HNS REPORTS---THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 2010
THREE ARRESTED FOR ATTEMPTED HOME INVASION
Sheriff's deputies said Thursday that three men they arrested Wednesday have been charged with attempted home invasion, with bond set at $50,000 each. Investigators say the men, who were identified as 21-year old Edward Young III of Brooksville, 21-year old Tony Lee Smith, Jr. and 20-year old Denzel Devon Smith, both of Bushnell, were approaching 25205 LaRuth Road early Wednesday when the resident, Eric Adams, spotted them and called deputies. Adams said at least two of the three men were armed. The suspects fled when deputies arrived, and all three were captured about three hours later in the Gordon Loop area with aid from a helicopter and K-9 units. Investigators said none of the trio have been connected to a home invasion Tuesday night on Weatherly Road.
Later Thursday all three suspects were booked again on a second felony count for armed burglary. Arrest affidavits say the new charges were filed because the three men allegedly broke into a vacant home on WPA Road to use for surveillance of the Adams home.
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SPRING HILL PHARMACY ROBBED, DRUGS TAKEN
Sheriff's deputies are looking for a man who robbed the CVS Pharmacy at Spring Hill Drive and Mariner Blvd. early Thursday, displayed a knife, demanded oxycodone pills, took an unknown amount of prescription medicine and fled. Authorities said the robbery occurred shortly after 2:30 a.m. The suspect was described as a white male, 25 to 30 years old, six feet tall and about 185 pounds, with either blue or green eyes, and short dark hair. Deputies said he was wearing a white hooded sweat shirt with a black patterned design covering it, dark colored pants, possibly black jeans and black shoes. He also had a white colored mask covering the lower part of his face from the nose downward, with the hood of the sweat shirt covering the top of the head and pulled down to just above his eyes. He was reportedly wearing white cloth gloves over his hands and was armed with a small knife.
Deputies asked anyone in the public with information on the robbery to contact the sheriff's office or call the Crime Stoppers line at 866-990-TIPS.
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JURY VIEWS JARDIN INTERVIEW, DETECTIVES DESCRIBE LINKS TO MURDERS
The jury hearing the double murder trial of 35-year old Robert Jardin viewed a video of the defendant's first interview with sheriff's detectives Thursday. The investigators also testified about the evidence they found linking Jardin to the brutal slayings of Patrick and Evelyn DePalma in their Masaryktown home in 2006.
Detective George Loydgren testified about asking Jardin to come in for an interview about a bar fight in 2008. Jurors then watched Loydgren joking with Jardin about women and sex, saying he was satisfied that Jardin was not connected with the bar fight. The suspect's relief then turned to concern when Detectives Phillip Lakin and Randy Williamson then appeared and confronted him with pictures of the DePalmas. A suddenly sober Jardin insisted he knew nothing about their murders, then repeated two requests to end the interview and leave.
The 45-minute tape omitted the remainder of the questioning, because Judge Jack Springstead ruled that Jardin's rights were violated when the interview continued after his request to leave.
Williamson testified earlier in the morning, and Lakin was expected on the stand later in the day, with all three detectives describing evidence such as a key ring that was traced back to the victims, as well as a vacuum cleaner and other items from the DePalma home which detectives said they found in Jardin's possession.
The former strip club bouncer and construction worker was interrogated for 14 hours the next day, but most of that questioning was ruled inadmissible two weeks ago because of another violation of Jardin's rights.
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DREDGE CHALLENGE DEADLINE IS FRIDAY, MEETINGS PLANNED
County officials and lawyers are expected to meet Friday with representatives of Manuel LLC and the firm's attorney Jake Varn for one last effort to iron out concerns about a modified dredge permit. According to county documents received this week, Varn has concerns about plans for water quality monitoring in Minnow Creek, which has its headwaters east of the dredge spoil site at the old county sewer plant and runs along the north side of the site.
Varn appeared at a County Board meeting earlier this month and told commissioners he could file an administrative challenge to the modified Hernando Beach dredge permit. The revised permit contemplates large settling ponds, more equipment, and use of a chemical coagulant to separate sediment from dredge discharge. Friday is the last day to file a challenge to the modified permit. Officials are concerned that litigation could further delay the stalled project. According to a time-line furnished by dredge contractor Orion Services, the earliest possible project completion date is now July 4, 2011.
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C & D LANDFILL HEARING DELAYED, OWNER CHANGING PLANS
Opponents of a construction and demolition debris landfill at the end of Wildlife Lane in the east county have won a victory in the war over whether the facility will get a state permit. An attorney for neighbors fighting the landfill permit says a hearing scheduled for next week on the permit is being postponed while the landfill's owner revises his plans.
According to a letter from John Thomas, the environmental attorney hired by the landfill opponents, Out of Bounds is asking to modify its application to meet at least some of the residents' complaints. Thomas says a new stronger liner would be installed, and the firm would agree not to accept debris within a 500-foot radius of identified water wells. The discovery of a nearby well helped convince state regulators to withdraw a tentative permit and issue a denial instead.
But Thomas also says the "case is far from over." He says the owners have only committed to "consider" the changes and have asked for a six-month postponement of the hearing before an administrative law judge. And Thomas also notes that even with the liner and the distance from wells, the landfill could still tower 60 to 70 feet above grade and detract from life in the rural community near Cortez and I-75. Meanwhile, residents plan to continue a fund-raising campaign to help pay for Thomas and other legal costs.
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TEEN CHARGED FOR TAKING GUN AND COMPUTER FROM SUV
An 18-year old from Spring Hill was charged with armed burglary and grand theft Wednesday night after deputies said he took a loaded handgun and a computer from an unlocked car. An arrest affidavit says Douglas Madsen Hughes of 6337 Radford Street entered an unlocked Jeep owned by James Browning and took a loaded 38-caliber handgun and a laptop computer. The affidavit says the break-in occurred on July 28, and the gun was recovered after Hughes was involved in an incident where the stolen gun was accidentally fired and hit another person. Browning reportedly identified the gun as his, but deputies said the laptop has not been recovered.
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NUGENT E-MAILS VICTORY STATEMENT TO SUPPORTERS
Sheriff Rich Nugent, the Republican nominee for the District 5 U.S. House seat, e-mailed a victory statement to supporters Wednesday. Nugent thanked supporters and said, "Our success was made possible only through your hard work and hours of volunteering." He added that it "was a hard fought primary [and] one that has made me a stronger candidate and our campaign team more focused and disciplined and that’s exactly how I plan to push on to victory this November."
Nugent pledged to "continue the legacy of strong conservative leadership in the United States House of Representatives that Ginny Brown-Waite has provided for our District these past 8 years," if he wins the largely Republican district against Democrat Jim Piccillo in November.
Nugent garnered 62 percent of the Republican vote in the district in Tuesday's primary, versus 38 percent for Tea Party candidate Jason Sager. His margin in Hernando was even larger, at 68 percent to 32.
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SPRING HILL WOMAN ARRESTED FOR METH IN BRA
A 20-year old Spring Hill woman was jailed for shoplifting and possession of methamphetamine Wednesday. An arrest affidavit says Diana Kristine Smith of 18141 Deason Drive was spotted leaving the Cortez Blvd. Wal-Mart with costume jewelry and clothes she allegedly failed to pay for. When the store's loss prevention officer detained her, she was asked if she was in possession of any illegal items. The store officer told the arresting deputy that Smith then removed a small baggie from her bra and said it contained methamphetamine. The substance in the bag tested positive for meth when a deputy arrived, and Smith was booked into the Hernando County Jail on initial bond of $10,000.
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So for all that search we got three minority males, that may have been involved in a home invasion the night before. Was there any more description? Was there any more connection before the county lodged them? Did they have valid ID? Are they local?
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I would suggest that we trim the Sheriff's budget in about half. We could have even more services if we didn't have the Sheriff's army and air force. They really aren't taking care of crime here. There clearance rate is only 30 percent and their crime index is almost identical to 2002.
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