Florida Sheriff’s Task Force Sets Sights on Spring Break Safety

The Florida Sheriffs Task Force has launched their latest operation aimed at protecting the safety of Florida's youth. Operation Dry Spring will take place from March 4 – April 7, 2013 in conjunction with the spring break schedules of most public and private schools in Florida. This time of year, students from across the state take a timeout from their studies to enjoy their first break of the semester. Spring break is also the time when these students, the majority of which are under 21, choose to drink alcohol and experiment with illegal drugs.

 

Not only does the use of drugs and alcohol by youth lead to poor decision making, it leads to emergency medical situations such as overdoses and alcohol related injuries. In 2010, nearly 190,000 individuals under the age of 21 visited an emergency room for injuries or conditions connected to the use of alcohol. Sadly, the use of synthetic drugs such as bath salts and spice is on the rise with more than 3,000 reported incidents in 2010. Even more devastating, that number more than doubled in 2011 to over 7,000.

 

"Underage use of alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs has always been a point of concern for families as well as Florida's Sheriffs," said Polk County Sheriff and Task Force Chair Grady Judd. "If Florida's youth cannot make the right decisions, they will be spending spring break at their Sheriff's office."

 

Florida's youth are one of our most precious resources and our Sheriffs have committed to ensuring their safety. The Florida Sheriffs Task Force will be targeting businesses that are selling alcohol, tobacco or synthetic drugs to underage youth. Operation Dry Spring will also focus on underage youth in possession of drugs, alcohol and tobacco. Full results from this operation will be announced on April 11, 2013.

 

We at the Levy County Sheriff's Office will be joining with the other Sheriff's Offices around this great State of Florida to ensure the success of this operation.

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Lt. Scott Tummond
Criminal Investigations Division
Levy County Sheriff's Office
(352) 486-5111

"Know Something We Don't" Call Crime Stoppers 1-877-349-8477 remain anonymous.

911 Interruption Plan Works Flawlessly

All citizens know that help is only a simple phone call away. 911 – The universal number for help. Yesterday, February 20, 2013, the unforeseen "glitch" reared its' ugly head.

 

Levy County receives service through the local phone carrier. The carrier lost service for unknown reasons in their Gainesville facility which feeds the Levy County PSAP (Public Safety Answering Point). Most were unaware of this issue; thanks to the foresight of 911 Coordinator Mike West. Peering into the "what if" situation, Levy 911 had a plan and this plan worked like a charm.

 

Levy 911 already had a MOU (memorandum of understanding) in place with Alachua County. Levy County citizens who needed help and called 911 between the hours of 3:30 PM and 8:30 PM were unaware there was a problem or that their calls had been routed through the Alachua County Sheriff's Office. As Mr. West put it; "Alachua County operators were able to forward Levy County 911 calls to the appropriate local operators, who immediately dispatched the necessary services. No calls were missed and Levy County did not experience any interruption of services." Levy County 911 Operators were sent to Alachua County to assist their communications operators with the anticipated call load increase. Meanwhile, Mr. West worked with AT&T on site in Levy County to correct the issue.

 

Shortly after 8:30 PM, 911 for Levy County was again on-line and functioning properly. This is another example of the quality service Levy County Sheriff's Office is dedicated to providing for its citizens and the top notch staff we employ to guarantee your safety.

--
Lt. Scott Tummond
Criminal Investigations Division
Levy County Sheriff's Office
(352) 486-5111

High Risk Sex Offender Captured

The watchful eye and dedicated Deputies of Levy County Sheriff's Office capture a high risk sex offender as he tries to flee town. Stephen Thomas Siddons W/M 6-18-86 of Old Town, Fl was arrested by Dep. Leroy Prine on February 17, 2013. Dep. Prine spotted what he believed was a disabled motorist in a silver Chevy Blazer on US 19 just north of Inglis, Fl. Dep. Prine stopped to assist the driver who he identified as Siddons. Siddons told him he was headed to Indiana, but the truck just stopped working. Siddons, who was very nervous and gave some evasive answers, made Dep. Prine suspicious.

 

As Dep. Prine began to dig for information he discovered that Siddons was listed as a high risk sex offender on probation and was required to wear an ankle monitoring device. Dep. Prine contacted Siddons probation supervisor who told him that the ankle monitor had been recently cut off and thrown in an area just south of Chiefland on US 19. Dep. Prine continued to probe for more information and discovered that Siddons, an unlicensed driver, had also stolen the Blazer from a home in Dixie County.

 

Siddons was arrested and booked into the Levy County Jail for DWLSR, grand theft auto and violation of probation. He is being held on $40,000.00 BOND.

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Lt. Scott Tummond
Criminal Investigations Division
Levy County Sheriff's Office
(352) 486-5111

Team effort nets Burglary suspects

On February 19, 2013 Detective Mike Wilkinson, Patrol Sgt. Todd Houchin and Dep. Matt King combined efforts which resulted in the arrest of Michael Q. Florence W/M 11-5-70 of Chiefland, Fl and Mikal L. Rodriguez W/M 5-3-93 of Chiefland, Fl.

 

An alert citizen provided information on a black Chevy S-10 seen leaving a home where recent thefts had been occurring located at 11916 NW 80 Court in Chiefland. Dep. King was able to locate the S-10 driven by Florence on US 19 and conducted a traffic stop. Florence was still in possession of some of the stolen property. Dep. King detained Florence and summoned assistance from Sgt. Houchin and Det. Wilkinson. The three were able to collect witness statements and locate the property owner, who responded to the traffic stop and identified his property.

 

Rodriguez was found at his home a short while later. Det. Wilkinson obtained his confession. Rodriguez claimed he and Florence removed two furnaces, washer and dryer, refrigerator and other items from the home.

 

In two days Florence and Rodriguez removed approximately $10,000.00 worth of miscellaneous personal property and scrap metal from this one home. Additional charges are still being investigated in Gilchirst County for disposing of portions of the scrap metal sold to a recycle center there.  

 

Florence is being held at the Levy County Jail charged with burglary of a residence and grand theft on a $100,000.00 bond. Rodriguez is being held charged with burglary of a residence and grand theft on a $100,000.00 bond.

--
Lt. Scott Tummond
Criminal Investigations Division
Levy County Sheriff's Office
(352) 486-5111

Pair arrested for residential burglary

On February 19, 2013 Detective Sgt. Mike Narayan and Det. Jimmy Anderson arrested Michael Scott Fordham W/M 10-25-74 of Williston, Fl and Ronald Glenn Perry W/M 7-22-72 of Williston, Fl for burglary of a dwelling and petit theft.

 

Detectives received information that the home located at 14951 NE Hwy 27 had been the target of multiple break-ins. Utilizing surveillance equipment and having some old fashioned good luck on their side; the Detectives were able to locate Perry and Fordham on the property in the process of stealing scrap metal from the home. Detectives found the duo hiding in a trailer located on the property and discovered a pile of scrap metal placed beside a brown Ford Explorer owned by Perry.

 

Post Miranda the Detectives obtained their confession. This investigation led to a second charge of burglary and petit theft as Perry confessed to entering the home a week prior, stealing costume jewelry and other small items from this home.

 

Perry is being held at the Levy County Jail on a $115,000.00 bond and Fordham is being held on a $55,000.00 bond.

--
Lt. Scott Tummond
Criminal Investigations Division
Levy County Sheriff's Office
(352) 486-5111

Burglary Arrest

On February 18, 2013 Detective Sgt. Mike Narayan arrested Steven A. Crosby W/M 4-25-66 from Williston Fl., for burglary of a dwelling and grand theft. This arrest stems from an investigation started on February 8, 2013 when a report was filed by the homeowner of a residence located at 13710 NE 10 Street in Williston, Fl. The homeowner reported that approximately $425.00 in personal property had been stolen from the home after an unknown subject threw a brick through the window to gain entry into the home.

 

A set of keys were found near the fence line where the suspect was believed to have entered the property. The key chain had a Gainesville Health and Fitness tag and wireless key fob attached to it. Sgt. Narayan was able to identify the owner of the keys, Steven Crosby with the assistance of staff at GHFC. Upon contacting Crosby, Sgt. Narayan confirmed that the fob did lock and unlock Crosby's vehicle. Post Miranda, Crosby confessed to committing this burglary. Sgt. Narayan was able to recover most of the stolen property and returned it to the rightful owner.

 

Crosby is being held at the Levy County Jail on a $105,000.00 bond.

--
Lt. Scott Tummond
Criminal Investigations Division
Levy County Sheriff's Office
(352) 486-5111

Crime Spree Comes To And End

MEDIA RELEASE
Date: Feb 18, 2013
Time: 12:00 PM

Bronson, Florida-
On December 14, 2012, Levy County Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to Marshburn Drive in reference to some missing baseball cards and memorabilia. Valued in excess of 4000 dollars, the victims’ stated that the defendant had been working around their residence around the time of the theft. The Sheriff’s Office began to receive information that the defendant was attempting to sell baseball cards around town locally. Corporal Mike Bell, Criminal Investigations Division began to track down the cards and witnesses and ultimately, was able to bring a case against the defendant for the theft and sale of the stolen goods.

On February 7, 2013, Corporal Bell arrested the defendant for multiple charges such as Petit Theft from the Kangaroo Store in Bronson; Burglary of a Vehicle; Petit Theft and Use/possession of Identification of Another Person Without Consent. The Levy County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a victim who stated that on February 3^rd, while parked at another location, someone had gone into her car and stolen 12.00 dollars and all of her identification.  A witness later stated she saw the defendant come out of the victim’s car on the day in question with a bulge consistent with the victim’s wallet. Later, the witness saw the identification cards on the defendant at the Kangaroo Store in Bronson.  Corporal Bell went to the store to review surveillance tape to confirm the information. While reviewing the tape, he observed the defendant steal a jar of change from the counter, which was later confirmed by the store manager as a charitable collection jar for a Kangaroo employee who is in Hospice.  Later, post-Miranda, the defendant admitted to stealing the jar. 

On February 14, 2013, Corporal Mike Bell arrested Timothy Lavaine Cobb for Grand Theft and three counts of Dealing in Stolen Property, Felony Petit Theft due to multiple prior convictions.  


Defendant:
Timothy Cobb
Bronson, Florida
White Male
12/21/72


Charges:
Burglary of a Vehicle
3 counts of Dealing in Stolen Property
2  counts of Felony Petit Theft due to Multiple Prior Convictions
Grand Theft
Use/Possession of Identification Without Consent

Sheriff's Office Hosts Fundraiser for Relay For Life Williston Event

Basic Pistol Class

Hosted By Levy County Sheriffs Office

will qualify for Florida Concealed weapons permit

Mar 23, 2013 8am Levy County Sheriffs Office Classroom

9150 NE 80th Ave Bronson Fl 32621

Cost $65 dollars on line price
Cost $75 dollars day of event

Fundraiser for
American Cancer Society Relay for Life .
Sign up and pay on line at

wwww.pistolclass.info

Register offline by calling 3524865111 or email: sfinnen@levyso.com

Lunch will be provided and additional donations will be accepted

Sexual Predator

Sexual Predator

Public Address Notification

 

 

On February 1, 2013 Lamont Lewis Nelson registered as a Sexual Predator with the Levy County Sheriff's Office. By Florida law Nelson is required to notify law enforcement whenever he changes or establishes a new address.

 

Lamont Nelson was convicted in 1999 in Highlands County, Fl for Sexual Battery on a victim under 12 yoa. Nelson was just released from prison and has registered his address as: 12451 NE 108 Terrace Archer, Fl.

 

Sexual Predator:

Lamont Lewis Nelson

12451 NE 108 Terrace

Archer, Fl

Black/Male

DOB: 3-1-1980

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Lt. Scott Tummond
Criminal Investigations Division
Levy County Sheriff's Office
(352) 486-5111

Burglary Arrests made by LCSO Detectives

On January 30, 2013 Levy County Sheriff's Detectives Jimmy Anderson and Mike Wilkinson arrested John Wayne Pipkin 1-11-77 and Kelly Michelle Colson 5-24-84. Detectives received information that this "duo" were responsible for various crimes reported to LCSO dating back to November of 2012. Taking this first tangible lead in these cases, the detectives were able to recover stolen property, including 6 guns. The recovered property is valued in excess of $2940.00. In addition to the property recovered, detectives obtained confessions from the two whom had uttered stolen/forged checks to area businesses in excess of $500.00.

 

Pipkin is being held at the Levy County Jail on a $665,000 bond after being charged in 5 separate cases. Colson is being held at the Levy County Jail on a $165,000 bond after being charged in 2 cases.

--
Lt. Scott Tummond
Criminal Investigations Division
Levy County Sheriff's Office
(352) 486-5111