Convenience Store Robbery Arrest

August 12, 2019

On Sunday afternoon August 11, 2019 at approximately 3:06 PM the Levy County Sheriff’s Office 911 Center received a call from the clerk at the Citgo Stop-N-Go convenience store located at 8731 NW 174 Street in Fanning Springs. The clerk reported robbery that just occurred. The store clerk told 911 operators that a man who was armed with a knife threatened him then stole an undisclosed amount of cash and merchandise before he fled on foot out of the back door of the store.

Deputies arrived minutes later and obtained a statement from the clerk. The clerk told deputies that the person they were looking for had multiple tattoos and was wearing a pink tank top with black shorts. Deputies were also told this man had stolen beer, cigarettes and the cash from the register before he ran out of the back door of the store in the general direction of NW 90 Court. Deputies were able to cordon off this area and located a person matching this description.

The suspect was identified by deputies as Wayne Denver Bailey (2/13/77).  Bailey was later identified by the store clerk as the person who robbed him. Bailey was arrested and transported to jail. The Florida Department of Corrections released Bailey on 3/28/19 after serving an 18 year prison sentence for carjacking. Bailey’s last listed address was Gainesville.

Bailey is currently being held at the Levy County Detention Facility. He was charged with robbery with a weapon, aggravated assault with a weapon and theft. He is being held in lieu of a $275,000.00 bond.

Education the Hard Way

August 1, 2019

On July 25, 2019 Levy County Deputies responded to two reported crimes in the Inglis/Yankeetown area of our county. Deputies began their investigation into the theft of a four wheeler stolen which was stolen from a property located on Suzanne Street in Inglis. A second investigation was opened shortly after when our deputies were called to the Yankeetown School. School staff members discovered someone entered the school and stole a golf cart, its charger, an air compressor and other tools. Deputies noticed four wheeler tire tracks were at this crime scene. Deputies located the stolen golf cart late the same afternoon hidden in a wooded area near the school.

A break in this case came yesterday when a concerned citizen contacted detectives and told them he saw Matthew McDonald (12-23-94) of Inglis driving a golf cart that matched the description of the one reported stolen from the school. 

Detectives located McDonald at his home and while talking with him saw other items similar to those reported stolen by the school. Detectives recovered the tools which were later returned to the school. McDonald ultimately confessed to breaking into the school but denied any responsibility for stealing the four wheeler. McDonald was arrested and in the process of being transported to our jail by Deputy Macias, the stolen four wheeler was spotted being driven along the side of the road. Deputy Macias stopped the person driving the four wheeler and identified a 13 year old boy as the driver. 

Detectives respond to the stop location and interview this juvenile. The juvenile, identified as John Walker of Inglis told detectives he stole the four wheeler himself and was also arrested.

Both subjects were booked into the Levy County Detention Facility. McDonald was charged with burglary and grand theft and is being held in lieu of a $110,000.00 bond. Walker was processed and released to the custody of his mother.

You DO NOT have a WARRANT – This is a SCAM

Multiple calls from citizens have been received in the past few days relaying concerns that the Levy County Sheriff’s Office contacted them about an outstanding warrant for their arrest. These calls are SCAMS and the sole purpose is to take your money.

The Levy County Sheriff’s Office will NOT call and tell you we have a warrant for your arrest for failure to appear to a jury summons, failure to appear for court or for any other reason. We certainly will NOT offer you a way to pay with a gift card or any other manner of payment to cancel a warrant.

Please do not give these callers any of your time, money or personal information. We will not be able to get your money back as most of these scams originate overseas. Simply hang up on these SCAMMERS and let us know you were contacted and from what number they called. Scammers are getting better and the calls sound legitimate. If you are in doubt and before you pay for something that doesn’t exist, just contact us at 352-486-5111 or the Federal Trade Commission Fraud line at 1-877-382-4357.   

Sex Offender Arrested

 

 

 

On June 20^th, 2019 Detective Christopher Perryman obtained an arrest warrant for Eusebio De Jesus Lopez on the charge of a sexual offender-failure to report to the Levy County Sheriff’s Office his intent to leave the country.  His bond was $100,000. On 7/22/1993 Lopez pled no contest on charges of Lewd and Lascivious Assault on a child less than 16 years of age (4 counts).  As a result of the plea, Lopez was required to register as a lifetime registered sexual offender in the State of Florida.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and United States Marshal Service notified Detective Perryman of Lopez’s planned international flight. During his investigation Detective Perryman learned that Lopez had flown out of Orlando International Airport on June 18^th, 2019 and arrived in Honduras on the same date.  Det. Perryman confirmed Lopez did not notify authorities of his travel itinerary.

On July 16^th, 2019 Lopez arrived at the Orlando International Airport and was immediately taken into custody by the United States Marshal Service Fugitive Task Force and the Department of Homeland Security. He was interviewed by Det. Perryman and admitted that he was aware as a sex offender he needed to notify law enforcement of his international travels and he chose not to. He said he had traveled out of the country previously, without notifying law enforcement.

The Levy County Sheriff’s Office greatly appreciates the assistance provided by the U.S Marshals, FDLE, and The Department of Homeland Security in this case.  Their cooperation was an essential component in this investigation.

 

 

Traffic Stop Arrests

                                                                    Traffic Stop Arrests

On 07/08/2019 Deputy M. Sinclair conducted a traffic stop on a SUV driven by Alexander R. Clary. After subsequent investigation, Clary was found to have an active warrant out of Alachua County. Upon further search of the subject Clary was found to be in possession of 12.3 grams of methamphetamine, .4 grams of crack cocaine, and drug paraphernalia. Clary was arrested on the following charges: possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell, possession of cocaine, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. His total Bond is $55,000.

  On 07/08/2019 Deputy R. Sullivan conducted a traffic stop on a SUV driven by Glenda Fay Randall. Subsequent investigation revealed that Randall’s driver’s license was suspended in May of 2018.  In a search subject to arrest, Randall was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Randall was arrested on the following charges: driving with a suspended driver’s license, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Her total Bond is $15,000.

 

Arrests Manatee Farms Sub-Division

Arrests Manatee Farms Sub-Division

Recently the Levy County Sheriff’s Office has made several arrests in the area of the Manatee Farms Sub-Division, west of Chiefland off of County Road 320.

On 07/05/2019 detectives from the Levy County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division conducted a traffic stop on a GMC truck driven by Andrew Merz. Subsequent investigation revealed Merz, a convicted felon, was found to be in possession of a loaded semi-automatic handgun and ammunition. Merz was booked into the Levy County Jail and is being held on $100,000 bond for possession of firearm by a convicted felon, $100,000 bond for carrying a concealed firearm and $50,000 bond for possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.

 

On 07/05/2019 Detectives arrested Cynthia Louise Burnett for breaking and entering into an unoccupied structure in the Manatee Farms Sub-Division. Burnett was booked into the Levy County Jail and is being held on $35,000 bond for burglary of an unoccupied structure and $25,000 for grand theft.

 

 On 07/08/2019, while searching for stolen property in the Manatee Farms subdivision, detectives located a white male who attempted to conceal himself upon sight of law enforcement. The white male was identified as Robert Eugene Vantassell III; Vantassell had three (3) active warrants for his arrest out of Levy, Dixie and Alachua Counties.

 

 

On 07/08/2019 detectives conducted a traffic stop on an ATV in the area of Manatee Farms Subdivision. The driver of the ATV was identified as Christopher Jones. Jones was found to be in possession of methamphetamine.  Further investigation revealed that the ATV was confirmed stolen out of Levy County. Jones was arrested for the following charges Grand Theft Motor Vehicle, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Possession of Methamphetamine with intent to distribute.   His total Bond is $30,000. 

 

 

UNSOLVED HOMICIDE ASSISTANCE SOUGHT

 

 

 

 On July 5^th, 2014, Deputies from the Levy County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of 3571 NE 218^th Avenue in Williston, Florida to the report of a deceased person.  The investigation revealed that Leo Rives (DOB 11/25/82) had been found deceased beside his vehicle suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. 

While the case has remained unsolved, recent progress has been made in the investigation.  As the fifth anniversary of Mr. Rives murder approaches, LCSO Investigators are asking the public for their assistance in closing this case for the friends and family of Mr. Rives.  Anyone wishing to provide information should contact the lead investigator, Sgt. Mike Narayan at 352-486-5111, Extension 267. 

Investigators believe that there are numerous individuals that know who is involved in the murder.  These witnesses may fear retaliation and have chosen not to become involved.  We are appealing to these witnesses to do what is right and help bring closure and justice for the family. We strongly encourage these individuals to utilize Crime Stoppers if they wish to remain anonymous.

Crime Stoppers of Levy County has authorized a cash award of up to $1,000.00 for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the person or persons involved in the murder of Mr. Rives.  That information can be provided anonymously at 1-877-349-8477. 

 

 

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