Micanopy, Florida — The Florida Highway Patrol said one person was killed and six others injured Friday following a crash on Interstate 75 in Micanopy, near Mile Marker 372.
A motor home, driven by Jason McCole, 41, of Wilksbarre, PA, and a GMC van, driven by Jordan Cannata, 27, of West Babylon, NY, were traveling southbound on I-75 when the motor home got a flat tire and had to pull onto the shoulder.
The van was also pulling a covered trailer.
According to FHP, a 2014 Peterbilt semi, driven by Robert Edwin Haines, 59, veered off the roadway and slammed into the motor home and van.
The motor home burst into flames, and the passenger who has not been named, was killed.
The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office said that the occupants of the motor home and van were with the heavy metal band, Adrenaline Mob. They were on their way to do a show in St. Petersburg.
Friday night, FHP said that there were a total of nine people with the band, including the person who died. Three of the band members are listed in critical condition, three are in stable condition, and two refused treatment.
Marion County Fire Rescue said that a group of registered nurses from UF Health Shands stopped at the accident scene to render aid to the victims.
According to MCFR, firefighters from Orange Lake Station number 9 arrived on scene at 12:38 p.m. to find the RV fully involved in flames. Firefighters from Lowell Station number 11, Sparr Station number 19, Friendship Station number 21, and Meadowood Farms Station number 12 arrived a short time later and assisted with extinguishing the fire as well as patient care.
Ocala, Florida — An Ocala man awoke Thursday morning to find his bank account had been targeted by thieves. He said he knew right away he had been scammed by a fraudulent company.
The company, listed as U Travel Guide/Global Service Group, had deducted $399 from the victim’s account using his checking account and routing numbers.
The “company” created a fraudulent check, but had printed the victim’s information on the check and presented it to his bank. The fraudulent check was drawn on Texas Bank.
Bank of America (the victim’s bank), said they have reversed the funds and advised the customer to immediately close his account.
U Travel Guide/Global Service Group has targeted consumers in numerous states. However, most of the victims have been in Florida.
Ocala Post reached out to the Attorney General Offices in Florida and Texas to see if there had been any consumer complaints filed against U Travel Guide/Global Service Group.
Kayleigh Lovvorn, with the Media Relations Communication Division at the Austin, Texas, AG office released the following statement:
“We currently have one complaint against U Travel Guide. We do encourage anyone who may have a complaint to contact our office. To file a complaint, consumers can use this link on the OAG website: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/cpd/file-a-consumer-complaint. Consumer complaints filed with this agency may form the basis for an investigation into a company’s business practices and, in some cases, significant numbers of complaints may give rise to legal action.”
U Travel Guide/Global Service Group lists their customer service number as 800-391-8372. The number is actually for an answering service. Their website is www.u-travelguide.com, with a physical address of 17690 NW 78th Ave. Hialeah, FL 33015.
Ocala Post called the answering service number and spoke with a woman who identified herself as Marie. And for only being an “answering service,” Marie had a lot to say.
Marie claimed that the $399 deducted from consumers’ accounts was for an incentive offered through Costco and Sam’s Club. She said the incentive started out as a free offer, but when that free offer expires, consumers are charged $399. Marie could not explain the details of the so-called incentive.
Coincidentally, on the front page of U Travel’s website reads, “Your dream vacation starting at $399,” the exact amount deducted from bank accounts.
The Ocala victim, who is elderly, does not drive nor does he have an account with Costco or Sam’s Club.
Ocala Post contacted the Finance and Administrative Services Department in Seattle, Washington, where Costco is registered. Ocala Post was then able to obtain a phone number for Costco’s headquarters and speak to a live person. However, a secretary stated that the director was not available to comment.
Sam’s Club could not be reached for comment.
In all of the cases, victims stated that they had no idea how U Travel Guide/Global Service Group had obtained their checking account information.
If you have been a victim of U Travel Guide/Global Service Group, you are urged to contact your financial institution and then file a complaint with the AG. You can file a complaint here. In some cases, a financial institution may require consumers to file a police report.
UPDATE
On July 14, the Florida Attorney General confirmed that they have in fact received complaints against U Travel Guide/Global Service Group.
Ocala, Florida — A Parkside Apartments resident was arrested and charged with Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon after she threatened to kill her boyfriend with a knife.
Ocala Police Department Officer Jason Rodriguez said when he arrived at the apartment complex, he made contact with a male victim who identified his girlfriend, Kacey K. Smith, 21, as the suspect.
The victim told Officer Rodriguez that he and Smith had been arguing when he tried to call his mother from his cell phone so she could be witness to Smith’s actions.
According to reports, Smith became enraged and grabbed a “large kitchen knife”.
Smith then pointed the knife at her boyfriend and stated, “I will kill you for calling another b*tch to my house.”
The victim stated that Smith also put the knife to his neck.
The victim told Officer Rodriguez that when he retreated to a bedroom and closed the door, Smith started violently stabbing the door.
The victim’s mother told the officer that she heard smith screaming over the phone, and threatening to kill her son.
Two other witnesses in the area told the officer that they had also seen Smith with a knife.
Smith denied any wrongdoing.
She was released from the Marion County Jail on a $2,000 bond.
Smith was also arrested in June of 2015 and charged with Aggravated Assault with a deadly Weapon.
The World Health Organization (WHO) released a warning on Friday, which includes data from 77 countries that shows antibiotic resistance is making gonorrhoea nearly impossible to treat.
Gonorrhoea is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) that infects 78 million people a year. Gonorrhoea can infect the genitals, rectum, and throat. Complications of gonorrhoea disproportionally affect women, including pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy and infertility, as well as an increased risk of HIV (in men and women).
“The bacteria that cause gonorrhoea are particularly smart. Every time we use a new class of antibiotics to treat the infection, the bacteria evolve to resist them,” said Dr Teodora Wi, Medical Officer, Human Reproduction, at WHO.
WHO reported widespread resistance to older and cheaper antibiotics, and found cases that were untreatable by all known antibiotics.
WHO said that these cases may just be the tip of the iceberg.
The report states, “[Decreased] condom use, increased urbanization and travel, poor infection detection rates, and inadequate or failed treatment all contribute to this increase [in resistance].”
According to WHO, the Research and Development pipeline for gonorrhoea is relatively empty, with only three new candidate drugs in various stages of clinical development: solithromycin, for which a phase III trial has recently been completed; zoliflodacin, which has completed a phase II trial; and gepotidacin, which has also completed a phase II trial.
“To address the pressing need for new treatments for gonorrhoea, we urgently need to seize the opportunities we have with existing drugs and candidates in the pipeline. In the short term, we aim to accelerate the development and introduction of at least one of these pipeline drugs, and will evaluate the possible development of combination treatments for public health use,” said Dr Manica Balasegaram, Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership Director. “Any new treatment developed should be accessible to everyone who needs it, while ensuring it’s used appropriately, so that drug resistance is slowed as much as possible.”
Experts said that this warning is not a “scare tactic” as many on social media have proclaimed. Experts said, “It is fact that there is a decrease in the use of condoms among those who are promiscuous.”
Symptoms
Some men with gonorrhea may have no symptoms at all. However, men who do have symptoms, may have:
A burning sensation when urinating;
A white, yellow, or green discharge from the penis;
Painful or swollen testicles (although this is less common).
Most women with gonorrhea do not have any symptoms. Even when a woman has symptoms, they are often mild and can be mistaken for a bladder or vaginal infection. Women with gonorrhea are at risk of developing serious complications from the infection, even if they don’t have any symptoms.
Symptoms in women can include:
Painful or burning sensation when urinating;
Increased vaginal discharge;
Vaginal bleeding between periods.
Rectal infections may either cause no symptoms or cause symptoms in both men and women that may include:
Discharge;
Anal itching;
Soreness;
Bleeding;
Painful bowel movements.
You should be examined by your doctor if you notice any of these symptoms or if your partner has an STD or symptoms of an STD, such as an unusual sore, a smelly discharge, burning when urinating, or bleeding between periods.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2015 Sexually Transmitted Diseases Surveillance Statistics (Racial and Ethnic Minorities)
Gonorrhea
CDC – Among 45 states submitting race and ethnicity data consistently according to OMB standards for all years from 2011–2015, rates of reported gonorrhea cases increased 75.1% among Whites (26.1 to 45.7 cases per 100,00 population), 71.3% among American Indians/Alaska Natives (104.5 to 179.0 cases per 100,000 population), 70.0% among Asians (14.0 to 23.8 cases per 100,000 population), 61.0% among Native Hawaiians/Other Pacific Islanders (72.6 to 116.9 cases per 100,000 population), and 53.8% among Hispanics (52.4 to 80.6 cases per 100,000 population). The gonorrhea rate decreased 4.0% among Blacks (451.3 to 433.3 cases per 100,000 population).
In 2015, 50 states submitted data on race and ethnicity according to the OMB standards. The following data pertain to those states:
Blacks — In 2015, 42.2% of reported gonorrhea cases with known race and ethnicity occurred among Blacks (excluding cases with missing information on race or ethnicity, and cases whose reported race or ethnicity was Other). The rate of gonorrhea among Blacks in 2015 was 424.9 cases per 100,000 population, which was 9.6 times the rate among Whites (44.2 cases per 100,000 population). Although the calculated rate ratio for 2015 differs when considering only the 45 jurisdictions that submitted data in race and ethnic categories according to the OMB standards for each year during 2011–2015, this disparity has decreased slightly in recent years. In 2015, this disparity was similar for Black men (9.6 times the rate among White men) and Black women (9.7 times the rate among White women). As in previous years, the disparity in gonorrhea rates for Blacks in 2015 was larger in the Midwest and Northeast than in the West or the South.
Considering all racial/ethnic and age categories, rates of gonorrhea were highest for Blacks aged 20–24, 15–19, and 25–29 years in 2015. Black women aged 20–24 years had a gonorrhea rate of 1,760.5 cases per 100,000 females, which was 9.0 times the rate among White women in the same age group (195.8 cases per 100,000 females). Black women aged 15–19 years had a gonorrhea rate of 1,547.3 cases per 100,000 females, which was 11.3 times the rate among White women in the same age group (136.4 cases per 100,000 females). Black men aged 20–24 years had a gonorrhea rate of 1,681.5 cases per 100,000 males, which was 9.5 times the rate among White men in the same age group (176.1 cases per 100,000 males). Black men aged 25–29 years had a gonorrhea rate of 1,415.0 cases per 100,000 males, which was 8.2 times the rate among White men in the same age group (173.6 cases per 100,000 males).
American Indians/Alaska Natives — In 2015, the gonorrhea rate among American Indians/Alaska Natives was 192.8 cases per 100,000 population, which was 4.4 times the rate among Whites. The disparity between gonorrhea rates for American Indians/Alaska Natives and Whites was larger for American Indian/Alaska Native women (6.1 times the rate among White women) than for American Indian/Alaska Native men (3.0 times the rate among White men). The disparity in gonorrhea rates for American Indians/Alaska Natives in 2015 was larger in the Midwest than in the West, Northeast, and South.
Native Hawaiians/Other Pacific Islanders — In 2015, the gonorrhea rate among Native Hawaiians/Other Pacific Islanders was 123.0 cases per 100,000 population, which was 2.8 times the rate among Whites. The disparity between gonorrhea rates for Native Hawaiians/Other Pacific Islanders and Whites was the same for Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander women (2.8 times the rate among White women) and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander men (2.8 times the rate among White men). The disparity in gonorrhea rates for Native Hawaiians/Other Pacific Islanders in 2015 was lower in the West than in the Midwest, Northeast, and South.
Hispanics — In 2015, the gonorrhea rate among Hispanics was 80.5 cases per 100,000 population, which was 1.8 times the rate among Whites. This disparity was similar for Hispanic women (1.7 times the rate among White women) and Hispanic men (1.9 times the rate among White men). The disparity in gonorrhea rates for Hispanics in 2015 was higher in the Northeast than in the Midwest, South, and West.
Asians — In 2015, the gonorrhea rate among Asians was 22.9 cases per 100,000 population, which was 0.5 times the rate among Whites. This difference is larger for Asian women than for Asian men. In 2015, rates among Asians were lower than rates among Whites in all four regions of the United States.
Marion County Fire Rescue firefighters said a residence and attached barn that had been struck by lightning was fully engulfed in flames by the time they arrived.
MCFR was dispatched to the 6900 block of Northwest 90th Avenue, Monday after a caller reported smoke and flames coming from the roof of a barn.
According to a MCFR press release, the call came in at approximately 5:15 p.m. and firefighters from Meadowood Farms Station 12 and Lowell Station 11 arrived on scene at 5:25 p.m.
When firefighters arrived, the fire had already vented through the roof.
Firefighters from Friendship Station 21, Anthony Station 1, and Golden Ocala Station 20 arrived on scene, at which time they aggressively attacked the fire.
The fire was extinguished by 6:29 p.m.
During a sweep of the structure, firefighters found that a calf had been killed in the fire.
My name is Michael Sands and I’m an eight-year Marine Corps veteran, which includes a tour in Kuwait, as well as a veteran of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office since 2003. The following events occurred, which caused me to lose my career, insurance, and livelihood.
On March 29, 2015, Lt. Brian Dotten sent me to the doctor to be evaluated for tremors that had become visible and worrisome. I was seen by Express Care in Belleview, Florida, and referred to neurologist Dr. J. Rubin of Ocala, FL. Dr. Rubin referred me to Shands in Gainesville, but later referred me to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. After blood samples were taken at the Mayo Clinic, I was advised to check into the nearest emergency room.
I was admitted to Munroe Regional Medical Center, where they discovered nearly 200 polyps and at least 2 tumors in my colon. I was then referred back to the Mayo Clinic for possible surgery, all the while using my vacation, comp time, and sick time.
On August 19, 2015, I returned to work for one day, before being admitted to the Mayo Clinic for surgery that occurred on September 18, 2015, at which time I received a diagnosis of Stage 3 Colon Cancer.
I experienced numerous complications associated with my illness, which included renal failure, staph infection, and even died several times. Once chemotherapy started, administered by Dr. Maury Berger, I experienced further complications with my internal organs.
After exhausting all leave time and receiving donations of time, on March 29, 2016, at the urging of Major Jerry Craig, I filed for long-term disability. I received assistance from David Palmer, Director of Human Resources, in filing for long-term disability, who on April 1,2016, then drafted and sent me a letter allowing me to remain an employee of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office until March 31, 2017.
June 27, 2016, I returned to work for discretionary firearms training, which consisted of classroom instruction on the Taser, pistol, and shotgun, followed by firing weapons on the range in Lowell, Florida. All was completed while wearing a colostomy bag.
On February 13, 2017, I received a letter from my surgeon, Dr. Dorin Colibaseanu, giving me full clearance to return to work, which I delivered to the Sheriff’s Office. In the letter, he stated that due to the damage caused by chemotherapy, my medical care had been transferred to Dr. Liu Yang of the Mayo Clinic Liver Transplant Team. I contacted the Mayo Clinic for clearance to return to work. I then visited the Sheriff’s Office and spoke with Sheriff Billy Woods, during which politics and the fact that I did not support him during the election was mentioned. On the same day, I was assured by Lt. Tom Calhoun that I would have a position in Evidence handling seized firearms.
I was then sent to Jet Medical (a facility specifically utilized by MCSO), where I was physically evaluated for duty by Dr. Samer Choksi. I performed every task without difficulty and requested more strenuous activity. On March 14, 2017, I received clearance to return to full duty by my personal physician, P.A. Tyler Lindsey of Ocala Family Medical Center. Also on March 14, 2017, Chief Deputy Robert Douglas and Captain Louis Pulford arrived at my home, and in my family’s presence, asked for my badge, identification, and firearms. When Chief Deputy Douglas and Captain Pulford arrived at my home, my girlfriend answered the door, after which time both entered without request or consent while I was sleeping. I awoke to both standing in my my living room,while I was half awake. After which Chief Douglas followed me through my home and inspected my personal gun cabinet and even followed me to my bedroom to obtain uniforms and a firearm.
On March 15, 2017, I received clearance from the Mayo Clinic Liver Disease and Transplant Team and Dr. Liu Yang, to return to work immediately, with no restrictions mentioned.
I was then terminated from the Sheriff’s Office and received a letter dated March 15, 2017, stating I was terminated for being on medical leave for a year, which is obviously false considering I attended work for at least one day in 2015 and one day in 2016. I then obtained a letter drafted by Dr. Choksi dated March 17, 2017, stating he would not be able to release me for full duty by March 31, 2017, with no explanation.
It should be noted that during my appointment with Dr. Choksi, he had no knowledge of my medical history and believed that I had been previously diagnosed with Leukemia.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office ended my law enforcement career, a career in which I had hoped to retire. I am a disabled veteran, with a 30 percent disability rating, covered under Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA).
I was never notified of my right to appeal the termination, which I was entitled to, and was intimidated by the arrival of the chief deputy and a captain, giving me the assumption that I had no recourse in regards of the Career Services Act.
Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings announced Friday that he will run for Mayor.
Many Orlando residents are not happy about the announcement .
“The first thing he did was play the race card”, Mary Hall said in a Facebook message. “Demings’ wife did the same thing. They are trying to get him elected because of the color of his skin. Even more disturbing is the fact that he used the Pulse shooting as a bargaining chip.”
During a press conference Friday, Demings and his wife proclaimed that the crime rate in Orlando had fallen since Demings was elected sheriff.
However, data from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and FBI shows otherwise.
The data received from FDLE and the FBI shows that Orlando is rated as the second most dangerous city in the state. Miami Beach is number one.
Shootings and other violent crimes in Orlando have risen substantially since 2012. In fact, on August 16, 2012, Citizens for a Safer Central Florida Inc. filed a lawsuit against the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and Demings.
The lawsuit states, “There is ample proof that respondent (Demings) intentionally under-reported criminal statistics to the Federal Bureau of Investigation in order to create the politically preferable illusion of a safer Orange County, Florida.”
According to officials, the Orlando Police Department, along with the current mayor, has also been accused of under-reporting crime statistics.
The FBI said that the false statistics are dangerous to the citizens of Orange County and the City of Orlando.
During the press conference Friday, Demings said, “Today, the politics of our nation are troublesome. I promise you that I will work across political lines to make this community a great place to live.”
In 2012, officials said Demings used false crime statistics as a political tool for his re-election.
The 2012 complaint also included numerous emails from the Sheriff’s Office. The emails instructed employees to classify property crimes as something other than burglaries if there was no evidence of a forced entry.
Example
Many of the police reports in question stated that tourists had cash, jewelry, electronics, and other goods stolen from their hotel rooms. The reports state that police believe it was hotel employees who committed many of the crimes, but because the hotel employees used a key to enter the rooms, it was not reported as “forced” entry. This in turn lowered the crime rates in the area, for burglaries.
Officials said that it does not matter if the employees used a key. They entered the room illegally and committed grand theft. The same as if a person were to leave a car door unlocked and someone enters the vehicle. It is still considered a burglary.
In addition to violent and property crimes, Orlando has a high number of uninsured and unlicensed drivers. Driving on a suspended driver’s license is a criminal offense. However, police officers and deputies alike typically do not arrest drivers when they are found to be without a license in Orange County. Often times, the driver will receive a ticket and be ordered to park the vehicle. When the officer has left the scene, the unlicensed driver is back behind the wheel.
Demings’ motto is, “Work to fill playgrounds, not jails.”
Many feel this is a motto that endangers the lives of innocent people.
For instance, when Markeith Loyd shot and killed his pregnant girlfriend, OPD nor the sheriff’s office showed a sense of urgency in capturing Loyd. It was not until Loyd shot and killed a police officer that a statewide manhunt was initiated.
Ocala Post questioned both agencies about why a police officer had to be killed before Loyd was heavily perused, however, neither agency would respond.
Demings also wants to place a ban of private collectors who sell firearms and gun-shows. Additionally, Demings wants a ban the sale of any semi-automatic rifle, such as the AR-15 and the AK-47.
What do you think about Demings running for mayor ?
A Leesburg teenager who was involved in a traffic crash in Marion County, has died.
17-year-old Kurtis Colebrooks passed away at Ocala Regional Medical Center at 8:25 p.m. on July 6.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, on July 5, Colebrooks was traveling west on County Road 314 in a 2005 Dodge Neon when he veered south and onto the grassy shoulder.
FHP said that when Colebrooks reentered the roadway he lost control of his vehicle and began to rotate in a counterclockwise direction.
The Neon left the roadway and slammed into a fence. Colebrooks’ car then continued to travel in a southwestward direction and hit a tree head-on.
FHP said that Colebrooks was wearing his seatbelt.
As part of its settlement with DeVry University, starting on July 5, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will mail 173,000 refund checks worth more than $49 million to some students who attended the school between 2008 and 2015. Checks will expire 60 days after they are mailed.
The FTC used DeVry’s records to identify the people who were eligible for refunds. To get a refund, a person must meet all four of these eligibility criteria:
enrolled for the first time in a bachelor’s or associate’s degree program at DeVry University between January 1, 2008 and October 1, 2015;
paid at least $5,000 with cash, loans or military benefits;
did not get debt or loan forgiveness as part of this settlement; and
completed at least one class credit.
The FTC complaint stated that DeVry misled students by stating that 90 percent of graduates landed jobs in their field within six months of graduation. DeVry told students that they would earn a salary 15 percent above the average salary if they obtained a Bachelors degree. The FTC said students were enticed to attend the college under false pretenses and that, majority of students were unable to obtain employment with a degree from DeVry.
According to the FTC, the cost of attending the college was far greater than the salaries that would be earned by students.
“When people are making important decisions about their education and their future, they should not be misled by deceptive employment and earnings claims,” said FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez. “The FTC has secured compensation for the many students who were harmed, and I am pleased that DeVry is changing its practices.”
In 2016, ITT Tech was also investigated for misleading students with false wage earnings and job placement guarantees. The institution was also receiving federal financial aid funds to enroll students. As with DeVry, the U.S Department of Education said that the debt incurred by students outweighed the benefits of the institution. On September 6, 2016, ITT Tech closed 130 campuses without so much as a warning to the students.
According to officials, there are currently dozens of college campuses under investigation in Florida that are participating in similar practices. Officials said that students could see multiple campus closures in the years to come. Many of the schools under investigation are located in Orlando, Florida.
In January of 2017, the U.S Department of Education released a list of schools that failed their Student Debt to Student Earnings Analysis.
As for DeVry, the refund checks will come from Analytics Consulting, LLC. The FTC never requires you to pay a fee or give financial information to cash a refund check. If anyone tells you they’re from the FTC and asks for money, it’s a scam. If you are eligible for a refund and have questions about the refund process, contact Analytics Consulting, LLC at 844-578-2645.
Ocala — A 57-year-old man remained behind bars Thursday after he was arrested and charged with Domestic Battery, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, and Tampering with a Victim.
According to Ocala police, Edward Butler was angry because his fiancé told him that she wanted to break off the engagement.
The victim stated that after she told Butler that she wanted to end the relationship, he went into a back bedroom of their residence and came out with a silver handgun.
Police said that Butler put the gun to the woman’s head and told her that he would kill her if she “called off” the engagement.
The victim said she told Butler that it was “still over”, at which time he punched her on the left side of her face with a closed fist.
Butler then fled the residence.
Upon learning that a warrant had been issued for his arrest, Butler made contact with the victim. He told her that if she did not drop the charges he would kill her.
According to reports, the victim told Butler that if he drove her to the Ocala Police Department she would drop the charges.
The victim stated that Butler agreed, but before leaving the house, he placed his gun in a safe and then put it in the bottom of a clothes hamper. Butler kept the key to the safe on his person.
Once the two arrived at OPD, the victim told officers about the safe.
When police spoke with Butler, he denied striking the victim. He also told the officers that he did not own a gun.
However, when police told Butler that they were aware of the silver gun that was in the safe and where it was hidden, he confessed to having the gun. Police said that Butler also had the key to the safe on his key ring.
Police obtained a search warrant and confiscated the weapon.
Butler was transported to the Marion County Jail without incident.
Butler has previews arrests for Felony Battery, Domestic Battery, and Violation of Probation for Domestic Battery.
Ocala – A child alerted Ocala police to a residence Tuesday after the child’s mother was attacked by her boyfriend.
Police said that after receiving an alert from a residential alarm, dispatchers called the home and could hear children screaming and crying when a child answered the phone.
Police said when they arrived at the residence they made contact with the suspect, Richard Ostrander, 39, who “seemed agitated”.
Police said that there were four children inside the residence.
Ostrander told police that he had been involved in a verbal argument with his girlfriend, but refused to discuss the situation with police. Instead, he told officers that they were in his house and wanted them to leave.
The victim told police that Ostrander was angry because he believed that she had been treating his two children who were visiting from New York differently from her two children.
The victim stated that while shouting, Ostrander grabbed her arms and pushed her into the doors of a closet, which caused her to fall to the floor.
According to police, Ostrander then picked the victim up by her neck and began to choke her.
The children, whose ages were not disclosed, told police that Ostrander punched the victim in the face, hit her head on a closet door, and choked her.
Police said that as the woman was being battered, one of the children ran and pressed the “intruder” button on the alarm panel.
Ostrander was arrested and charged with Domestic Battery by Strangulation and Possession of Marijuana. He is being held on a $1,500 bond.
The Department of Children and Families was notified and responded to the residence.
Ocala, Florida — Do you plan on celebrating the Fourth of July with a bang this year? If so, you might want to consider purchasing fireworks from a tent that would benefit a great cause.
Extensions Dance Studio will have three firework tent locations set up in Ocala. Extensions Dance Studio is the same company that hosts “Thrill The World” every year at the Ocala Square Downtown.
All firework tents are operated by volunteers, and all proceeds go to Just Entertainment, Inc., a non-profit corporation that raises money to help children in the Arts.
Locations:
Wal-Mart, (off of Easy Street) 2600 Sw 19Th Avenue Rd
Paddock Mall 3100 SW College Rd
Paddock Mall, Address
Wal-Mart (in Silver Springs Shores), 34 Bahia Ave
Hours:
June 30-July 3, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m
Tuesday, July 4, 9 a.m. to Midnight
All three locations will be open on July 4.
Volunteers working the tents said they will be offering buy one, get one free and many other deals.
The firework tents are owned by TNT Fireworks, the leading company in quality fireworks.
For additional information, call Extensions Dance Studio at 352-694-0601.
Ocala, Florida — Ocala Police Department police officers say they arrested two maids after a victim was notified by her bank about several suspicious transactions.
The victim told police that she had hired two women from Merry Maids cleaning service to clean her home.
The two 24-year-old women were later identified as Nichole Blanchard and Brittany Moore.
According to reports, the maids stole the victim’s credit card and then used it at Golden Coral, Tuffy of Ocala, a Circle K, a McDonalds, a Citgo, and Doc of Rock.
The manager of Doc or Rock told police that the two women, who were wearing Merry Maids uniforms, attempted to use the victim’s credit card three times. The manager stated that one of the women presented a passport as identification, which had also been stolen from the victim.
Blanchard and Moore were arrested and each charged with Fraud-Illegal Use of a Credit Card, Petit Theft, Fraud-Impersonate/Use ID of Another Person (x5).
Both women were released from jail on a $12,000 bond.
A spokesperson for Merry Maids said that they take these matters very seriously and that, Blanchard and Moore were immediately terminated from the company.
If you feel you may have been victimized by these two criminals, call the Ocala Police Department at 352-369-7000, Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP, or text 274637 using keyword 368-STOP. Tipsters can also visit www.ocalacrimestoppers.com. Anonymity is guaranteed.
Ocala, Florida — A 29-year-old woman was arrested Thursday and charged with multiple felonies.
Ocala police said Melissa Keil had been separated from her husband for approximately three months.
Police said that while the two were separated, Melissa began to suspect that her husband had started a sexual relationship with a 16-year old girl.
According to reports, Melissa fell into a jealous rage and drove to the home where the 16-year-old resides.
Witnesses told police that Melissa drove her vehicle toward the residence and hit two chairs that were in the front yard.
Witnesses said that Melissa exited her SUV, began shouting at the 16-year-old, and called her a whore.
Melissa then retrieved a knife from her truck and threw it at the 16-year-old while she was standing in the doorway. The knife missed the girl and struck the corner of the entrance.
Police said that Melissa then picked up a cinder block from outside the residence, but her husband stopped her from throwing it.
Melissa then got back into her SUV and attempted to drive it into the residence, at which time Melissa’s husband jumped in front of the vehicle.
At that time, witnesses said Melissa exited the SUV and struck her husband in the face several times.
Melissa was arrested and charged with Aggravated Domestic Battery, Aggravated Assault, Cruelty Toward a Child, Domestic Battery, and Criminal Mischief.
She was released from jail on a $10,500 bond.
The Department of Children and Families was notified, however, they said the case did not meet the criteria for a DCF report to be filed.
Police did not say if they were investigating the allegations as to whether or not Melissa’s husband was having sex with a minor.
Britax Child Safety, Inc., in cooperation with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and other regulatory authorities, has issued a recall of the chest clip on certain B-Safe 35, B-Safe 35 Elite and BOB B-Safe 35 infant car seat models manufactured between November 1, 2015 and May 31, 2017.
The recall includes nearly 300 thousand car seats.
The NHTSA says that the tabs on the chest clips could break and present a choking hazard to an infant in the car seat, increasing the risk of injury or death.
The NHTSA stated,”Copies of all notices, bulletins, dealer notifications, and other communications that relate to this recall, including a copy of the final owner notification letter and any subsequent owner follow-up notification letter(s), are required to be submitted to this office no later than 5 days after they are originally sent (if they are sent to more than one manufacturer, distributor, dealer, or purchaser/owner).”
“The information in the report suggests that Britax may have been aware of this issue more than five business days before filing a report with NHTSA,” the report noted.
Under Federal law, NHTSA is to be notified of all safety defect and/or noncompliance decisions within five business days of a company becoming aware of a problem.
Thrill the World is Ocala’s largest fall event that takes place every year on the Ocala Downtown Square and this year, has extended to Citizen’s Circle. This year Thrill the World will be held on Saturday October 21st from 4pm-9pm. More than 5,000 people come out and enjoy all the fun and activities which include over 100 vendors, food trucks, bounce houses, haunted house, DJ’s, music/dance party, booth trick-or-treating, and of course, the flash-mob-style-dance to Thriller. Every year, Funky Zombies gather to dance to the greatest selling record of all time in hopes to break the former Ocala record with the number of people dancing.
Currently, organizers are looking for:
VENDORS: direct sale vendors, homemade crafts, food trucks, medical offices/spas, banks, insurance companies, realtors, and other miscellaneous businesses that would like to showcase their products and services. Vendor space is only $100. Spaces are selling out fast so do not delay in registering (completing application & payment).
DANCERS to dance to Thriller. The fee to join is $5 in advance, or $7 at the event. There is no age limit to join and no experience is necessary-just come and have fun! The goal is to break the Ocala record for the most dancers performing Thriller. Extensions Dance Studio will have two free practices — Wednesday October 18t and Thursday October 19th at 6:45 p.m.
You can also read the article and view photos for Thrill the World 2015 and Thrill the World 2016.
Ocala, Florida — A convicted felon remained behind bars Tuesday after he was arrested and charged with Attempted Second-Degree murder and Possession of a Weapon by a Convicted Felon.
Ocala Police Department detectives said that on June 18, 2017, at approximately 4:42 a.m., OPD responded to 1223 S.W. Ft. King Street, in response to a shooting.
Upon arrival, police found a 27-year-old male victim with multiple gunshot wounds to his neck and leg.
According to detectives, Lester Ray Smith, 31, was quickly named as a person of interest.
He was arrested a short time later.
The victim remains in critical but stable condition.
Smith has a lengthy, violent criminal record.
The investigation is still active and detectives are searching for more information on this case.
Anyone with information can call Sergeant Jamie Buchbinder at 352-369-7084 the Ocala Police Department at 352-369-7000, Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP, or text 274637 using keyword 368-STOP. Tipsters can also visit www.ocalacrimestoppers.com. Anonymity is guaranteed.
Robert Bavle, 23, was arrested and charged with 2nd Degree Murder Sunday after he shot and killed another man.
The shooting occurred at the Ocala WingHouse, located 2145 E. Silver Springs Boulevard, at approximately 9:52 p.m.
A witness, Matthew Boyd, told Ocala police that Bavle left the restaurant, and as he was walking through the parking lot was attacked by a black male, later identified as Jonathan Sullivan, 27.
According to reports, when Sullivan punched Bavle in the face, Bavle turned, pulled out a .40 caliber handgun, and began shooting at Sullivan.
Sullivan ran, but Bavle chased him and kept firing. Witnesses stated that even after Sullivan had fallen to the ground, Bavle stood over him and kept firing.
Ocala Police Department Capt. Steven Cuppy said that they found 13 spent .40 caliber shell casing in the parking lot where they found Sullivan.
Sullivan had been shot in the chest, neck, and back.
An unidentified patron, who Boyd referred to as “a biker guy”, exited the restaurant, pulled out a gun and helped Boyd hold Bavle on the ground until police arrived.
OPD Detective Matt Steckman reported that Bavle had initially acted in self defense. However, Bavle continued to chase Sullivan while shooting at him. Additionally, Bavle stood over Sullivan and continued to shoot him after he was already on the ground.
Detective Steckman stated that Bavle fired his weapon until he ran out of ammunition, and then attempted to flee the scene. Therefore, Bavle was charged with 2nd Degree Murder.
Police did not say if Bavle had a concealed carry permit for his weapon.
According to detectives, Bavle and Sullivan knew each other. They are also listed as Facebook friends.
Bavle has previous arrests for Battery and Possession of Marijuana with the Intent to Sell.
He is currently being held at the Marion County Jail on a $50,000 bond.
Sullivan died on his way to Ocala Regional Medical Center.
The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information related to this incident can call Detective Matt Steckman at 352-369-7147, the Ocala Police Department at 352-369-7000, Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP, or text 274637 using keyword 368-STOP. Tipsters can also visit www.ocalacrimestoppers.com. Anonymity is guaranteed
Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Sergeant William Trampass Bishop died from his injuries after being struck by a car Saturday evening.
FHP Director, Colonel Gene Spaulding, said Sergeant Bishop was on patrol in Alachua County Saturday evening when he was struck on the southbound side of I-75 while standing outside of his patrol car.
According to FHP, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a crash at approximately 6:30 p.m., but handed it over to troopers.
A short time later, 911 operators began getting phone calls from motorists stating that a trooper had been hit by a vehicle.
ACSO Public Information Officer, Chris Sims, said that when deputies returned to the scene, they saw that the trooper had been pinned under a car.
Sims said, “They pulled him out from under the vehicle and they rendered as much aid as they could until medical personnel arrived and took the trooper to a hospital.”
FHP said that drivers need to remember that Florida has a Move Over law for a reason. The law requires drivers to move over one lane, or slow down to 20 mph below the posted speed limit when they see law enforcement, emergency workers, other first responders, and tow-truck drivers.
FHP said, “Sergeant Bishop, who, like all troopers, put the well-being of those he serves above his own to keep Florida roadways safe.”
“Every member at the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is grieving with Sgt. Bishop’s family during this horrific time,” FHP said. “This is a tragedy that highlights the risks that FHP troopers encounter every day as they serve our state. We appreciate all of the support FHP has received and continues to receive.”
