PAGE 3 - April 1, 2009
The Newscaster/Nature Coast News
Citrus County to begin fixed bus route Man in Shooting - Continued from page 1
notification has been made.
pilot program April 6
K-9 Mito, who was stabbed with a long knife last week in the same incident in Crystal
River, is now at home with his handler, Dep. Jim Davis, and is recovering nicely.
The Citrus County Commission has authorized a six-month pilot program for a fixed
Shortly after 1:00 a.m., a week ago Monday deputies were dispatched to an area
bus route serving the Central Ridge and Inverness areas beginning April 6. The route will go
near the Sonic restaurant on U.S. 19 in Crystal River regarding a suspicious person. The
from Citrus Springs south on County Road 491 to the Lecanto campus of Central Florida
person, a white male, was jumping in and out of traffic.
Community College (CFCC) and east on State Road 44 to Inverness, including a stop at the
After deputies confronted the subject, he brandished a weapon, a large knife, and the K-
Citrus County Fairgrounds on U.S. 41. The service will run about 12 hours a day, Monday
9 handler released K-9 deputy Mito to help apprehend the suspect. The man stabbed K-9
through Friday, from 6 a.m. to 6:40 p.m. The cost will be $1.25 per trip or $2.50 all day. The
deputy Mito, then charged deputies with the knife. Shots were fired, and the man was killed.
county tried a fixed route a decade ago, but the rider ship did not support the route. This time,
Deputy Todd Cridland fired the shot that killed the suspect involved in the incident. Cridland
based on surveys, county officials feel the need and interest are there. A bus rider will be able
has been with the agency since Dec. 1999 when he was hired as a dispatcher in the 911
to go from the Citrus Springs Community Center or a Beverly Hills shopping center to CFCC,
Communications Center.
or the Wal-Mart and Lowes stores just west of Inverness.
Citrus County Sheriff Jeff Dawsy said a preliminary report from the FDLE indicates
The rider’s destination might be the Withlacoochee Technical Institute, Citrus Me-
that the shooting was justified. Dawsey praised Deputy Cridland for the way he handled the
morial Hospital and its medical complex, the County Courthouse or other offices or stores and
incident.
restaurants in downtown Inverness. The bus will go by each of those stops about every two
Man arrested for shining laser at helicopter
hours. The route begins at the county transit office in Lecanto and goes north on C.R. 491 to
make its first stop at the Beverly Hills Winn Dixie. The next stop is a little further north in
Beverly Hills in front of Sal’s Restaurant at the next shopping center. Then the bus proceeds
A Beverly Hills man was arrested by the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, March 26,
to the Citrus Springs Community Center. Then it’s back to Sal’s, the Winn Dixie, and then
charged with the misuse of a laser lighting device - shining a green laser light at a sheriff's
south down C.R. 491 to Citrus County Resource Center/Veterans Clinic and then to the transit
office's helicopter.
office. The bus continues down C.R. 491 to the Lecanto government complex and Health
According to the arrest report, the incident occured around 10:00 p.m., The closet
Department, then to CFCC’s Lecanto campus, where it turns around, goes back up to S.R. 44
unit to the area responded and was guided by Air Two (CCSO helicopter) to 64 S. Desota St.
and heads east on S.R. 44 to the Lowes and Wal-Mart stores just outside Inverness. Proceed-
in Beverly Hills.
ing east, the next stop is Withlacoochee Tech, then the Citrus Memorial Hospital and health
Air Two instructed the deputy to walk the the southeast side of the residence. There,
system complex and then the county fairgrounds down U.S. 41. Heading back toward Inverness,
the deputy found 48-year-old Van Vickery, the resident of that address. The deputy asked
it will stop at the intersection of Mossy Oak and Old Floral City Road before going to the
Vickery if he'd shone a laser light at the CCSO helicopter, and he replied, "No." However, on a
County Courthouse downtown. The bus goes back to Wal-Mart and Lowes and finally back
table beside where Vickery was sitting, the deputy saw two black laser lights that emitted a
to the transit office in Lecanto to start the loop again.
green beam. Vickery was arrested and transported to the Citrus county Detention Facility. His
The project will not cost any new tax dollars and will be paid for by moving two
bond was set at $2000.
current para-transit, or door-to-door, buses and drivers to the new fixed route. Some of the
patrons in the current para-transit, or appointment-based, service are expected to use the new
5 Acre mini-ranch all fenced with separate
bus service, lessening the need for those two buses in para-transit system. The success of the
pastures and a barn, wonderful 3 bedroom 2.5
route will be monitored by weekly reports on the number of patrons, patrons per stop, consis-
bath home sits under magnificent oak trees,
tency of stop times, overall use and customer surveys. Community Support Services County
large great room with fireplace, lots of tile floor-
Transportation Supervisor Lon Frye said it is an experiment, but he thinks the pilot program
ing and a swimming pool for those warm
will be successful. He knows there will be bugs to be worked out, but he’s confident that by
sunny days. Offered at $275,000
working with everyone, any technical snags will be ironed out. A prepaid fare will be available
for a $10 minimum that will reduce the cost of the fare to $1 per trip or $2 per day. Bus schedules
WATERFRONT 2 bedroom with large en-
are available in most county buildings. For more information, call 527-7630.
Levy Woman “Rams” Boyfriend’s Car
closed porch over looking the dock on canal
to Withlacoochee River and Gulf of Mexico.
Tile & berber flooring with newer appliances
Bronson, Florida-On March 25, 2009 Levy Deputy Maddox arrested Amanda Peacock for
and a motivated seller, offered at $199,900 with
child abuse and criminal mischief.
lease option available.
Shortly after 9 PM Deputy Maddox responded to 13071 NE 75 Place Archer, in
Diamond Investments, Inc.
reference to a disturbance. Upon arrival Deputy Maddox made contact with the victim who
352-447-4442
Darryl A. Diamond
advised that he and Peacock were arguing because he left Peacock and went back to his wife.
Licensed Real Estate Broker
During the argument the victim got in his vehicle to leave the property and Peacock
Call Shirley at 352 400-0301
Real Estate Investment Consultant
rammed the victim’s car with her own vehicle. There was over $ 1,500 in damage. Peacock had
Darryl & Vicki Diamond & Shirley
her 8 month old child in the back seat and the child was not injured during this incident.
www.diamondhomesandland.com
“The Diamond Team”
Peacock admitted to Deputy Maddox that she was mad and rammed the vehicle out of rage.
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