Inverness, Florida — An Inverness man has been arrested following an almost 9-month- long investigation into the death of a 3-month-old baby.
On January 7, 2020, the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) responded to a medical emergency involving a 3-month-old infant.
Upon arrival, deputies observed the victim’s father, Andrew Lynn Martin, 24, attempting to perform CPR on the child.
Emergency Medical Services arrived and transported the baby to Citrus Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Early in the investigation, detectives were able to determine that Martin had been alone with the victim in the hours leading up to the infant’s death.
As the investigation progressed, detectives conducted multiple interviews, consulted with the Medical Examiner’s Office, the Child Protection Team, and reviewed numerous medical records.
The Medical Examiner found injuries on the victim’s body in various healing stages and determined that the infant had recently suffered multiple severe blunt force injuries, which caused the infant’s death.
In addition to severe bruising, Xrays revealed three fractures on the ribs and near the spine. Further examination revealed a brain bleed, retinal hemorrhage, optic nerve sheath hemorrhage, and spinal cord hemorrhage. Scans also showed multiple rib fractures in various stages of healing.
The Child Protection Team examined the victim after his death, who confirmed that he had suffered numerous injuries consistent with child abuse.
After receiving all the official medical documents and evidence about this case, Detective Casalvieri and Detective Arnold scheduled a follow-up interview with Martin.
During the October 20, interview, Martin made statements that detailed several instances where his actions would have resulted in the victim’s injuries. Martin confirmed he had been in sole care and custody of the victim in the hours leading up to his death.
Martin was arrested and charged with Aggravated Manslaughter, Child Abuse, and Child Neglect.
He was transported to the Citrus County Detention Facility where he is being held without bond.
Despite the fact that the mother admitted to having to tell Martin to be more gentle with the baby, she denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with a crime.
In a statement, Martin said, “I never meant to hurt my son.”
Ocala, Florida — During a meeting, due to COVID-19, The City of Ocala council voted to cancel Light Up Ocala.
The event was scheduled for November 21.
The council said instead of Light up Ocala, the city will host several small holiday events.
As for Light Up Ocala, the city says it will still display all of the Christmas lights as usual.
Light Up Ocala typically brings a crowd of more than 20,000 people. The city said it is the size of the crowd that’s the issue.
Other events throughout the holiday season
Santa’s Calling
Tuesday, December 8 – Thursday, December 10 | 6 – 9 p.m.
Free program
Ocala Recreation and Parks have partnered with the North Pole to directly connect Ocala’s good little boys and girls to Santa! You can schedule an evening call from December 8-10 when Santa’s helpers will call your home so your child can speak directly with Mr. or Mr. Claus! Click the button below to submit an application for Santa to call your child. The deadline is November 30.
Santa on the Square
Thursday, December 3 – Thursday, December 17
Tuesdays & Thursdays | 6 – 8 p.m.
Downtown Square
Free event
Take a picture with Santa in Downtown Ocala! On Tuesday and Thursday evenings in December, socially distanced photos will be offered with Santa. This program is free. Pre-registration is required; email lartis@ocalafl.org to reserve a time slot.
Senior Holiday Luncheon
Thursday, December 10 | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Ocala Golf Club
$5 per person
Ages 50+
For ages 50+, come celebrate the season with an afternoon of fun, prizes, games, and a delicious lunch at the Ocala Golf Club! $5 per person. Face coverings encouraged.
Whether your four-legged fur baby has been naughty or nice, Santa would still love a picture with them! Join us at the Ocala Downtown Square for Santa Paws where your furry family members can have a professional photo with Santa. $10 donation for photos will fully benefit the Human Society of Marion County. Due to COVID-19, only pets will be allowed in the portrait, no people.
After Dark in the Park: Holiday Movie Series
Select Nights in December | Movies start at 7 p.m.
Free event
Movies are free to attend! Attendees should bring their own chairs or blankets. Free hot cocoa will be available on a first-come, first-served basis with additional concessions available for purchase. Hot cocoa courtesy Marion Bar & Bubbles.
The Muppet Christmas Carol | Dec. 4, | Citizens’ Circle (110 SE Watula Ave.)
The Polar Express |Dec. 11 | Tuscawilla Art Park (213 NE Fifth St.)
Elf | Dec. 18 | Tuscawilla Oak Grove (500 NE Ninth St.)
Halloween Events
Boo Bash
Saturday, October 31
2:30 – 7:30 PM | RESERVATION REQUIRED TO ATTEND
ED Croskey Center
1510NW Fourth St.
Join us for a scary good time at this family-friendly Halloween event! There will be face painting, creepy crafts, candy, and more! All ages welcome.
To reserve a time slot, email jbaker@ocalafl.org
Halloween Family Fun Run/Walk 5K
Saturday, October 31
8:30 – 11 AM
Downtown Citizens Circle
160 E. Fort King St.
$5 Registration
Join Ocala Recreation and Parks for our Halloween Family Fun Run benefiting United Way of Marion County! It will start at Citizen’s Circle downtown with staggered start times to allow for proper social distancing. Staggered start times will be emailed to participants prior to the start date. Face covers are encouraged.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says they are now caring for a two-headed snake found in Palm Bay, Florida.
The Kay Rodgers family said they found the snake at their residence and notified FWC.
The snake has been identified as a rare two-headed juvenile black racer.
FWC said the birth defect is known as bicephaly. It is uncommon but happens during embryo development when two monozygotic twins failed to separate. When that happens, the two heads remain conjoined on a single body.
According to FWC, the snake head’s tongue flick and the heads react movement. However, sometimes the heads react differently.
FWC said they took the snake in because two-headed snakes rarely survive in the wild is due to the fact that the two brains make opposite decisions that inhibit the ability to feed or escape from its predators. Additionally, the snake could be killed by humans who are uneducated about the snake species.
Some believe that two-headed snakes represent evil.
Black racers are completely harmless and beneficial to the environment, especially around the home.
A lawsuit has been filed against the Florida Department of Corrections after a Lowell corrections officer attempted to poison an inmate.
The corrections officer, identified as Qualesha Quayshaun Williams, 28, of Ocala, was arrested on Saturday, January 25, at Lowell Correctional Institution.
The lawsuit was filed on October 15, 2020.
According to the Florida Department of Corrections, Williams was putting a “chemical compound, namely bleach” in food and drinks.
In one incident, Michael Green, an FDOC inspector, said that Williams had previously argued with an inmate, identified as Alfreda Gunn, 26, and told her “I got something for you.”
Williams’ statement was overheard by other officers.
The lawsuit states, “The supervisor did nothing to intervene.”
The lawsuit also states that another corrections officer, L. Jamian, witnessed Williams put the bleach in the cup and on the food tray.
Williams was overheard saying, “That one is special.” Referring to the poisoned food tray.
“Jamian did not question Williams as to why she would be poisoning an inmate’s food tray,” the lawsuit states. The lawsuit goes on to read, “At the time, Williams was not assigned to supervise or participate in feeding [Gunn’s] quad and had no official purpose in the area. Nonetheless, Jamian continued to watch as Williams positioned the cart carrying the food trays in front of [Gunn’s] cell in a suspicious and non-routine manner and then served the poisoned drink and food to Gunn. Gunn took a sip of the drink before she was able to determine that her tray smelled like bleach.”
Attorneys said that even more frightening is that Williams stood and gazed at the inmate for minutes after she ingested the bleach.
“After realizing she had ingested bleach and Williams would not render aid, Gunn called out to Jamian, telling her what had occurred. In response, Jamian told Gunn, ‘I cannot help unless it’s life or death because of shift change'”, the lawsuit states.
According to court documents, shift change did not occur for another hour.
Jamian never notified a supervisor.
The lawsuit also states that corrections officer Sgt. Lousie knew about the poisoning and, like Jamian, did nothing and did not render aid.
Gunn was not treated until she was transferred to another prison following her complaint that prompted an investigation the same day.
In an email to Ocala Post, the FDOC wrote:
“FDC is moving forward with the immediate dismissal of Correctional Officer Qualesha Quayshaun Williams, who was assigned to Lowell Correctional Institution. Institution leadership, upon receiving the allegation, immediately contacted the FDC Office of Inspector General so a timely and thorough investigation could be performed.
The Florida Department of Corrections takes all allegations of abuse or mistreatment of inmates seriously and encourages all inmates and staff to promptly report inappropriate or illegal conduct. Inmates are afforded every opportunity to report misconduct without fear of retribution.
The OIG is responsible for ensuring all reports of misconduct are thoroughly investigated. Any employee found to have acted inappropriately or illegally faces disciplinary action up to and including dismissal and arrest. FDC has zero-tolerance for staff who act inappropriately and contrary to our core values: respect, integrity, courage, selfless service, and compassion.”
According to reports, Williams did not seem to show any emotion in regards to her attempt to poison an inmate.
Instead, when confronted, Williams was only worried about keeping her job.
Ocala, Florida — Kindergarteners at Emerald Shores Elementary will switch to online schooling following a single positive case of coronavirus connected to the class.
The switch will affect more than a dozen students.
According to the school district, fifteen students and two employees were asked to quarantine after a person who tested positive for the virus came into contact with the Emerald Shores Elementary class.
In Marion County, 336 students and 18 employees have tested positive. 30 tested positive last week.
According to the Senate, it is now abundantly clear, following a damning story published by the New York Post, that former Vice President Joe Biden lied about not knowing that his son, Hunter Biden, did business with the Ukrainians.
In fact, in an email obtained by the NYP, it shows that Hunter introduced his father to a top executive at a Ukrainian energy firm less than a year before Joe pressured government officials in Ukraine into firing a prosecutor who was investigating the company.
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The data was recovered from a laptop computer that had been dropped off at a repair shop in Deleware. The laptop belonged to Hunter. The laptop was later seized by the FBI after they were notified by the shop owner.
The shop owner told the NYP, “I made a copy and gave it Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s lawyer, Robert Costello.”
Former advisor to President Donald Trump, Steve Bannon, told the NYP about the hard drive in September and Giuliani gave a copy of it to the NYP on Sunday.
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A federal subpoena showing the computer and hard drive were seized by the FBI
The hard drive also allegedly had a video showing that Hunter was smoking crack while having sex with an unidentified female prostitute. The laptop also contained dozens of other sexually explicit images. (Ocala Post has requested the video and photos)
According to the NYP, less than eight months after Vadym Pozharskyi, an adviser to the board of Burisma, thanked Hunter for the introduction to Joe, he then admittedly pressured Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk into getting rid of Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin by threatening to withhold a $1 billion US loan guarantee during a December 2015 trip to Kyiv.
“I looked at them and said: I’m leaving in six hours. If the prosecutor is not fired, you’re not getting the money,” Joe brazenly bragged to the Council on Foreign Relations in 2018. “Well, son of a bitch. He got fired.”
Both Hunter and Joe have denied any wrongdoing or association with Ukraine, however, an e-mail dated May 12, 2014, states otherwise. The e-mail shows that shortly after Hunter joined the Burisma board, Pozharskyi attempted to get Hunter to use his political leverage to help the company.
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After the story broke, it was immediately published on Facebook and Twitter.
Both companies took an aggressive stance and began blocking the post, including those who attempted to share it. The story was taken down from multiple Facebook and Twitter accounts. If the story was not deleted, the tech giants used algorithms to prevent the story from being seen on a subscriber’s timeline. Thus giving the appearance to the publisher that the story is available to readers but it’s actually not. Also known as shadowbanning.
Point in case, Ocala Post, too, attempted to publish the story to Facebook and it was immediately deleted.
The story is also being shadowbanned by News Break and Google News.
Senator Ted Cruz was also blocked from sharing the story as was The NYP.
Twitter, and possibly Facebook, are now being subpoenaed to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Cruz said the two monopolies are actively interfering with an election.
The Senate is also asking why the FBI seized the laptop but never released the information.
Marion County, Florida — On October 5, 2020, Stacie Schmerling, an attorney with Justice for Kids in Fort Lauderdale, filed a lawsuit against Kids Central, INC (KCI) and The Centers, INC, (TCI) for failing to protect a 3-week-old who was knowingly placed in a home where a history of sexual abuse existed.
The Department of Children and Families (DCF) works closely with both of the named defendants.
According to the lawsuit, KCI and TCI knew that the foster family — identified in the lawsuit as “The Kleins” — also had a 14-year-old son, who had a history of sexual abuse.
The lawsuit states that On or about March 8, 2019, [the infant] was placed in the custody of the State of Florida due to allegations of threatened harm, and the case was assigned to KCI to provide foster care and related services. KCI then assigned the case to TCI for case management services. On the same date, the Kleins were identified as a possible foster family.
At the time the Kleins were identified as a possible foster care placement for [the infant], KCI knew that the Klein’s had three adopted children living in the home, including their adopted son, who was 14. The boy was adopted by the Kleins in 2011. The Kleins also adopted the boy’s biological sister.
“[The Boy] had been sexualized at an early age by being exposed to pornography in his
biological mother’s care and watching his biological mother have sex in front of
him. Both [the boy] and his biological sister had a history of sexually acting out while placed with the Kleins, indicating the possibility that both children had been sexually
abused in their biological mother’s care,” the lawsuit states.
“KCI should have had both children evaluated by a qualified professional to determine if they posed a potential risk to other children; however, upon information and belief, no such evaluation was done for either child.”
In an email, Schmerling said, “The family never should have been licensed to care for these vulnerable, non-verbal children. This tragedy never should have happened.”
In the lawsuit, it states, “In December 2013, when [the boy] was nine years old, he was involved in a sexually aggressive child-on-child sexual abuse incident where he sexually molested the Klein’s five-year-old granddaughter. KCI was required to get [the boy] a psychosexual evaluation by a qualified professional to determine if he posed a sexual danger to other children; however, upon information and belief, no such evaluation was done.”
The lawsuit goes on to say that, “The boy had a mental health history; had been diagnosed with Oppositional Defiance Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and Anxiety; and had been prescribed psychotropic medication; he had significant behavior issues including hoarding food, stealing, lying, sneaking around, staying up all night watching television and visiting pornographic websites while the rest of the family was asleep.”
In 2016, the Kleins questioned their ability to parent the boy due to his behaviors, but
KCI urged them to keep him in their home and simply recommended increasing the boy’s therapy, utilizing respite care on occasion, and using a reward system.
By 2018, the boy had a history of running away and destroying property in the home.
Prior to March 2018, the Kleins installed video cameras in the home and placed a
lock on their bedroom door because the boy could not be trusted, violated rules often,
had a problem with respecting boundaries, and could not be left unsupervised in the
house.
Those cameras captured the boy molesting the infant at 3-weeks-old. The boy sexually assaulted the infant multiple times and the assaults lasted more than 20 minutes, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit states, “DCF conducted three separate child protective investigations into the sexual abuse/sexual assault/sexual battery and closed its investigations with verified findings that [the infant] was sexually abused by [the boy] and inadequately supervised while in the Klein foster home.”
DCF was not named in the lawsuit, however, the investigation is ongoing.
The infant was finally removed from the home on March 28, 2019, but not before suffering multiple accounts of sexual abuse.
Along with the video, a medical examination confirmed that the boy sexually penetrated the infant.
The boy was arrested, however, Ocala Post cannot release his name because he was charged as a juvenile.
Schmerling said, “They privatized the system to make it better, but now there are multiple private agencies in every county, and when a child is harmed there is finger-pointing all around and no accountability.”
LOS ANGELES – At a press conference Wednesday, DEA Acting Administrator Timothy J. Shea and Los Angeles Field Division Special Agent in Charge Bill Bodner announced the seizure of 893 pounds of cocaine, 13 pounds of heroin, and 2,224 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, which is the largest domestic seizure of crystal methamphetamine in DEA history.
In June 2020, the Los Angeles Field Division, Southwest Border Group 2, began investigating a large-scale drug trafficking organization with ties to the Sinaloa Cartel involved in the transportation and delivery of large quantities of cocaine and crystal methamphetamine. During the course of the investigation, agents identified a Southern California-based narcotics courier/stash house manager along with multiple locations and vehicles associated with the courier and the DTO.
On October 2, 2020, through investigative means, agents and Fontana Police Department investigators established surveillance on the courier’s residence. During surveillance, Fontana Police Department investigators observed the target and a second associate load two duffle bags into a vehicle and leave the location. The courier target and the associate ultimately met with a third associate at a Sam’s Club parking lot in the city of Moreno Valley where they unloaded and delivered the two duffle bags to the third associate. During that time, investigators detained the courier target and the two other associates in the parking lot for questioning and they were later released.
Based upon the investigation and locations previously identified, agents authored state search warrants for multiple locations, including the courier target’s residence and a narcotics stash house within the city of Perris. During a search of the courier’s residence, agents located approximately 25 duffle bags within the garage of the residence containing approximately 406 kilograms of cocaine, six kilograms of heroin, and 650 pounds of crystal methamphetamine.
Additionally, during a search of the narcotics stash house in Perris, agents located approximately 1,600 pounds of crystal methamphetamine. This is an ongoing investigation.
“The largest DEA domestic seizure of methamphetamine in history is a significant blow to the cartels, but more importantly it is a gigantic victory for communities throughout Southern California and the United States who have had to deal with the torrent of methamphetamine coming into their neighborhoods,” said Acting Administrator Shea. “We continue to work with our state and local partners to attack drug trafficking at all levels and this seizure sends a clear message that we mean business.”
Special Agent in Charge Bodner, said, “Los Angeles is the major transshipment hub for Mexican cartels trafficking illicit drugs across our southwest border. Successful seizures like these save lives and reduce the exploitation and victimization of our local communities.”
Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, said, “The significant seizures announced today thwarted drug traffickers’ plans to profit from these dangerous drugs that cause incredible harm to our communities.” He added, “The Justice Department is committed to making our neighborhoods safer by aggressively disrupting drug cartel operations in the United States.”
Two things you typically don’t see today — a mullet and kids outside playing having a great time.
The Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office recently placed a portable speed detector in a neighborhood and unlikely “suspects” decided to test it out.
In all honestly, the sheriff’s office said the detector was placed in the neighborhood all in good fun with the intention of allowing everyone to get outdoors and have a good time.
A father from the neighborhood, Noah Underwood recorded the video and wrote, “I’m glad the sheriff’s dept put this speed checker out here in the 7.” He tagged the video #kidsbeingkids and #howfastcanyourun
The sheriff’s office shared Underwood’s video and wrote, “We love the ingenuity of our youth! We recently set up a ‘test your skills’ challenge in one of our local neighborhoods.
If you would like one for birthdays, community fairs, or just to test your skills, contact us.
Enjoy your weekend !!”
Ocala, Florida — A motorcycle rider was killed Friday morning on State Road 40 just as the sun was coming up.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a 1991 dump truck was on the north shoulder of State Road 40 facing west, just east of SW 113th Terrace, and a 2003 Honda Motorcycle was traveling west on State Road 40, approaching the dump truck’s location.
FHP said the dump truck crossed over the westbound lanes of State Road 40, during an attempt to make a U-turn to head eastbound when the truck entered the path of the motorcycle causing the motorcycle to slam into the left side of the dump truck.
According to FHP, the driver of the dump truck has more than a decade of experience and is “extremely upset” over the accident. The owner of the truck told FHP that the driver, 57, may never want to drive again.
The motorcyclist was pronounced deceased on the scene.
Westbound lanes of State Road 40 were blocked for several hours during the investigation.
This crash remains under investigation.
FHP said the victim was a 45-year-old man from Dunnellon.
A man and two of his accomplices were arrested this week after authorities found the carcass of a dead tiger floating in the Ken river, which flows through Madhya Pradesh’s Panna tiger reserve in India.
Authorities say a man, only identified as Achchelal, with two friends, severed off the tiger’s head, claws, and genitals.
The 60-year-old man, believing the tiger’s testicles would give him an erection and sexual dominance, took the testicles home and ate them. The man buried the tiger’s head in a field believing it would keep unwanted cattle away.
Wildlife expert and educator, Indrajit Latey, stated, “In the last five months, there have been at least 27 recorded cases of wildlife species including tigers, sloth bears, snakes and even anteaters being killed in Madhya Pradesh based on pseudoscientific beliefs.”
According to Latey, poachers come from all over, including the US, to participate in such killings.
Latey said the stories rarely make it into the media because the crimes are covered up by the local government to avoid the national spotlight.
The men were arrested following an investigation by a special forest department task force.
The men were questioned and confessed to the crime.
Hidalgo County deputies Steven Farias (center) and Marco Guerrero (right)
Elsa, Texas —Documents for what attorneys are calling an unlawful and horrific arrest that occurred in April are now being released to the public. The lawsuit was uploaded on October 5.
On April 12, 2020, deputies responded to a mobile home community in response to an unrelated disturbance.
As the deputies finished their investigation and were leaving the area, they spotted a Hispanic male, later identified as Jorge Gonzalez Zuniga, asleep in the yard of his friend’s home.
Zuniga had been invited to an Easter BBQ, became intoxicated, and fell asleep.
Attorney’s say what happened next is nothing short of a nightmare at the “hands of rogue deputies.”
Deputies stated that they went on to the property and tried to wake Zuniga. In the arrest affidavit, they stated that he finally awoke, resisted arrest, and was subsequently handcuffed and transported to jail.
However, the story deputies told did not match up with the injuries that Zuniga sustained during his unlawful arrest which ultimately led to his death at the age of 23.
According to the lawsuit, when the sheriff’s deputies arrived Zuniga was asleep in the yard of his friend’s house. The deputies approached Zuniga who was asleep and attempted to wake him up. When Zuniga awoke and deputies discovered he lived elsewhere, they told him to go home. Zuniga followed their commands and started to walk home when the deputies decided to arrest him for violating the emergency management order due to COVID-19 and public intoxication.
The State Attorney’s Office refused to prosecute and dropped the charges.
During his arrest, due to Zuniga being heavily intoxicated and not steady on his feet, deputies intentionally tripped Zuniga. When Zuniga got on his feet, another deputy tackled him. At that time, the deputies began to tase Zuniga multiple times. While on the ground, Zuniga’s neck was crushed and broken.
With a broken neck, deputies placed Zuniga in handcuffs and shackles. As he was being taken to the patrol car he was again intentionally tripped by one of the deputies. When he did not immediately get to his feet he was again tased.
Zuniga was unable to return to his feet and was physically placed in the patrol cars by the deputies.
Once at the jail, Zuniga could not hold his head up due to having a broken neck. Therefore, deputies held his head for him and continued with the booking process — including taking a booking photo in which you can see Zuniga’s head being held up by deputies.
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Jorge Gonzalez Zuniga
While at the detention center, Zuniga was not provided with any medical care. Instead, he was tossed into a “drunk tank” where he stayed for 21 hours.
“At the time Mr. Zuniga’s mug shot was taken, which was prior to him being placed in his cell, he is unable to hold his head up and has to be assisted by the deputies. Despite the obvious injuries, including a large swollen neck, cuts, and contusions, the jail officials acted with deliberate indifference and at no time sent Mr. Zuniga for medical evaluation or treatment. Instead, he was thrown into the “drunk tank” and left alone,” the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit reads, “On April 13, 2020, at 12:11 a.m. the jail finally called EMS to transport him to the hospital and get the medical care he had desperately needed but which was denied due to the absolute deliberate and unconscionable indifference of the deputies and the jail staff. When the EMS personnel arrived, Mr. Zuniga was found to have a hyperextended neck, a swollen neck, he was hypothermic, bradycardic, and suffering other obvious injuries. At the hospital, (first the McAllen Heart Hospital and then the McAllen MedicalCenter), Mr. Zuniga was found to have hematomas on his left eye, right chest, upper arm, and nose; he had a laceration on his left finger; he had a deformity of his right elbow; he had a deformity of his neck; he complained of neck pain; he was bradycardic and he was hypothermic(his temperature was 82.4 degrees). He was diagnosed with a severe cervical fracture, a swollen spinal cord, and was a quadriplegic. Specifically, he was found to have: Rhabdomyolysis (the breakdown of damaged skeletal muscle); a 9mm anterolisthesis at C5-C6 in his neck (meaning his two vertebrae have been pushed over each other); bilateral jumped facet bones in his neck; bilateral laminar fractures in his neck and paralysis from his neck down.”
Attorneys said the deputies did not note any of the injuries in their report and could not explain how Zuniga received the injuries other than stating that “he resisted arrest.”
Zuniga was hospitalized until June 5, 2020. During the course of his hospital stay, he underwent multiple surgeries and due to his paralysis, he was on a ventilator to enable him to breathe. Zuniga underwent two cervical surgeries where plates and screws were placed in his neck in an attempt to stabilize his spine. During the course of these surgeries, his neck injuries were described as: a contusion from his skin to his spinal cord; severe spinal cord compression; marked swelling of his spinal cord; a partial tear of his dura (the membrane surrounding the spinal cord); a completely dislocated and broken up vertebrae; broken facet bones and broken laminar bones.
Zuniga remained on a ventilator until he died on July 15, 2020.
Witnesses told the Zuniga family that as the officers were beating Zuniga the officers laughed and taunted Zuniga because he was drunk and was having a hard time walking.
“The officers had no business on the property,” the family said in a statement. “They were not even called to the area for this reason. He was asked to go home and when he tried they tripped him and decided that he violated the emergency order for COVID-19. They then tortured him.”
The lawsuit states, “Despite Mr. Zuniga posing no risk of harm to himself or others, they initiated an arrest, and in the course of that arrest, used Tasers and physical violence sufficient to crush his neck, rendering him paralyzed. There was no need to use force, yet these officers collectively either directed that it be used or participated in it.”
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Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office
Named in the lawsuit are Hidalgo County deputies Steven Farias and Marco Guerrero, as well as two unidentified deputies who were identified as only John Doe.
The grand jury declined to charge the officers with manslaughter.
The lawsuit seeks to hold the deputies liable for punitive damages.
Florida — Several recreational and commercial stone crab regulation changes go into effect in the next few weeks, just in time for stone crab season, which begins October 15.
FWC said Florida’s stone crab fishery has experienced a long-term decline in harvest and is likely undergoing overfishing. FWC staff worked with stakeholders on these changes that are intended to increase the stone crab population and build resiliency in the fishery.
New regulations in effect this season:
The minimum claw size limit will be 2 7/8 inches (a 1/8 inch increase)
Possession of whole stone crabs on the water will be limited to two checker boxes, each up to 3 feet by 2 feet by 2 feet OR a total volume of 24 cubic feet. Checker boxes are used to hold crabs on board a vessel before they are measured and legal-sized claws are removed.
The season will now end on May 2.
All plastic and wood stone crab traps will need to be outfitted with a 2 3/16-inch escape ring before the 2023/2024 season.
Recreational Trap Registration
As a reminder, recreational harvesters who are age 16 and older and fish with traps are required to complete an online, no-cost recreational stone crab trap registration and place their registration number on their traps before using them. To register, visit GoOutdoorsFlorida.com, sign in, click the blue “Purchase a License” button, scroll down to the “Saltwater Permits” section, and select “Recreational Stone Crab Trap Registration.”
Upon completion, each person will receive unique trap registration numbers that must be included on each trap along with the owner’s full name and address. This information must be legible and must be permanently attached to each trap.
Other tips and regulations
Care should be taken when removing the claws so as to not permanently injure the crab.
Claws may not be taken from egg-bearing stone crabs. Stone crabs may not be harvested with any device that can puncture, crush, or injure a crab’s body. Examples of devices that can cause this kind of damage include spears and hooks.
Recreational harvesters may take a daily bag limit of 1 gallon of claws per person or 2 gallons per vessel, whichever is less and may use up to five stone crab traps per person.
Recreational and commercial traps may be baited and placed in the water Oct. 5, but claws cannot be harvested or possessed until Oct. 15. Traps that are not being fished should be removed from the water to avoid ghost fishing, a process in which marine species get caught in the trap for extended periods of time and are not harvested.
Stone crab regulations are the same in state and federal waters.
For more information on harvesting stone crabs for recreation, trap specifications, commercial stone crab regulations, and licensing information, go online to MyFWC.com/Marine.
Dunnellon, Florida — A 77-year-old Dunnellon man was killed Sunday after his sedan was hit by a pickup truck.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the sedan was stopped at a stop sign on SW 93rd Lane Road at the intersection of US 41 facing west when the 77-year-old drove into the intersection of US 41 and into the path of the pickup truck driven by a 36-year-old Ocala man.
The truck slammed into the left front of the sedan and redircted it to the northwest corner of the intersection facing southwest.
The 77-year-old was transported to a local hospital where he was later prounounced dead. His passenger, a 76-year-old female, suffered serious injuries.
The driver of the pickup truck and his 6-year-old passenger were not injured.
This will surely get a rise out of Subway patrons.
Bread sold by the fast-food restaurant subway cannot be legally considered as bread.
According to Ireland’s Supreme Court, they have ruled that bread sold by Subway contains so much sugar that it cannot be legally defined as bread.
Food experts say that the bread has a sugar content of 10 percent of the weight of the flour included in the dough which is why the bread most like does not rise as it should. Officials say it is the same recipe used at all subway restaurants.
The ruling came after the franchise was hit with a value-added tax for their food products. Subway had been avoiding the taxes by claiming their takeaway product was a “staple food” which cannot be taxed in Ireland.
The judgment reads, “There is no dispute that the bread supplied by Subway in its heated sandwiches has a sugar content of 10% of the weight of the flour included in the dough, and thus exceeds the 2% specified.”
Subway disagreed with the court during a previous ruling and attempted to appeal, however, the Supreme Court rejected the appeal.
“We have been baking fresh bread in our restaurants for more than three decades and our guests return each day for sandwiches made on bread that smells as good as it tastes,” Subway said in a statement.
In 2017, Matt Harnden, a DNA researcher with Trent University’s Wildlife Forensic DNA Laboratory, conducted DNA testing on Subway’s oven-roasted chicken and reported that it only contained 53.6% chicken DNA, and its chicken strips were a mere 42.8% chicken. Harnden alleged that Subway’s chicken contained mostly soy filler.
Subway strongly denied those allegations as well.
Many food critics have long alleged that the chicken at Subway contains mostly rib meat.
Subway attempted to sue after the report was made public, however, the court tossed out the lawsuit.
Crystal River, Florida — Are you a single person looking to meet a friend, maybe find love?
The Riviera Mexican Restaurant & Cantina, located at, 1935 SE US Highway 19,
Crystal River, is hosting a Sweetest Day speed dating event on Oct 17, at 6 p.m.
Owner Angle Lewis says there is no pressure, just a fun atmosphere with light music, cocktails, and a cute speed dating opportunity.
The tickets are $7.00 per person and include an adult beverage.
Florida — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announces a fall red snapper season for private recreational anglers and state for-hire operations in the Gulf of Mexico to open on the following Saturdays and Sundays: Oct. 17, 18, 24, 25, 31, and Nov. 1.
During this season, private recreational anglers may harvest red snapper in Gulf state and federal waters. However, state for-hire operations are limited to fishing for red snapper in Gulf state waters only.
“I’m excited to announce this additional Gulf red snapper fishing opportunity,” said Gov. Ron DeSantis. “I hope Floridians and visitors can use this extra time to get out on the water and enjoy themselves.”
“The years of collaborative work with stakeholders and partners has resulted in a significant increase in the number of fishing opportunities over the past few years, from just a few days to 51 red snapper fishing days in Gulf state and federal waters this year,” said FWC Executive Director Eric Sutton.
These additional days would not be possible without the State Reef Fish Survey (SRFS). The State Reef Fish Survey was developed specifically to provide more robust data for the management of red snapper and other important reef fish and has allowed FWC the unprecedented opportunity to manage Gulf red snapper in state and federal waters.
Planning to participate in the fall season? Do your part to continue the success of the State Reef Fish Survey. All anglers fishing from private recreational vessels must sign up as a State Reef Fish Angler to target red snapper and several other reef fish in state and federal waters, even if they are exempt from fishing license requirements. Sign up as a State Reef Fish Angler at no cost at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com or by visiting any location where you can purchase a license.
State Reef Fish Anglers may receive a questionnaire in the mail regarding their reef fish trips as part of Florida’s State Reef Fish Survey. If you receive a survey, please respond whether you fished this season or not or whether you’ve submitted data via other methods.
To learn more about the recreational red snapper season in Gulf state and federal waters, including season size and bag limits, visit MyFWC.com/Fishing and click on “Saltwater Fishing,” “Recreational Regulations” and select “Snappers.”
The federal season for for-hire operations with federal reef fish permits was June 1 through Aug. 1.
Ocala, Florida — Ocala Fire Rescue is launching the Ocala Recovery Project (ORP), a complimentary program for addiction rehabilitation.
Funded by a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grant and the Marion County Hospital District, the ORP was designed to reduce opiate overdose deaths and dependency. Through a systematic approach comprised of Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), outpatient treatment, inpatient treatment, and counseling, the ORP addresses participants’ emotional, psychological, and physiological well-being.
The program aims to help recurring overdose patients, new and expectant mothers suffering from substance dependency, Substance Exposed Newborns (SEN), and anyone ready to begin the path toward recovery.
“Addiction can affect anyone, at any time,” said OFR Captain Jesse Blaire. “With a hands-on approach, including emotional support and comprehensive medical care, we are certain that participants will achieve program success.”
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), opioids are currently the main driver of drug overdose deaths. Between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30, 2020, first responders in Marion County received 1,101 calls resulting from overdose or poisoning. Moreover, 1,022 doses of the opiate blocking drug, Narcan, were administered in Marion County during this period.
For details about the ORP, contact Captain Jesse Blaire at 352-266-4769.
Marion County, Florida — On September 28, 2020, Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) deputies were dispatched to a residence in Inverness regarding a drive-by shooting.
While in route, deputies were told that the suspect had fled the scene.
Upon arrival, deputies noticed multiple bullet holes on the exterior of the victim’s residence and vehicle.
According to reports, Detective Laborda and Sergeant Holloway with the CCSO Major Crimes Unit responded to the residence and began an investigation.
The victim stated that earlier in the day, while in Marion County, she had been involved in an altercation over narcotics with suspect Sidney Benton and another female Marion County resident.
The victim told detectives the woman from the previous incident drove to her residence in Inverness and demanded property she believed the victim had, at which time the victim and another male occupant of the residence told the female to leave. As the suspect female began to enter the vehicle she arrived in, multiple gunshots were fired by a male standing next to the same dark-colored vehicle.
The victim identified the shooter as Sidney Benton. The vehicle was later located at Benton’s home in Marion County.
Citrus detectives apprehend Benton near his home.
Benton was arrested and charged with Attempted Murder, Shooting into an Occupied Dwelling, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
In addition to the charges in citrus County, Benton faces numerous felony charges in Marion County for the altercation which occurred prior to the Citrus County Incident.
