INTERAGENCY COOPERATION LEADS TO ARREST OF STALKER



February 24, 2016

Cooperation between the Levy County Sheriff’s Office, the Starke Police Department and the U.S. Marshal’s Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force resulted in the arrest of a Bradford County man on stalking and burglary charges.  Joshua C. Demps (b/m 4-1-89) was arrested in Bradford County on February 19, 2016. 

The crimes occurred in the Bronson area of Levy County.  The victim reported meeting Demps online and having a short term relationship with him.  When the victim attempted to end the relationship, Demps began his stalking activities.  The victim reported to LCSO Investigator Mike Wilkinson that Demps called her as many as 30 times a day.  During these calls Demps would describe in detail what the victim had been doing that day.  Demps also called the victim’s employer multiple times and attempted to get information about her work schedule and whereabouts. 

On at least three occasions after the victim had tried to terminate the relationship, the victim found Demps inside her residence when she returned.  On one occasion he was hiding in a closet.  On other occasions Demps was seen outside the victim’s residence. 

Based on the evidence gathered, Investigator Wilkinson was able to obtain a warrant for Demps’ arrest.  Demps is currently being housed at the Levy County Detention Center.  His total bond has been set at $325,000.00. 

LCSO urges everyone to be cautious with potential online relationships.  If you or someone you know is a victim of stalking, please contact LCSO at 352-486-5111 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers of Levy County at 1-877-349-8477

 

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

 

 

Proactive Patrol Investigation Leads to Burglary Arrests

February 23, 2016

Dep. CJ Perryman responded to a reported burglary at the Williston Golf and Country Club Saturday just prior to noon. The course has been closed for some time and no one is authorized to be on the property. A citizen reported seeing two young white males running from the area of a building on the golf course property. Dep. Perryman contacted the reporting citizen; obtained suspect descriptions and the location they were last seen.

Dep. Perryman began to canvass the area and immediately located discarded items which had been dropped by the suspects. The reporting citizen pointed out the location where he saw the suspects drop the stolen goods. Among these items were alcoholic beverages, food, drinks, equipment and money. The estimated value of property stolen and subsequently recovered is approximately $3, 000. The Club owner later estimated that an additional $3,700 in damages was done to the buildings and contents. 

Sgt. B. Wells arrived and assisted Dep. Perryman during this investigation. Both Deputies discovered distinct footwear impressions in the area surrounding the burglarized building. During a neighborhood canvass similar footprints were found in the nearby dirt roads. Deputies were able to follow these foot prints to a nearby home. The homeowner was questioned and deputies discovered a juvenile did come to her home looking for her son. She told the deputies this juvenile’s name and described where he lived.

During this afternoon and the following day, deputies continued to conduct their investigation. Ultimately deputies discovered four juveniles’ ages 13, 14, 15 and 17 were involved in the Country Club burglary and one yet to be reported burglary. The juveniles had additionally broken into an abandoned home, causing damage to the interior of the home by discharging a fire extinguisher and were storing some stolen property from the Country Club there.

Based on these findings, Dep. Perryman contacted Sgt. M. Narayan of the LCSO Criminal Investigations Division. Sgt. Narayan recognized that the facts of this case matched an unsolved burglary reported at Williston P-Nut.  Sgt. Narayan was able to gain a confession from three of these same juveniles for the Williston P-Nut burglary.

Dep. Perryman arrested the four juveniles for multiple crimes related to the burglaries.  They were booked into the Levy County Detention Center and then released to their parents by the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.  

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Lt. Scott Tummond
Public Information
Levy County Sheriff's Office(352) 486-5111

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

Inglis Deputy Makes Multiple Arrests during His Weekend Shift

Reinhard Bailey

Robyn Johnson

Wayne Drake

Vince Baker

February 22, 2016

LCSO Deputy Tim Rogers had a productive on duty weekend beginning with the arrest of Reinhard Bailey (w/m 6-28-55) on February 19, 2016.  Previously on November 4, 2015 Deputy Rogers responded to Dollar General in Inglis. The store clerk discovered a small baggie left near the check out counter. She believed the baggie contained narcotics. Deputy Rogers confirmed the contents of this baggie were in-fact methamphetamine and seized it as evidence.

Through his investigation, Deputy Rogers developed Bailey as a suspect.  Deputy Rogers reviewed security footage of the front check out counter and was able to positively identify Bailey as the person who left the narcotics behind when he made a purchase in November.  Deputy Rogers located Bailey on February 19, 2016 and arrested him for possession of methamphetamine. His bond has been set at $10,000.00.

Later during his same shift, Deputy Rogers responded to the Kangaroo gas station in Inglis in order to assist in an ongoing burglary investigation.  When he arrived, Deputy Rogers made contact with Robyn Johnson W/F 09/22/1989, Wayne Drake W/M 06/22/1966, and Vincent Baker Jr. W/M 06/18/1996.  Deputy Rogers detained Johnson based on probable cause that Johnson had been involved in the burglary.  The probable cause had been established earlier by other investigating deputies.  LCSO Criminal Investigations Division Lieutenant D. Dykstra, Sergeant M. Narayan; Crime Scene Investigator Z. Richburg and Deputy R. Hinote responded to the location to assist.

Stolen property was identified and recovered from inside the vehicle. The vehicle search additionally revealed prescription pills (Oxycodone and Diazepam) and marijuana. Methamphetamine and numerous items of drug paraphernalia were located inside a backpack owned by V. Baker.

Robyn Johnson was arrested for possession of an opium derivative (Oxycodone and Diazepam) with intent to distribute, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, burglary, petit theft, grand theft and resisting without violence.  Her bond has been set at $67,000.00.

Wayne Drake was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond has been set at $60,000.00.

Vincent Baker was arrested for possession of burglary, grand theft, possession of methamphetamines, possession of marijuana less than 20 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond has been set at $42,000.00.

Sheriff Bobby McCallum commended Deputy Rogers for his continuing efforts to proactively seek out those involved in the narcotics business and to make the Town of Inglis a safer place to live.

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Lt. Scott Tummond
Public Information
Levy County Sheriff's Office(352) 486-5111

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

Suspicious Infant Death Being Investigated

February 22, 2016

At approximately 3:30 AM on this date, Levy County Sheriff’s Office Deputies, along with Bronson Fire Department and Levy County Department of Public Safety personnel, were called to a residence in the Town of Bronson.  The 911 caller reported that an infant male child who resided at the residence had been found unresponsive.  The responding units immediately began resuscitation efforts but tragically those efforts were unsuccessful.  The child was pronounced dead a short time later at a hospital in Gainesville.  The child was less than 2 months old. 

The LCSO Criminal Investigation Division is actively working this incident as a “Suspicious Death”.  An autopsy will be conducted and additional details of the investigation will be made available when it is concluded. 

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Arrest Made for Sexual Battery on a Child

February 18, 2016

Levy County Sheriff’s Office Investigators arrested Mariano Hernandez-Castro (9-26-71) on February 17, and have charged him with Sexual Battery of a Child under 12 and Lewd or Lascivious Molestation of a child under 12. Hernandez-Castro appeared before Levy County Judge Browning yesterday morning who set his bond at 1.75 million dollars.

LCSO Investigator Corporal Tom Martin received a report late afternoon on February 16^th from the parent of an 8 year old child.  The parent notified Corporal Martin that the child had disclosed on several visits to the Hernandez-Castro home, Mariano Hernandez-Castro had sexually battered the child. This abuse had occurred over a period of months.  The parent reported that Hernandez- Castro was known to the family.

Hernandez-Castro, whose primary language is Spanish; attempted to use this language barrier to avoid responsibility for his actions.  LCSO Investigator Noel Ramirez assisted Cpl. Martin during the interview of Hernandez-Castro. Investigator Ramirez is fluent in Spanish and was able to effectively communicate with Hernandez-Castro and obtained statements which led to his arrest.

Hernandez-Castro will be held at the Levy County Detention Facility until trial.

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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.

Sheriff McCallum Accepts the Florida Sheriff’s Risk Management Fund Award

February 16, 2016

Sheriff McCallum Accepts the Florida Sheriff’s Risk Management Fund Award

for Best Overall Performance in Vehicle Operations for 2014-2015

At the Florida Sheriff’s Winter Conference on February 1, 2016, Sheriff McCallum received the Florida Sheriff’s Risk Management Fund (FSRMF) Award for Best Overall Performance in Vehicle Operations in 2015.  The Levy County Sheriff’s Office was the only Sheriff’s Office in Florida to receive this award.  The award was presented by Seminole County Sheriff Don Eslinger, Chairman of the Board of the Florida Sheriff’s Risk Management Fund.  In the background, from left to right, is Alachua County Sheriff Sadie Darnell, President of the Florida Sheriff’s Association (FSA), retired Wakulla County Sheriff David Harvey who is the Executive Director of the Florida Sheriff’s Risk Management Fund, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings, Vice President of the FSA and Walton County Sheriff Mike Atkinson, Treasurer of the FSA.

The award was presented by Sheriff Harvey who said, “The component used to determine the recipient of this award is liability losses in conjunction with reduction in the total number of accidents, as well as reduction in at-fault accidents.  These types of losses over the most recent coverage year are reviewed and the recipient of this award has the best liability loss ratios of covered members (59) for that period of time.”

Sheriff McCallum credits all of his deputies and personnel that are assigned vehicles for this award.  Sheriff McCallum said, “We emphasize in our training the importance of safety in vehicle operations, and I am very proud of all of my employees for their improvement in this important area.” He also stated, “We put millions and millions of miles on our vehicles every year in one of the largest geographical counties in the state.  To receive this top award is truly an honor that I accept on behalf of the men and women of the Levy County Sheriff’s Office.”

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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.

South Levy Sex Offender Arrested

 

 

 

 

February 9, 2016

Levy County Sheriff’s Office Investigators, with the assistance of State Probation and Parole Officers, arrested Michael Anthony Rader on an outstanding warrant and a new charge of failure to abide by the statutory regulations regarding his Sex Offender designation.  On February 8, 2016, Corporal Tom Martin made contact with Rader at his residence outside the Town of Inglis for the purpose of executing a Violation of Probation warrant on Rader. 

Prior to executing the warrant, Cpl. Martin’s investigation revealed that Rader was actively using a Facebook account which was not authorized under the Florida Sex Offender Law.  Rader was previously convicted of Lewd and Lascivious Battery on a Victim 12-15 years of age in 2009. 

In Florida, Sex Offenders and Predators are not allowed to use the internet and social media without registering their accounts.  This part of the law seeks to prevent offenders from using the internet to contact potential victims. 

Corporal Martin executed the Violation of Probation warrant and charged Rader with Failure to Register his account.  Rader was booked into the Levy County Detention Center where he is being held without bond on both charges. 

 

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Goethe State Forest Conducting 8,525 Acre Prescribed Burn This Week

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	Contact: Ludie Bond
February 8, 2016	(352) 395-4943, cell (352) 258-6084 Twitter: @FFS_Waccasassa
Gainesville, FL – The Florida Forest Service will be conducting an 8,525 acre prescribed burn this week on Goethe State Forest beginning Tuesday, February 9. The prescribed burn operation should take two days to complete.  Roadclosures will be in place at northbound SR 121 at US 19 and at southbound SR 121 at CR 326.  In addition, CR 337 between SR 121 and CR 326 will also be closed due to smoky conditions and heavy equipment working in the area.  Drivers should use caution.   This prescribed burn will be conducted by a Florida Forest Service helicopter and ground crews.  Traffic control on the roads surrounding the affected area will be under the direction of the Florida Highway Patrol and the Levy County Sheriff’s Office. Drivers and residents are reminded of the possibility of smoke on the road during prescribed burns. If the public encounters smoke on the highways, slow down, turn on your low beams and drive appropriately under the conditions   The Florida Forest Service is reminding citizens and landowners that the benefits of prescribed fire in Florida are plentiful, and include: ·         Providing improved forage for wildlife and livestock ·         Returning nutrients to the soil ·         Helping control certain plant diseases ·         Reducing the buildup of dry and flammable plant materials   The Florida Forest Service manages more than one million acres of public forestland while protecting 26 million acres of homes, forestland and natural resources from the devastating effects of wildfires.  Learn more about the Florida Forest Service.    ###

 

Civil Court Order Enforcement Results in Drug Arrests

 

 

 

February 3, 2016

Levy County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested two individuals after deputies were called to 4453 NE 77^th Avenue in Bronson on February 2, 2016.  Deputy Chase Gregory went to the location in response to a citizen’s request to enforce a Writ of Possession.  Deputy Gregory notified Travis James Holmes (11-7-91) that he had to leave the mobile home because of the writ.  After the notification, both Holmes and Leah Hill Wilkerson (3-23-70) returned to the mobile home and removed items that included controlled substances and drug paraphernalia.  Holmes was wearing a knife on his belt when he entered the mobile home and indicated to a witness that he would use the knife to obtain the items.  

Deputy Gregory was able to apprehend Wilkerson on scene.  Holmes evaded Gregory but was later detained by Lt. Duane Dykstra.  Deputies found a significant amount of drug paraphernalia in the area including a large number of used syringes and spoons that had been used to prepare narcotics for injection. 

Wilkerson was charged with Possession of Cocaine and Drug Paraphernalia.  She is being held on a $31,000.00 bond.  Holmes was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance without a Prescription and Armed Trespassing.  Holmes is being held on a $40,000.00 bond.  Both subjects are being held at the Levy County Detention Center. 

 

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