Ocala residents will soon be able to enjoy the fine eats of Piesanos.
The first Piesanos Italian restaurant opened in 2009, located at 5200 NW 43rd St, Gainesville. Followed by a second location in 2011, located at 5757 SW 75th St. Gainesville. A third restaurant opened in 2014, but added ‘Pints and Pies’ to the Piesanos name. The name gives an emphasis on craft beer and pizza.
The newest location will be located inside the Grand Oaks Shopping Center, 2575 SW 42nd St #112, Ocala. (Across from Trinity Catholic High School)
According to restaurant manager Rick Jeffreys, construction only took four months to complete.
The Ocala location will offer 20 beers on tap, including common domestics as well as a variety of craft brews; many brewed right here in Florida.
The restaurant also offers indoor and outdoor seating to its guests.
Jeffreys said Piesanos signature dish would be their stone fired pizzas, which cook inside an unique granite conveyor oven.
“We have 28 signature pies served in four different sizes. Pies start from the eight inch personal size for $9.39, going all the way up to our 24 inch extreme pizza for $35.99. The pizza dough and house rolls are made from scratch, in house daily. The pizza dough is hand stretched to order. We also offer a variety of pasta dishes and traditional Italian food,” Jeffreys said.
You can view the menu at Piesanostogo.com.
The grand opening will be Monday, April 10, they hope to see you there.
A Vanguard High School senior was arrested Thursday and charged with Armed Robbery.
Clarence Sylvester Cobarris, 18, was arrested by an Ocala Police Department detective, at 605 Northeast 27th Street, Ocala, at 1:41 a.m.
Police say they responded to the Kangaroo Gas Station, located at 909 Northeast 28th Street, after a store clerk called 911 and reported the robbery.
The store clerk told police that a black man wearing a black and gray hooded sweatshirt and an orange mask entered the store with a silver handgun and backpack.
The clerk said the man placed the backpack on the counter, pointed the gun at her, and told her to “put the money in the bag”. The clerk put $35.99 in the bag, along with a GPS tracking device.
Cobarris then fled the store.
Investigators tracked the GPS to the area of Northeast 27th Street and Northeast 6th Avenue. There, an OPD officer saw Cobarris standing near a garbage can on the north side of the road.
Cobarris saw the officer and attempted to walk toward an occupied vehicle, which was waiting with the passenger door open.
The officer then moved in on the four suspects and ordered them all on the ground.
During a “pat-down”, Cobarris was found to be in possession of the handgun used during the robbery. Additionally, Cobarris was in possession of the GPS device and some of the money that had been stolen.
Detectives said they also found clothing in the trash can where Cobarris had been standing. The clothing matched the description of the clothing warn by the robbery suspect.
At first, Cobarris told investigators that he was walking from home when he found the money on the side of the road. He denied knowing anything about the robbery, but said he knew of three juveniles who were planning to rob the store. However, Cobarris gave himself away when he inadvertently described the clothing the robber was wearing.
According to OPD, Cobarris later told them that he needed the money for his graduation cap and gown.
Cobarris is being held at the Marion County Jail on a $50,000 bond.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), by the president’s executive order, “Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States,” releases the Declined Detainer Outcome Report (DDOR) on a weekly basis.
Detainers are placed on illegal immigrants arrested on criminal charges for whom ICE possesses probable cause to believe that they are removable from the United States.
The list shows law enforcement agencies (LEA) that received a detainer request from ICE, but refused to comply.
According to ICE, the Marion County Jail was on the list between the dates of January 28, 2017, and February 3, 2017. A detainer for a convicted illegal immigrant from Venezuela was sent to the jail on January 28 and declined on January 30.
A spokesperson for ICE said, “These requests are intended to allow a reasonable amount of time for ICE to respond and take custody of the alien. When LEAs fail to honor immigration detainers or requests for notification and release serious criminal offenders, it undermines ICE’s ability to protect public safety and carry out its mission.”
Counties and Cities in Florida that refuse to honor ICE detainers
Alachua County
Miami, Florida
Hernando County
Clay County
In uncooperative jurisdictions like Cook County, Illinois, and the City of Philadelphia, ICE is barred from interviewing arrestees in local custody. ICE says that these communities have a large number of criminals who have yet to be encountered by ICE. These criminals are often arrested by local authorities and released back into these communities without any notification to ICE.
ICE said that many LEAs fail to notify ICE in a timely fashion.
“The DDOR may reflect instances in which the LEA may have technically provided notification to ICE in advance of an alien’s release, but where the LEA did not provide sufficient advance notification for ICE to arrange the transfer of custody prior to release due to geographic limitations, response times, or other logistical reasons. In these instances, ICE records the detainer or request for notification as declined by the LEA,” a spokesperson said.
Ocala Post reached out to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, however, our request for comment went unanswered.
Ocala Post also requested that ICE compile a list of detainer requests for Marion County that were not honored, however that list was not available at the time this article was published.
We want to hear from you. What do you think about LEAs declining to honor detainer requests?
NOTE: Since the time this article was published, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office has refused to provide media releases to Ocala Post at the direction of Sheriff Billy Woods…breaking Freedom of Press laws as well as violating the Freedom of Information Act. MCSO has a history of not cooperating with media outlets that shed light on inner agency corruption. This is exactly what MCSO did to Star-Banner senior reporter, Bill Thompson.
Ocala, Florida — On March 13, 2017, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence after a juvenile reported that she had been battered.
The juvenile told the responding deputy that she had not been home in two days because her mother and her mother’s boyfriend, Robert Louis Young, 35, had been heavily using drugs.
When the juvenile returned home, Young told her to leave and that she was no longer welcome.
According to reports, the juvenile refused and Young became angry.
Young grabbed the girl by the throat and tossed her onto a bed. Young then put both of his hands around the girls neck and began choking her. The girl said she tried to scream, but could not.
According to the girl, her mother intervened, at which time Young pushed the mother to the ground.
At that time, the girl was able to call 911.
Before deputies could arrive, the mother and her boyfriend fled the residence to prevent Young from being arrested.
A warrant was then issued for Young’s arrest. He was located and arrested on March 26.
Young was charged with Domestic Battery by Strangulation and Cruelty Toward a Child. His bond was set at $3,000.
The mother denied any knowledge of drug use and accused her daughter of being untruthful. No charges have been filed against her at this time.
Deputies reported that the girl had marks on her neck that were consistent with having been choked.
A woman who has allegedly had trouble with several neighborhood juveniles tried to take matters into her own hands Friday.
Marion County sheriff’s deputies were at the victim’s house investigating an unrelated incident when the victim told them about a confrontation she had with a another neighbor earlier in the day.
According to reports, Jessica Hoop, 34, went to the victim’s residence to confront [her] children.
When Hoop drove up to the gate, she pulled a metal pipe from the bed of her truck and demanded that the juveniles come to the gate. Hoop was allegedly swinging the pipe in an aggressive manner.
The victim, and mother of the children, then confronted Hoop with a baseball bat and told her to leave.
Hoop told the mother that if her children “wanted to act like men” then she would “beat them like men”.
“I’ll shoot this bi**h up and ship your asses back to Mexico,” Hoop stated.
Hoop then left the victim’s residence.
Hoop told deputies that “Florida law is all screwed up” and that she would “take matters into her own hands”. She said she would do what she needed to do to protect her children.
According to reports, there had been multiple calls for service to the area in regards to several neighborhood juveniles.
Deputies said that the situation is now being unjustly fueled by the parents.
Hoop was arrested and charged with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon.
Sponsored – What would it mean to fit into that favorite outfit again? Have you ever dreamed you could lie there and have inches literally melt off of your belly, thighs, chin, or any other stubborn area? Symphony Healthcare, Inc. is having an April Fool’s $50.00 sale on a Laser-Like Lipo treatment. Come and discover what all the hype is about and get back into the clothing you want to wear.
Symphony Healthcare, Inc. offers a safe way to lose inches in a short time. No: surgery, needles, crash diet or pain. We know why you have not been able to lose weight. Your fat cells are not open and we can help make those stubborn fat cells open up with Vevazz. Vevazz is a laser-like machine (only it is safer than laser) which is designed to help people lose inches of fat. Vevazz is a Class 1 device and it is registered with the FDA “for use as an adjunct treatment for obesity.”
How does it work? During your treatment, multiple paddles are wrapped against the skin. The light energy from the Vevazz Laser-Like Lipo safely penetrates the skin and targets the fat cells. The light energy makes the fat cells open up and release their contents. The fat cells are then smaller, leaving you with inch loss, fat loss, and a reduction in cellulite. Surrounding tissues such as blood vessels, nerves, and skin cells are not affected by this procedure. This is no cutting or freezing and the fat cells are not damaged. Unlike some high level laser, Vevazz is totally pain-free. It provides immediate results without the pain, downtime, or bruising that is associated with traditional liposuction. The Vevazz Laser-Like Lipo treatment is non-invasive with no needles or incisions, therefore no complications are expected. Typical results vary but average is 2-8 dress or pant size loss in only 42 days.
Sale Details: The sale price of $50.00 for one Vevazz Laser-Like Lipo treatment is a limited time offer, so act now. You must purchase your $50.00 treatment between the dates of March 20, 2017 and March 30, 2017, however, the treatment can be used any time before April 27, 2017. Limit one $50.00 session per person. Other terms & conditions apply; please see ad for details. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to save money, lose inches, and see results!
Symphony Healthcare, Inc. located in Laurel Run at 2100 SE 17th Street, Suite 901, Ocala, is an integrated family practice that focuses on preventative care and functional medicine. Call 352-629-5939 for more information and to schedule your appointment.
Ocklawaha, Florida — An Ocklawaha woman was arrested after investigators with the Florida Department of Financial Services determined she had committed welfare fraud.
Investigator T.N.Mitchell said that Jessica L. Fong, 28, falsified multiple Department of Children and Families applications when she applied for public assistance.
According to reports, Fong applied for assistance for herself and children who were not living at the same residence. Instead, the children had been staying with their grandparents.
Investigators said that between the dates of January 1, 2013, and June 30, 2015, Fong fraudulently received $7,267.00 in food stamps. Additionally, Fong fraudulently received $6,467.54 in Medicaid benefits.
A warrant was issued for Fong’s arrest on March 13, 2017.
On March 22, Fong was located at her Ocklawaha residence and arrested.
She was charged with Public Assistance Fraud. She was released on a $2,000 bond.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office was called to the Pilot Gas Station, located at 2020 Southwest 135th Street, after a woman said she had been slapped.
The victim told the deputy that she drove to the 100 block of Marion Oaks Boulevard to talk to her boyfriend, Carlos J. Vasquez Jr., 21, because the two were supposed to discuss her pregnancy.
According to reports, when Vasquez arrived, he was intoxicated and with another woman.
When the victim attempted to talk to Vasquez about the pregnancy, she said he became angry slapped her across the face with an open hand.
Vasquez then got back into his vehicle with the other woman and fled the scene.
Vasquez was later arrested in the area of Southwest 35th Avenue Road.
He was charged with Aggravated Battery on a Pregnant Female. Vasquez was released on a $2,000 bond.
Ocala, Florida — The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday that they had completed a nearly 4-year-long investigation into the Hay Meat Market, located at 3334 Northwest Blitchton Road, Ocala.
The Hay Meat Market opened for business in 2008. A short time later, the business became authorized to accept food stamps, better known as EBT.
A federal search warrant for fraudulent EBT activity was executed at the location on March 4, 2017.
In the search warrant, USDA Agent Jeff Blackwell said that in 2008 the store redeemed $5,272 in EBT transactions. By January 2014, the amount had increased to $54,389 per month. By 2016, the store’s owner, Soriany Lim, had redeemed $1,718,400 in EBT transactions.
According to reports, the meat market redeemed $891,459 more than the average store.
During the investigation, surveillance was conducted on the store and Agent Blackwell was able to monitor live transactions with the use of computer software.
After reviewing surveillance footage, Agent Blackwell observed a woman, later identified as Marcia Michelle Mason, 39, enter the store. Mason browsed the store, then approached the counter with a four pack of drinks. Mason’s EBT card was then debited for $749.99. Additionally, Mason visited the store twice on February 6, 2016, and charged $459.69 to her EBT.
The total for the two transactions totaled $1,209.68.
Each time, Lim handed the woman a brown paper bag. Lim later told investigators that she would place cash inside of brown paper bags and give it to the customer after each EBT transaction had been completed.
Investigators said that Lim had been paying customers 50 cents per dollar for EBT benefits.
Agent Blackwell made contact with Mason at her residence on July 1, 2016.
Initially, Mason stated, “I was not doing that.” She also threatened to “step to” Lim. Mason was then warned to stay away from the store.
Mason later confessed.
She was arrested on March 20, 2017, and charged with two counts of Welfare Fraud. She was released from the Marion County Jail on a $4,000 bond.
Lim is still under investigation. At this time, Hay Meat Market cannot process EBT transactions.
Ocala, Florida — An Ocala man was arrested after Ocala Dental Lab reported that approximately $5,000 in gold had been stolen from the business.
The business owner, Robert Markham, stated that the lab uses the gold for various types of dental work.
Markham told Ocala police that he suspected Johnathan Jesse Peterson, 31, was the person who had stolen the gold. He said Peterson had been hanging around the business quite frequently over the past several months.
Markham said one of his employees, Samantha Gugino, who has worked for the business for 15 years, stopped coming to work after it was discovered that the gold had been stolen.
Peterson is Gugino’s boyfriend.
Investigators conducted a pawn data base search and discovered that between June 3, 2016, and December 22, 2016, Peterson, had sold numerous pieces of gold to various pawn shops across Marion County. The additional gold was valued at $2,000.
Investigators also learned that Gugino and Peterson had recently been evicted from their place of residence due to narcotics use.
On February 23, a warrant was issued for Peterson’s arrest.
He was taken into custody on March 20.
He was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Dealing in Stolen Property (x10), and Fraud-Providing False Ownership Information to a Pawn Broker (x9).
According to the warrant, Peterson is being held at the Marion County Jail on a $68,000 bond.
No charges have been filed against Gugino at this time.
A pregnant woman is recovering from her injuries after her boyfriend physically attacked her during an argument.
An Ocala Police Department police officer responded to Burger 21 after receiving a call about a domestic battery.
The victim told police that she had just ran away her boyfriend, Joshua Fidalgo, 25, after living with him for two months.
According to reports, during the two months the victim became pregnant and had just found out about the pregnancy.
The victim told police that she and Fidalgo were involved in an argument when he became enraged and attacked her.
The victim said that Fidalgo punched her in the face several times with a closed fist. Fidalgo also continually punched her on the back and stomach before attempting to strangle the victim to death.
The victim said she almost blacked out while her boyfriend was choking her.
According to reports, the victim was able to break free before losing consciousness and ran for help.
Fidalgo told police that he knew his girlfriend was pregnant, but denied attacking her.
Fidalgo stated that his girlfriend got the black eye and marks on her body “because she fell”.
He was arrested on March 16 and charged with Aggravated Battery on a Pregnant Female and Battery by Strangulation.
Fidalgo is being held on a $10,000 bond.
The victim and her unborn child are expected to make a full recovery.
Florida — Under the new bills, marijuana could soon be decriminalized in Florida.
Two Florida lawmakers said they want a total overhaul of Florida’s marijuana laws.
Congressman Guillermo Smith (D-Orlando) and Senator Jeff Clements (D-Lake Worth) filed two bills — HB 1403 and SB 1662 — the first week of March that would decriminalize possession of marijuana in small amounts — one ounce, 28.34 grams or less.
Currently, anything over 20 grams is a third degree felony. Less than 20 grams would be a misdemeanor, which imposes a $1,000 fine and or a year in jail.
With the new bills, juveniles caught with marijuana would be required to complete 15 hours of community service. Adults would have to pay a civil penalty of no more than $100, and or 15 hours of community service.
HB 1403 and SB 1662, re-categorizes misdemeanor possession offenses as non-criminal civil violations.
As Ocala Post has previously reported, cities in Miami-Dade, Volusia, and Alachua counties have already decriminalized marijuana. Tampa, Orlando, Daytona Beach, and Port Richey are also among those that have decriminalized marijuana.
Marion County commissioners have stated in that past that they had no intention of locally decriminalizing marijuana.
Marion County currently has the highest incarceration rate in the state.
In 2016, just under 40,000 Floridians were arrested for misdemeanor drug offenses. Florida Department of Law Enforcement said that more than 90 percent of those arrests were for marijuana possession.
Rep Smith released the following statement:
“39,706 Floridians were arrested in 2016 for low-level cannabis possession. These draconian marijuana possession laws have wasted taxpayer dollars, unnecessarily filled up our state prison system, and distracted law enforcement from focusing on apprehending dangerous criminals. We should be creating opportunities for people to succeed– not creating obstacles and ruining lives over minor infractions or youthful indiscretions. It is past time for the legislature to end the unjust incarceration of Floridians for non-violent drug offenses. If Amendment 2 was any indication, public opinion on marijuana has changed drastically over the years. Tallahassee politicians must catch up with where a majority of Floridians already are.”
On March 10, 2017, the bills were referred to the Criminal Justice Subcommittee.
We want to hear from you. What do you think about the new bill?
Some residents who live in the Berkley Pointe Apartment complex say they are glad that a neighborhood bully and suspected drug dealer is behind bars.
Ocala police responded to the apartments after a mother reported that her 15-year-old son had been robbed at gunpoint.
The suspect, later identified as Hayden Hoilett, 18, robbed the boy of $9.00 on February 28.
The victim told police that Hoilett pointed a gun at his face and threatened to shoot him. The victim said he was scared for his life.
On March 1, Hoilett confronted the victim and stated that [he] planned to beat him up because the victim had told people about the robbery. When the victim attempted to ride away on his bicycle, Hoilett punched the victim in the face several times.
Several residents reported that Hoilett had also terrorized other children in the neighborhood.
Police said that Hoilett sometimes used the ruse of having marijuana for sale, but when buyers produce money, Hoilett robs them at gunpoint.
Hoilett was arrested and charged with Armed Robbery, Aggravated Assault with a Firearm, and Battery.
He is being held at the Marion County Jail on a $52,500 bond.
An Ocala man who was wanted for violating his felony probation was arrested and is being held without bond.
Stephen Ennis, 22, violated his probation after he was arrested in August of 2015 and charged with Fraud-Use Fictitious Personal ID, Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle, Burglary of an Occupied Dwelling, and Petit Theft.
Officials said Ennis moved from his residence in 2016 and failed to check-in with his probation officer.
A warrant was issued for Ennis’ arrest in January of 2017.
He was taken into custody on March 10.
Ennis has previous arrests in Alachua County for Possession of Cocaine and Driving While License Suspended. He has one other arrest in Marion County for Driving on a Suspended License – Second Offense.
Naika Venant [deceased]Gina Alexi, mother of Naika Venant
A report released by officials Monday detailed the grizzly events that lead to a 14-year-old’s suicide.
The teen, Naika Venant, streamed her suicide live on Facebook on January 22, 2017. She was in state custody and living in a foster home at the time of her death.
Investigators say they have since learned that Naika had been sexually abused by her mother’s boyfriend.
Naika was also physically abused by her mother, Gina Alexi.
Investigators said that when Naika reported the abuse to Gina she called her daughter a liar and defended her boyfriend.
Gina had previously been warned about her boyfriend’s pattern of abuse, but she ignored the facts.
According to reports, Gina said her boyfriend was charming and told people he loved children. She said she did not believe he was capable of what he was accused of.
According to the Miami Gardens Police Department, when Naika was 6 years old, Gina’s boyfriend would force the child to watch pornographic movies. The boyfriend would then force the girl to perform oral sex. Police said Naika was forced to do despicable things that were from pornographic movies.
In 2009, police say Gina severely beat Naika with a belt after the child was sexually aggressive with another juvenile.
After Department of Children and Families investigators learned of the incident, Naika was removed from her mother’s custody.
When DCF investigators asked Nakia how she learned about sex, she told them that her mother’s boyfriend taught her how to have sex.
In 2014, after Naika was returned to her mother, she ran away. Naika told police that she ran away because she was afraid her mother would continue to “beat” her.
When police tried to return Naika to her home, Gina refused her daughter.
According to police, Gina told investigators that if they left Naika that [she] would beat the child.
Ultimately, Naika was placed in foster care.
On January 22, while streaming live on Facebook for two hours, Naika hanged herself with a scarf from a shower door. Her foster parents were asleep in the next room.
The DCF reports states, “For nearly three hours on the evening of her death, Naika used an internet application known as Facebook Live to broadcast to the public as she contemplated ending her life in the middle of the night while hundreds of viewers were watching. For over two hours, many viewers, some of whom were her friends, were pleading with Naika to reconsider her decision, a decision of which some believe Naika, herself, was unsure. However, there were many other individuals urging her to take her own life, calling her vile names and claiming the situation was either “fake” or “all
an act.”
Police said one of Naika’s friends saw the live feed that showed her hanging in the bathroom and called police. When officers arrived at the friend’s house she allegedly gave them an incorrect address, which prompted police to go to the wrong house.
When police finally responded to the correct house, it was too late.
Gina has not taken any responsibility for her child’s death. Instead, she blames the state.
Investigators said that even though the state could have done a better job at protecting Nakia, Gina played a significant role in her daughter’s death.
Gina’s boyfriend, whose name has not been released, is currently under investigation.
Investigators said Gina had every chance to help Naika, but she ignored all of the facts and turned her back on her own daughter.
Gina has since hired an attorney. As of Tuesday, Gina had not been charged with any crimes.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has confirmed that search efforts are underway for a missing suphan cobra in the vicinity of the 900 block of Northeast 9th Street, Ocala.
According to a FWC press release, residents in the area, especially if walking a pet, should use caution until the snake is captured.
FWC Public Information Officer Greg Workman said, “Cobras are highly venomous and will strike out if they feel threatened.”
According to FWC, the snake owner, Brian Purdy who is licensed, contacted FWC at approximately 11:15 p.m., Monday, after the snake had escaped its enclosure.
Wildlife officers, along with the Ocala Police department and Marion County Fire Rescue responded to Purdy’s house where the cobra was being kept. They searched the nearby area, but failed to locate the snake.
Officials said residents were notified about the dangers of the escaped snake.
“Mr. Purdy has held a valid VRC license from the FWC since May 2016. His last inspection on December 15, 2016 showed no violations. His inventory at that time included one suphan cobra, one gaboon viper and one African bush viper. All of Mr. Purdy’s other venomous reptiles are accounted for and secured,” said FWC.
Officials said that Purdy has not had any previous violations issued by FWC.
The snake is approximately 2 feet in length, with distinctive multicolor markings.
An interactive map is in development that shows the location of many of FWC’s captive wildlife permit holders. It can be found at:
http://myfwc.com/license/captive-wildlife/ or http://atoll.floridamarine.org/dle_gis/flexviewers/CaptiveWildlife_Public/
If you see the snake do not attempt to capture it. Instead, remain at a safe distance and immediately call the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922 (FWCC) or *FWC or #FWC on cellphones. Residents can also call the Ocala Police Department at 369-7000.
A Umatilla women was arrested and charged with two counts of Child Neglect after she locked two small children in a car parked outside a bar while she was inside drinking.
Marion County sheriff’s deputies responded to Kat’s Krazy 8 Bar, located at 20290 Southeast 142 Place, after a caller reported two small children locked inside a vehicle.
A witness stated that Alicia Danielle-Lynn Taylor, 27, arrived at the bar with two children — a five-year-old girl and a three-year-old boy. Taylor then locked the children in the car and went inside the bar to drink with her boyfriend and his mother.
Another witness told deputies that one of the children got out of the car and was walking around the parking lot of the bar. The witness said that Taylor came out of the bar and placed the child back in the car. Taylor then returned to drinking.
According to reports, the two children were still locked inside the car when deputies arrived.
Taylor told deputies that she only had one drink. However, witnesses said she was “throwing back” tequila shots.
Taylor was released from jail on a $4,000 bond.
The Department of Children and Families (DCF) was notified of the incident.
A Marion County school bus driver was cited for careless driving Tuesday following a minor crash.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a Ford F-150, driven by Hallard Martin, was stopped at a red light on Southeast 31st Street facing west in the outside lane.
The bus, driven by Felecia Lewis, was stopped behind the F-150.
Lewis told troopers that she was “looking at something on the inside of the bus” when her foot slipped off the brake, at which time the bus hit the rear-end of the F-150.
There were children aboard the bus at the time of the crash.
Ocala, Florida — An internal affairs investigation found that A Marion County Jail corrections officer violated two Marion County Sheriff’s Office directives.
The corrections officer, Deputy Wancarlos Sanchez, resigned before the investigation could be complete.
The investigation was initiated after two inmates, James McGraw and Brandon Jimenez, filed excessive force complains against Sanchez.
The complaint
“On November 24, 2016, shortly after 4 a.m., it is alleged that Detention Deputy [Sanachez] took inmate James McGraw, out of video camera view into an attorney interview room, and struck inmate McGraw three times, with a closed fist, in the ribs. Also, Inmate Brandon Jimenez, alleges that during the early morning hours of November 25, 2016, he was taken into an attorney interview room by Sanchez and struck twice in the chest, with a closed first.”
The complaint states that Sanchez was angry with inmate McGraw because he allegedly failed to report to his original assigned job. Instead, McGraw reported to another job which he was not assigned to. He had traded assigned jobs with another inmate.
The report states that Sanchez told McGraw, “You either pay for what you did, or take these ‘licks.'” Sanchez also told McGraw to “take it like a man” or he would “lose his colors”.
In a similar incident, inmate Jimenez was in the bathroom after headcount and “spoke rude” with Sanchez. Jimenez stated [that] is why Sanchez struck him in his chest.
During questioning, Sanchez was untruthful and stated that he did not strike the inmates. He also told investigators that he did not have a key that would open the attorney interview rooms.
Investigators later discovered that not only did Sanchez strike the inmates, but he was also in possession of a key which unlocked the interview rooms.
Investigators also reviewed security footage leading to the infirmary.
The footage showed McGraw walking toward the camera while holding his rib cage. Additionally, Corrections Officer Ronald Chybar is heard using the “F” word approximately 20 times within 60 seconds toward inmates.
The report states that, “[Chybar, repeatedly was in Violation of Operations Directive 6091.10(1). Which states: Employees should not use profane or abusive language in supervising inmates. Chybar cannot be disciplined for these violations as a result of this investigation; however, he should at least be reprimanded.”
As for Sanchez, the investigation found that Violation of Operations Directive 1068.03(H) Untruthfulness, and Violation of Directive 4030.00(A), were substantiated.
Marion County sheriff’s deputies arrested a man they say battered a 16-year-old girl.
Deputies responded to the 5700 block of Southeast 164th Avenue, Ocklawaha, following reports of child abuse.
The juvenile told deputies that Jimmie Driskell, 43, grabbed her by the hair and pulled her to the ground. She said Driskell then punched her in the head with a closed fist and kicked her in the face.
According to reports, Driskell also extinguished his cigarette on the girl’s head.
Driskell stated that he had been arguing with the teen about her attitude when he “lost” his temper.
Driskell admitted to grabbing the juvenile by her hair but denied punching and kicking her.
Driskell told deputies that he only “spanked her on her butt”.
Deputies reported that the juvenile had marks on her body that were consistent with her story.
Driskell was arrested and charged with Cruelty Toward a Child.
Ocala residents will soon be able to enjoy the fine eats of Piesanos.
