Multiple Cases Solved – Two Juveniles Arrested

 

July 1, 2022

Violent crimes garner the most attention. However, no one seems to pay any attention to burglaries or car thefts. These crimes often have a profound impact on the victim and their families. Add to this that children are the perpetrators and we now have your attention.

Levy County Sheriff’s Office began receiving calls from citizens in the Morriston area near the end of June. The citizens were reporting their vehicles were being stolen and/or broken into. The thieves were taking valuables or the entire vehicle, only to dump it after taking a joy ride. Most every time deputies located a stolen vehicle it had been damaged and required extensive repairs. 

On June 28^th the suspects were at it again and stole a Ford truck. An alert citizen recognized the theft in progress and called 911. Deputies and Detectives flooded the area and located the vehicle driven by the delinquents. A car chase ensued and they wrecked the vehicle. Thankfully no one was injured but the driver decided it was best to flee the scene and ran away into the woods. Detectives apprehended him after a short foot pursuit.

The driver, now identified as Rico Ridgeway (14 years old) from Williston faces numerous felony charges. During this investigation Rico was identified as a suspect in two additional grand theft auto incidents. Kaden McCurdy (16) of Williston also became a subject as Detectives determined he participated in other crimes being investigated by both the Levy County Sheriff’s Office and Williston Police Department.

Ridgeway is no stranger to our Detectives. He had been arrested just four day prior for another vehicle theft but was released from juvenile detention. Why, because car theft is not considered a violent crime. Ridgeway has six (6) pending cases in juvenile court, not counting his newest charges.

Detectives know this is not an isolated incident and that Ridgeway and McCurdy are not committing these crimes alone. LCSO Detectives worked alongside the Williston Police Department as Detectives furthered the investigation. As a result Williston Police Department Detectives solved seven (7) car burglaries reported in the City of Williston.

Since this crime spree began, Detectives have recovered five (5) stolen vehicles, suspect these two are involved in ten (10) additional car burglaries reported in the county and have been involved in two vehicle pursuits; all amongst other criminal acts. These cases are all active and are currently being investigated. Detectives are seeking assistance and request anyone who has information to please call us. Detective Ryan Sullivan is the lead investigator and can be reached at (352) 486-5111 ext. 360. Those who wish to provide a tip but want to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 1-877-349-8477. You could be eligible to receive a cash reward.   

Family Cookout Ends with Gunplay

 

June 28, 2022

On June 26, 2022 a man arrived at a Gainesville Hospital emergency room suffering from a gunshot wound. The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office was called and determined the subject sustained his injury at a home in the Bronson area of Levy County. Deputies from Alachua County contacted Levy County and our deputies responded to an address in the University Oaks subdivision where the shooting occurred. No reports of this shooting in this residential neighborhood were received by the Levy County Sheriff’s Office 911 Center.

Levy County Deputies and Detectives began their investigation and learned that during a family gathering Quyn Taras Barber (10/5/98) of Ocala and the injured subject got into a heated argument. Barber, who was armed with a handgun, pointed the weapon at the victim and fired one round. The victim was transported to the hospital emergency room by a family member where he was dropped off. The victim is expected to recover from this injury.

Detectives obtained a warrant for Barber for aggravated battery with a firearm and began actively searching for him. The Ocala Police Department located Barber at a local apartment building in the City of Ocala. Barber was taken into custody and driven to the Marion County Jail where he was booked. He is being held in lieu of a $450,000.00 bond. Barber is expected to be transported to the Levy County Detention Center where he will be held pending trial.

Sexual Predator Arrested

 

June 28, 2022

The Florida Department of Probation and Parole alerted Levy County Sheriff’s Detective that William F. Isaacs (12/15/56), a sexual predator, failed to register as required. On June 24, 2022 Detectives located Isaacs in a makeshift shanty camped behind the Probation office in Chiefland. Isaacs was recently released from the Florida Department of Corrections on June 21^st and was required to register his address with the Levy County Sheriff’s Office within 48 hours of his release. He was also required to obtain a valid Florida ID card in this same time frame.

Isaacs did neither and was arrested by Detectives. He was booked in at the Levy County Detention Center and charged with failure to register his address and failure to obtain a valid ID. In addition to these new law violations Isaacs was wanted for failure to pay child support. He was assigned the bond of $100,000.00 during first appearance for the new law violations and also ordered to pay $7,260.00 in back child support.

Which One is Real?

June 24, 2022

You have less than one second to make this decision and one of them is pointing at you. Still can’t decide? Neither could our victims and neither can we.

On June 22, 2022 the Williston High School football team was departing Blue Springs from a team building retreat. A vehicle passed by the buses loaded with the players when someone from inside an unidentified white Hyundai car thrust one of the above pictured weapons through the sunroof. Are you still undecided? So were we.

Deputies and Detectives flooded the area in an attempt to locate and stop the white Hyundai. Several of the Williston players believed the Hyundai was being driven by rival team members form Chiefland High School’s football team. This was accurate information, as it turns out.

Detectives located the occupants of the Hyundai and seized the weapon in question. The investigation determined the weapon was an “air-soft” gun. It fires a plastic projectile powered by compressed gas and is technically a “toy”. These toys can be customized to mimic the real thing. They are even used in mock battles and can be modified to precision accuracy. YouTube is full of these types of videos and the accuracy of the toy is astonishing.

This investigation is still on-going and charges are expected to be filed in the near future. One charge being considered is that of aggravated assault with a firearm, a serious felony. Florida Law allows this charge to be filed even though the weapon is technically a toy. Why? Because the victim(s) believed the weapon was real which placed them in actual fear.

Sheriff McCallum wishes to issue a strong warning to parents and to our students and youth. Consider the “toys” you are allowing your children to have and how they could be improperly used. Realize that actions have consequences. We will not tolerate this type of behavior or a violation of law at school or at school activities and that they can lead to deadly results and the real possibility of retaliation.

We are thankful this investigation determined that no real weapon was in the hands of our youth. This situation could have ended much differently. Keep a watchful eye on your children and the “toys” with which they choose to play.   

 

Convicted Felon Arrested for Firearm Possession

 

On June 11, 2022 at approximately 6:30 in the evening, Levy County Deputies responded to a physical disturbance call in Morriston. The female caller told the 911 Operator that she and a male subject at the residence were involved in an argument. During the argument, as she was attempting to leave the home, the male subject (later identified as Jeffery Minish) fired a gun in her direction. She was able to get away to a safe location where she met with Deputies.

Deputies responded to the home and attempted to establish communication with the suspect.  All efforts were unsuccessful. Knowing the man was armed and had threatened additional violence: Deputies activated the Tactical Response Unit (TRU) to assist. TRU members arrived and were able to determine the man was in the home and they were able to take Minish (3/21/64) into custody.

The investigation revealed Minish fired thirteen (13) rounds from a .40 caliber handgun at the victim as she fled the home. LCSO Detectives arrived to assist in the investigation and discovered ten firearms and a significant amount of ammunition inside the home. Minish has a prior felony conviction from the state of Georgia and is statutorily prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition. 

Minish was charged with battery, aggravated assault with a firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and other charges. He is being held in the Levy County Detention Center on a $1,020,000.00 bond.