Third suspect, 16 years old, arrested in shooting deaths of 3 teens in Marion County
16-year-old Tahj Brewton, who was at large for about a week following his and two other juvenilesโ alleged involvement in the slaying of three teenagers found in the Ocklawaha area, has been arrested, according to the Marion County Sheriffโs Office.
Boys, 12 and 17, arrested in shooting deaths of 3 teens in Marion County; 3rd sought
A deadly shooting that left three teens dead last week in Marion County was the result of gang-affiliated juveniles turning on their own, according to Sheriff Billy Woods, who at a news conference Friday attributed the killings in part to failures of society.
Double murder-suicide investigated after hours-long standoff in Marion County
DUNNELLON, Fla. โ A man shot and killed his mother and grandmother before committing suicide during a SWAT standoff in Marion County, sheriffโs officials said. The Marion County Sheriffโs Office said deputies were called Sunday night for a shooting on SW Plantation Street in Dunnellon. AdThe MCSO SWAT team was called and an hours-long standoff ensued, sheriffโs officials said. Officials said efforts were made to resolve the situation, but Michael Chiswick fired shots at a deputy and others. โThis is a difficult situation for everyone involved and our prayers are with the victimsโ family,โ Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said.
Kidnapping victim raped, left on side of Marion County road, deputies say
MARION COUNTY, Fla. โ The Marion County Sheriffโs Office is asking for the publicโs help after a woman was kidnapped and raped on Tuesday. The victim was forced into a vehicle near the 9000 block of Baseline Road between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., according to deputies. The victim was then left on the side of the road near the 8000 block of Highway 314. Bloom said the victim was found hours later thanks to a passerby who spotted the victim and called 911. Anyone with any information on this attack is asked to call the Marion County Sheriffโs Office at 352-732-9111 or Crime Stoppers at 352-368-7867.
โEvil predators:โ 12 arrested in Marion County child sex sting
OCALA, Fla. โ Twelve โevil predatorsโ were arrested in a Marion County child sex sting on suspicion of arranging to have sex with children, Sheriff Billy Woods said Monday at a news conference. Eight of the 12 men traveled to Marion County and were arrested, while the other four were arrested in Jacksonville, Hernando County, Gainesville and Massachusetts. โThese eight men traveled to a location in Marion County to have sex with the child they thought they had been messaging online,โ the sheriffโs office said in a statement. โNow, to the would-be vile individuals (who) are doing this and are seeking children in Marion County. โI will always use all my resources to hunt these evil predators down and bring them to justice.โThe Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Ocala and Gainesville police and the Jacksonville Sheriffโs Office assisted in the sting, MCSO said.
Man accused of shooting at Marion County detective turns himself in, deputies say
MARION COUNTY, Fla. โ A man now faces charges for two shootings in Marion County that happened days apart. Deputies said Nathaniel James Woodruff went to the Marion County Sheriffโs Office Main Operations building in Ocala Friday morning to surrender himself. The whole community was out there looking for him,โ Marion County Sgt. That person was found to have a bullet lodged in their spine and they remain in the hospital, according to the sheriffโs office. โWe feel like tonight, this weekend Marion County is just a little bit safer because of this,โ Bloom said.
Funeral held for Ocala police chief killed in plane crash
OCALA, Fla. โ A funeral was held Friday for Ocala Police Chief Greg Graham, who died Sunday in a plane crash. Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn said he expected a large turnout for the fallen police chief. โOne of the best decisions that Iโve ever made was picking up the phone and called Greg to come back to Ocala to be our chief. โHe loved Ocala and Ocala loved him," Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said. [RELATED: โHeโs done such a great job for our community:โ Ocala mayor reacts to death of police chief]Full honors were presented in front of the church following the service.
WATCH LIVE: Ocala police pay tribute to chief after fatal plane crash
OCALA, Fla. โ Ocala Police Chief Greg Graham died Sunday morning in a plane crash, according to the Marion County Sheriffโs Office. The Sheriffโs Office said the crash happened around 11:30 a.m. Sunday in the 9700 block of Southwest 140th Avenue near Dunnellon. The crash happened near the Marion County Airport. Marion County Sheriffโs Office officials said the plane was Grahamโs personal aircraft and he was the only person onboard the single-engine plane. @news6wkmg pic.twitter.com/5gDuQVpMlv โ Ezzy Castro (@EzzyCastro) October 26, 2020Right now, as federal investigators work to find out how the crash happened, Grahamโs colleagues and friends are trying to recall the happy times.
Visitors to Marion County Sheriffโs Office now allowed to wear masks, ban remains for deputies
A sign telling visitors of the Marion County Sheriff's Office to remove their mask is gone. While visitors are now able to wear their mask, the internal policy for Sheriffโs Office employees still holds. In a statement the Marion County Sheriff's Office said:"So the issue at our district offices was always security. The sheriffโs Office is located in Ocala - where a mask mandate is in place for all indoor businesses. Even with the mask order, the Marion County Sheriffโs Office said more than half of itโs employees are in the exception category, wearing masks based on their assignments or circumstances.
โI can already hear the whining:โ Florida sheriff bans masks for deputies
OCALA, Fla. โ A central Florida sheriff says his deputies wonโt be allowed to wear face masks except under some conditions, and neither will visitors to the sheriffโs office. On Wednesday, Florida reported 213 new coronavirus deaths. In these situations, the mask should be removed when giving orders or commands to comply, the sheriff said. At the sheriffโs office, masks wonโt be allowed so that visitors can be easily identified and there is clear communication, the sheriff said. The sheriffโs decision came as the countyโs largest city, Ocala, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) northwest of Orlando, was debating implementing a face mask mandate.
Ocala indoor businesses now under mask mandate after city council overrides mayorโs veto
OCALA, Fla. โ Following a tug of war over a mask mandate for businesses in Ocala, the city council overrode the mayorโs veto of a mask order on Wednesday, pushing the ordinance through. Last week, four out of five Ocala city council members voted in favor of requiring mask use inside indoor businesses and fining a violator $25 upon their third offense in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19. Then on Wednesday, during a special meeting over Zoom the city council voted to override the mayorโs veto putting the mask mandate for indoor businesses in action. A mask mandate is not a matter of pride, but a matter of safety,โ one citizen said. Some residents voiced concerns to the city council on Wednesday over the sheriffโs ban on masks for his deputies.
Pay it forward
My bestie Bri is busy, busy, busy and because Im a nice person when I want to be, I offered to fill in for her today. Find a way to pay it forward then send me an email at acutway@wkmg.com letting me know how you decided to make a difference. Before then, I guess I should actually do my part and deliver todays headlines in a way that would make Busy Bri proud. Dj vuWerent we, like, JUST dealing with storm threats or did I hallucinate Tropical Storm then Hurricane then Tropical Storm again then Hurricane again Isaias? I know its been a lot of doom and gloom lately so maybe that new event will give some of you something to look forward to.
WATCH LIVE: Gov. DeSantis shares update on COVID-19
Ron DeSantis will share an update on COVID-19 on Wednesday. The update will start at 5 p.m.More than 550,000 people have tested positive for the virus, according to the Florida Department of Health. The DOH reports more than 8,800 people have died from coronavirus in the state and there have been 31,000 COVID-19 hospitalizations. Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said his deputies will not be allowed to wear face masks except under some conditions. This comes at the same time as Ocala City Council passed an ordinance requiring people to wear masks inside businesses.
Florida sheriff bans masks for deputies with some exceptions
Florida added at least 276 fatalities to its coronavirus death toll on Tuesday, a new state record. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. A central Florida sheriff says his deputies wont be allowed to wear face masks except under some conditions, and neither will visitors to the sheriffs office. Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said in an email to staff that he had weighed both sides of the issue amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. On Wednesday, Florida reported 213 new coronavirus deaths. At the sheriffs office, masks wont be allowed so that visitors can be easily identified and there is clear communication, the sheriff said.
Marion deputies fear man accused of giving drugs to juveniles could have more victims
MARION COUNTY, Fla. Marion County deputies say they recently arrested a man accused of taking juveniles to his home and providing them with prescription drugs but theyre still worried he could have more victims out there. We are doing things a little differently today, instead of looking for a criminal, we are looking victims of a man who took advantage of children, the post read. Deputies said he brought juveniles into his room at his home, gave them pills and made sexually inappropriate comments. Due to victim statements, we believe Frank has more victims out there, Woods wrote. Now, the sheriff is asking any victim or any parent who knows their child had contact with Calabria to call 352-732-9111.
Florida sheriff rips lawmakers after deputies use deadly force to kill attacker
Woods said Perez was involved in a similar attack on firefighters in South Florida in 2014. Woods said Perez, armed with a very large knife, charged at the deputies in an unprovoked attack. Outstanding,โ Woods said. โBills being introduced that tell deputies what they can and canโt do when it comes to deadly force (are absurd). โMy deputies came close to losing their lives,โ Woods said.