Press Releases

Guilty as Charged

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July 26, 2024

On November 8, 2023 Levy County Detectives arrested John V. Lewis 9/30/77 of Williston for sexual battery on a person over 18. Lewis has been held in custody at the Levy County Detention Center since his arrest. The details of this case are too graphic to release, but we can say the victim of this crime can now rest easier knowing he will be behind bars for a long time to come.

On July 24, 2024 Lewis was convicted by a jury of his peers in Levy County. Sentencing has not been passed and has been scheduled for next month by Circuit Judge William Davis. We will provide an update on sentencing when it becomes available.

“Crimes against persons are the most difficult for law enforcement and prosecutors to work. The trauma caused to these victims cannot be measured but must be explained to a jury. The bravery of this victim to make the call and report the crime; the hard work and diligence of our detectives, victim advocates and the prosecution team who presented this case to the jury in order to convict Lewis must be recognized. A dangerous individual has been excised from our community and we hope and pray healing can now begin for the victim,” said Sheriff McCallum.

Can’t Run Forever

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July 26, 2024

Warren Rashad Frazier 5/15/90 of Williston has been on the run for some time, evading apprehension by several law enforcement agencies. Frazier was wanted for a robbery that occurred in Gainesville on June 11, 2024 and was under investigation by the Levy County Sheriff’s Office for an unrelated aggravated battery. Law enforcement in both areas knows Frazier has a network of friends and associates helping him hide. His bid for freedom was cut short yesterday by Levy County Detectives who took him into custody at a home in Morriston.

Frazier is being held at the Levy County Detention Center on a $125,000.00 bond for the warrant issued in Gainesville. Charges are expected to be filed for additional crimes committed in Levy County when the investigation is completed.

Wanted Suspect Apprehended

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July 11, 2024

Malik Hayes (5/31/2003) of Williston was wanted by three counties; Levy, Alachua and Marion for outstanding felony arrest warrants. Detectives have been attempting to arrest him since March, but he has always been able to elude capture; until Tuesday night.

Detectives received a tip that Hayes was at the Arbours Apartments in Williston and set up surveillance. Hayes was suspected to be in a white passenger car driven by a female associate. Detectives attempted to stop the car as it exited the apartment complex, but the driver did not immediately stop.  Instead the driver could be seen looking into the back seat as she veered closer to the shoulder of the road.

A detective used his vehicle to block in the white car, forcing it to a stop. Hayes immediately sat up in the back seat and dove over the seat intentionally forcing the driver’s foot down on the accelerator while shouting at her to, “go, go, go!” This caused her car to ram into the blocking law enforcement vehicle.

Hayes did not surrender peacefully but was taken into custody. Detectives located a loaded semi-automatic pistol with an extended capacity magazine in the door panel of the back seat where he had been seated. Hayes has been booked into the Levy County Detention Center and is charged with aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest and a violation of a pretrial release condition for possession of the firearm. His bond is set at $125,000.00 for the aggravated battery and resisting charge and no bond has been assigned to the violation charge.

Hayes will be held in Levy County on these local charges then transported to Marion then Alachua to face justice in their counties.

A special recognition must be mentioned to the Williston Police Department for their participation in the apprehension of this dangerous felon. 

Arrests Made in Otter Creek Aggravated Assault

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July 11, 2024

Levy County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division and Criminal Investigations Division executed a search warrant earlier this morning at the home of John Cook (5/27/64) of Otter Creek. The search warrant was authorized based on the continued investigation into the allegation that Cook threatened three people with a gun who were visiting Otter Creek last week.

Evidence of the assault was recovered as well as the firearm described by the victims from Cook’s home. Prior to the warrant being served, deputies did not have sufficient probable cause to make an arrest. Conflicting statements and lack of evidence prior to this morning hampered the investigation.

Cook has been booked into the Levy County Detention Center and is charged with aggravated assault and will be seen by a Levy County Judge at first appearance tomorrow morning for bond assignment.

Patrol Division Makes Multiple Arrests During Holiday Weekend

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July 9, 2024

The Levy County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division worked traffic enforcement proactively in the Bronson area over the long Independence Day weekend, making multiple arrests.

On 7/3/24 Deputy Dean MacIntyre attempted to stop a motorcyclist that he witnessed running a stop sign in Bronson. The driver fled from Deputy MacIntyre accelerating to speeds in excess of 110 mph. The driver of the motorcycle lost control near NE 110th Avenue and slid to a stop in the sand. He was immediately taken into custody. The driver, identified as David J. Rose (3/28/78) of Bronson, was arrested for fleeing and attempting to elude law enforcement, operating a motorcycle without an endorsement and resisting arrest.

On 7/6/24 Deputy Dakota Dowling and K-9 Deputy Alton Horne worked together to arrest Broddrick D. Mongo (8/22/73) of Chiefland. Mongo was initially stopped by Deputy Dowling for an equipment violation. K-9 Deputy Horne arrived as back-up walked his K-9 partner Behr around the car. Mongo was asked to exit the vehicle but instead drove away from the deputies.

Deputies pursued Mongo at speeds in excess of 100 mph as Mongo attempted to elude them. Mongo lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a ditch on SR 27 near CR 32. Mongo was taken into custody. Mongo had a passenger, who during his attempts to elude law enforcement, begged him to stop. The passenger was injured when Mongo lost control of the vehicle and was transported by ambulance for treatment.

Mongo was found to be in possession of cocaine, methadone pills and over 21 grams of Fentanyl. He was charged with possession of cocaine, possession of more than 4 grams of fentanyl (trafficking), fleeing and attempting to elude law enforcement, false imprisonment of an adult and resisting arrest.

On 7/6/24 Deputy Dakota Dowling conducted a traffic stop for an equipment violation. The driver, Kim Lance Hyde (5/14/74) of Bronson and passenger Michelle McNeal (12/18/87) of Bronson were both arrested. K-9 Deputy Alton Horne and his partner Behr arrived and discovered the pair were in possession of methamphetamines and drug paraphernalia.

On 7/7/24 Deputy Jack Morris stopped a vehicle for suspicion of DUI. The driver, Joshua Elam (4/6/80) of Williston and passenger Robert W. Shipp (1/10/99) of Bronson, were arrested on drug related charges. K-9 Deputy Alton Horne and his partner Behr assisted in this arrest. Shipp was arrested for possession of methamphetamines (13 grams) and possession of drug paraphernalia. Elam was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia.           

House Bill 385 “Safe Exchange of Minor Children”

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The bill requires each sheriff to designate at least one parking lot at the sheriff’s office or a substation as an available safe exchange location. The purpose is to provide a place where parents may bring their minor child for purposes of exchanging the child to comply with court ordered timesharing.

The location at the Levy County Sheriff’s Office is marked and has a surveillance camera with recordings maintained for at least 45 days. The bill does not require the sheriff to actively monitor the location. Moreover, the bill provides that a sheriff and the sheriff’s employees are not civilly liable for an incident that may occur as the result of the exchange of a child at a safe exchange location. The bill is named the “Cassie Carli Law.” Cassie Carli is believed to have been kidnapped and murdered by the father of their daughter after meeting him for the purpose of timesharing.

Sheriff McCallum has designated the safe exchange location in the front parking lot at the LCSO main operations building at 9150 NE 80th Avenue in Bronson. This location is clearly marked with two signs and will have a purple light visible from CR 337 to aid parents in identifying the location.

Bronson Couple Arrested in Crime Spree

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June 24, 2024

Deputy Jack Morris was on patrol in the University Oaks Subdivision on June 6th when he saw a Ford Ranger tethered to a Dodge Ram. The Ram didn’t have a tag on it and was partially blocking the road. Behind both vehicles was a white Altima parked in driveway with a person seated in the driver’s seat that he knew from prior encounters. As he drove by he saw the tag on the Altima and ran the tag number through our database. He received an immediate response that the car was reported stolen.

Deputy Morris immediately called for additional assistance and returned to make contact with the driver of the Altima whom he knew as Kristen Lane (8/11/90) of Bronson. Upon his return he also identified Julius Wright (9/20/97) of Bronson as he exited the Dodge Ram. Deputy Morris knew Wright was Lane’s boyfriend.

Deputy Morris’s investigation determined that the Altima was stolen from the Morriston area of Levy County. Deputies found 4 guns in the Altima. The guns were taken from the same residence where Altima was stolen from. The Ram truck had not been reported stolen but through his diligent investigation determined that vehicle too was stolen, but the theft had not been discovered by the owners and reported. Wright and Lane were both charged with theft of the Dodge Ram truck. The driver of the Ranger was determined to be innocent of any crime and released. But this did not stop the investigation. Lane and Wright were arrested for grand theft auto and four counts of armed burglary and grand theft of firearms.

Deputy Morris observed multiple parcels of mail inside the Altima that did not belong to the owners of these vehicles or to the suspects.

Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division responded to the scene and aided in the investigation. The mail was examined and the intended recipients were tracked down. Detectives found that Lane and Wright were engaged in a much larger fraud scheme and were stealing mail from mailboxes, specifically searching for credit and debit cards. They would activate the found cards and make purchases on-line and in stores. Deputies executed a search warrant on Lane and Wright’s residence, and recovered additional evidence.

In total Detectives have closed four reported fraud cases, solved three residential burglary cases and recovered nearly $10,000 in stolen or fraudulently obtained property. Both defendants have been charged with at total 16 felonies. These recoveries are the result of two search warrants and multiple interviews.

Detectives believe additional victims may be identified. Most all of the mailbox thefts committed by Lane and Wright were in the University Oaks Subdivision in Bronson. Anyone with information on this can contact the Levy County Sheriff’s Office at 352-486-5111 ext: 267. Anonymous tips can be made to Crime Stoppers at 1-877-349-8477.

 

Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation Award

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Sheriff Bobby McCallum is elated to announce that the Levy County Sheriff’s Office has received their initial accreditation through the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA) on June 20, 2024. The award was presented at the CFA Summer Conference in Orlando, Florida by the Florida Commission for Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission. This is the first time the Levy County Sheriff’s Office has sought and received this award.

The Levy County Sheriff’s Office began this voluntary process nearly two years ago. The Florida Sheriff’s Association aided the Agency in this process that included the commitment of all LCSO personnel to meet the prescribed standards and requirements. Over this two year process the Agency’s policies, procedures, management, operations and support services were examined. During the period of March 26th through 28th the Florida Commission for Law Enforcement Accreditation sent three independent assessors from around the state to the Agency. The assessors examined all sections described in the CFA standards manual. The assessment team found no issues and unanimously agreed that the Agency be recommended for accreditation.

The final step of this process was for Sheriff Bobby McCallum to offer testimony to the CFA Commissioners on June 20th as a part of the final review process. His testimony in combination with the CFA assessors recommendation, resulted in the Agency being granted the CFA Accreditation award. Agency Accreditation means that the Levy County Sheriff’s Office is providing law enforcement services to the citizens of Levy County at a State recognized standard.

Sheriff McCallum said, “I would like to take this opportunity to thank the men and women of this Office for achieving this historical milestone. And, a special thanks to Mrs. Gloria Kilian for leading the team and managing this goal as the Agency Accreditation Manager. This is the first time in its history that the LCSO has earned and been recognized as a Florida Accredited Law Enforcement Agency. This means that the men and women who serve our citizens in an exemplary way and also ensures our staff, employees and me as Sheriff are held to standards and policies that hold us accountable to the highest quality of service to our citizens.” 

 

What happens with anonymous tips?

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June 18, 2024

Ever wonder what happens when law enforcement receives an anonymous tip? Here is an example:

The Levy County Sheriff’s Office Drug Task Force received an anonymous tip earlier this year identifying a person in a travel trailer at “Out of Towner’s” RV Park in Williston who was selling drugs. Detectives began gathering information and conducted surveillance; identifying the suspected drug dealer as Maurice Frazier (6/29/56). On June 17, 2024 detectives were granted a search warrant for Frazier’s trailer.

Detectives executed the search warrant late yesterday afternoon and apprehended Frazier in the process. Evidence was recovered identifying Frazier was actively engaged in the sale of crack cocaine.

Frazier has been arrested and charged with the sale of cocaine and possession of drug equipment and is being held in the Levy County Detention Center on an $11,000.00 bond. This case was successful based on the tip we received from this anonymous person. Anonymous tips can be made by contacting Crime Stoppers at 1-877-349-8477. You could be eligible for a cash reward.

Improper Tag Results in Multiple Felony Charges

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June 18, 2024

Deputy Landon Kennedy was on patrol in the Williston area during the evening of June 17th. A gold car caught his attention so he ran the tag. The tag attached to this vehicle was not assigned to it so Deputy Kennedy stopped the vehicle. The driver pulled into the Marathon gas station at CR 318 and Deputy Kennedy contacted the driver. Deputy Kennedy immediately saw what appeared to be a black handgun on the center console and a shotgun in the driver’s floorboard. The driver, identified as Augustino Jazikoff (9/3/85) of Williston, was asked to step out of the vehicle.

Upon exiting the vehicle a glass smoking pipe rolled out from underneath his leg and his pant pocket was wrong side out. Jazikoff was detained as Deputy Kennedy continued his investigation. The passenger, identified as Laura Pendlebury (12/14/94) of Williston, was also asked to step out of the vehicle.

Deputy Kennedy discovered Jazikoff had a suspended license and was a multi-time convicted felon. Pendlebury is also a convicted felon. This investigation recovered a short barrel shotgun and multiple 12 gage slugs. Methamphetamines were found under the driver’s seat. The “handgun” was identified as a lighter. A bag containing personal identification belonging to Pendlebury was found to contain more shotgun shells. Both subjects were arrested for multiple felony violations. Upon arrival at the jail Pendlebury was searched by detention staff. Staff found a baggie of cocaine she had hidden on her person.

Jazikoff has been charged with possession of a short barrel shotgun, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, possession of ammo by a convicted felon, possession of methamphetamines, possession of drug equipment and driving while his license is suspended. His bond has been set at $164,000.00.

Pendlebury was charged with possession of ammo by a convicted felon and possession of cocaine. Her bond has been set at $35,000.00.