790.27(1)(A) and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon F.S.S. Victim Brenden, unfortunately, succumbed to his injuries. Cole is an example of how a predator can use social media to connect with a victim said Sheriff Mike Prendergast. Total bond set at $137,000. Her story was even told in the 2003 film Monster, which won Charlize Theron a Best Actress Oscar. David Scheibelhoffer (DOB 1/19/1981), Homosassa, FL- Failure to Pay Child Support. The two became embroiled in an intense feud, with Exotic, a larger-than-life figure, even making music videos where he accused Baskin of killing her first husband. The preliminary information gathered at the scene led detectives in a different direction. (Citrus County, FL) Shortly after 1:30 p.m. today, Citrus County Sheriffs Office (CCSO) deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle in the area of W. Venable Street and 7 Rivers Dr. in Crystal River. On October 20th and 21st, the Citrus County Sheriffs Office implemented their plan, not only to capture active wanted domestic violence suspects, but also help raise awareness in our communities. Our office is thankful that we were able to apprehend Dailey without further incident and that everyone on our team will be returning home safely this Easter.. The parent told deputies that the victim had just disclosed sexual activity with Cole, who they had met on the TikTok social media app. Analyst Ramos, attended the conference not only to further her applicable abilities in various concepts of criminality, but she was also featured as a speaker, delivering a presentation on Tools to Enhance Investigating Tips & Open Source Intelligence.. Our office takes an aggressive stance in safeguarding our youth. (The US average is 22.7) Citrus County property crime is 53.2. What really happened to toddler Caylee is still unknown. Bond set at $5,000. Houston has no regard for the laws of society and chose to take the life of another man said Sheriff Mike Prendergast. Prior history of domestic violence. Philip Tompkins, Communications Quality Assurance & Training Coordinator, completed comprehensive training for the program. (Citrus County, FL) Today, detectives from the Citrus County Sheriffs Office Tactical Impact Unit (TIU) executed a search warrant at 6959 North Charles Terrace in Hernando, FL. Pat received a Ribbon of Commendation for his quick action in preventing someone from self-harm. Deputies were dispatched to an alarm call at TD Bank in Crystal River shortly before noon today. In February of 2003, Pat transitioned to Juvenile and Judicial Services as a Bailiff. In addition to Ramos being named as Coordinator of the Year, she was also sworn in by the Honorable Judge Richard Carter as Crime Stoppers Director for Region IV. Violent crime mentioned on this list includes: Between 1995 and 2011 there have been as many as 536 combined reported incidences of violent crime in Citrus County alone. The Keokuk County Sheriffs Office and the Iowa Animal Rescue League seized all of the animals due to their conditions. , Copyright 2023 | WordPress Theme by MH Themes, Intro to Firearms Class: $10! into the stories you've heard before, and encounter many others you haven't, in ways that actually help. (Citrus County, FL)February 22, 2022, 25-year-old Shane Harrison Cohen was arrested for Aggravated Child Abuse in reference to injuries he inflicted on a 2-year-old child who was in his care. Total bond set at $52,000. Both the East and West Community Crimes Detectives (CCDs) immediately began collaborative investigative efforts to identify, locate and hold the unknown suspect accountable. Most accurate 2021 crime rates for Hernando, FL. (Citrus County, FL) At approximately 5:30 p.m. this afternoon, Citrus County Sheriffs Office deputies initially responded to a residence off of N. Windbreak Ter. The 6-year-old had been with his mom then suddenly he was gone. Pat spent eleven years in the patrol division, where in addition to his law enforcement duties, he served as a Field Training Officer (FTO) and as a Canine Deputy. Exotic (whose legal name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage) owned the Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park in Oklahoma, a home to a number of big cats. He is a Sexual Predator in the truest sense of the word and has shown he is beyond rehabilitation. Dawn McDonald (DOB 5/30/1969), Lecanto, FL- Violation of Pretrial Release Terms F.S.S. Eric Paul Clemente, 33, Floral City, arrested Sept. 19 for felony burglary of unoccupied residence and criminal mischief ($200 or less). Deputies gave verbal commands for the suspect to release the hostage, which he eventually complied with. POLK COUNTY, Fla. A 19-year-old man has been charged in connection with a murder after he posted a song about the slaying, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office. SC07-1636 Appellee's Answer Brief, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Murder_of_Jessica_Lunsford&oldid=1139769932, February 2005 events in the United States, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 16 February 2023, at 20:30. The following subjects were arrested in Citrus County during this operation: Christopher Covyaw SEXUAL OFFENDER (DOB 10/29/1972), Inverness, FL 4 Counts of Transmission of Harmful Material 847.0138(2), Seduce, solicit, lure, or entice a child to engage in any illegal act F.S.S. While the majority of his crimes were committed in the Pacific Northwest, his final spree of murders occurred in Florida. 847.0135 (3)(a ), and Unlawful use of a Two-Way Communications Device 934.215. Detectives compared notes and investigated every possible lead. Earlier that day, the CCSO was contacted by a concerned citizen in reference to possible sexual abuse of a child. Detectives with CCSOs Tactical Impact Unit set up an undercover drug buy with Morgan, where she sold fentanyl and cocaine to detectives from her residence. Citrus Hills; Holder; Hernando, FL crime analytics Source & Methodology. Guevara manipulated the young victims in this case and then took advantage of them,said Sheriff Mike Prendergast. Hudson was charged with one count of burglary to a structure, two counts of grand theft, as well as a violation of probation. Welcome to the Citrus County Sheriff's Office website. Deputies immediately recognized the property was being utilized as a cockfighting venue and made contact with the homeowner, Mr. Jose Hernandez. The following subjects were arrested on Citrus County warrants as part of this operation: Timothy Brown (DOB 11/28/1968), Ponte Vedra, FL 17 Counts of Transmission of harmful material to minor 847.0138 (2), and Seduce, solicit, lure, or entice a child to engage in any illegal act F.S.S. However, his treatment of the animals enraged, , owner of Big Cat Rescue in Florida. (Evaded execution of the arrest warrant for over a year). But to willingly arrange to meet up with a child to carry out these sickening acts makes them very real and very dangerous. Your IP: In July 27, 1981, Adam Walsh vanished from a Sears in a Hollywood, Florida mall. (Citrus County, FL) On Friday, December 2nd, at approximately 6:23 p.m., the Citrus County Sheriffs Office (CCSO) communications center received a call in reference to a shooting that had just occurred at 3980 South Springbreeze Way in Homosassa, FL. Leon County, Florida, has a population of approximately297,400 inhabitants. At 9 a.m., bicyclists will ride the second leg of the cross-county relay from there to the Withlacoochee Technical College, about a 14-mile stretch. (Citrus County, FL) March 3, 2022, in the courtroom of the Honorable Judge Richard Ric Howard, a jury found 40-year-old James Touchton of Inverness guilty of Capital Sexual Battery on a Child Under 12 (six counts) and Domestic Battery by Strangulation (two counts). During an interview with the Child Protection Team (CPT), at Jessies Place Child Advocacy Center, the victim said that Cole had travelled to Inverness from his home in Polk City and they had engaged in sexual activity in a local parking area. 572 N Citrus Avenue, Crystal River, FL 34428 +1(352)794-6367 FireFlex Beauty Supply The Behavioral Health Unit, specifically our Domestic Violence Unit, works diligently to reduce domestic violence across the county by working with our community partners like CASA, to intervene and stop the cycle of violence, said Sheriff Prendergast. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Coordinating this training is just one of the many efforts we make to ensure a safe school year for our students. "[14], Following complaints and suggestions from Citrus County residents that the pending litigation was being pursued out of greed and that had he been a better father his child may still be alive,[15] Mark Lunsford and Jacksonville-based attorneys Eric Block and Mark Gelman held a news conference in Jacksonville, where it was stated that the pending litigation was "not for the money but for change." Upon a thorough evaluation of the forensic evidence and additional investigative work by CCSO detectives, a warrant was secured for the arrest of Johnson-Cabrera, a former girlfriend of the victim. There is only one person in the world that should be held responsible for Jessica Lunsford's death and that's John Couey. Citrus County Sheriff's Office, FL. 784.03(2). Detective Tiffany Barry with the CCSO High Tech Crimes Unit (HTCU) was assigned to the case and immediately began an investigation. First responders arrived at the residence shortly thereafter and pronounced the victim deceased. The NHTSA recommends having a plan whether youre driving, riding, or hosting. (Citrus County, FL) Today, we celebrate the many impressive achievements, valuable contributions, and well-deserved retirement of Citrus County Sheriffs Office (CCSO) Deputy Jannette Spencer, who is officially retiring from our office after 32 years of dedicated service. Additionally, during our search efforts, we discovered other individuals with active warrants or committing other crimes that we just couldnt pass up! HERNANDO, Fla. - The Citrus County Sheriff's Office is investigating a suspicious death as a possible homicide after a man was found dead in a pickup truck in the woods early Thursday morning. Wuornos died by lethal injection in 2002. Violent crimes in Citrus Hills are 45% lower than the national average. Parents predators know how susceptible and trusting our children are, said Sheriff Mike Prendergast. He has uncovered illicit gambling houses, prostitution rings, marijuana grow houses, cocaine stash houses, and methamphetamine labs. (NBC News) Tonight on "Dateline," investigators desperately search for a killer after Florida teacher Denise Hallowell is found murdered in her own . About the Citrus County Sheriffs Offices High Tech Crimes Unit: The High-Tech Crime Unit is a unit within the Criminal Investigations Division whose primary function is investigating child pornography on the internet. The unit coordinates and assists other organizations and departments in combating street-level drug crimes. Initially, staff only observed minor scratches and red marks, but a short time later they worsened. These arrests came after the CCSOs Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, with the assistance of the Hernando County Sheriffs Office SWAT team served a search warrant at 116 and 158 South Kensington Avenue, in Lecanto. Over the six-month span, multiple kilos of cocaine were seized by TIU, and through each seizure, more information was gathered, which culminated in probable cause for the search warrant. Deputies immediately secured the suspect and rendered first aid, until he was transported to the hospital for medical treatment. On March 14, Couey's half-sister Dorothy Dixon gave permission to police to search her trailer at West Snowbird Court in Homosassa. On November 17, 2021, the Citrus County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) was contacted in reference to a physical disturbance near the Family Dollar in Citrus Springs. He even decapitated one and placed her head on a bookshelf. Caylees body was eventually found months later, not far from her mothers Orlando home, and Anthony was charged with her little girls murder. How Many Americans Defend Themselves with Handguns? As reported by Project: Cold Case, there were around 55,895 murders in Florida from 1965 to 2019. Jamie Mullen (DOB 11/1/1976), Floral City, FL- Failure to Pay Child Support. Jeremy Martin (DOB 7/18/1985), Lecanto, FL- Violation of Pretrial Release Terms F.S.S. On August 24, 2007, a judge in Inverness convicted Couey for the kidnapping, sexual battery, and first degree murder of Lunsford, and sentenced him to death. Touchton, who had been a Correctional Officer at Lowell Correctional Institution in Marion County, was originally arrested on March 11, 2019, by Detective Jason Cook and Detective Mike Laborda with the Citrus County Sheriffs Office (CCSO) Special Victims Unit (SVU). Due to the incredible work by our SVU detectives, alongside the Child Protection Team at Jessies Place, Touchton was quickly arrested and remained in custody all the way through todays trial. There is garbage everywhere. Steven Alan Swearingen is . The homicide rate in Florida was roughly 5.2 per 100,000 population, according to the same data, meaning that in 2019, roughly 5 people per 100,000 were murdered in Florida. 2 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty 828.12(1). Bond set at $5,000. Nicholas Sullivan (DOB 3/9/1990), Hernando, FL- Strangulation F.S.S. Year over year crime in Citrus Hills has decreased by 15%. (Citrus County, FL) Today, January 7, 2022, The Citrus County Sheriffs Office (CCSO) wishes to acknowledge the many accomplishments of Deputy Sheriff Thomas Pat Alford as he retires with 30 years of dedicated service to the citizens of Citrus County. Based on the findings of this case, along with the evidence collected and interviews conducted, an arrest warrant was signed by the Honorable Judge Falvey yesterday and Dean was arrested merely hours later. Anyone with information is asked to call SW FL Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS/1-800-780 . Your email address will not be published. Colonel - Bureau of Law Enforcement Operations, Captain - Professional Standards and Communications Division, Captain - Criminal Investigations Division, Captain - Judicial and Juvenile Services Division, Professional Standards and Communications, LONG TIME DEALER ARRESTED ON TRAFFICKING CHARGES, TWO BROTHERS SENTENCED IN FEDERAL COURT FOR HATE CRIME, TWO SEPARATE CRUELTY CALLS LEAD TO FOUR ARRESTS, MAN AND WOMAN ARRESTED FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING OF A CHILD, WOMAN CITED ON EIGHT COUNTS OF ANIMAL CRUELTY/NEGLECT, CCSO INTELLIGENCE ANALYST GRADUATES FROM CRIME INTELLIGENCE ANALYST ACADEMY, DEPUTY NANCY SUTO RETIRES AFTER 32 YEARS OF SERVICE, FORMER CORRECTIONAL OFFICER SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE ON A CHILD AND DOMESTIC BATTERY, SPECIAL OLYMPICS LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN, FLORAL CITY WOMAN ARRESTED FOR MURDER IN DRUG OVERDOSE, CCSO LEADERS GRADUATE FROM ST. LEO'S 23RD & 24TH COMMAND OFFICER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, DEPUTY THOMAS "PAT" ALFORD RETIRES AFTER 30 YEARS OF SERVICE, HOMICIDE LEADS TO DEPUTY-INVOLVED SHOOTING, 29-YEAR-OLD REDMAN ARRESTED FOR MURDER OF 19-YEAR-OLD BROTHER, NEARLY 500 GRAMS OF METH SEIZED IN HOMOSASSA SEARCH WARRANT, HOMOSASSA MAN ARRESTED FOR AGGRAVATED CHILD ABUSE, OVIEDO MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR SEXUAL BATTERY ON A CHILD, TRAFFIC STOP TURNS DRUG BUST IN HOMOSASSA, POLK CITY MAN ARRESTED FOR LEWD AND LASCIVIOUS BATTERY OF A CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF 16, OPERATION ROTTEN EGGS' RESULTS IN 35 ARRESTS, FLEEING WANTED OF THE WEEK ARRESTED FOR ANIMAL CRUELTY, COMMERCIAL BURGLARY SUSPECT WILLIAM DLUGOS JR. K9 Odie conducted an exterior vehicle sniff of the suspect vehicle and alerted to the presence of narcotics. The suspect forced entry to closed businesses and stole cash and other miscellaneous items. We are privileged to have worked alongside Chris and wish him nothing short of a happy and safe retirement.. However, in July 2011, Anthony was acquitted on murder and manslaughter charges, but found guilty on four counts of withholding information from the police. Bond $4,000. She was able to foster a relationship with one victim and identify her next victims through them, showing a pattern of predatory behavior. I commend our outstanding team of professionals for their dedication and thoroughness during this difficult case.. Detective Snedeker recalled a vehicle matching the description being parked at a local motel in Homosassa. Based on the findings of the medical examiner, and the facts and evidence collected by members of TIU and Detective Slingerland, Gromling was arrested for murder by unlawful distribution of fentanyl and is being held without bond. Ron DeSantis said after signing his bill into law last week to increase the penalties for those who illegally sell and distribute opioids in our state, Floridians of all walks of life have witnessed the destruction caused by the opioid epidemic across our state. Last year our county had 377 reported drug overdoses with 81 deaths a 47% increase from the year prior. Our office works closely with our partners at CoreCivic, and we want to send a clear message that illicit drugs have no place in our community and absolutely no place in our detention facility.. Some of the most infamous Florida murders which can be found on these lists include the still unsolved 1966 triple homicide of Robert, Helen, and Joy Sims. This year, he was sentenced to 22 years in prison. Prior history of domestic violence. She was taken into custody in Homosassa and booked. Citrus County has had a serious illegal drug problem dating back to the early 70's. Law enforcement has attempted to address the issue over . (Citrus County, FL) Today, October 18, 2022, Citrus County Sheriffs Office (CCSO) Sergeant John Bergen graduates from the National Public Safety Innovation Academy (NIA). To get ready for Floribama Murders, you can read up on the most infamous cases in Sunshine State history below. 486. Total bond set at $52,000. In his confession, Couey said that he had previously seen Lunsford playing in her yard and thought she was "about six years old". As is common practice with deputy involved shootings, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) responded and is conducting an independent investigation into the incident. The initial investigation into Munns criminal acts began on April 1, 2022, after CCSO officials received information that Munn, the property/business owner was not properly caring for a large number of dogs that he was breeding and selling. (Citrus County, FL) Today, the Citrus County Sheriffs Office (CCSO) announces its participation in the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administrations (NHTSA) Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Campaign. (The US average is 35.4) NOTE: The city of Citrus, Florida does not have FBI Crime Statistics. After successfully completing the academy, Deputy Spencer was officially sworn in as a Deputy Sheriff on September 1, 2001. Detective Mike Mission with the CCSO Special Victims Unit (SVU) was assigned to the case and immediately began an investigation. Many of the standards are critical to life, health, safety issues, and best practices. Home. Eric Luckey (DOB 5/28/1984), Beverly Hills, FL- Violation of Probation original charge of Theft and Possession of Fentanyl. Arnold was later transported to Citrus County to await trial, where he was held until his sentencing yesterday. Daniel Redman was shot by deputies during a hostage situation and has been in our custody while receiving medical treatment. (Citrus County, FL) Yesterday, Wednesday, January 25, 2023, brothers 56-year-old Roy Lamar Lashley Jr. and 52-year-old Robert Dewayne Lashley were sentenced in federal court for a hate crime they committed in Citrus County back in 2021. 847.0135(4)(a), and Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device: F.S.S 934.215. He is being held at the Citrus County Jail with a bond of $30,000.00. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Citrus County Sheriff's Office at 352-249-2790, or to remain anonymous, call Citrus County Crime Stoppers at 1-888-269-8477. Katlyn Obrien (DOB 6/6/1993), Hernando, FL- Failure to Appear original charge Battery. CCSO. Thank you to the FDLE instructors who came to Citrus County to provide this imperative course to our SRDs, and the School Districts participation of its Guardians, along with the furnishing of a school venue, said Sheriff Prendergast. Murder. As soon as our team confirms the facts on what has transpired today, said Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast, we will release more information. So naturally, there is a lot of respect afforded to those deemed fit and courageous enough to travel to mankinds final frontier. Detective Ricci also obtained evidence supporting the victims statements of both the sexual activity and the explicit images sent via social media. See the section on interpreting the crime map, however, because comparing rates for crime or any other crime is not as intuitive as it may seem. Some of these include the 2002 murder of Justin Brown, the 1980 murder of Pam McIntosh, the 1971 murder of Brenda Riley, the 1999 murder of Kathy Couillard, and the 1993 murder of Michael Capponi, among others. Photo: (Citrus County, FL) On March 25, 2022, 20-year-old Donovan Wayne Cole of Polk City, Florida, was arrested on a warrant for the charge of Lewd and Lascivious Battery in reference to an incident that occurred on January 28, 2022 in Inverness, Florida. Detectives were able to identify him as a suspect, leading to a warrant being issued for his arrest. During an interview with Cole he provided detectives with information that further reinforced the victims statements. Despite the acknowledgment of the childs age, in various messages these subjects engaged in sexually explicit conversations, detailing different sexual activities they hoped to perform with the child. The property was set up with an arena, along with numerous cages, holding pens, scales, timers, and a scoreboard enabling bets to be placed on the fighting roosters. The jury deliberated for four hours, tasked with recommending either life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty, the only two possible sentences available under Florida law. The following subjects were arrested and charged accordingly: Id like to thank Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis and his team, along with our federal partners for assisting us with the successful execution of this narcotics search warrant, said Sheriff Prendergast. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! When officials attempted to contact the suspect, he sped off attempting to strike law enforcement with his vehicle in an effort to avoid capture. Help us eradicate illegal drugs from the streets in our community. Another resource that provides information regarding the number of unsolved homicides in each state is Project: Cold Case, which has not only provided a detailed database of many cold cases from all over the country, but also shares statistics about the many cases in the United States. (Citrus County, FL) The Citrus County Sheriffs Office (CCSO) is proud to announce that we have received our 3rd consecutive Excelsior Accreditation Award from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation, Inc. (CFA). Upon arrival at the residence, TIU detectives were able to locate two suspects, Joseph Singh II (DOB 06/29/1980) and Michael Guinan, Jr. (DOB 08/08/1987). FOX 35 Orlando. How to Improve Your Concealed Carry Reaction with a 35 Card. On September 9, 2022, the CCSO was contacted by jail staff in reference to an inmate, 40-year-old Gerald Raymond Dietrich, Jr., who had been transported to a hospital with an unknown medical condition. No bond. (Citrus County, FL) On September 14, 2022, the Citrus County Sheriffs Office (CCSO) arrested detention guard candidate, 38-year-old Shannon Marie Morgan of Inverness, at the Citrus County Detention Facility. From the end of 1989 and throughout 1990, police found six men robbed and shot to death on or near well-traveled roadways. Of this group, CCSOs very own graduates were: Law enforcement personnel who aspire for a leadership position benefit greatly from this comprehensive, six-week-long program, which provides on-site education, specifically focusing on leadership, ethics, human resources, critical incident management, and other relevant administrative competencies. The media extensively covered the investigation and trial of Couey. She was taken to a nearby hospital. Although there are not many examples of cases where Tallahassee murders DNA has been used in order to solve cold cases, there are plenty of solved cold cases in the remainder of Florida. The HTCU has the capability to forensically examine various devices and is a proud member of Florida Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force which actively investigates online child exploitation. Throughout the pursuit, Dailey briefly stopped the vehicle numerous times and took off after each stop. Earlier this year Gov. Robbery. It is inexcusable that an adult would cause these types of injuries to a child. Hunter, 25, has a 4-year-old child and is more than five months pregnant. Crime Map for Citrus County, FL Crime Map Trends Analytics Cold Cases Missing Persons Daily Archive Burglary 11/30/2022 3:44 AM LECANTO HWY Burglary 11/29/2022 5:56 PM 2ND CT Theft 11/29/2022 3:41 PM HIGH ACRES STREET Vandalism 11/29/2022 2:32 PM GULF TO LAKE HWY Burglary 11/29/2022 1:22 PM U S HIGHWAY 41 Other 08/13/2021 6:34 AM 123 SESAME ST