January 15, 2020
Detectives saw a subject wearing a heavy winter coat
yesterday afternoon enter the Save A Lot grocery store in Bronson. Normally
speaking in January this wouldn’t have even caught their attention, but we live
in Florida and it was over 80 degrees. So they watched. As they watched they
called the deputy assigned to patrol the Bronson area and told him about their
suspicious observation.
Deputy Tucker Gaffey responded to Save A Lot and saw a Ford
Ranger leaving the parking lot that was being driven by the suspicious individual.
Deputy Gaffey saw a traffic infraction occur and stopped the truck. The driver,
Travis Holmes (11/7/91) of Bronson told Deputy Gaffey the tag attached to the truck
was not the right tag. He said he found the tag in his barn and put it on the
truck only because he did not have time to get the truck registered. This was a
truthful statement as the truck was in-fact not registered with the DHSMV and
the tag had expired in 2010. Deputy Gaffey arrested Holmes for attaching at tag
not assigned to a vehicle, which is a criminal violation.
Deputy Gaffey then searched the truck where the driver had
been seated and located drug paraphernalia and a family pack of freshly cut
ribeye steaks. The steak package was cold to the touch and interestingly enough
they were not in a bag nor was a receipt for the purchase located. Holmes was
questioned about the steaks and admitted he had shop lifted them from the Save
A Lot (suspicions confirmed).
Deputy Gaffey continued his investigation and with the aid
of Sergeant K. Kinik and his K-9 partner Zombie. Methamphetamines were found in
the truck adding additional charges to both Holmes and his passenger Kimberly
Downing (10/2/89) of Old Town, Fl. Deputy
Gaffey did return to Save A Lot and confirmed by viewing the store’s
surveillance video that Holmes used his heavy jacket to hide the steaks and
exit the store without paying.
Both Holmes and Downing were taken to the Levy County Detention
Facility. Holmes was charged with attaching a tag not assigned, retail theft,
possession of methamphetamines and possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond
was set at $32,000.00.
Downing was charged with possession of methamphetamines,
possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance
without a prescription. Apparently Ms. Downing had hidden a drug on her person,
a substance known as Buprenorphine, that had to be retrieved upon her arrival
at the jail by medical staff. Her bond has been set at $31,000.00.