The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the murder of 24-year-old Henry Fernandez-Soto of Lakeland, who was shot Wednesday evening, January 8, 2019, at 1735 Oakland Road East in Lakeland.
Deputies are currently trying to find the shooter, who has been identified as Celso Omar Sanchez-Acosta, also known as, “Coqui.”
The PCSO Emergency Communications Center (ECC) received a 911 call at 7:11 p.m., with a report of a person being shot.
When deputies arrived on the scene, they found Fernandez-Soto behind a residence with a gunshot wound to his chest. Fernandez-Soto was transported to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center. He died at 5:34 a.m. Thursday.
A warrant for 1st Degree Murder has been obtained for Sanchez-Acosta, and deputies continue to search for the 29-year-old Lakeland man, who may be driving a white 1999 Ford F250 (FL Tag: LBFN70).
According to Fernandez-Soto’s girlfriend, the couple drove to the residence to pick up some horse-riding equipment from Sanchez-Acosta. The men were meeting at the location, but neither man resides there.
The woman told detectives that while she waited in the car, she heard gunshots and watched as Sanchez-Acosta ran after Fernandez-Soto while pointing a gun at him.
She told the detectives that the two men had an ongoing dispute regarding the theft of a horse. She said that Fernandez-Soto told her recently that Sanchez-Acosta had verbally threatened him and mentioned a rifle.
“While this was not a random shooting, we need to find and lock-up Sanchez-Acosta as soon as possible. He’s armed and should be considered dangerous. We ask that if anyone knows where Sanchez Acosta is, let us know. Call 911 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS,” said Sheriff Grady Judd.
Someone in Marion County might know Sanchez-Acosta.
Three people were arrested Tuesday after committing a home invasion at a residence on Northeast 35th Street.
Ricky Deely, Estell Garwood, and Alice Noell broke into the home and stole several items valued at approximately $1,000.
Noell and Garwood were quickly located. Deeley was tracked down by a K-9 a short time later. He was found hiding behind a log in the woods.
Deeley had just been released from jail on December 30 after serving 15 days for driving on a suspended driver’s license. He has been in and out of jail most of his life.
Garwood also has a lengthy criminal record.
All three suspects were charged with Burglary of an Occupied Dwelling and Grand Theft.
NOTE: On January 10, 2020, The Department of Business and Professional Regulation admitted to Ocala Post that a clerical error was made when the State reported that Fat Boys’ Bar-B-Q restaurant had been shut down for the third time. The updated inspection reads; Follow-up Inspection Required. Violations require further review but are not an immediate threat to the public.
Fat Boys’ Bar-B-Q Restaurant, located at 4132 NE Silver Springs Blvd Ocala, was immediately shut down after an emergency order was issued on January 2, 2020, following a routine inspection. The restaurant will need a follow-up inspection after a time extension was given.
This is the third time in 12 months that the restaurant has been shut down.
The Department of Business and Professional Regulation cites violations of Florida’s sanitation and safety laws, which are based on the standards of U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Food Code. High Priority violations are those which could contribute directly to a food-borne illness or injury and include items such as cooking, reheating, cooling and hand-washing.
Many of the offenses were repeat violations.
The violations were as follows:
Dead roaches on-premises. Five dead roaches on a sticky pad on the floor behind reach in chest freezer on cookline. One dead roach under counter with slicer.
Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. Snickers bar on the shelf in the reach-in freezer over nuggets and cheer beer in the corn bin.
Employee personal items stored with or above food, clean equipment, and utensils, or single-service items. Jacket and apron on shelf over sauces. Moved all.
In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Hanging on side of wood cabinet. Moved.
Interior of microwave soiled with encrusted food debris. Two microwaves on the cookline.
Soil residue build-up on nonfood-contact surface. Walk-in cooler curtains have buildup. Dish machine crates have build up. Grease buildup under the grill on cookline and on wood shelving.
Employee touched bare body part and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Male cook adjusted apron with gloved hands and poured fries without washing hands.
Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. Two live roaches in wood cabinets under cooking equipment. Three live roaches on a glue trap on the floor behind reach in chest freezer on cookline.
Roach excrement and/or droppings present. throughout the wood in kitchen cabinets.
Hot water supply not maintained. No hot water in the establishment. The part has been ordered for repair.
Marion Oaks — Three criminals were arrested Monday after they attempted to commit an armed robbery with a stolen handgun.
The victim stated that he was walking near Marion Oaks lane when he was approached by three males, later identified as Abner Robles, 17, Emanuel Soto, 14, and Sabatiel Robles, 20, who asked him for a cigarette.
The victim told the suspects no, but they continued to follow him.
The suspects then asked for money, and when the victim said no, Robles pulled out a semi‐automatic handgun and stated, “let’s see what you got.”
The victim ran and immediately called 911.
It was later determined that the gun had been reported stolen from a vehicle.
Abner Robles was arrested and charged with Attempted Robbery with a Firearm, Grand Theft, and Armed Burglary of a Dwelling.
Sabatiel Robles was arrested and charged with Attempted Robbery with a Firearm, Grand Theft and Armed Burglary of a Dwelling.
Emanuel Soto was arrested and charged with Carrying a Concealed Firearm.
Abner Robles and Emanuel Soto were taken to the Department of Juvenile Justice. Sabatiel Robles was transported to the Marion County Jail and was booked on a $35,000 bond.
An Ocala man was arrested Saturday after an investigation revealed that he had sex with a mentally challenged 16-year-old female.
The teen, who lives in Gainesville, stated that Marcus Lemar Brantley, 32, would drive from Ocala to visit her. She said they had been in a consensual sexual relationship for approximately seven months.
According to reports, the girl told Gainesville police that the sexual encounters were consensual, until October when Brantley choked her and forced her to have sex.
The girl then called Gainesville police and filed a report.
Brantley was arrested and charged with Sexual Assault of a Minor.
He was booked into the Alachua County Jail where he is being held on a $150,000 bond.
A Bronson man is dead after he crashed his SUV Monday afternoon.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 67-year-old David Lewis Jr. was traveling eastbound on West County Road 316 when he failed to maintain a single lane and veered off the roadway.
Lewis’ SUV, a 2002 Ford Explorer then rotated to the left, at which time the left side
of the vehicle slammed into a concrete mailbox in the vicinity of 9210 West County Road 316.
Lewis was pronounced dead at the scene.
Troopers said that Lewis was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
Ocala Police Department Sgt. Lonnie Freeman was suspended after it was discovered he falsified reports following an unlawful arrest.
In addition to falsifying reports, Freeman is also accused of misleading dispatch and violating the department’s excessive force polices.
On August 27, 2019, Freeman arrested Harry Guy Courtney, a homeless man who was sleeping at a bus stop in front of a Wawa.
Courtney, who was intoxicated was asleep when the officer arrived.
In the video, it can be seen that Courtney is confused as the officer attempts to question him. It was also later determined that Courtney takes medication for mental health reasons do to a previous head injury.
During the encounter, Courtney refers to Freeman as a “cracker.” Freeman then appears to become agitated and throws Courtney to the ground.
Prior to Courtney being taken to the ground, Freeman told him that he would “bust his head wide open.”
An investigative panel with OPD, comprised of three people, found that Freeman violated the use of force policy, misled dispatch, falsified his report, and made an unlawful arrest.
OPD Maj. Lou Biondi, who has been previously named in other lawsuits for violating another officer’s rights as well as conspiring against that female officer, disagreed with the investigators and stated that he feels three of their findings against Freeman were unsubstantiated. Biondi did, however, agree with the unlawful arrest violation.
According to reports, when Freeman told the two men in the video that he could arrest them for open lodging and disorderly intoxication, Freeman was mistaken.
The panel stated that the elements required for the men to be arrested were not present. The statute states that a person would have to not only be intoxicated but also be causing a public disturbance or be a danger to another person. As far as open lodging, the panel stated that there was no cause for the men to be arrested for open logging.
Additionally, Freeman told dispatch he was involved in an altercation with Courtney. This caused officers to respond at high speeds and endanger themselves, and other drivers.
The panel says that Courtney was taken to the ground after he was handcuffed and was not a threat. The panel stated that the body cam video did not support Freeman’s report that Courtney put up a struggle and had to be taken to the ground.
Freeman also wrote in his report that the men were surrounded by beer cans, however, the panel says that was not true.
Along with the charge of Disorderly Intoxication, Freeman charged Courtney with Resisting Arrest with Violence.
All charges against Courtney were dropped and he was released from the Marion County jail.
Freeman has since apologized and said that he did not intentionally mislead anyone.
Freeman had just been promoted to Sgt. He is now suspended for 50 hours without pay.
On Wednesday, January 1, 2020, Sanford Police Officer Adam Feldman was relieved of duty and placed on unpaid Administrative leave pending the outcome of a Criminal and Administrative/Professional Standards Investigation.
During the early morning hours on Wednesday, the Sanford Police Department was notified that Officer Adam Feldman had been arrested for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and Property Damage by the Lake Mary Police Department after he crashed his personal vehicle.
The incident surrounding the arrest of Police Officer Adam Feldman occurred while he was off duty and is being investigated as a criminal matter.
In a press release, Chief Cecil Smith said, “Officer Adam Feldman has been relieved of duty pending the results of the criminal and administrative investigation. We hold our officers, regardless of rank, to the highest standards of conduct and ethics. Although this is an ongoing investigation, it is important that we remain as transparent in the process as possible. It is important for the purposes of a sound investigation that all policy and protocol be followed. We ask for the community’s support and patience as we conduct this investigation.”
According to the arrest affidavit, Feldman was followed by a Good Samaritan, who reported that Officer Feldman was driving his yellow Jeep on Rinehart Road and Primera Boulevard in Lake Mary recklessly and was “swaying all over the roadway.”
After crashing, Officer Feldman refused to cooperate with Lake Mary police. He refused a breathalyzer and stated that he would not participate in any roadside sobriety tests.
The Marion County Office of the County Engineer announces the following temporary lane closures:
Jan. 19-April 21 | Rainbow Park Unit 5 subdivision between the intersections of:
– Southwest Third Lane and County Road 328
– Southwest 158th Court and Southwest 155th Court
Jan. 19-April 21 | Southwest 150th Avenue between the intersections of:
– County Road 328 and Northwest 16th Lane
April 1-July 31 | Southeast Marion County between the intersections of:
– Southeast 17th Court and Southeast 29th Court*
– Southeast 45th Street and Southeast 31st Street*
*These closures will impact the following communities and subdivisions
– Shadow Wood units 1 and 2
– Raven Hill
– Double Gate
– Citrus Park
– Shadow Woods, first and second additions
– Tara Oaks
– Shady Glynn
– Deep Woods
– Hawks Landing
– Hawks II
– Florida Orange Grove
Crews will place barricades and signs to direct traffic through the work zones.
Drivers should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes, when possible.
Work will primarily be during daytime hours.
Please note that construction schedules may change due to weather or other circumstances, and if this happens, the closure may be rescheduled.
Officials ask that all drivers remember to yield to roadside workers and obey posted speed limits. Speeding fines are doubled in a construction zone.
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If you want to earn a good wage and are willing to work, apply here.
There will be dozens of firework shows across Florida for New Year’s, and many residents will choose to light up the sky with their own fireworks display.
Officials want to remind residents that many types of fireworks are illegal in the State of Florida.
According to state statutes, Florida law prohibits any fireworks that fly through the air or explode — such as Roman candles, bottle rockets, and mortars — for recreational use.
Most firework shops and stands alike, require residents to sign an “Agricultural Exemption.” The exemption basically states that the purchaser of the fireworks will use them for the sole purpose of scaring off birds from farms and fish hatcheries.
A spokeswoman for the state Fire Marshal’s Office said, “Just because an organization has a buyer sign the ‘Agricultural Exemption,’ doesn’t make it legal.“
But enforcing the statute can sometimes be complicated, law enforcement officials said. Generally, the purchase of illegal fireworks goes unchecked.
Officers will respond if a resident complains about a neighbor’s illegal fireworks; however, the officer must witness the explosion in order to make an arrest and confiscate the items. Arrests are rare, authorities said.
Officials said, “If a complaint call comes in, we first try and educate the individual on the dangers of using fireworks. Secondly, we will make arrests if a person is using fireworks in a reckless manner with the intent to harm.”
According to officials, the Fire Marshall handles most of the firework issues.
Most law enforcement agencies will address firework issues on a case-by-case basis. While exploding fireworks are illegal, some authorities say they understand they are for celebration but warn that if fireworks are misused it could result in an arrest.
The Ocala Police Department told Ocala Post that they will enforce any City Ordinance or State Laws if they are violated.
City ordinance:
Sec. 38-151. Definitions.
(a) For purposes of this article, the term “fireworks” shall mean and include any combustible or explosive composition or substance or combination of substances or, except as provided in this article, any article prepared for the purpose of producing a visible or audible effect by combustion, explosion, deflagration or detonation. The term includes blank cartridges and toy cannons in which explosives are used, the type of balloons which require fire underneath to propel them, firecrackers, torpedoes, skyrockets, Roman candles, dago bombs, and any fireworks containing any explosive or flammable compound or any tablets or other device containing any explosive substance.
(b) The term “fireworks” shall not include sparklers approved by the state fire marshal pursuant to F.S. § 791.013; toy pistols, toy canes, toy guns or other devices in which paper caps containing 25/100 grains or less of explosive compound are used, providing they are so constructed that the hand cannot come in contact with the cap when in place for the explosion; and toy pistol paper caps which contain less than 20/100 grain of explosive mixture, the sale and use of which shall be permitted at all times.
(c) The term “fireworks” shall not include the following novelties and trick noisemakers:
(1) A snake or glow worm which is a pressed pellet of not more than ten grams of pyrotechnic composition that produces large, snake-like ash which expands in length as the pellet burns and that does not contain mercuric thiocyanate.
(2) A smoke device, which is a tube or sphere containing not more than ten grams of pyrotechnic composition that, upon burning, produces white or colored smoke as the primary effect.
(3) A trick noisemaker, which is a device that produces a small report intended to surprise the user and which includes:
A party popper, which is a small plastic or paper device containing not more than 16 milligrams of explosive composition that is friction sensitive, which is ignited by pulling a string protruding from the device, and which expels a paper streamer and produces a small report.
A booby trap, which is a small tube with a string protruding from both ends containing not more than 16 milligrams of explosive compound, which is ignited by pulling the ends of the string and which produces a small report.
A snapper, which is a small paper-wrapped device containing not more than four milligrams of explosive composition coated on small bits of sand, and which, when dropped, explodes, producing a small report. A snapper may not contain more than 250 milligrams of total sand and explosive composition.
A trick match, which is a kitchen or book match which is coated with not more than 16 milligrams of explosive or pyrotechnic composition and which, upon ignition, produces a small report or shower of sparks.
A cigarette load, which is a small wooden peg that has been coated with not more than 16 milligrams of explosive composition and which produces, upon ignition of a cigarette containing one of the pegs, a small report.
An auto burglar alarm, which is a tube containing not more than ten grams of pyrotechnic composition that produces a loud whistle or smoke when ignited and which is ignited by the use of a squib. The auto burglar alarm shall not use more than 50 milligrams of explosives to produce a small report.
(d) For purposes of this article, the term “sparkler” means a device which emits showers of sparks upon burning, does not contain any explosive compounds, does not detonate or explode, is handheld or ground-based, cannot propel itself through the air, and contains not more than 100 grams of the chemical compound, which produces sparks upon burning. Any sparkler that is not approved by the state fire marshal is classified as fireworks.
Sec. 38-152. Authority of police to seize unlawful fireworks and devices:
Police officers may seize, take, remove or cause to be removed, at the expense of the owner, all stocks of fireworks, sparklers or combustibles offered or exposed for sale, stored or held in violation of this article or F.S. ch. 791.
Sec. 38-153. Petition for return of seized property.
(a) Right to hearing. Any person from whom property is seized or removed as provided in sections 38-152, 38-157 and may file a petition with the city council for a hearing and to seek the return of the property.
(b) Petition for hearing. Any person seeking a hearing pursuant to this section must first file a petition with the city council within 20 days of the date of seizure, which shall contain the following information: name, address and phone number, and a reference to the date, time, the type of property, and the basis upon which the person seeks return of the property seized. Within 20 days of receiving the petition, the city council shall hold a hearing during either a regularly scheduled council meeting or special meeting held for such purpose.
(c) Conduct of hearing. The city attorney shall present the case before the city council. All parties shall have an opportunity to present evidence involving the property that was seized. Formal rules of evidence shall not apply, but fundamental due process shall be observed during the proceedings. After considering all evidence, the city council shall have the power to return the property, deny the request or enter such other order as it deems appropriate.
(d) Any person appearing before the council pursuant to this section may appeal a final order of the council to the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court. Such an appeal shall not be a hearing de novo, but shall be limited to appellate review of the record created before the council. An appeal shall be filed within 30 days of the date of the written order appealed from.
Sec. 38-154. Sale and use of toys and novelty items.
The sale and use of items listed in section 38-151(c)(1) through (3) are permitted at all times, except as otherwise prohibited in this article.
Sec. 38-155. Sale, possession or use of fireworks; permit for public display of fireworks.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to possess, display, offer for sale, expose for sale, sell at retail, or use or explode any fireworks; provided, however, that a permit may be obtained from the chief of police for a supervised public display of fireworks to be handled by a competent operator, who shall be approved by the chief of police and the chief of the fire department. Any such display for which a permit is granted shall be of such a character and so located, discharged or fired as in the opinion of the chief of the fire department, after proper inspection, shall not be hazardous to property or endanger any person.
(b) Application for a permit shall be made in writing to the chief of police at least 15 days in advance of the date of the display. The application shall be made upon forms to be developed by the chief of police and approved by the city council. If a permit is granted, sale, possession, use, and distribution of fireworks for the display so permitted shall be lawful for that purpose only. No permit granted under this section shall be transferable.
Sec. 38-156. Purchase or sale of sparklers by persons under 18 years of age.
It shall be unlawful for any person under the age of 18 to purchase or engage in the business of soliciting or peddling any sparklers.
Sec. 38-157. Possession on public property on July 4.
It shall be unlawful for any person to use or possess, without a permit obtained pursuant to section 38-155, on July 4 any sparklers, fireworks or smoke devices in or on any city- or government-owned park, sidewalk, street, property or building. Any police officer, fire officer, deputy sheriff or other duly appointed law enforcement officer is authorized to seize, take, remove or cause to be removed all such devices found in the possession of any person within the prohibited areas.
Sec. 38-158. Possession at or near parade route.
It shall be unlawful for any person to use or possess any sparklers, fireworks, smoke devices, snake or glow worm, or trick noisemaker, as those terms are defined in this article, at any parade as defined in section 66-131, or within 200 feet of any parade route permitted pursuant to section 66-132. Any police officer, fire officer, deputy sheriff or other duly appointed law enforcement officer is authorized to seize, take, remove or cause to be removed all such devices found in the possession of any person within the prohibited areas.
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At most Florida firework stands, consumers are asked to sign a waiver acknowledging they will only use the illegal fireworks for agricultural purposes. Signing the form doesn’t guarantee the consumer protection from the law — but it does absolve the vendor of any legal responsibility, state officials said.
“It’s not up to us to explain it. It’s up to the consumer to purchase them legally,” said one local fireworks vendor.
For vendors, it’s about business. But for consumers, unlawful fireworks can have hefty penalties.
According to the State Fire Marshall, If a person fills out the form and uses the fireworks for something other than agricultural purposes and are caught, it’s a first-degree misdemeanor. It’s punishable by up to 1 year in jail or $1,000 in fines.
Officials said Even those fireworks that are deemed ‘safe’ are still very dangerous. Sparklers can burn at 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit.
Sparklers and fireworks sparked more than 150 reported fires in fiscal year 2012-2013 across the state and caused close to $200,000 in property damage.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated fireworks were involved in an about 8,700 injuries in 2012. Children under 15 accounted for about 30 percent of the 2012 injuries.
Some municipalities throughout the state have vowed to renew enforcement efforts and arrest violators.
If you choose to “set off” fireworks; here are some safety tips:
Keep a fire extinguisher or water hose on-hand for emergencies. It’s a good idea to drop used sparklers in a bucket of water.
Use sparklers and other legal novelties on a flat, hard surface in an open area. Do not light them on grass.
Keep children and pets at least 30 feet away from all ignited sparklers.
Light only one item at a time and never attempt to re-light a “dud.”
Don’t use any unwrapped items or items that may have been tampered with.
Only purchase fireworks from licensed vendors.
Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks. After the firework display, children should never pick up fireworks because they may still be active.
Never have any portion of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse.
Avoid lighting off fireworks in residential neighborhoods where houses are in close proximity to one another
A manhunt after an armed robbery suspect shot Eustis Police Captain Gary Winheim Thursday afternoon, ended hours later with the suspect dead.
According to Eustis Police Department Public Information Officer, Lauren Brown, “The incident started at about 12:15 p.m. when Capt. Winheim heard gunshots coming from outside a Shell gas station located in a plaza with a Winn-Dixie at 1905 North SR 19.”
Police said no one was hit during the first shooting.
When Capt. Winheim, who was in the vicinity at the time, heard the shots and approached the area.
Police said that Capt. Winheim was behind the suspect’s car and they exchanged gunfire, at which time the officer was struck.
Eustis Police Captain Gary Winheim
Winheim was flown to Orlando Regional Medical Center, where he is now listed in stable condition.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Lt. John Herrell said, the suspects, later identified as Jayson Colvin, fled the scene in Eustis, drove up to County Road 450, and bailed out of his vehicle near Baker Road.
Court records show that Colvin was no stranger to the law. He had done time in state prison for convictions on armed burglary, robbery, fleeing and eluding a law enforcement officer and kidnapping.
Colvin had robbed a Shell station while wearing a “Jason Voorhees” mask.
During the manhunt, law enforcement located Colvin under a canoe on a small lake.
Officials stated that Colvin, who was armed, ran from the area. Sheriff Peyton Grinnell said that Colvin took a position as if he were getting ready to fire. Colvin was then shot dead by law enforcement.
The Department of Business and Professional Regulation cites violations of Florida’s sanitation and safety laws, which are based on the standards of U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Food Code. High Priority violations are those which could contribute directly to a food-borne illness or injury and include items such as cooking, reheating, cooling and hand-washing.
Darrell’s Diner #12, located at 6998 N. US Hwy. 27, Unit 109, Ocala, was inspected on December 11, 2019.
The results were as follows:
The diner did not have any noticeable infractions at the time of inspection.
That means that the diner met all requirements, did not receive any warnings, and will not need a follow-up inspection at a later date.
The conclusion of the inspection read: No violations were observed.
Marion Oaks residents have expressed great concern over the nearly 200 acre Dollar Tree distribution center, which would be built up against Marion Oaks on County Road 484.
The Dollar Tree distribution center would be built on the land known as The McGinley Farm. The farm was previously known for peanuts and cattle. Mr. McGinley had always said he would never sell to developers and had refused to sell to the Deltona Corporation. However, things changed after he passed away in 2003.
In 2017, the land was sold to Marion County.
Since the approval of the Florida Crossroads Commerce Park, which will destroy more than 1,000 acres of farmland in the middle of Marion Oaks, residents have asked for change.
“The site is 576 acres of a 961-acre site, a historic “out-parcel” located entirely within the Marion Oaks Vested Development of Regional Impact (VDRI) development project that makes up the Marion Oaks/McGinley Regional Activity Center (RGAC). The overall site is located on the south side of SW Hwy 484 between Marion Oaks Course and Marion Oaks Manor, and 2.75 miles west of the I-75/Hwy 484 Interchange,” the Marion County Zoning Commission wrote in its plans.
Ironically, the project has been named “Project Farmer.”
Residents have turned to social media groups and demanded that commissioners stop approving projects that not only destroy land and habitats but also invite crime.
Residents are worried that Ocala is quickly becoming Orlando.
Marion County Commissioner Carl Zalak spearheaded the Commerce Park Project and refused to listen to citizens who did not want the project in their backyard.
In an on-camera interview, Zalak said Marion Oaks residents were “excited.” However, dozens of residents interviewed by Ocala Post stated otherwise. Most said they had not even been informed about the project. Residents expressed concerns about the increase of crime and traffic the project will bring to the area.
Ocala Post also interviewed real estate specialist Mark H., who said that these types of projects not only tend to bring crime but also lower property value for surrounding homes. He said, no one “wants to live” next to an industrial or commerce park. Mark said he has been in the real estate business for more than 30 years and much of his career in Orlando.
“Residents should be worried,” he said. He added, “Especially since Ocala is now in the top 20 for most dangerous places to live in Florida.”
Mark said, “In my opinion, the commission targeted a community which already has a high crime rate and many of the residents live paycheck to paycheck. I feel like the residents should have had more of a voice.”
In a 2018 email to Ocala Post, Stacie Causey, Public Information Specialist for Marion County, wrote that the county did not consider Marion Oaks a high crime area, and denied that the land was chosen because of residents’ socioeconomic status.
As for morning and evening traffic on County Road 484, Causey wrote, “Traffic improvement plans for this area were also part of the original plan for the community and are already in progress. Examples of proposed traffic improvement plans include interchange lane improvements, alternate routes such as the proposed Southwest 49th Avenue extension, and a future flyover at Highway 42.”
Zalak contends that residents of Marion Oaks will now be able to work closer to their home instead of traveling into town.
However, many residents who live inside of Marion County do not even work in the county. Instead, they commute for much higher wages. Likewise, there are residents who work at local hospitals and other businesses who do not live in the county.
Mark said, “Residents are not going to quit a job as say, a prison guard, nurse, or teacher to work in a commerce park for less money. It just doesn’t make sense.”
It has also been pointed out that thousands of Marion Residents are retired.
“The writing is on the wall…Marion County is on its way to becoming Orlando,” Eddie Leedy, who previously sought a seat on the BOCC, told Ocala Post during the 2018 election. “At the state level, Marion County is already being pressured to become a commerce hub. If that happens, there will eventually be a toll road through Marion County.”
Leedy said a lot of taxpayer dollars have been spent on projects like AutoZone and the Florida Crossroads Commerce Park.
The commission has approved a $9 million cash incentive package, and another $900,000 in credit for permit and impact fees, toward the massive Dollar Tree distribution facility and has promised up to 700 jobs.
Unlike Polk County commissioners, who require approved distribution centers to hire a majority of the employees from within Polk County, Marion County does not set forth those same requirements.
Again, commissioners have promised jobs, but records show that the AutoZone distribution center, which was a secretive deal, is still struggling to hire employees. (You can read about the AutoZone project here.)
On Twitter and Facebook, Marion Oaks resident Theresa Gonzalez, wrote, “Somebody has to be a voice for the people. Our corrupt government and these businesses profit big from our tax dollars. This should not be allowed. Tax dollars should not be used for private business projects in which all citizens do not benefit.”
Tim Johnson wrote, “I don’t live in or near Marion Oaks, so I am ok with the project. Maybe it will bring more jobs.”
The Florida Crossroads Commerce Park will cost more than $200 million.
We want to hear from you. What do you think about the Dollar Tree distribution center being built near Marion Oaks?
In a new report, the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty (Law Center) surveyed 187 urban and rural cities across the country and found that Ocala is one of seven cities that has “significantly increased” its ordinances for arresting and punishing the homeless.
The Law Center is the only national organization dedicated to using the power of the law to end and prevent homelessness.
“Through online research, we identified laws that restrict or prohibit different categories of conduct performed by homeless people, including sleeping, sitting or lying down, and living in vehicles within public space. We refer to these policies and their enforcement collectively as the “criminalization of homelessness,” even though these laws are punishable as both criminal and civil offenses,” the Law Center wrote.
In September, Ocala Post reported that the Southern Legal Counsel, the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida (ACLU), and Ocala attorney Andy Pozzuto filed a federal class-action lawsuit against the City of Ocala on behalf of named plaintiffs Patrick McCardle, Courtney Ramsey, Anthony Cummings, and more than 200 homeless persons who the ACLU says has had their rights violated by the City of Ocala. View complaint.
“The city of Ocala has adopted and enforced unconstitutional ordinances as part of a deliberate campaign of arresting people in a broken-windows policing strategy called ‘Operation Street Sweeper’,” said Kirsten Anderson, litigation director for Southern Legal Counsel. “With Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn’s public endorsement, the city has been systematically enforcing its open lodging ordinance to make hundreds of arrests, imposing excessive fees and fines, as well as lengthy jail sentences.”
In the newly released report, the Law Center wrote, “Criminalization of homelessness contributes to mass incarceration and racial inequality, as homelessness is a risk factor for incarceration, and incarceration makes it more likely that a person will experience homelessness. Over-policing of homeless people, who are disproportionately people of color, also exacerbates racial inequality in our criminal justice system. Indeed, unhoused people of color are more likely to be cited, searched, and have property taken than white people experiencing homelessness. Those with multiple marginalized identities, like LGBTQ+ people of color, are even more vulnerable to homelessness and laws criminalizing homelessness.”
The report reads, “City officials frequently cite concerns for public health as reason to enforce criminalization laws and/or to evict homeless encampments, a practice often referred to as a “sweep.” But such practices threaten public health by dispersing people who have nowhere to discard food waste and trash, to expel bodily waste, or to clean themselves and their belongings to more areas of the city, but with no new services to meet their basic sanitation and waste disposal needs. Moreover, sweeps often result in the destruction of homeless people’s tents and other belongings used to provide some shelter from the elements, cause stress, and cause loss of sleep, contributing to worsened physical and mental health among an already vulnerable population. Due to these harms, the American Medical Association and American Public Health Association have both condemned criminalization and sweeps in policy resolutions.”
The Law Center stated, “In Ocala, Florida, homeless people are strictly policed in accordance with Ocala’s draconian anti-homeless ordinances. It is illegal to rest in the open on public property, which has been heavily enforced by the city. The city’s “Operation Street Sweeper” and aggressive policing have even led to a federal lawsuit on behalf of three unhoused residents. These three plaintiffs have collectively spent 210 days in jail and been assessed over $9,000 in fines, fees, and costs due to enforcement of the trespass and unlawful lodging ordinance alone.”
The ACLU is confident they will win the lawsuit against Ocala.
“In April 2019, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued an opinion in Martin v. City of Boise2—a case filed by the Law Center, Idaho Legal Aid, and Latham & Watkins—
affirming that the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution prohibits enforcement of laws criminalizing sleeping, sitting, and lying down outside against people with no access to indoor shelter.”
In deciding the merits of the case, the Court concluded:
“[A]s long as there is no option of sleeping indoors, the government cannot criminalize indigent, homeless people for sleeping outdoors, on public property, on the false premise they had a choice in the matter.”
Chelsea Dunn, an attorney with Southern Legal Counsel, said.“These are people who need support, housing, jobs, and services.” She went on to say, “Instead, they are caught in a seemingly never-ending cycle of jail, debt, and other collateral consequences. The city of Ocala needs to provide adequate shelter and social services instead of trying to solve homelessness through arrests and harassment.”
In many cities, citizens have been arrested for feeding the homeless.
Marion Military Academy abruptly closed its doors end of school day Monday, citing lack of funding.
The school, which started eight years ago, says that due to low enrollment, they could not obtain adequate state funding.
The academy heavily relied on donations. They will need to raise $200,000 to reopen. Additionally, they would need $500,000 to stay operational to the end of the school year.
According to officials, students now have to find a private school or enroll in the Marion County public school system.
Many parents have stated that they refuse to enroll their children in the public school system and will seek out alternatives.
Marion Military Academy is the only charter high school in the county.
Students say they plan to march in front of the school in days to come in hopes of raising enough money to keep the school open.
Students have until December 30 to turn in their uniforms.
Mark Butler, Founder, President and CEO of Ollie’s Bargain Outlet
The founder of Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, Mark Butler, passed away on December 1, while he was spending Thanksgiving with his family.
The company released the following statement.
“It is with profound sorrow that we acknowledge the passing of Mark Butler, Founder, President and CEO of Ollie’s Bargain Outlet on Sunday, December 1st while spending Thanksgiving weekend with his family. We extend our deepest and most sincere sympathies to Mark’s family during these most difficult of times. A true leader in every sense of the word, Mark was relentless in his pursuit of developing one of the fastest growing and most successful retail chains in America. His drive and passion for the business were infectious to those around him, forming a culture of achievement and success within the Ollie’s family that he loved so much. Mark was a devoted family man, friend, mentor to so many, and an unmatched philanthropist. We will greatly miss his presence in our lives.
Mark grew up in Carlisle, PA and graduated from Trinity High School in Camp Hill, PA. He went directly on from there to begin his retail career. Mark soon found himself working for Mort Bernstein (co-founder of Ollie’s), his business father, who taught Mark how to “walk, talk, and chew gum at the same time” when it came to business.
Mark rang the very first sale at Ollie’s Bargain Outlet on July 29, 1982, in Mechanicsburg, PA. Together, he and Mort grew Ollie’s until Mort’s passing. In 2003, Mark took the helm with 27 stores in 3 states, growing the company to 345 stores in 25 states today. Ollie’s currently employs over 8,000 associates across the company.
On July 16, 2015, Mark led Ollie’s to a tremendous milestone. He rang the opening bell on NASDAQ that morning, signaling the first day Ollie’s was publicly traded under the symbol “OLLI”. Mark’s accomplishments as CEO of a publicly-traded company are well documented and led to him being declared a “Bargain Billionaire” by Forbes magazine in 2019.
Mark had a sincere passion for helping underprivileged children. He proudly served as the Chairman of the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation whose mission is to build character and teach critical life lessons to at-risk young people living in America’s most distressed communities. Mark also supported other children-focused charities including the Kevin Harvick Foundation, the Harrisburg Boys & Girls Club, and the Children’s Miracle Network. In more recent years, Mark formed his own foundation (Mark L. Butler Foundation), focused on helping disadvantaged children in and around Central PA.
Mark also had a deep love for sports. As a huge fan of the University of Maryland Terrapins basketball team, he provided significant support to the school’s athletic programs over the years. Mark also fueled his love of sports by becoming the majority owner of the Harrisburg Senators baseball team, the Double-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. Mark loved to spend time at his ballpark on City Island and would frequently appear at games to greet and thank fans for their support of the team.
The entire Ollie’s family will deeply miss Mark and his presence at Ollie’s. We are eager to make Mark proud and to continue to uphold his legacy and fulfill his dream of opening more than 950 stores. Mark started a tradition here at Ollie’s; at the end of every meeting he would close by saying, “We are…” and everyone knew that this was their cue to proudly chant, “Ollie’s!”
Effective immediately, the board of directors has named John Swygert as the new President and CEO. John has been serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer since January 2018 and previously served as Ollie’s Chief Financial Officer since 2004. John worked closely with Mark over the past 15 years. Mark had tremendous confidence in John’s ability to grow and lead the company to a successful and lasting future.
“Mark was an exceptional entrepreneur, merchant, leader, philanthropist, friend and family man,” said board member Richard Zannino on behalf of the entire board of directors. “Mark built a successful and enduring retail concept, assembled an incredible team, created thousands of jobs and delivered millions of bargains to our customers while delivering exceptional shareholder value along the way.” Zannino continued, “We will dearly miss Mark.”
In memory of Mark, everyone say it with us, “We are…OLLIE’S!””
Coquito, meaning “Little Coconut” in Spanish, is a traditional Christmas drink.
The drink, which originated in Puerto Rico, is a coconut-based alcoholic beverage similar to eggnog, sometimes referred to as the “Puerto Rican Eggnog.”
According to officials, the drink is heavily sold over Facebook every holiday season. The drink is made with rum.
In the United States, it is illegal to sell alcohol without a license, no matter how small the amount.
According to the ATF Miami Field Divison, selling alcoholic beverages is a serious offense. Penalties can be one year in jail and/or a $2,500 fine, and/or up-to 100 hours of community service.
The ATF says it does receive complaints, namely from business owners who do spend thousands on licensing, but refer the complaints to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).
DBPR regulates the manufacturing, distribution, sale, and service of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products in Florida, including receipt and processing of license applications; collection and auditing of taxes, surcharges, and fees paid by licensees; and enforcement of the laws and regulations governing the sale of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products, pursuant to Chapters 210, 561-565, and 567-569, Florida Statutes.
Officials say that individuals selling the drink over Facebook has increased over the past five years and so have arrests.
Those who investigate the complaints say that illegally selling any homemade alcoholic beverage through social media undermines other businesses that pay for licensing and follow the law. Additionally, officials say it poses a health risk as far as possible contamination is concerned.
Facebook says the company will remove any posts that are reported.
