Saturday, February 19, 2011
Pistol class to support Hait mission trip
This Fund raiser is for First Baptist Church of Bronsons Youth mission trip to Haiti in summer 2011. This class hosted by Levy County Sheriffs Office will qualify for Florida concealed weapons permit and the date is Mar 12, 2011 8am till 1pm at the Levy County Sheriffs Office Classroom 9150 NE 80th Ave Bronson Fl 32621. Cost will be $55 dollars in advance or 60 dollars day of class you can register at www.Levypistolclass.info Lunch will be provided and additional donations will be appreciated and accepted. please email any questions to sfinnen@levyso.com or contact the sheriffs office at 3524865111.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Prostitution Sting Bronson Area
MEDIA RELEASE
Date: February 18, 2011
Time: 3:15 PM
The Levy County Sheriff's Office Drug TASK Force has received complaints that a white female has been in the Bronson area prostituting. On February 18, 2011 Agent Burt Miller made contact with the white female that was later identified as, Ashley Avis Wilcox at the Bronson Post Office. During the conversation Wilcox stated that she wanted to party and received $ 50.00 from Miller for exchange of sex.
Wilcox was arrested and had the money in her pocket but stated that she was going to give the money back. Fortunately, we do not see this type of activity in our County but we want to send a strong message that this behavior will not be tolerated. Wilcox was arrested for prostitution and transported to the Levy County Jail.
Defendant:
Ashley Avis Wilcox
657 Stephens Street
Bronson, Fl.
White Female, 09/26/87
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Major Evan Sullivan
Levy County Sheriff's Office
FBI-National Academy 183rd Session
Office: 352-486-5446
Cell: 352-577-4218
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Old Town Couple Flee By Jumping In The River
MEDIA RELEASE
Date: February 15, 2011
Time: 1:00 PM
On February 14, 2011, Levy Deputies and Investigators assisted Gilchrist County Sheriff's Office in reference to a residential burglary that just occurred in Gilchrist County. A family member to the victim come home and found Gregory Bennett II and Heather Bartholomew on the property. The two were able to evade capture by running out the back sliding door and fleeing in a black SUV. The witness followed the suspects to Levy County and called law enforcement. The suspects' vehicle was located behind the Fanning Springs City Hall and when they saw deputies they immediately ran on foot.
Deputy Clint Anderson & his K-9 partner, Robiek, responded to the scene and tracked the suspects. During the tracking, Robiek located the suspect's shoes and a stolen .22 caliber rifle in the woods. Deputies cordon the area off and Investigator Roger Bell located the suspects running on foot towards the Suwannee River. When Bell gave them an order to stop, the suspects jumped into the river to escape arrest but realized that the water was too cold and surrendered without incident. Investigator Bell arrested the two for resisting arrest without violence and the Gilchrist County Sheriff's Office will file appropriate charges for crimes they committed in Gilchrist County.
Defendant:
Gregory Alan Bennett II
178 SE 905th Street
Old Town, Fl.
White Male, 01/10/89
Heather Leigh Bartholomew
178 SE 905th Street
Old Town, Fl.
White Female, 11/13/90
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Major Evan Sullivan
Levy County Sheriff's Office
FBI-National Academy 183rd Session
Office: 352-486-5446
Cell: 352-577-4218
Friday, February 4, 2011
Two Arrested In Armed Home Invasion Robbery
MEDIA RELEASE
Date: February 4, 2011
Time: 12:00 PM
On February 1, 2011 Deputies and Investigators responded to 20550 NE 75th Street Williston in reference to a home invasion robbery. Upon arrival deputies made contact with Ms. Donna Taylor and she was extremely upset and shaken from the incident. Taylor advised that she is a home health care nurse who takes care of Ms. Betty Whitehurst 81 years of age. Taylor advised around 4:13 AM she heard the door knob rattling and thought it might be Ms. Whitehurst walking around the house. Taylor stated that when she was getting out of bed to investigate the noise there were two suspects standing over her and a black male pointing a handgun at her head and he cut the phone line.
Taylor stated while the black male stood over her pointing the gun at her the second suspect questioned her about a safe. During the robbery a safe that contained prescription pills, money and a pistol and a shotgun was taken from the residence. Fortunately during the home invasion robbery Ms. Whitehurst never woke up.
During the course of the investigation Investigator Sgt Mike Narayan and Mike Wilkinson developed Craig Allen Pitts, Hillary "Hill" Church Henderson and Stefan Lernard Lattimore as suspects. Pitts within the past month has worked at the Whitehurst home and was a house sitter during the night. He is the son to the victim, Donna Taylor. Pitts advised the two accomplices of the floor plan of the residence and the location of the safe, money and prescription pills.
A search for the suspects that terrorized Taylor ended February 3, 2011. Investigator Jay Bolton and Joey Barrera in the Drug Task Force were conducting a criminal investigation in the Chiefland area. While driving down the road Henderson almost side swiped their vehicle and a traffic stop was conducted for the traffic infraction. During the traffic stop Investigators smelled the odor of marijuana and had Henderson step out of the vehicle and in plain view they observed that Henderson was sitting on a pistol. The pistol was later indentified as one of the guns that were stolen during the robbery. Henderson is a four time convicted felon and he was arrested for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of ammunition. Henderson cooperated with Investigators and advised the location of Pitts and he was located and taken to the Sheriff's Office. Henderson stated that Pitts was the mastermind behind the robbery and when he entered the house through a doggie door he went to opposite side of the house and let Pitts in the residence. Henderson stated that he took the safe, Pitts stole the shotgun and Lattimore removed the safe and they fled the area in Pitts' vehicle. The third suspect has been identified as Stefan Lattimore and he remains at large. Investigator Wilkinson has obtained an arrest warrant for Lattimore for armed home invasion robbery Lattimore may be in the Gainesville area and he should be armed and dangerous.
Defendants:
Craig Allen Pitts
2290 SE 141st Ave
Morriston, Fl
White, Male 09/06/90
Hillary "Hill" Henderson
9051 NW 30th Ave
Chiefland, Fl.
White Male 02/28/91
Wanted Person:
Stefan Lernard Lattimore
Gainesville, Fl
Black Male, 03/17/85
Bond: $ 500,000
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Major Evan Sullivan
Levy County Sheriff's Office
FBI-National Academy 183rd Session
Office: 352-486-5446
Cell: 352-577-4218
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
K-9 Daisy Locates Missing four Year Old
MEDIA RELEASE
Date: February 2, 2011
Time: 8:00 PM
At approximately 4:30 p.m. on February 2, 2011, over a dozen deputies responded to 13450 NE 51 Street in Williston to a report of a missing four year old boy. Thankfully, the boy was found in a cluster of bushes behind the house within minutes of the arrival of K-9 Deputy Scott Stancil and his partner, Daisy, a three year old bloodhound. Daisy is a recent addition to the K-9 Unit which is supervised by Captain Scott Anderson.
Thankfully this situation turned out positive and the boy was safe. The missing boy was upset and had minor scratches but he was very glad to see his father. The family was overjoyed and extremely thankful for the quick response and recovery of their son. Major Evan Sullivan comments, "This situation could have resulted in hours of searching possibly costing thousands of dollars. K-9's uncanny ability to track suspects and/or people who are lost can equal the manpower of ten deputies." Researchers have estimated that a bloodhound's nose consists of approximately 230 million olfactory cells or scent receptor which is approximately 40 times the number in humans.
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Major Evan Sullivan
Levy County Sheriff's Office
FBI-National Academy 183rd Session
Office: 352-486-5446
Cell: 352-577-4218
Monday, January 31, 2011
Bath Salts Banned
MEDIA RELEASE
Date: January 31, 2011
Time: 3:30 PM
Attorney General Bondi Files Emergency Rule Banning the Dangerous Synthetic Drug Marketed as "Bath Salts"
On January 26, 2011 the Attorney General Pam Bondi announced in an emergency ruling that will add substances containing MDPV (Methylenedioxypyrovalerone), commonly known as "bath salts" to the schedule of controlled substances.
"Due to the violent nature of the side effects involved in taking these drugs, the emergency measures will provide law enforcement with the tools necessary to take this dangerous substance off the shelves and protect the abusers from themselves as well as others. As of January 26, 2011 possession or selling MDPV is a felony in the state of Florida. The common street name for the drug is: Vanilla Sky, Ivory Wave, Ocean Burst and Bolivian Bath. The substance is usually snorted although it can be smoked or swallowed. Reported side effects of MDPV include: increased heart rate, nosebleeds, hallucinations, severe paranoia, seizures, and kidney failure.
Retail stores in Levy County that are in possession of any of these products can turn them in to the Sheriff's Office without fear of arrest or they can call the Sheriff's Office and a deputy will gladly respond and obtain the dangerous drugs. Major Evan Sullivan said "We will make every effort to work with the retail stores but non-compliance will result in there arrest".
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Major Evan Sullivan
Levy County Sheriff's Office
FBI-National Academy 183rd Session
Office: 352-486-5446
Cell: 352-577-4218
Friday, January 28, 2011
Robbery Suspect Arrested
MEDIA RELEASE
Date: January 28, 2011
Time: 4:30 PM
Fanning Springs, Florida-On December 11, 2010 the Levy County Sheriff's Office received a robbery alarm at Tienda Mexican Store. The victim advised the Communication Center that the three suspects left in a white Ford Explorer. Prior to arriving at the store the vehicle was located in the parking lot of Stones BP gas station. Two suspects were seen entering the store and a third suspect was getting out of the Explorer. One of the suspects was taken into custody and the other two suspects fled on foot through a heavily wooded area. Three Sheriff's Office K-9's were utilized in tracking the men over three hours but they were able to elude deputies.
The investigation revealed that the suspects entered the store around 9:50 AM. The suspects acted like they were going to make a purchase and while at the cash register demanded money while armed with a gun. The clerk and the male customer were pistol whipped and the male was tied up. The suspects robbed the clerk and the customer of an undisclosed amount of money and fled in the above vehicle.
This is the second time this store has been robbed at gun point. On October 10, 2010 the store was robbed at gun point and the same modus operandi was used during that robbery.
Later in the day a 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier Florida tag 713-WTZ was stolen from Discount Liquor in Chiefland. The victim left the vehicle running and went into the liquor store only to find their vehicle stolen. It is believed that that two armed suspects stole the vehicle and may be traveling to the south Florida area. The two robbery suspects are depicted in the press release.
On January 27, 2011 the stolen Chevrolet Cavalier was located by Lantana Police Department in front of a motel. The second robbery suspect, Raul Pagan Rodriguez was arrested on a Palm Beach County warrant and the subject has a hold on the Levy County robbery charges. The third suspect is at large and at this time his identity is unknown.
Defendant:
Norbin Dejuses Medina
Almar Road Apt#B 8717
West Palm Beach, Fl
Honduras Male, 02/05/75
Charges: Two Counts Armed robbery
Raul Pagan Rodriguez
No Home Address
Honduras Male, 04/07/67
Charges: Two Counts Armed Robbery
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Major Evan Sullivan
Levy County Sheriff's Office
FBI-National Academy 183rd Session
Office: 352-486-5446
Cell: 352-577-4218
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