Latest news with #MarionCountySheriff'sOffice
Yahoo
39 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Sex sting operation nabs 14, including man who hit deputy with his car, breaking his leg
An online sex sting dubbed Operation Travel to Gavel, where police posed as children, netted 14 arrests, including an Ocala man who drove his car into a Volusia County sheriff's deputy and broke his leg, authorities said. The sting was carried out on June 5, 6, and 7. The 14 defendants thought they were messaging with 13, 14, and 15-year-old boys and girls when they were actually communicating with undercover detectives. A North Carolina man visiting Florida with his girlfriend and three children also ended up in handcuffs in the undercover sex sting, a Facebook post from the Volusia County Sheriff's Office said. The multi-agency operation involved law enforcement officers from the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Port Orange, South Daytona and Lake City along with the Marion County Sheriff's Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Seventh Circuit State Attorney's Office. Among those arrested was Moshe Josue Delgado Juarez, 25, of Ocala, who accelerated his car into a deputy, fracturing his leg. In addition to being charged with traveling to meet a minor for sex, Delgado Juarez was also charged with aggravated battery and assault on law enforcement officers, aggravated fleeing with injury, and resisting arrest with violence. Delgado Juarez was being held Tuesday, June 10, without bail at the Volusia County Branch Jail. Joshua Lee Walker, 45, Lexington, North Carolina, who apparently wanted to do more than spend time with his girlfriend and three children in Florida, also ended up in handcuffs when he showed up to meet who he thought was a child, police said Walker was charged with using a computer to seduce/solicit/lure a child, traveling to meet, and the unlawful use of a communication device to facilitate the commission of a felony. Court records show he is being held on $22,500 bail. The other 12 arrested were Julio Cesar Real Chavarria, 33, South Daytona, Mathieu Merveil Kouatonou, 29, Orlando, Niegel George Johnson, 28, Daytona Beach, Sourab Chilakamarri, 26, Daytona Beach, Reinaldo Ray Medina Jr., 31, South Daytona, Carlos George Guebara, 51, DeLand, Kenneth Leon Baldwin Jr., 39, Daytona Beach, Thomas Edward McKee, 39, Port Orange, Patrick James Concree, 40, Kissimmee, Francisco Javier Jurado, 33, Orange City, Robert Scott Shipley Jr., 26, Vero Beach, and Joseph Alan Williamson, 55, Port Orange. The suspects were charged with traveling to meet a minor for sex, using a computer to seduce/solicit/lure a child, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device, the Sheriff's Office said. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Sex sting in Volusia County leads to 14 arrests
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Miami Herald
Florida Woman Uses Bear Mace on 3-Year-Old Over Blowing Bubbles: Police
An 81-year-old Florida woman has been arrested and accused of using bear mace against her neighbor's 3- and 6-year-old children after they were blowing bubbles in their own driveway. Ada Anderson was taken into custody following the incident on May 30, 2025, in Ocala, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office's (MCSO) probable cause arrest affidavit. Anderson is also accused of spraying bear mace at the girls' mother, April Morant, who told authorities that Anderson, who is white, also yelled racial slurs at the children, who are Black, during the incident. Zach Moore, public information officer at the Marion County Sheriff's Office, told Newsweek that Anderson's charges are felonies due to the racial slurs she allegedly yelled. According to physicians, the use of pepper spray on children-which is weaker than bear mace can lead to lasting physical, neurological, and psychological damage. The chemical irritants can impact a child's developing lungs, causing asthma, and may lead to nerve damage if they enter the brain. Being pepper-sprayed can also lead to lasting psychological trauma. According to Anderson's arrest report, the children were blowing bubbles in their driveway when the suspect walked over to the fence separating their two properties. She then pulled out the bear mace and sprayed the children and their mother, per police. Anderson used the n-word while spraying the family, Morant told police. Morant also told police this is not the first time they have been subjected to racial slurs from Anderson. She provided video evidence of this to the MCSO. Morant told the MCSO that she and her children were hit with the spray and that her lungs were in pain. The 6-year-old child told police her nose hurt from the spray, and the 3-year-old was not interviewed by police. Officer Wesley Kenny, who filed the affidavit, said he observed an orange/brown substance on the fence and that deputies on the scene experienced irritation when smelling the substance. He identified the substance to be pepper spray based on his experience in the field. The terms pepper spray and bear mace are used interchangeably in the affidavit, despite them being two different substances. It is unclear at this time which was used. Moore told Newsweek: "Deputies did not recover the canister used during the crime; however, Deputy Kenny observed the substance on the ground and identified it as pepper spray in his report." The affidavit also states that Anderson told police the girls were yelling at her from their fence, so she sprayed the substance at the girls. She said they were not hit by it. April Morant told news station WSAZ: "Bubbles. Literally, the bubbles put [Anderson] in a whole other arena, whatever was going on with her mind. What went through my head is I thought she had a gun, so I literally kind of jumped, like it startled me…I didn't know what was in her hand…and then she sprayed it." Anderson is being charged with three counts of battery in the second degree. The second-degree aspect of the charge is because the alleged attack was racially motivated. She has posted bond for her charges after initially being held at the Marion County Jail. Morant is attempting to get a restraining order against her, according to WSAZ. Moore told Newsweek: "According to the Marion County Clerk of the Court's record search, her arraignment is scheduled for July 1, 2025, at 9.00 a.m." Update 6/5/25, 9:29 a.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from Zach Moore, public information officer at the Marion County Sheriff's Office. Related Articles South Florida Homes for Sale Nearly Double as Residents Offload PropertiesMap Shows Florida Beaches Warned of Dangerous Ocean ConditionsFlorida Pastor In US For 26 Years Detained By ICE at Immigration AppointmentFlorida Thunderstorms Warning, All Boats Ordered to Safe Harbor 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Newsweek
Florida Woman Uses Bear Mace on 3-Year-Old Over Blowing Bubbles: Police
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. An 81-year-old Florida woman has been arrested and accused of using bear mace against her 3- and 6-year-old neighbor's children after they were blowing bubbles in their own driveway. Ada Anderson was taken into custody following the incident on May 30, 2025, in Ocala in northern Florida, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office's (MCSO) probable cause arrest affidavit. Anderson is also accused of spraying bear mace at the girls' mother, April Morant, who told authorities that Anderson, who is white, also yelled racial slurs at the children, who are Black, during the incident. The MCSO has been contacted via email for comment. Ada Anderson at Marion County Jail. Ada Anderson at Marion County Jail. Marion County Sheriff's Office Why It Matters According to physicians, the use of pepper spray on children—which is weaker than bear mace can lead to lasting physical, neurological, and psychological damage. The chemical irritants can impact a child's developing lungs causing asthma, and can lead to nerve damage if it enters the brain. Being pepper sprayed can also lead to lasting psychological trauma. What To Know According to Anderson's arrest report, the children were blowing bubbles in their driveway when the suspect walked over to the fence separating their two properties. She then pulled out the bear mace and sprayed the children and their mother, per police. Anderson used the n-word while spraying the family, Morant told police. Morant also told police this is not the first time they have been subjected to racial slurs from Anderson. She provided video evidence of this to the MCSO. Morant told the MCSO that she and her children were hit with the spray and that her lungs were in pain. The 6-year-old child told police her nose hurt from the spray, and the 3-year-old was not interviewed by police. Officer Wesley Kenny, who filed the affidavit, said he observed an orange/brown substance on the fence, and that deputies on the scene experienced irritation when smelling the substance. He identified the substance to be pepper spray based on his experience in the field. The terms pepper spray and bear mace are used interchangeably in the affidavit, despite them being two different substances. It is unclear at this time which was used. The affidavit also states that Anderson told police the girls were yelling at her from their fence, so she sprayed the substance at the girls. She said they were not hit by it. What People Are Saying April Morant told WSAZ: "Bubbles. Literally, the bubbles put [Anderson] in a whole other arena, whatever was going on with her mind. What went through my head is I thought she had a gun, so I literally kind of jumped, like it startled me…I didn't know what was in her hand…and then she sprayed it." What Happens Next Anderson is being charged with three counts of battery in the second degree. The second-degree aspect of the charge is because the alleged attack was racially motivated. She has posted bond for her charges after initially being held at the Marion County Jail. Morant is attempting to get a restraining order against her, according to WSAZ.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Person shot at Marion County gas station, deputies say
The Marion County Sheriff's Office is investigating a shooting that occurred Friday afternoon and left a male victim injured. Per the report from the Sheriff's Office, deputies were called to the Petro on Highway 318 and I-75 due to an ongoing shooting. The location of the shooting can be seen on the map below. When the deputies arrived, they found a Black male with a gunshot wound. Marion County Fire Rescue arrived at the scene of the shooting and took the victim to the hospital. Right now, Marion County Sheriff's Office Major Crimes detectives are responding. Channel 9 will continue to give updates as more information becomes here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. When the deputies arrived, they found a Black male with a gunshot wound. Marion County Fire Rescue arrived at the scene of the shooting and took the victim to the hospital. Right now, Marion County Sheriff's Office Major Crimes detectives are responding. Channel 9 will continue to give updates as more information becomes available. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Thrill-seeker jumps 90 feet from Oregon waterfall and is hospitalized, cops say
A thrill-seeker was rushed to a hospital after deputies said he jumped from the top of a 90-foot waterfall in Oregon. Deputies received 911 texts at 7:39 p.m. May 18 from Abiqua Falls, the Marion County Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post. The Utah man went to the popular spot with a group of people, a spokesperson for the sheriff's office told McClatchy News by phone May 22. He ended up with serious injuries after jumping into the pool of water below the falls, deputies said. Rescuers had to reach him in 'steep, heavily wooded terrain,' deputies said. He was put on a Life Flight helicopter and taken to a hospital. His injuries are unknown as of May 22, deputies told McClatchy News. Deputies said they suspect the man jumped from the waterfall after seeing videos on social media of someone else doing it. 'This incident serves as an important reminder to exercise caution in wilderness areas: always have a plan, know your limits, and avoid taking unnecessary risks,' deputies said in the post. Abiqua Falls is 92 feet tall and surrounded by jagged and column-like basalt rock formations, according to the Northwest Waterfall Survey. It's a popular hiking area, and visitors can hike less than a mile out-and-back to see the waterfall, according to AllTrails. It is about a 50-mile drive south from Portland. Pair cling to tree near waterfall as boat swept away in raging river, rescuers say Body found weeks after 20-year-old kayaker vanished over waterfall, OR cops say Hiker plunges 100 feet at CA's Devil's Slide — and has to climb farther for help
