Missing Children Located in Colorado

April 25, 2023

Yesterday, April 24, 2023 the Florida Department of Law Enforcement in cooperation with the Levy County Sheriff’s Office issued a nationwide missing child alert. Levy County Sheriff’s Office Detectives were working with the Florida Department of Children and Family Services (DCF) to execute an order of protective custody for two children, Raiden Phoenix (1 year old) and Ember Willoughby (11 months). The children were temporarily placed in the custody of Raymond Otero (48) of Williston when the children’s mother, Hailey Palmer (21) of Williston was arrested for an outstanding warrant issued from the State of Indiana. Palmer was extradited to Indiana where she is being held and her release date is unknown.

Raymond Otero refused to cooperate with DCF Agents during the investigation and fled the State of Florida with the children. Shortly before midnight last night the Levy County Sheriff’s Office was notified that the children had been located in Colorado. Law Enforcement at the Rocky Ford Police Department in Otero County Colorado reported Raymond Otero dropped the children off at their station and left. Both children are in good health and are being cared for until they can be picked up by representatives of DCF. Raymond Otero did not want to speak to law enforcement and his current location is unknown.

Levy County Sheriff’s Office is still working on this investigation. Detectives are seeking a warrant for Raymond Otero for interference of custody. Anyone who has information related to this investigation is asked to contact Lieutenant Mike Narayan at 352-486-5111. You can make an anonymous tip by contacting Crime Stoppers at 1-877-349-8477.
 

Inglis Man Pays More Than His Bar Tab- Sentenced to Four Years for Battery on Law Enforcement Officer

 

April 20, 2023

On January 8, 2023 nearing midnight, Deputy Nelson Macias was on patrol in Inglis. He witnessed what he thought was a disturbance occurring in the parking lot of Our Pub as he drove past. He turned in to the business and saw two men yelling at each other. He approached the two men to inquire if everything was ok. Deputy Macias was immediately confronted by one of these men who began to curse at him, threatened to beat him up and kill his family. This man, whom Deputy Macias knew as Aaron M. Beam (11/20/79) of Inglis, took a fighting stance and approached closer to his patrol vehicle. Beam walked to the driver’s window, reached inside the patrol vehicle and then pointed his finger in Deputy Macias’s face and again threatened to beat him up. 

The other party to the original parking lot argument, Leon Maclin (5/22/89) of Inglis, also aggressively approached Deputy Macias who was still seated in his car. Deputy Macias used his car door to push Beam away and got out. He told Beam he was under arrest and instructed him to place his hands behind his back. Beam then threw a punch at Deputy Macias that did not connect. Deputy Macias countered and used Beam’s momentum to pin Beam to the ground.  Deputy Macias held Beam on the ground for the next 20+ minutes as he was unable to call for assistance. Deputy Macias’s radio was damaged during the physical altercation.   

Patrons from inside the bar came out and surrounded Deputy Macias as he held Beam to the ground. Most offered no assistance as they were too busy videoing and making anti-police statements. One patron did not follow the masses and called 911 alerting Levy County Communications that Deputy Macias needed help. Additional law enforcement from both Levy County and Citrus County arrived to assist Deputy Macias and Beam was taken into custody on multiple charges. Leon Maclin was also arrested on scene.

Yesterday, April 19, 2023 Aaron Beam, who has been in custody at the Levy County Detention Center since his arrest, entered a change of plea in Circuit Court. Beam pled guilty to burglary of an occupied conveyance, resisting arrest with violence and two counts of battery of a law enforcement officer and was sentenced to four years (48 months) in the Florida Department of Corrections.

Leon Maclin’s case was closed after Maclin was found deceased in a camper trailer in Inglis on March 22, 2023 from an apparent overdose.

Inglis Man Arrested for Shooting Passing Vehicle – Hitting Passenger

 

April 20, 2023

Levy County Deputies responded to the intersection of SE 201 Street and SR 40 East to a reported shooting incident shortly after 8:00 p.m. last night. Deputies arrived to discover a man had been shot in the leg with what appeared to be a shotgun blast. The victim, a 47 year old male, was transported to a nearby emergency center for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

Multiple Deputies arrived to assist in locating the shooting suspect. The victim and witness told deputies two shots came from a nearby property they were passing. Upon hearing the first shot the driver of the vehicle stopped. The victim stepped from the vehicle as the driver was yelling at the shooter. This is when the second shot was fired, striking the victim in the leg. The victim and driver fled the area to safety and contacted law enforcement.

Deputies responded to the location where the shooter was last seen. Deputies did not locate the shooter at the home and found evidence this person was still nearby. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit, “Air 1”, responded to assist. Shortly after midnight Air 1 located a person hiding in the woods on the property. Levy County Deputies apprehended this person and took him into custody.

Deputies identified the shooter as David Andrew Ruttinger (2/23/60) of Inglis. Ruttinger told deputies he fired at the vehicle because it was driving in a reckless manner. He said reckless drivers are a constant issue near his home and he was attempting to shoot the tire. He panicked when he saw law enforcement responding and hid in the woods.

Ruttinger was arrested and taken to the Levy County Detention Center. He has been charged with multiple crimes to include aggravated battery with a firearm and aggravated assault with a firearm. He is being held on a $307,000.00 bond.

Sheriff McCallum expressed his appreciation for the assistance provided by Sheriff Billy Woods and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office personnel. He also encouraged citizens to exercise their Second Amendment rights for only legitimate self-defense situations.

Retail Theft Complaint Leads to Concealed Firearm Arrest

 

April 17, 2023

On Saturday, April 15, 2023 Deputy M. Bianca responded to the Dollar General located at 110 N. Inglis Avenue in the Town of Inglis to a report of a retail theft. Branden J. Tyrrell (5/10/2000) of Dunnellon was identified by Dollar General employees as the person they witnessed stealing from the store.

Deputy Bianca located Tyrrell outside the store drinking a Seagram’s Spike in the parking lot. The investigation determined the alcoholic beverage had been stolen from the store and he was taken into custody. Tyrrell was wearing a fanny pack strapped across his chest and made the statement, “I just got out of prison.” to Deputy Bianca.

Deputy Bianca searched the fanny pack upon arresting Tyrrell and discovered a handgun hidden inside. Tyrrell, a two time convicted felon, was recently released from the Department of Corrections and is prohibited from possessing a firearm. The gun, a Glock 9mm was reported stolen from a home in Gainesville in 2022. Tyrrell was booked into the Levy County Detention Center and has been charged with retail theft, grand theft firearm, carrying a concealed firearm and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. His bond has been set at $250,000.00.

Easter Sunday Homicide Investigation

 

April 10, 2023

The Levy County Sheriff’s Office 911 Center received a call Sunday, April 9, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. reporting a subject had been shot. Deputies responded to a duplex in the Town of Bronson and discovered James Young, Jr. (5/26/82) of Chiefland deceased on the floor inside. He suffered a single gunshot wound to his chest.

LCSO Detectives were dispatched to the scene and the investigation determined Young had a prior domestic relationship with the female occupant of the duplex. Young went there to confront her and was armed with a handgun when he arrived. Young and the female began to struggle. The female was able to retrieve her own firearm and fired once, striking Young in the chest. She fled the residence to a nearby neighbor’s home seeking assistance.

Detectives are still in the early stages of this investigation. No charges have been filed and this investigation is currently on-going. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Corporal C.J. Perryman at 352-486-5111 ext. 240.