Latest news with #Chronister
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Week-long active threat training held with Hillsborough County deputies
The Brief HCSO held a week-long active threat training at schools, "designed to ensure our deputies are fully prepared to protect students and staff as they return to school." The sheriff's office gave an inside look at what the sheriff called, "Some of the most intense mentally and physically demanding training that any member of the sheriff's office goes through." Deputies conducted training exercises in schools, classrooms and on school buses, among other locations. SEFFNER, Fla. - Video released by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office shows deputies armed with mock weapons searching different areas of the schools, even firing the fake guns. It was part of a week-long active threat training at schools. Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said training scenarios include clearing rooms, evacuations, lockdown procedures and emergency first aid. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube "Their adrenaline is going in hostage rescue, some shooting, different shooting scenarios as the students are running by you, and you're trying to process who's a good guy, who's a bad guy," Chronister explained. Dig deeper During a news conference at Jennings Middle School Seffner, the sheriff said deputies are also incorporating improved tactics. HCSO will now have real-time access to cameras in schools so they can see live video of potential threats as they happen. The department is also making sure every deputy is prepared, even some who weren't planning to participate in the training. READ: Hillsborough mom names daughter after HCA Florida Brandon nurse who helped during high-risk pregnancy "They were told to come to the school here," Chronister explained. "The moment they got here, they took their guns and their weapons off of them and gave them one of the less lethal weapons that shoots a projectile and said, 'here, you're going to help the deputy. Go run.'" During the annual training, the agency also practices adjusting to new school security laws. Last year, lawmakers required all campus access points, including gates and doors, to remain locked during school hours. What we know This year, however, a new law gave schools more flexibility to determine which access points are locked and when. Local perspective Chronister said his School Threat Assessment and Response Team, or STAR Squad, continues to play a major role in their preparation and response. MORE: Superintendent faces state board over Hillsborough book removals amid backlash at home The team assesses reports of possible threats that come in through the state's Fortify Florida program. Last year, the STAR squad received more than 1,300 complaints, marking an increase of almost 300, compared to the previous year. The Source The information in this story was gathered by FOX 13's Aaron Mesmer. WATCH FOX 13 NEWS: STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app:Apple |Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Hillsborough sheriff touts new law that targets juvenile drug dealers
TAMPA — A year ago, two young men bought what they believed were Percocet pills from a drug dealer. Both of them overdosed. One of them, 17-year-old Devin Ramos, died. His death was attributed to the effects of fentanyl, the powerful synthetic opioid that in the last decade has come to rival alcohol as the nation's deadliest substance. Hillsborough sheriff's investigators learned that the person who sold him the drugs was also 17 — too young to be charged with murder under state laws. Devin's was the story that Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister shared in a Wednesday morning news conference that highlighted a recent change to the law, which aims to hold young dealers accountable for the deaths of drug users. 'If he had used a gun, a knife or any other means to take someone's life, he would have faced murder charges,' Chronister said of the person who sold Devin the drugs. 'This dealer, simply because he was a juvenile, could not be held accountable.' Florida's first-degree murder law has long included a provision that allows drug dealers to be charged when users suffer a fatal overdose. That law was seldom invoked until recent years, when the opioid crisis created a surge in accidental overdose deaths along with demands for accountability. But the law specified that it applied only to people older than 18. The sheriff said he attended Devin's funeral last year. He met his mother, Amy Olmeda, and promised he would pursue a change in the law. That promise became a reality in this year's legislative session. Senate Bill 618 allows juvenile defendants to face a third-degree murder charge in cases where they give fentanyl to someone who dies. It carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison. The bill passed the Legislature with near-unanimous support and was signed into law last month by Gov. Ron DeSantis. At Wednesday's news conference, Olmeda spoke of her son as a young man who enjoyed making music, playing basketball and hanging out with his friends. He was a 'kind soul' with a 'huge heart,' she said. Olmeda said she was devastated when she learned that the person who gave him the deadly pills could not be prosecuted. She praised Chronister for pushing for the change in law. 'You will never understand how much this means to me and my family,' she said. 'I don't want to see another mother ever go through what I went through.' State Sen. Danny Burgess and Rep. Traci Koster shepherded the bill through the state Legislature. The law takes effect July 1. Hillsborough State Attorney Suzy Lopez, whose office has prosecuted similar cases against adults, said she believes the new law will prevent similar tragedies. 'It will act as a deterrent to the young drug dealers who are out there who think that age is a shield,' she said. ''I can't get charged if I'm under the age of 18.' That is not the case anymore.' While many adults have faced charges under the law allowing murder charges for fatal overdoses, such cases are tricky to prosecute. The state must prove that the accused knowingly gave the victim the drugs and that the same substance caused the death. Juries tend to favor lesser convictions for manslaughter, rather than murder, in such cases. A notable exception occurred last year in the Tampa case of Anthony Mansfield. A jury found Mansfield guilty of first-degree murder for selling fentanyl to 27-year-old Querraun 'Que' Talley, who later died. Mansfield, 47, received a mandatory penalty of life in prison. Several other overdose-related murder cases remain pending in Hillsborough court. Some of them also involve the distribution of fake Percocet pills. Last June, Hillsborough prosecutors charged Baylee Jacobs, 21, with murder in the death of Eric Schertzer, 19, who died after purchasing a Percocet pill that actually contained fentanyl. Federal prosecutors have also brought cases under laws that prohibit distribution of illegal drugs resulting in death. U.S. attorneys in Tampa last June indicted four men on charges related to the death of a University of South Florida student. In that case, too, the victim was given what were said to be Percocet pills which actually contained fentanyl, according to court records.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
NEW FLORIDA LAW: Underage drug dealers involved in fatal overdoses could face murder charges
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)— The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office holds a news conference about a Florida law that is going into effect on July 1, 2025. Under the new law, juveniles who distribute narcotics that cause a fatal overdose could now be prosecuted for murder, HCSO said. This update is a direct response to the deaths caused by individuals unknowingly consuming narcotics that are laced with deadly substances. According to HCSO, the new law was sparked by the death of Devin Ramos, 17, who died after unknowingly ingesting a fentanyl-laced pill given to him by a juvenile who could not be held accountable at that time. Sheriff Chad Chronister is joined by Devin's mother, Amy Olmdea, and State Attorney Suzy Lopez. They will speak about the development and importance of Senate Bill 612. Florida Representative Traci Foster and Senator Danny Burgess shared the following statements: 'The tragic death of a young person in our community due to fentanyl poisoning served as a devastating reminder of the lethal consequences tied to illegal drug distribution. In the wake of that loss, Sheriff Chad Chronister stepped forward to bring this issue to the forefront, urging lawmakers to take decisive action to ensure all who peddle in this deadly and unlawful practice can face justice. Senate Bill 612 reflects that call by updating state law to ensure those who unlawfully distribute controlled illegal substances like fentanyl can be held accountable when those drugs result in death. This legislation is about saving lives and delivering justice. I am deeply grateful to Sheriff Chronister for his leadership and to the law enforcement professionals who work every day to confront this crisis and protect our communities.' -Senator Danny Burgess'The scourge of fentanyl is devastating families and destroying communities across our nation. Those who peddle this poison have blood on their hands and should be treated as such in the eyes of the law. To help the brave men and women on the frontlines of this fight, Florida will now be able to hold those who deal in fentanyl to greater account. I'm thankful to Sheriff Chronister and Florida's law enforcement professionals for their commitment to the safety of our state and their willingness to help hold these drug dealers accountable for their deadly actions.' -Representative Traci Koster Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Yahoo
Milwaukee human trafficking case, man accused faces more charges
The Brief A Milwaukee man accused of imprisoning, assaulting, and trafficking women now faces more charges. Austin Chronister faces additional charges, including human trafficking and sexual assault of one woman, strangling and hurting another. Chronister is out on bond with GPS monitoring. MILWAUKEE - New charges have been filed against a Milwaukee man accused of imprisoning, assaulting, and trafficking women. A warning, the details in this story are disturbing. Inside a West State Street home, prosecutors say women were forced to do work, have sex on demand, and were subjected to physical abuse. The man prosecutors say is responsible is 38-year-old Austin Chronister. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android What we know On Tuesday, May 6, 2025, prosecutors charged Chronister with new charges: human trafficking and sexual assault of one woman, strangling and hurting another. There is also one additional count of human trafficking against a third, but previously known, victim. He was charged back in March 2025 with false imprisonment and sexual assault of that third woman, as well as human trafficking and sexual assault of a fourth woman. Court filings say all four women entered into contracts to live in the home as a part of a BDSM lifestyle. The new filings say one woman told investigators she was forced to perform daily sex acts. Before she moved into the home, the woman said Chronister sexually assaulted her. Another woman who lived in the house said she was tasked with the most chores in the house. Her diet was controlled, and medical care was denied. Court documents say she eventually suffered sepsis, shock and dehydration. When the woman said she wanted to leave, she said Chronister forced her to perform a sex act on another woman. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News What's next As prosecutors continue to piece together what happened in this house, Chronister remains out on bond with GPS monitoring. Chronister appeared in court this week for both cases. A bond and preliminary hearing in the latest case is set for next week. FOX6 has reached out to Chronister's attorney for comment and has not yet heard back. The Source FOX6 produced this story, and has previously covered the charges filed against Austin Chronister.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Yahoo
1 dead, 2 hospitalized after shooting in Wimauma: HCSO
The Brief One person is dead, and two people were hospitalized after a shooting in Wimauma, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. HCSO responded to the 3300 block of Maple Mex Street where they found one man dead and two other men suffering from gunshot wounds. HCSO has not released any information about any possible suspects. WIMAUMA, Fla. - One person is dead, and two others were taken to the hospital after a shooting early Saturday morning in Wimauma, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. What we know HCSO responded to the 3300 block of Maple Mex Street where they found one man dead and two other men suffering from gunshot wounds. Investigators say that an altercation led to the shooting. Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister says that his team is investigating the incident to bring those involved to justice. "Violence has no place in our neighborhoods," said Chronister. "Our team is working tirelessly to find out what happened and ensure those responsible are held accountable for this senseless act of violence." READ: Mother dies 2 months after Sarasota hit-and-run that killed her 2 kids The investigation is ongoing. What we don't know HCSO has not released any information about any possible suspects. The condition of the two injured victims has not been announced. CLICK HERE:>>>Follow FOX 13 on YouTube The Source Information for this story was provided by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
