The Levy County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance in locating missing juvenile Christian Edwards-Duarte. Christian is a white male who was born on August 20, 2007. He is approximately 6’2” tall with brown hair and brown eyes. Christian frequently wears glasses.
Christian was reported missing on July 23rd of this year. Anyone with information regarding Christian’s whereabouts is encouraged to call Lt. Mike Narayan at 352-486-5111 or 911. Thank you for your assistance.
All Levy County students will be returning to school this coming Monday, August 12th, 2024. As is the case every year, we anticipate a high traffic volume around all of our school campuses, especially for the first week of school. We want to remind motorists to BE ALERT, PATIENT, and travel the SPEED LIMIT. All posted school zones will be activated during the posted times beginning Monday morning and will be STRICTLY ENFORCED.
All school bus activity will return, conducting their normal morning and afternoon pickups and drop offs. Motorists need to expect traffic delays as students board and exit their school bus. Please be extra cautious and slow down when traveling near school bus stop locations and NEVER pass a stopped bus.
If you are a parent of a student or interested in the latest information from any school as it pertains to traffic patterns, please see each school’s webpage or social media page for the latest updates. It is known that Chiefland Middle/High School suffered sinkholes due to heavy rainfall from Hurricane Debby. A photograph of the temporary traffic pattern on and near the school has been attached to this post for your convenience.
Every School Resource Deputy has trained over the summer, with the main focus being on active threats, campus security, and first aid. Sheriff Bobby McCallum puts a major emphasis on training and ensuring that all Levy County school campuses are as safe as possible.
Sheriff McCallum and each School Resource Deputy are excited for the upcoming school year and we wish each student a fun and successful learning year. Again, we ask that anyone who travels near or within a school zone to please SLOW DOWN, BE PATIENT, and AWARE of your surroundings.
August 5, 2024
Hurricane Debby made landfall earlier this morning and has passed to our north, but the dangers of this storm have not ended. One life has already been claimed by a falling tree. Residents need to exercise caution as the root systems of our trees have been weakened by the heavy rains and the continued wind can cause them to topple at any time.
Localized flooding in our coastal communities and along our rivers is still of major concern. Storm surge is expected to surpass what we endured during Hermine and Idalia as we near high tide at 3:00 p.m. today.
Be smart and be safe. Avoid downed trees and powerlines until proper authorities have issued an all safe bulletin.
(photo credit from weather stem at Shell Mound)
August 5, 2024
At approximately 8:00 a.m. the Levy County Sheriff’s Office responded to 8770 NW 168 Place to a report of a tree that had fallen onto a mobile home. Responding deputies and the Levy County Department of Public Safety have confirmed a fatality of a 13 year old male who was crushed inside the home. No other injuries were reported.
Sheriff McCallum has responded to the scene personally, and is with the family. Our thoughts and prayers are with this family as they deal with this tragedy. We encourage everyone to use extreme caution as they begin to assess and clean up the damage. Downed powerlines and falling trees are among the many hazards. One life is too many. Please be safe.
July 29, 2024
Multiple Levy County Deputies are in 2200 block of SE 140 Avenue off of SR 121 attempting to locate Dakota Morsell 4/4/98. Morsell expressed intentions of causing harm to himself after walking away from a home located in this general area. Morsell was last seen wearing black pants, a black shirt and was carrying a bag that is said to contain a firearm.
Anyone with who sees this person is asked not to approach him and instead call the Levy County Sheriff’s Office at 352-486-5111 or call 911.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.