Drug Dealer Arrested

MEDIA RELEASE

 

Date:                March 30, 2012

Time:                5:31 PM

 

On March 29, 2012 Captain Scott Anderson arrested Kenyatta Daron Howard for possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell or deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia.

 

Last year the Levy County Sheriff's Office Drug Task Force executed a drug search warrant in the Chiefland area. Several subjects were arrested in the search warrant, but Howard was allowed to leave the residence since he was not the focus of the investigation. Inside the Chiefland residence a large amount of cocaine was seized during the search warrant and a witness came forth and testified that Howard was weighing and packaging the cocaine the night the search warrant was executed.

 

After the above search warrant the Drug Task Force began an investigation on Howard. Agents purchased cocaine from him in Levy and Dixie Counties and obtained a warrant from the 2011 investigation. 

 

Howard is known in Levy County and he is a mid-level drug dealer.  Prior to Howard's arrest he was out on bail ($360,000) from local drug charges.  Howard was arrested on the Levy County warrant and has a $100,000 bond and the warrant in Dixie County he has no bond.

 

Major Evan Sullivan said "The Levy County Sheriff's Office has a zero tolerance for drug dealers".  "We will seek, find and arrest all drug dealers to make our streets in Levy County safer."

 

Defendant:

 

Kenyatta Daron Howard

1414 Braden Powell Road

Melrose, Fl.

B/M, 10/11/1975

 

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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

Farm Theft

MEDIA RELEASE

Date:                March 30, 2012

Time:                4:30 PM

 

Sergeant Mike Narayan arrested Henry Joel Melendez Prestol for three counts of burglary, three counts of grand theft, six counts of dealing in stolen property, forgery and uttering a forged instrument.  Two different horse farms in the Morriston area reported numerous thefts from January-March 2012. The Oak Ridge Training Center reported on January 16th that unknown person(s) stole a laptop valued over $600.00.  On March 23, 2012 Oak Ridge Training Center reported that someone used bolt cutters and cut a lock and stole approximately 100 bags of horse feed.

 

On March 29, 2012 the Big Lick Farm in Morriston reported four horse saddles and a pole saw stolen.  Deputy Scott Stancil received a tip that Henry Prestol may be responsible for the thefts at the two horse farms and he contacted the Criminal Investigations Division.   Deputy Scott Stancil, Sergeant Narayan and Corporal Mike Bell began following up leads and questioned Prestol on March 30, 2012. 

 

The investigation revealed Prestol stole the listed items over a three month period.  The above Investigators and deputy recovered the stolen laptop, 76 bags of horse feed and the four saddles and returned the items back to the victims.  Prestol admitted that he stole the items and sold the stolen property to friends.  Prestol additionally admitted to stealing a blank check from the Big Lick Farm. Prestol forged the victim's name and uttered the forged check at a Williston business.

 

Defendant:

 

Henry Joel Melendez Prestol

14200 NW County Road 464B

Morriston, Fl.

W/M, 09/26/1979

 

 

 

 

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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

Fugitive On The Run For Over 16 years

MEDIA RELEASE

 

Date:               March 30, 2012

Time:               8:15 AM

 

The Levy County Sheriff's Office and the US Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested Benjamin Monroe Hamilton for an outstanding Highland County warrant.

 

The Task Force Unit received a collateral lead that Hamilton was living in Levy County.  Hamilton has been on the run since 1996 and was living in the Mont Brook area under the name Benjamin Crawford.  Hamilton was allegedly involved in a bar brawl. The fight led to the parking lot and Hamilton ran the victim over with a vehicle seriously injuring him. 

 

On March 29, 2012 Levy County deputies Major Evan Sullivan, Captain Scott Anderson, Rob Bowers, Willie Barnes, Burt Miller and Sergeant Jay Bolton all sworn US Marshals were briefed in the Williston area before the early morning arrest. The plan was to allow Hamilton to leave his house since the Task Force had information that Hamilton may have a rifle inside the residence.  The Task Force set up at Hamilton's house and surveillance was conducted on Hamilton's movements.  The Task force followed Hamilton and he dropped off a friend at a Williston salvage yard.  After Hamilton dropped off the friend the Task Force members converged on Hamilton and a felony traffic stop was conducted.  Hamilton was arrested without incident and admitted that he knew he was a wanted man.  Hamilton stated that his attorney told him to stay out of Highlands County.  Hamilton stated that he used the name Benjamin Crawford while living in Levy County.

 

 

Defendant:

 

Benjamin Monroe Hamilton

230 SE 194 Terrace

Williston, Fl.

W/M, 06/26/1952

 

 

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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

Monkey Madness

MEDIA RELEASE

 

Date:                March 24, 2012

Time:               10:00 AM

 

On Thursday, March 22, 2012 citizens in east Levy County reported seeing three monkeys.  Lt Hunt the Commander of the Ag/Marine Unit responded and spoke to the complainant and he advised the monkeys have been sighted in the area of County Road 318/335. 

 

Lt. Hunt spent hours with the complainant attempting to locate the monkeys, but the monkeys again escaped from being sighted by authorities. Lt. Hunt did locate in the woods evidence that monkeys are in the area by locating a fence post where they scratched and also found hair where the monkeys had shed.  Complainants complained that the monkeys are eating there pets food and also scattering the food making a mess in the carports.

 

The Sheriff's Office has had numerous reported monkey sightings from citizens in the Williston area.  Last year Chairman of the Levy County Board of County Commission, Mr. Danny Stevens reported seeing the elusive monkeys.

 

Lt. Hunt contacted the Florida Fish & Wild Life Officers and will set traps in the area in attempt to trap and relocate the monkeys.  The Sheriff's Office has no reports the monkeys have been aggressive towards people.

 

 

 

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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

Man Armed With High Powered Rifle

MEDIA RELEASE

 

Date:   March 23, 2012

Time:   12:30  PM

 

On March 22, 2012 Deputy Britton Drew responded to a physical altercation involving a firearm at 217 North Pine Street in Bronson.  While responding to the call Deputy Drew was advised by dispatch that the defendant, Jimmie Mongo was armed with a shotgun and was fleeing the area in a black passenger car.  Upon Drew's arrival he observed Mongo running with a rifle and jumped into a black car and left the scene at a high rate of speed. 

 

Deputies pursued the suspect vehicle to Boundary Street in Bronson where Mongo jumped out of the car armed with a high-powered rifle and ran on foot.  Deputies chased the suspect through several residential yards and arrested him at gunpoint.  The rifle was seized and the long gun was a 7mm rifle with a scope. 

 

The investigation revealed that Mongo was involved in a domestic disturbance.  Mongo was speaking to his ex-girlfriend on the telephone and became very upset.  Mongo went to the victim's residence and entered the house and started choking her until the victim passed out.  The victim's relative heard the commotion and went into the bedroom to find Mongo choking the victim.  When the elderly man, 68 years of age attempted to intervene Mongo struck the victim knocking him down on the sofa.  The elderly male stated that Mongo left the house and returned shortly armed with a long gun and threatened his life.

 

The defendant Jimmie Mongo was arrested and transported to Levy County Jail.  Mongo was arrested for the following charges:

 

Battery / Felony by Strangulation

Aggravated Assault

Battery on Elderly

Armed Burglary

Resisting Officer without Violence  

Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

 

Mongo has 6 previous felony convictions for Assault, Battery, Burglary and Firearms charges.

 

 

Defendant:

 

Jimmie L. Mongo

380 N. Pine Street

Bronson, FL

B/M 07/06/1950

 

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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

Two Arrested in Car Chase

MEDIA RELEASE

 

Date:                March 22, 2012

Time:                3:50 PM

 

On March 21, 2012 the Levy County Sheriff's Office in conjunction with the North Florida Violent Fugitive Task Force, United States Marshal Service were attempting to locate Steven Allen Ross.  Ross had an active Alachua County warrant for burglary and theft and he was on the run from authorities. Ross has a history of escape in Columbia County.

 

Information was developed that Ross was hiding in Gilchrist County and he made comments that he would not be taken alive.  Members of the USMS Task Force went to 6399 SE 62^nd Court Trenton to execute the felony warrant, but Ross escaped out the back door and ran into a heavily wooded area. 

 

The manhunt continued for the next 6 hours by conducting surveillances at other known locations and highways in the area.  The investigation revealed that a relative called a friend, Spencer Colson to pick up Ross.  Colson was sent to a pre-determine destination and picked up Ross.

 

Colson lives in Newberry and responded to Gilchrist County for the purpose of hiding Ross in Levy County.   Upon Ross and Colson entering Levy County, Deputy Burt Miller a member with the USMS North Florida Violent Fugitive Task Force attempted a felony traffic stop.  Colson was driving a green Dodge Durango and refused to stop and led authorities in a short chase.  Deputies performed a rolling road block and forced Colson to stop.  Colson was arrested for felony fleeing & attempting to elude a police officer and obstruction of justice.  Ross was arrested for the active Alachua County warrant and they were both transported to the Levy County Jail.

 

Defendant:

 

Spencer Colson

19019 SW 30^th Street

Newberry, Fl.

W/M, 06/111983

 

Steven Allen Ross

430 Margarete Street

Newberry, Fl

W/M, 09/22/1990

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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

"Pudding Tane" Arrest Later Identified as Eric Priest

MEDIA RELEASE

 

Date:               March 22, 2012

Time:               9:30 AM

 

On March 21, 2012 Deputy Jason Gallup responded to a residential alarm at 19931 NE 33^rd Street in Morriston.  Prior to Gallup's arrival the Communication Center received a call from a man complaining about the alarm and identified himself as "Pudding Tane".

 

Upon arriving at the alarm call Deputy Gallup observed a white male on the property.  The man became agitated when Gallup asked him to identify himself and he identified himself as "Pudding Tane".  Due to Pudding Tane not cooperating with the investigation he was detained and he became more evasive, combative and refused to cooperate with Deputy Gallup.  The subject struck Gallup almost knocking him to the ground and he was subsequently arrested for battery on a Police Officer and resisting arrest without violence. 

 

The subject was later identified through fingerprints as Eric Priest and he didn't live at the residence.

 

Defendant:

 

Eric D. Priest

19871 SE 34^th Place

Morriston, Fl.

W/M, 08/08/1958

 

 

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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