; Interpol; and the U.S. Department of Justice Office of International Affairs.
This prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Lockard, Aimee Hector and Anna Skotko are in charge of the prosecution.
[Mugshot]Lecanto, Florida — The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office wants residents in the Lecanto area to be aware of a convicted felon moving into the area.
Michael J. Masse, 48, is being released from prison and moving into a home located at 6515 S. Esmeralda Terrace, Lecanto.
Masse was convicted of a homicide involving a 10-year-old child back in 1980. This crime did not occur in Citrus County. Masse is not on probation; nor is he a registered sex offender; therefore, he has no restrictions.
Public notice cards will be distributed in this neighborhood warning residents of Masse. The CCSO will also issue a Code Red within a two mile radius of 6515 S. Esmeralda Terrace, Lecanto. The agency has also made contact with the Citrus County school district informing them of Masse’s address.
Masse is a white male, 5’8’’ and 154 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. If you see any activities you feel is inappropriate by this subject or have any further questions, notify the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office at 352-249-2739. After hours, please call the non-emergency line at (352) 726-1121.
[Mugshot]Ocala, Florida — Ocala Police Department Robbery/Homicide Detective Miguel Gauthier was arrested on Sunday, September 29, 2013, after crashing his car into a brick mailbox at approximately 9:30 p.m.
According to Florida Highway Patrol Officer Geoffrey Pubillones, Gauthier was traveling south on SE 8th Street Road when he drove off the roadway and onto the lawn of 6510 SE 8th Street Road, that is when he struck a brick mailbox with the right front of the vehicle.
When the trooper arrived, he observed a white Nissan Altima with damage to the front end and a broken mailbox.
Upon making contact with the driver identified as Miguel A. Gauthier, 47, the trooper noticed the driver had bloodshot watery eyes and his pupils had a slow reaction to light. Gauthier’s speech was also thick-tongued, according to the trooper.
The trooper reported a strong odor of alcohol coming from Gauthier’s breath and that, he had to lean against his vehicle to keep from falling over while talking to the trooper.
A witness confirmed to the trooper that Gauthier was in fact behind the wheel of the car when the crash occurred.
According to reports, after the trooper conducted the traffic crash investigation, the trooper then informed Gauthier he would proceed with the criminal portion of the investigation for suspicion of DUI and asked him to perform a field sobriety test, which he agreed to. The trooper read Gauthier his Miranda Rights which was witnessed by deputies Elizabeth Hart and Sidney Porter. Gauthier told the trooper he understood his rights.
When Gauthier was asked where he was driving from, he replied, “Just was hanging out with friends”.
The trooper reported that Gauthier was impaired to the extent that his normal facilities were impaired to the point where he was unable to operate a motor vehicle.
After being placed under arrest and transported to the Marion County Jail, Gauthier refused to submit an alcohol breath test.
Gauthier was not on duty and he was driving in his own personal vehicle at the time of the crash. The 2009 Nissan Altima he was driving sustained about $7,000 dollars in damage, according to reports.
Gauthier was taken to the Marion County Jail and booked on one count of DUI and one count of DUI with Property Damage.
He has been released on a $1,000 bond.
Detective Miguel Gauthier has worked for the Ocala Police Department for approximately 16 years.
Ocala Police Department officials stated that Detective Gauthier is currently suspended with pay.
Gigante, Colombia — A man impressing a girlfriend with his penis is every guys secret goal, and a 66-year-old Colombian man tried to do just that.
The 66-year-old former politician wanted to impress his new girlfriend so badly, he intentionally ingested a handful of Viagra in hopes of pleasuring his new found lover. However, his plan backfired in a big way.
The man wound up with an erection that lasted for seven days. After the seventh day, the man finally decided to go to the hospital.
After seeking medical attention for his long-lasting erection, doctors found his penis to be enlarged, fractured, and already showing signs of gangrene. The man’s doctor said he waited too long before he sought out treatment.
In order to stop the gangrene from spreading to the rest of his body, doctors had no choice but to amputate the man’s penis.
Doctors say the man faces a long hard recovery, but will recover.
Marion Oaks — The Marion County Sheriff’s Office needs your help in catching some thieving criminals.
They are looking for multiple black males in their teens to early twenties. The suspects may be driving a dark blue Honda, Acura, or possibly a Toyota. Separately they are also looking for suspects that may be driving a Red Malibu or Impala.
They are wanted for multiple burglaries in the area.
The burglaries are occurring during the daytime hours, between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Be sure to lock all doors and windows when leaving for work. If you have an alarm system, make sure it is armed.
Due to the limited amount of man power at the Sheriff’s Office, they are asking Marion Oaks residents to report anything suspicious. And without putting yourself in harms way, they are asking you get the best description you can.
Call 352-732-9111 to report any suspicious activity or if you have good information in regards to the above mentioned vehicles.
The September 26, 2013, Marion County Board of County Commissioners meeting was nothing short of political strong arming. Residents of Marion County witnessed the door to catastrophe opening.
Ocala.com wrote, “Blair conceded.” However, it wasn’t a concession at all. Commissioners gave Sheriff Chris Blair an ultimatum; an ultimatum that Blair was not prepared to live with. The ultimatum was either he accept the same level as the 2012-2013 fiscal year budget OR take nearly $2.3 million less and fire staff.
It is a misconception that Blair challenged the committee to find areas that were able to be cut in order to lower the budget. The committee requested Blair lower the budget and Blair refused. The committee then asked Blair, “Are you going to leave it up to the BCC where to cut the budget?” Blair replied, “You are going to have to. I can’t come back zero. Cannot do it.”
During that same conversation, Commissioner Zalak all but admitted that the previous Sheriff’s Office administration had misallocated funds. Zalak said, “What you want us to do today is increase taxes to fund the misallocation of funds in the past.”
In a document prepared by the Marion County Budget Review Committee, recommendations in regards to the budget were outlined for the Sheriff.
On pages 20-21 of the document, the committee recommended Blair eliminate 21 Sergeant positions, 24 Master Correctional Officers, 94 Corporals, two Assistant Bureau Chiefs, both Chaplains, two Captains, and one Lieutenant. In exchange for laying off a large portion of the veteran staff, the BCC said only a handful could be replaced with officers who held the bare minimum qualifications and certifications legally allowed by the state, therefore allowing the entry level salary. Again, officers with little experience will be the ones watching other officers backs; hence creating a situation bound for disaster.
Pages 22-23 show that the BCC also recommended using monitoring devices on criminals instead of jailing them, citing it would free up funds for Blair’s budget. The mere fact that the Commission was willing to allow criminals to walk free in order to save money, should be enough evidence for the public to realize the Commission does not have any regard for public safety. The Commission cited the monitoring devices have been very successful in other counties. However in the past 45 days several criminals from surrounding counties have cut off their monitoring devices and more than one of the criminals are still on the run. The Commission’s theory on monitoring devices could not be more inaccurate and it would be extremely dangerous for Marion County residents.
Page 25 shows the BCC recommended dismantling the Inmate Work Farm. The Inmate Work Farm forces inmates to grow their own food by seeding it, maintaining it, and harvesting it. The work farm not only produces vegetables, but also eggs and meat. The farm is a tool in which inmates can learn a skill in conjunction with saving the county money by eliminating the need to purchase food from a vendor.
Page 30 shows the BCC putting residents at even more risk by reducing the Emergency Management function. The BCC recommended eliminating staff within the Emergency Management Department, which includes one Major Bureau Chief, a Master Sergeant, and a Special Needs Coordinator. The BCC suggested the county should take over and hire a civilian director at a lower pay scale. Past disasters have shown that Emergency Management Teams are safer and more efficient if run by law enforcement.
Page 35 shows the BCC requested that Blair demote and reduce the salaries for several of the Corporals that operate as Bailiffs. Page 35 also suggests that the county take over Human Resources, Procurement, Information Technology, and Fleet Services which would eliminate 24 full time positions. However, the BCC then informs Blair that they would have to hire more staff if they were to take over the departments.
Page 36 shows the BCC dismantling Community Policing. According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission, Community Policing is one of the most important aspects of law enforcement. Community Policing should be a priority for every law enforcement agency in the country, according to CJSTC. Community Policing is what builds the foundation between citizens and officers. The BCC suggested to Blair that he lay off 10 Lieutenants, three Captains, and one Major; thus leaving the Community Policing Division dangerously under-staffed.
The BCC wrote, “this places the sheriff’s budget within acceptable parameters as directed by the ‘BCC’.” However, it is reasonably arguable that while the Commission may have experience in budgeting, they have absolutely no knowledge of what it takes to properly and safely run a Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Chris Blair responded to the BCC in a letter, he wrote, “The recommended budget is troubling and reckless.”
Blair also told the Commission that, “The Committee lacked any law enforcement officer with executive experience in administering a law enforcement agency. Had the Commission, or the Committee included such a person, many of the wrongful recommendations of the committee could have been avoided.”
Contained within the stack of documents is a signed letter dated May 28, 2010, from the former sheriff, Ed Dean. The letter indicates that the former sheriff was in fact having budget issues for Fiscal Year 2009-2010 and had proposed not to fill vacancies in order to save money for Fiscal Year 2010-2011. From this document it is more than evident that the Sheriff’s Office was already in trouble prior to Blair’s election.
The prediction is that if the budget is not increased to allow for the hiring of more deputies, Marion County’s crime rates will increase and statistics will be similar to that of Orange County.
The county wants to promote business growth, however with growth comes people and with people comes crime. Marion County is rapidly headed in a direction of becoming the city that will be on the news as Orlando is, and not for good reasons.
With budget constraints effecting the State Attorney’s Office, they are less likely to prosecute smaller cases. Many times petit cases are thrown out and not prosecuted at all, due to lack of resources; thus starting the vicious cycle all over again.
Tina, a Marion Oaks resident said, “How about actually keeping the criminals off the street? If they have been arrested many times for the same offense, that should be a red flag. Lock them up and throw away the key. Who cares if the parents cry foul? Maybe if they were better parents, their kids wouldn’t be criminals.” Tina also said, “I purchased a gun last week, I am not taking any chances, I know where I live and I will not be a victim.”
A deputy told us that useful man power is lost when criminals are released an hour after they are arrested. The deputy said it causes man power to be used because those criminals are likely to be re-offenders. While a deputy is attending to the re-offender, he could have been saving a life across town. All of these issues play a part in the budget it all ties together, he said.
Blair’s letter to Commissioners also warned they were breaking the law by going against Florida statutes that prohibits the Commission from reducing the budget below last years’ budget amount.
County Attorney Guy Minter, told the board that both claims were meritless. However our sources say it is entirely possible for residents to file a lawsuit against the county if in fact residents are in danger because of the lack of deputies. There have been instances in other states where lawsuits have in fact been filed and turned out favorable for residents.
Blair also has the right to take the issue to the Governor’s office, however it is unclear if the deal agreed upon at the September 26, 2013, meeting may now prevent him from doing so.
Blair was granted the hiring of four dispatchers for the communications center, but not without a sigh from Commissioner Zalak. Futhermore, at one point Zalak made a sarcastic joke to Blair, saying, “I like you, so we had to give you something.”
Zalak made it clear he didn’t want the Sheriff’s Office to have an increase in budget or allow the budget to stay at the same level as the previous Fiscal Year. The board wanted to decrease the Sheriff’s Office budget by $2.355.634 million or 3.5 percent and decrease jail funding by $2.488.226 million or 8.5 percent.
“Government should be reduced and government should live within its means,” Zalak said.
At yesterday’s 2 p.m. meeting, Commissioner Bryant said, “I hope next year the sheriff will be more reasonable.”
Marcus, who lives in Marion Oaks said, “I have never in my life seen such a group of despicable self righteous individuals, such as the Marion County Commissioners. The board can sit at their desks with smirks on their faces, their fancy pens, and claim it’s not political until they are blue in the face, but no one is falling for that.” He added, “Of course it’s political, how do you think Dean got to be sheriff the first time around? If you ask me he should have never been sheriff because he had no law enforcement experience.”
Another person said, “It is a sad day when citizens have to step in and beg, literally beg, for the Sheriff Department’s budget to be increased in order to operate properly.”
A resident from Silver Spring Shores said, “What will it take for the board to realize the consequences of not having enough deputies on the street? “Will it take citizens taking matters into their own hands? When it comes down to it, citizens will do whatever it takes to protect their families.” She went on to say, “When the bodies of bad guys start piling up on their front lawns, maybe then the board members will open their eyes. You would think since the father of one of the commissioners had his house broken into and robbed in an area that desperately needs deputies, that commissioners would stand up for the citizens a little more.”
The Commission voted 3-2 and approved raising the levy for the special tax district that funds the Sheriff’s Office’s patrol and investigative operations. The tax applies to property owners in unincorporated Marion County. The Commission raised taxes, but yet they didn’t increase the sheriff’s budget. Instead, they raised taxes for what the Commission is calling an offset in order to keep the Sheriff’s budget, exactly the same as it was. The Commission claims if they didn’t do it this way, then their proposal to lay off 175 full time employees in addition to the 160 that have already been lost since 2007, would have to move forward.
The Commission tied Blair’s hands and backed him into a corner, so to speak.
Even after being bullied by the Commission, Blair kept to his word. Blair told Ocala Post, “I have to protect my deputies. I was not taking a budget cut, laying off deputies, or putting the people of Marion County at risk anymore than they already are. I had to agree to keeping the budget the same, the Commission left me no choice.”
[Mugshot]Ocala, Florida — An Ocala man was arrested after shoplifting while dressed like a woman.
Deputies responded to the Wal-Mart on HWY 200, on September 25, 2013, after receiving a call regarding a theft.
When deputies arrived they were informed by the A.P. Officer that a man identified as Manuel Rodriguez, was dressed as a woman and acting suspicious while in the apparel department.
The officer stated that he observed Rodriguez popping the tags off of several items and concealing them in a women’s purse, which he also took off of a Wal-Mart shelf.
The officer then followed Rodriguez as he walked to the frozen food section, he picked an item up and proceeded to the checkout.
According to reports while at the checkout, Rodriguez paid for only the food item and attempted to leave the store. That’s when the officer identified himself and detained Rodriguez until the deputy arrived.
According to deputies, Rodriguez had $87.60 worth of items on his person.
Rodriguez told the deputy that he did not know why he tried to steal the merchandise.
When deputies searched Rodriguez they discovered that he had over $800 in his wallet.
He was charged with Retail Petit Theft and booked into the Marion County Jail.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in identifying whoever is responsible for multiple acts of criminal mischief.
Sometime between 8 p.m., Tuesday, September 24, and 8 a.m., Wednesday, September 25, five vehicles and four mailboxes were damaged.
The vandalism occurred along NW 42nd Place in Ocala, which totaled around $4,000 in damage. Most of the damage done to vehicles consisted of scratches down the paint and broken windshield wipers.
They also removed mailboxes and broke mailbox flags. The victims of these crimes say they can’t think of any reason as to why they would be targeted.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Crime Stoppers of Marion County at 368-STOP or 368-7867. You could get an award up to $1,000 for your information. You can also text your tips to 274637 and enter the keyword 368STOP.
Dunnellon, Florida — Two men have been arrested in Dunnellon after a traffic stop turns up a large amount of drugs.
21-year-old Stefano Squartino and 20-year-old Marcelo Mesa, both of whom are from Marion County were arrested Tuesday, September 23, 2013, after being pulled over by a Dunnellon Police Officer for failing to use a turn signal.
According to reports, when the officer approached the 2004 white Dodge driven by Squartino, he could smell a strong odor of marijuana coming from the inside the vehicle.
After the officer asked if there were any narcotics in the car, Stefano advised him that there was marijuana in a backpack on the back seat. Inside the backpack were two Ziploc bags containing marijuana, according to police.
Both men were then handcuffed and place in a patrol car.
Upon being questioned separately, Squartino told the officer that his brother, Marcelo Mesa who was the passenger in the vehicle would go to prison if he was arrested; therefore he wanted all the charges to be placed on himself and asked that Mesa be released.
The officer then spoke to Mesa and asked him if he was Squartino’s brother at which Mesa replied, “No, we have been friends since we were kids.” He told the officer that all the drugs in the car belonged to Squartino because he doesn’t do drugs anymore.
Mesa then started to cry and said that he has a good job picking berries and is in the process of being hired by a club promotion company. Mesa told the officer that he would go to prison if he was arrested again because he is out on bond and pleaded for the officer to let him go and to not charge him with anything.
A more thorough search of the car revealed a baggie inside the passenger door containing Psilocybin, more commonly referred to as mushrooms, which according to reports were approximately six inches from where Mesa had been sitting in the car.
Also located in the backseat was a Kentucky Fried Chicken box. However instead of chicken, police found methamphetamines, more marijuana, Morphine, Xanax, and Hydrocodone pills.
Squartino, who was handcuffed in the back of the officer’s patrol car asked to speak with him. Squartino said, “Did you say you found meth?” He then changed his story saying that all the items belonged to Mesa. He stated that he was not going to jail for Mesa because he didn’t know that he brought pills and meth in the car. He said that he knew about the marijuana but had no knowledge of the other drugs in the vehicle.
Mesa was questioned about the drugs in which he told police that he had no idea there were any illegal narcotics in the vehicle, including the mushrooms in the door where he had been sitting.
In all, police found 167.1 grams of marijuana, 10.2 grams of methamphetamines, 8 grams of mushrooms, 37 Morphine pills, 4 xanax pills, and 3 Hydrocodone pills.
Marcelo Mesa was arrested and charged with three counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance, one count of Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Sell, One count of Possession of a Schedule I, II, or III Narcotic with Intent to Sell, and one count of Trafficking in Four or More Grams of (Morphine, Opium, Oxycodone, or Heroin).
He was booked into the Citrus County Jail on an $80,000 bond.
Researched showed that Mesa has been arrested several times for various offenses.
He was arrested in Pinellas County in 2011 for three counts of Burglary of an Unoccupied Conveyance, in June of 2013 for Possession of Marijuana Over 20 Grams and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony in Marion County and again on September 4, 2013, for Burglary of an Unoccupied Dwelling, Grand Theft, and Petit Theft; which he was still out on bond for.
Stefano Squartino was arrested and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance and one count of Knowingly Driving While License Suspended.
He has five previous arrests In Marion County for crimes ranging from Loitering, Petit Theft and Possession of Marijuana Over 20 Grams.
He was booked into the Citrus County Jail on a $5,500 bond
Teacher Cynthia Herr [Mugshots]A teacher is accused of engaging in various explicit sexual acts with a 16-year-old boy.
The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office has arrested Cynthia Herr, 35, after they received a tip on September 12, 2013, concerning inappropriate contact between Herr and and a young boy.
Herr is a teacher at John D. Floyd K-8 School of Environmental Science in Spring Hill.
Herr told a colleague that she was having sex with a minor. That colleague then informed school administrators, the sheriff’s office said.
According to reports, Herr was contacting the boy via Facebook and text messages in which she expressed having romantic feelings for the 16-year-old.
When investigators questioned the boy about the relationship, he initially denied ever having any sexual contact with Herr, but after a detective was given permission to view the boy’s cell phone, he observed several text messages that were very sexual in nature.
The boy then gave the detective permission to view his Facebook account in which authorities found sexual messages between the boy and Herr.
The boy then admitted to the detective that he did in fact engage in sexual activity with Herr, stating that it happened in Hernando County.
Upon investigators interviewing Herr, she admitted to having sex with the boy on more than one occasion including in her van in Pasco County, at a motel in Hernando County, in her van in Marion County, and several times in her van in Citrus County.
According to reports, Herr told police that she knew what she did was wrong, and she would probably be losing her family, job, and going to jail. She also said that she would be in trouble if authorities were to access her phone and Facebook.
A second interview was conducted with the boy, at which time he told detectives that held back information before in an attempt to protect Herr because he didn’t want to get her or himself in trouble. He then confirmed that he and the woman had engaged in sex on various occasions in all four counties.
She was arrested in Hernando County on September 23, 2013, on four counts of Sexual Assault by an Adult 24 years-of-age or older.
She was released from the Hernando County Jail on September 24, 2013, at approximately 12:30 a.m. on a $20,000 bond.
At around 1:04 p.m. on September 24, 2013, the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office arrested Herr on three counts of Unlawful Sexual Activity with Certain Minors.
She was then booked into the Citrus County Jail on a $30,000 bond.
Las Vegas, Nevada — The man hunt for a young boy that butchered his mom and younger brother is over. Navarro Canales, 16, was founding sitting alone inside of a food court in Las Vegas.
Canales was just sitting at a table and detectives were able to walk right up and take him into custody without incident.
Canales was booked into the Clark County Detention Facility where he will await his first court appearance.
After brutally stabbing his mom and younger brother with a large butcher knife, Canales walked nine miles to the Las Vegas Strip.
Navarro Canales a non-U.S. citizen, will be charged as an adult for the killing of Elvira Canales-Gomez, 40, and Cesar Navarro, 9.
Canales was first thought to be a victim, but after Gomez’s niece, Ana, Martinez, 23, told police that her cousin was anti social, didn’t have friends, and wanted to go back to Mexico because he hated the United States, he was named as a person of interest.
Gomez was found in a pool of blood with multiple stab wounds to her chest, and his younger brother Navarro, had been stabbed once in the chest then placed in the bathtub.
This investigation is still ongoing and a motive for the brutal murders has not yet been determined.
The Palm Beach County Medical Examiners office has concluded their investigation regarding the death of 23-year-old Chanel Ferrell Phillips.
Earlier this week Ocala Post reported on a missing South Florida woman that had been found at the bottom of a pond.
Chanel Phillips, 23, who had been missing since early Saturday morning, was found inside her 2001 Cadillac Deville at the bottom of a pond in the Jupiter Subdivision, Mallory Creek.
At around 12:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 24, 2013, members of the Jupiter Police Department were called out to the Mallory Creek development in response to a vehicle that may have left the roadway and entered the pond.
The Jupiter Police dive team responded to the scene to search the waterway in which time they located the 2001 black Cadillac.
The cause of death for Phillips has been classified as a drowning. A toxicology report is not yet available and may take several weeks to get results.
According to the medical examiner, there are no indications of foul play associated with Phillips’ death.
The Jupiter Police Department is still investigating this incident as a single vehicle crash.
Sherry Lewis [Mugshot]Ocklawaha, Florida — The Ocklawaha woman who killed her husband back in September of 2012 has plead guilty and faces up to 30 years in prison.
The Marion County Communication Center received a 911 call on September 22, 2012, around 12:08 a.m. from Sherry Wilson Lewis, 50, of 3715 SE 174th Court in Ocklawaha, who stated her husband, Daniel James Lewis, 53, had been stabbed.
During the 911 call Lewis made several statements to the operator such as, “I stabbed my husband,” “I hurt him,” and “What did I do to him. I’m Sorry.”
According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy arrived at the residence and made contact with Lewis. She told the deputy that her husband was in the bathroom. Once the deputy entered the residence he observed large amounts of blood in the laundry room, the hall extending from the laundry room to the bathroom, and in the bathroom where the victim was lying on the floor.
The deputy asked the victim, “Who stabbed you?” The victim replied, “My wife, she only nicked me a couple of times.”
There was a black handled filet type knife on the bathroom floor with blood on it. The deputy picked it up and placed it in the bath tub, according to reports.
The deputy then secured Lewis in the back of his patrol car and returned to the victim who by then had lost consciousness.
He was air lifted to Shands Hospital where he died as a result of the five stab wounds he received. He had three stab wounds to his upper left arm, one stab wound to the upper back, and one stab wound to the upper chest.
When authorities tried to interview Lewis, she stated, “I know what I did,” then invoked her Miranda Rights and refused to give any further statements.
A witness told authorities that on September 21, 2012, Lewis arrived at a family gathering intoxicated, and while she was there also consumed an entire bottle of wine and several beers.
According to the witness, Lewis became verbally abusive toward family members, making comments such as, “I hate this [expletive] family,” and even threw beer cans at them.
Lewis’ daughter Monica Howard, told investigators that she had witnessed her mother being physically abusive to her husband in the past.
She plead guilty Tuesday, September 24, 2013, after signing a plea agreement that could give her a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.
The next court date set for Lewis is October 18, 2013, at which time she will find out exactly how long she will spend behind bars for her charge of Second Degree Murder (Domestic).
Circuit Judge Hale Stancil will have the final say in Lewis’ sentence.
[Jeep] Driver Not IdentifiedAn early morning crash in Levy County has left two people dead and one person in critical condition.
Around 5:00 a.m., a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee was traveling southbound on U.S. 19 in the northbound inside lane.
A 2002 Toyota Camry was traveling northbound on U.S. 19 also in the inside lane. The Jeep which was traveling on the wrong side of the roadway, hit the Toyota head on causing the Jeep to become engulfed in flames.
The driver of the Jeep has not been identified, but was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the Toyota Camry, identified as Taslim Alam, 27, of Trenton was also pronounced dead at the scene.
Taslim Alam’s Toyota
Alam’s passenger Shiran Akther, 23, of Trenton was transported to UF Health in Gainesville where she is listed in critical condition.
It is not clear if alcohol was involved or what caused the Jeep to cross over into oncoming traffic.
Daytona Beach, Florida — A man was shot by two officers in Dayton Beach early Wednesday morning after police say he held a knife to his girlfriend’s neck.
At around 2:45 a.m., police were called to a residence located at 822 Magnolia Avenue in Daytona Beach regarding a fight inside the home.
When police arrived at the house they could hear screams from a distressed female coming from inside the home, and there were several people outside yelling, “He’s gonna kill her! He’s gonna kill her!” Said police Chief Mike Chitwood.
According to Chitwood, the man shot is a local football star in the neighborhood, identified as 32-year-old Jermaine Lanier Green.
Green graduated from Spruce Creek High School in 1999 and went on to play the position of running back at Washington State University. Green was un-drafted by the NFL, but did land on the New York Giants roster in 2004, however he never played.
When officers made their way inside the residence, Green was holding his girlfriend, 37-year-old Katrina Johnson in a headlock with a knife placed to her throat.
Police gave Green orders to let the woman go and drop the knife, but instead he fell backwards onto the bed.
Green then raised the knife in a motion that suggested to officers he was going to stab Katrina Johnson, at which time the two officers fired several shots at Green, hitting him multiple times in the right side of his body.
Not knowing if Green was laying on a weapon, the officers did not attempt to move Green while they waited for EMS to arrive before clearing Green.
“The suspect is in critical condition at Halifax, and we also shot the woman once in the arm, but she’s in good condition,” said Chitwood. He added, We have a witness who told me, “Chitwood, if your officers had not shot him, he would have killed her.”
The two officers have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation, which will be performed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. FDLE investigations following an officer involved shooting, is normal procedure in Florida.
A look into Green’s criminal history shows 24 previous arrests for charges ranging from, Criminal Mischief to Possession of Cocaine, Battery, Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer, and Aggravated Assault on a Police Officer.
Green’s on and off girlfriend Katrina Johnson, was arrested back in March of 2013, for Aggravated Battery With a Deadly Weapon.
Helen Harper, Green’s aunt, says he is respected in the neighborhood as a football star.
Harper also said, “Green has a bad temper and people should not mess with him. If you mess with him, he goes wild.” Harper added, “Regardless of his temper, he is a good person and a good boy.”
Family and friends of Green do not feel he should have been shot, even though a witness stated Green would have killed the girl had he not been stopped.
Green is being treated for his injuries at Halifax Hospital, and is listed in critical condition.
Johnson did not sustain any knife wounds.
This is an ongoing investigation, check back with Ocala Post for updates.
[Updated December 11, 2013 to include the body cam video.]
Polk County, Florida — Detectives with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office are asking for help from the public with an Attempted Murder Investigation.
At approximately 6 a.m., on Saturday, September 21, 2013, a shooting incident occurred in the area of Edwin Street, NE Winter Haven.
31-year-old Kelvin Lewis Key-Herrington of 518 Sears Avenue NE, Winter Haven, was identified as the shooter. The victim was transported to a local hospital to be treated for an injury to the hand.
66-year-old Deborah Mobley Thompson, Key-Herrington’s grandmother of 213 Avenue P NW, Winter Haven, approached a witness shortly after the incident and threatened the witness with violence if her grandson was identified as the shooter.
Deborah Mobley Thompson turned herself in on the late evening hours of September 24, 2013. After the media releases showed her photo multiple times, she realized she could not hide.
She is charged with Obstruction of Justice/Tampering In A Felony Capital Proceeding.
There is still an active warrant for Kelvin Key-Herrington. Key-Harrington is facing charges of Attempted Murder, Shooting into an occupied Vehicle, Tampering with a Victim and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
Do not attempt to approach Kelvin Key-Herrington, he is considered armed and dangerous.
Anyone with information in the whereabouts of Key-Herrington and Thompson is urged to contact Detective Jacob Alderman at 863-297-1100, or 863-298-6200.
ANYONE WITH INFORMATION WHO WANTS TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS AND BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CASH REWARD IS ASKED TO CALL HEARTLAND CRIME STOPPERS AT 1-800-226-TIPS
Volusia County is currently experiencing intermittent problems throughout the area with its emergency 911 system.
Because of the problems, some callers have been unable to reach 911 and are receiving a recording. The situation appears to be affecting both landline and cell phones.
If this situation occurs, callers should hang up and immediately dial (386) 252-4911 to reach the Sheriff’s Office’s Emergency Communications Center.
The Sheriff’s Office is working diligently with AT&T to determine the cause of the problem. Updated information will be disseminated as soon as possible.
Update: 5:40 p.m. September 25, 2013
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office has been notified by AT&T that today’s problem affecting 911 calls has been identified, the issue has been resolved, and the phone lines are once again operating normally. According to AT&T, this was not a problem with the 911 system. Rather, it was a countywide network problem caused by a trunk group failure that affected phone systems between the times of 1:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. today.
Please direct questions regarding the exact cause, nature or impact of the failure to AT&T.
A man in Osceola County was arrested after an 11 month old baby he was watching ended up with bruises on his body, a fractured skull, and a broken tibia.
According to authorities, Joshua Mellow Ortiz, 25, was watching the child at a home in St. Cloud earlier this month when he notice the baby vomiting, shaking, and foaming from the mouth.
However instead of Ortiz calling 911 to get the baby help, he went outside to mow the grass, according to the arrest report.
One of the baby’s family members took the child to the hospital where it was confirmed that the boy did have broken bones and a fractured skull.
Ortiz was booked into the Osceola County Jail on a charge of Child Neglect with Great Bodily Harm.
He is being held on a $10,000 bond.
This is an ongoing investigation and charges may be upped. Check back with Ocala Post for updates.
Ortiz’s arrest photo should be available tomorrow.
Jupiter, Florida — A missing South Florida woman has been found at the bottom of a pond.
Chanel Phillips, 23, who had been missing since early Saturday morning was found inside her 2001 Cadillac Deville at the bottom of a pond in the Jupiter Subdivision, Mallory Creek.
At around 12:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 24, 2013, members of the Jupiter Police Department were called out to the Mallory Creek development in response to a vehicle that may have left the roadway and entered the pond.
The Jupiter Police dive team responded to the scene to search the waterway in which time they located the 2001 black Cadillac.
The vehicle was confirmed to belong to that of the missing woman, Chanel Farrell Phillips, according to the Palm Beach Gardens Police.
She had last been seen out with her friends at Dirty Martini in Palm Beach Gardens.
According to the victim’s mother, her cell phone had been turned off and she had not used her credit card since she disappeared.
Authorities at this point are calling this a single vehicle crash and are working with the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner’s Office to determine Phillips’ cause of death.
This is an open investigation.
If you have any information please contact the Jupiter Police Department at 561-746-6201
