PAGE 3 - October 6, 2010
The Newscaster/Nature Coast News
Grand the area, the deputy was onfrom pagethe man, but did not see him, so he went Remembering the past - Continued from page 1
Theft - continued alert for 1
Ave. Enroute to
he staggered 15 to 20 feet and fell down. The hunters got out of the truck, Morris grabbed
to the residence and spoke with several witnesses who knew the suspect as Donald Pierson,
his rifle. Songer got out of the car and started shooting at the truck.
later determined to be 19 year-old Donald Randall Pierson, 5834 W. Pine Cir., Crystal River.
The wanted men jumped back in the car, cranked it and started to go. Morris said
The witnesses told the deputy they heard a loud noise, looked outside, and saw
he shot out both back tires and a hole in the gas tank. The car spun around the palmettos
Pierson going inside a trailer, going through it, then walking outside carrying a large flat-
and bogged down in the sugar sand. Morris said he could not see them anymore and told
screen television (a 40-inch Vizio valued at $500) along with other items, heading west on
Starling he was going out to 19 and run down to get ahead of them. Morris said the men got
foot down Orange Lane.
out and got behind the driver’s door and kept watching the truck, not knowing Morris had
On the trailer in question, a window screen was removed, and the window was
come around behind them. Morris said not knowing if Smith was dead, thoughts were run-
shattered. The east door was ajar, and the trailer appeared to be ransacked. In a bedroom,
ning through his mind if he would go to jail if he killed these guys. Morris said he decided to
drawers were open, a TV stand was missing a TV, and a package of brown knee-high stock-
shoot Jone’s legs knocking him 10 feet thru the air, then put the gun on Songer and told him
ings was open on the dresser, but missing the stockings. In another bedroom, officers located
to throw the gun and crawl over to Jones. Starling checked the car and then Morris checked
a black pair of sneakers and a pair of men’s shorts.
out Smith and knew he was dead. Starling kept the gun on the two and Morris used the FHP
A K-9 team searched the area and soon located Pierson, who matched the descrip-
radio telling a trooper was down about 1/1/2 miles below the barge canal bridge. Morris
tion of the suspect: a white male with a green shirt, blue shorts wearing brown knee high
then used the CB radio to call over 3 other hunters (Johnnie and Willie Hamilton and Joseph
stockings with white socks and no shoes.
Young). Trooper Milton Johnson, of Inglis who was assigned to Inglis in April 1973 (retired
Pierson agreed to speak with the deputy, but denied any involvement in the bur-
in 2000) was on duty at the Inglis FHP Office and when he got the call he said he drove 120
glary. Witnesses were brought to the location where Pierson was and positively identified
MPH thru Inglis and arrived as the first law enforcement officer at the scene. Morris after
him as the man they’d seen taking the TV out of the trailer.
that said everybody arrived.
Pierson was taken into custody, but continued to deny involvement and became
Trooper Ronald Gordon Smith, son of the Captain on the Tallahassee Police Force,
very agitated, so the interview was stopped. He was charged with burglary, grand theft and
where he served before he got his college degree had only been with FHP about 8 months
criminal mischief. His bond was set at $10,500.
when he was gunned down at age 28. Smith was to return to Tallahassee that afternoon to
Chiefland Man Receives 30
bring his wife and daughter almost 2 back to their new home in Crystal River. Songer, Mor-
ris thought was 23 at the time, had 5 death warrants signed on him and avoided the electric
Years in Prison
chair, had the death penalty reduced to life in prison in Oklahoma with a release date of
2098. According to Morris, Jones, 20 at that time pleaded guilty after the fact and got 2
The Levy County Sheriff’s Office Drug Task Force arrested
years back in Oklahoma but Morris said Jones has also served ten years in prison for armed
James Joseph Thompson on March 24, 2010 for possession of cocaine
robbery since then.
with intent to sell, tampering with physical evidence, driving while license
The Basswood Ave. memorial and dedication of the new four lane barge canal
suspended and possession of drug paraphernalia.
bridge to honor Trooper Smith was carried out by National Association of Retired Law En-
On September 22, 2010 Thompson went to court and was found
forcement (NARLEO). Present was Smith’s daughter Alicia with her boys Rhett and Cole
guilty on all charges. Thompson has an extensive criminal history and re-
and her husband Gary Lance Hayes. Other family members, friends, dignitaries and law
ceived 30 years in the Department of Corrections.
enforcement members were also present this past weekend.
Thompson
w! email news to: news@thenewscaster.com
Bubba’s Fin & Feather
Mon-Happy hr & free pool all day
Tue-2-4pm $2 long necks $1 darts 7pm with Trish
Wed-Free Pool all day $1.75 cans
pool tournament 7pm
Off Hwy 40
Thur-$1.75 Rum & Coke all day
On Lk. Rousseau
Dart Tournament 7pm
Call 447-2755
Fri-Free Jukebox & $1 draft 8-10pm
for info
Sat-Karaoke 9pm-1am W/Bobby
Hours 12pm-UBD 2-4-1 mixed drinks 9-11pm
Sun-Ride in specials
Mon-Sun.
Customer appreciation Bring in this ad
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Mon-Thu get happy hour prices
sites available
Bartender applications being accepted
Attention Investors:
Retired FHP Trooper Milton Johnson of Inglis was the first law enforcement officer on the
scene 12/23/1973 after responding to a frantic call on the FHP car radio by a hunter that a
trooper was down on Hwy 19. Behind Milton is his wife Erma Lee Johnson and to the left is
This weeks Foreclosure Bargains
former FHP Trooper and past Sheriff of Levy County Ted Glass. Photo by Sally Price
Inglis Super Stop Restaurant
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foreclosures on our Website
or Call-Ahead
Licensed Real Estate Broker
U.S. Hwy. 19
for Take-Out
352-447-4442
Real Estate Investment Consultant
447-4047
(at C.R. 40)
Shell Gas
Darryl & Vicki Diamond
352-
www.diamondhomesandland.com
“The Diamond Team”
Inglis, Florida