Press Releases

October 30, 2024

On October 18^th Officer Godkin with the Williston Police Department observed a suspicious van parked in a closed gas station parking lot. He witnessed the van hastily exit the parking lot as he drove past. Within moments the vehicle accelerated to speeds in excess of the posted speed limits which prompted Officer Godkin’s attempt to stop him. The vehicle fled and ultimately the driver abandoned the vehicle, fleeing on foot into a nearby subdivision.

LCSO deputies responded to the call to assist Officer Godkin. Deputy Morris, as he approached the scene, observed a vehicle brake abruptly and witnessed a subject exit the woods and enter the car. This car was stopped and the driver and passenger were detained.

Detective Barrera responded to assist and the following investigation revealed the passenger, identified as Livan Olano Darias (6/23/99) of Miami was the driver of the van who fled from Officer Godkin and was arrested. The investigation determined that Darias was attempting to steal diesel fuel from the in ground tank of the gas station. The van he abandoned was modified for this purpose. The van had a hole cut into the floor, approximately 400 gallons of onboard fuel storage and high flow pumps to extract the fuel from the ground tank. This arrest has not ended the investigation.

Detective Barrera has been in contact with Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Agriculture and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Thus far, more than 14 cases of fuel theft from multiple counties south of Levy County are being associated to this group. Darias was charged with multiple felonies but has posted a $27,500 bond and released. Additional warrants for his arrest are expected to be issued as this investigation continues. The driver of the vehicle who picked up Darias was identified and warrants for his arrest have been issued.

We urge our citizens to be observant of suspicious vehicles and promptly report any they see to the appropriate law enforcement agency.  

October 16, 2024

The Levy County Drug Task Force detectives executed a search warrant at the Juice Box.com Vape Shop, Inc. located at 6891 NW 138 Place north of Chiefland yesterday afternoon. The warrant and arrest of the owner, Kent William Zimmerman (9/14/72) of Chiefland, concluded a lengthy investigation.

Multiple citizen complaints of illegal drug sales, including selling to minors, occurring at this business launched the investigation. Drug Task Force detectives worked diligently for months to establish the required information necessary to apply for a search warrant. Detectives served the warrant and during their search of the business property seized hallucinogenic mushrooms, LSD, 6.5 pounds of marijuana, 8.78 pounds of THC wax (DABS), 15.73 pounds of THC vape oil, 2.05 pounds of THC gummies, diazepam, buprenorphine and oxycodone from the property. Zimmerman’s business was not a licensed THC dispensary nor did he have prescriptions for the pills seized.

Zimmerman was arrested and has been charged with trafficking in LSD, possession of hallucinogens, possession of a controlled drug without a prescription, possession with the intent to distribute marijuana and maintaining a shop where dangerous drugs are sold. In total, Zimmerman has been charged with seven (7) felonies and one misdemeanor. His bond has been set at $640,000.00.

October 2, 2024

Levy County Detective Ryan Sullivan arrested Chuckey Lee Rogers, Jr. (10/27/89) of Chiefland on October 17, 2023 for possession of child pornography after receiving a cyber-tip via the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children. Detective Sullivan partnered with the North Florida Internet Crimes against Children Task Force (ICAC) and Department of Homeland Security Investigations as he investigated this case. A total of 561 graphic child pornographic photographs and videos were seized from various digital devices found in Rogers’s possession. The Department of Homeland Security Investigations assistance resulted in the indictment of Rogers in the United States Middle District Courts.

Rogers accepted a plea offer in Federal Court on September 23, 2024 which included his incarceration for a term of ten (10) years followed by life time sex offender supervision.

Detective Sullivan worked on this investigation for months building the case against Rogers. Having the cooperation with federal authorities, the Gainesville Police Department, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the North Florida ICAC Task Force led to a successful case conclusion that ensures the safety of our children from this individual.

September 18, 2024

On September 17, 2024 Levy County Sheriff’s Deputies and Detectives concluded a fraud investigation and arrested Carrie Ann Hendricks (7/7/78) of Trenton in the Wal-Mart parking lot in Chiefland. This is the case that drew so much attention yesterday and was incorrectly identified as a possible active shooter incident on several social media platforms.

Deputy Landon Kennedy launched a fraud investigation on September 9, 2024. The victim explained she had been searching for a rental home and located a listing on Facebook marketplace. In May she contacted Hendricks through messenger and secured a rental agreement.

The victim began pre-paying rent in May and intended to move into the home in August. When she arrived at the home she found it occupied. She left a note telling the occupant she was moving in and changing the locks within the next two weeks. The occupant, who turned out to be the owner of the home, called the victim to tell her she apparently was being scammed.

Deputy Kennedy obtained the rental payment information from the victim and verified that Hendricks received approximately $3,000 in advance payments. He also verified Hendricks had no affiliation to the home and verified the homeowner never listed the house for rent.

Hendricks scheme unraveled yesterday when Deputy Kennedy and LCSO detectives arranged the “final” payment. Hendricks met with the victim and took another $750 from her. She was taken into custody as she walked toward the front entrance of Wal-Mart. Robert Tanner drove Hendricks to this meeting and was found to be operating a vehicle without a valid license. He too was taken into custody.

Hendricks is charged with use of a two-way communication device to commit fraud and scheme to defraud. She is being held on a $70,000 bond at the Levy County Detention Center.

September 11, 2024

Deputy Landon Kennedy ran the tag number of a suspicious truck on August 27^th to find the tag was registered to a trailer. He stopped the driver, Garrett Schneeberger (7/5/2000) of Williston, who was driving on a suspended license. Schneeberger was taken into custody.

Deputy Kennedy’s investigation determined the 2017 Sierra pick-up truck was reported stolen in Marion County on 5/5/24. Schneeberger concocted a story that he purchased the truck from an individual for $5,000. Deputy Kennedy did contact the reported “seller” who stated he never sold the truck to Schneeberger.

Deputy Kennedy located a “bill of sale” inside the truck that was in a consistent handwriting but contained two signatures in the same penmanship. He also found three baggies of hallucinogenic mushrooms and methamphetamines.

Schneeberger was arrested and charged with grand theft auto, possession of narcotics and driving while license suspended. He is being held in the Levy County Detention Center on a $130,000.00 bond.

September 11, 2024

On 9/8/24 Levy County Sheriff Deputies responded to a call of a woman found dead along the side of a road. The victim, a 68 year old female Bronson resident, appeared to have injuries consistent with being run over by a vehicle.

Detectives responded and learned the 911 caller, Shawn Orr (7/27/63) was the paramour of the victim. Detectives learned that Orr and the victim had a history of violence between them. This violence became worse when Orr began drinking. Orr told Detectives that he and the victim did get into a fight on Friday evening because of his drinking, but she left the home to stay with family nearby. Orr made no attempt to find or call her on Saturday, instead he continued to drink. He did not try to find her until Sunday afternoon when he discovered her body.

Evidence located at the scene and the home Orr shared with the victim suggested Orr intentionally ran the victim over on Friday evening.

Orr has been arrested for manslaughter and is being held in the Levy County Detention Center with no bond.

Anyone who has information which could aid this investigation is asked to call Detective Ryan Sullivan at 352-486-5111 ext. 360.

August 27, 2024

The Levy County Sheriff’s Office responded to an armed robbery at the Inglis Food Store located at 19 Highway 19 South in Inglis yesterday around 3:15 p.m. The clerk reported a man entered the store and attempted to purchase drinks and cigarettes.  When his card was declined, he pulled a handgun. He demanded the clerk open the register. The clerk told him no, backed away and began screaming she was being robbed. The suspect turned and fled outside, firing the gun into the ceiling on his way out of the store.

The suspect, identified as Joshua Timothy Comer (12/6/88) fled the scene toward Dunnellon in a gold pickup truck. The truck was soon located in the parking lot of Wal-Mart in Dunnellon by Dunnellon Police. Marion County Sheriff’s Office responded to assist and apprehended Comer as he was exiting the store with a shopping cart full of stolen merchandise. Comer was still armed with the revolver used in the robbery in Inglis.

Comer was with an acquaintance earlier in the day working at an odd job. Comer asked to borrow the friend’s vehicle, a gold truck, to run an errand and did not return. The friend was able to find a ride home and discovered someone kicked in their back door and had stolen two firearms while he was gone. Deputies obtained photographs of the handgun seized by Marion County Sheriff’s Office from Comer and the owner positively identified the gun as his. The truck Comer was in was also registered to the acquaintance.

Comer is being held in the Marion County Jail for crimes committed in Dunnellon. A warrant has been issued for Comer from Levy County where he is charged with armed robbery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and aggravated assault with a firearm. No bond is assigned to this warrant.     

Sheriff McCallum thanks the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the Dunnellon Police Department for their assistance and apprehension of this suspect. This is an example of the close relationship that we have with these agencies. “My Deputies and Detectives did a wonderful job in developing this case quickly which led to the apprehension of this suspect,” states Sheriff McCallum.

August 27, 2024        

Yesterday evening the Levy County Sheriff’s Office received a request for assistance from the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP). The FHP located a suspect wanted for a carjacking incident that occurred in Pasco County. Troopers attempted to stop the suspect as he was driving through Crystal River. The suspect vehicle fled north on US 19 into Levy County when LCSO joined the pursuit. 

Levy County Deputies deployed Stop Sticks in Lebanon Station and then again in Otter Creek. The suspect was able to avoid the attempts to flatten his tires both times. The suspect, identified as a 39 year old Hispanic male shot at pursuing FHP Troopers and LCSO deputies multiple times during this pursuit. The pursuit, topping speeds of 120 mph, ended near CR 347 on US 19. The suspect driver crashed approximately 5 miles south of the City of Chiefland. He did not survive. The Florida Highway Patrol and the LCSO requested the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to assist in this investigation due to the exchange of gunfire between law enforcement and him.  

Sheriff McCallum said, “We are extremely thankful that this violent criminal was stopped and there were no injuries to any of the Troopers, our LCSO Deputies or members of our public. This was a very dangerous situation complicated by high speeds, the exchange of gunfire and the suspect’s total disregard for anyone’s safety, including his own. We pray this type of criminal activity will never affect our community, but yesterday it did and our professionals were able to stop this criminal before any innocent person was harmed.”