Sumterville
CRIME & SAFETY
Two cars engulfed in flames at Walmart parking lot
Two cars were destroyed by fire at a Walmart parking lot. The blaze erupted in the middle of the afternoon Saturday at the Walmart on U.S. Hwy. 441 in Summerfield. Marion County Fire Rescue responded to the scene. A thick plume of smoke was seen coming from the flames. Manny...
K-9 assists in arrest of Leesburg woman with narcotic pills in her purse
A Leesburg woman on probation for possession of methamphetamine was arrested with three kinds of narcotic pills in her purse during a traffic stop. A deputy observed a white 1999 Lincoln, later found to be occupied by 38-year-old Shana Lori Harbin, traveling south on South Fish Camp Road in Grand Island around 11:20 p.m. Tuesday, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. The driver came to the intersection with County Road 44 and rolled through a red light without coming to a complete stop.
Armed road rager who cursed ‘damn Yankee’ won’t be prosecuted
The prosecutor’s office has decided not to pursue a case against a pickup driver who had been accused of showing a gun and cursing a “damn Yankee” motorist. James Martin Harris, 54, of Summerfield, has been refunded his $10,000 bond and seen two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon dismissed, following an announcement of no information this past month in Sumter County Court.
DUI suspect transported from scene of crash in The Villages
A drunk driving suspect was transported by ambulance from the scene of a crash in The Villages. Justin Wayne Jernigan, 41, of Wildwood, was involved in a two-vehicle crash at about 9:30 p.m. Friday on State Road 44 at Morse Boulevard, according to an arrest report from the Florida Highway Patrol.
Motorcyclist killed after vehicle runs red light and hits milk truck
A motorcyclist was killed after another vehicle ran a red light and hit a milk truck. A 69-year-old Winter Garden man at about 9 a.m. Sunday was driving a Ford Expedition traveling westbound on State Road 50 at Tarrytown in Sumter County when he ran a red light and hit the passenger side of a Kenworth tractor trailer transporting milk, which had been traveling northbound on State Road 471, according to an accident report from the Florida Highway Patrol.
Villager allegedly flips golf cart and flees scene of crash
A Villager was arrested after flipping his golf cart and fleeing the scene of the crash. Gary Steven Breault, 58, who lives at 908 Aloha Way on the Historic Side of The Villages, was found hiding in the bushes after his golf cart flipped over at about 10 a.m. Fourth of July at El Camino Real and Cazares Avenue, according to an arrest report from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.
Villager to lose license after golf cart DUI at town square
A Villager has lost his driver’s license after an arrest for driving under the influence in a golf cart at town square. William Bruce Campbell, 65, of the Village of Collier, pleaded no contest this past week in Sumter County Court to a charge of driving under the influence. He will lose his license for six months, has been placed on probation for one year and has been ordered to perform 50 hours of community service.
Widow of slain Leesburg store owner: Death penalty would be 'too easy' for defendant
LEESBURG — The death penalty would be “too easy” for Alex Lopez if he is convicted of killing convenience store owner Raied Shihadeh in Leesburg on May 30, said his widow in a phone interview with the Daily Commercial. “He should be put into solitary confinement and...
Central Florida Woman Sentenced for Murder in Fentanyl Death
A Central Florida woman was sentenced for murder by unlawful distribution of fentanyl in the death of a 48-year-old man. 47-year-old Delia Marie Dean pleaded guilty to Second-Degree Murder and was sentenced to 20 years in the Florida Department of Corrections. Dean’s plea comes after her 2022 arrest for murder via distribution of Fentanyl in the death of 48-year-old Jonathan Michael Bishop.
'You want me to say the other word?': Florida man arrested after allegedly trying to withdraw 1 cent from bank
"The defendant advised he drove to the Citizens First Bank, but it was closed, so he then drove a few parking lots over to the Chase Bank," an affidavit reads. The post ‘You want me to say the other word?’: Florida man arrested after allegedly trying to withdraw 1 cent from bank first appeared on Law & Crime.
73-year-old woman arrested after allegedly pulling knife during argument
A 73-year-old woman was arrested after allegedly pulling a knife during an argument. Hattie Singleton of Wildwood was taken into custody on a felony charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on Wednesday night by Sumter County sheriff’s deputies. Deputies were called to her home after she allegedly...
Man allegedly beats child with Gatorade canister
A Leesburg man was arrested for allegedly beating a young child with a Gatorade canister when he grabbed it from the pantry. A detective was assigned a case involving a juvenile victim and 31-year-old James Rance Cecil regarding a child abuse allegation on Wednesday, June 26, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Leesburg officials agree to big pay raise for police
Leesburg police officers will receive a pay raise as of Oct. 1 as a result of negotiations between the city and the Police Benevolent Association. The agreement which the city commissioners approved on June 24 will give the rank and file officers a four percent raise for fiscal year 2024-25. The negotiations also set a minimum salary of $60,300 for officers with at least six months service with the Leesburg Police Department.
Virginia man arrested in alleged attack on female companion
A Virginia man was arrested in an alleged attack on his female traveling companion. A witness told Sumter County sheriff’s deputies that a man, later identified as 60-year-old Ritchie Lee Triplett of Winchester, Va., was choking a woman who had been traveling in a truck with him at about 7 p.m. Tuesday when they pulled into the parking lot of Love’s Travel Stop in Bushnell.
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