THE NEWSCASTER
THE NEWSCASTER
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Deborah Russell - Editor/Publisher
A Publication of
Wednesday August 14, 2013
Inglis, FL 34449
Tom Russell - Consulting Editor
Newscaster Publishing
Permit No. 14
Sally Price - Correspondent
Please visit our website: thenewscaster.com
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Squawk Box
Red Light Cameras
Out
In Dunnellon
Unpopular & New Legislation
The red light cameras in Dunnel-
lon are now extinct, as of last week, when
workers were seen removing parts from
their housing containers on the light poles,
and the red lights failed to give the now-
familiar, occasionaL flash.
The Dunnellon City Council
made the decision (4:1) on July 22, to ter-
minate the contract with American Traffic
Solutions, even though the red light cam-
eras bring in much-needed revenue. The
main arguments were that the vast major-
ity of business owners and the public are
opposed to the red light cameras, which
are not beneficial to a tourist-friendly
town.
A need for the new red light cam-
era ordinances came about because of new
Florida’s laws approved during the 2013
legislative session and signed into effect
Recent graduates of class number ninety-four of the Sheriff’s Office Citizens’ Academy enjoy a photo op with Sheriff Jeff Dawsy
by Gov. Rick Scott on June 12. The or-
(right) and Lt. Chris Evan (left). Sheriff’s Office Citizens’ Academy Wants You! If you haven’t already heard about it, we’d like to
dinances had to be adopted by Florida
encourage you to attend the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office Citizens’ Academy, a 10-week-long educational program offered free of
cities and counties using them by July 1.
charge to all Citrus County residents. The next class begins on September 5, 2013. Read full story on page 3.
Because Dunnellon had not passed the
Inverness man arrested on child
ordinances by that time, red-light camera
Tobacco Shop
violations could not be issued until/unless
the city council approved them.
pornography charges
The legislation mandated that
Robbed
drivers would not be issued tickets at in-
tersections with red-light cameras if they
Surveillance photo available
come to a complete stop before making a
From Citrus County Sheriff Dept.
right-hand turn, and could not be cited for
At 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August
a right turn violation if they stop - even if
videos or files containing child
6, deputies with the Citrus County Sheriff’s
the stop is beyond the stop line. The time
Jonathan James Twitty, 24, 802
pornography from Twitty’s com-
Office responded to a panic alarm in In-
for a motorist to respond to the initial no-
Kingsley Ter., Inverness, was arrested by
puter.
verness at the Happy Timez Tobacco Shop,
tice was increased from 30 to 60 days - at
the Citrus County Sheriff s Office, August
When the evidence was
located at 1111 E. Inverness Blvd.
which time the $158 fine violation would
8, charged with ten counts of possession of
obtained, Twitty was placed un-
Deputies say the clerk met them
der arrest. At the Citrus County Twitty
become a uniform traffic citation carrying
child pornography and one count of promo-
at the door and told them that a man with
higher penalties, including a $264 fine.
tion of child pornography. His total bond
Detention Facility, he agreed
a gun had come into the store, demanding
Dunnellon would also have had to provide
was set at $52,000.
to an interview. He told detectives that the
cash and merchandise. The clerk, although
a special magistrate to preside over hear-
The arrest took place when detec-
computer in is his, that he is the only person
threatened, was not injured and told deputies
ings of motorists who contested their red
tives from the Internet Crimes Unit, along
who uses it, and that he is the person who
he gave the suspect the money and merchan-
light violations
with detectives from the Crimes Against
had downloaded the pornographic video im-
dise.
The extra costs to the city were
Children Unit, executed a search warrant at
ages. He said he has a “sickness” and ad-
The suspect is described as a white
uncertain, but projected revenue would
Twitty’s residence. The warrant was the re-
mitted that the computer would contain ad-
male in his 30s, approximately 5í10î tall,
have been approximately $380,000, had
sult of an ongoing investigation for the pos-
ditional videos/files of child pornography
with brown hair, scruffy facial hair and a
the city approved continued use of the de-
session and distribution (promotion) of child
that law enforcement had not yet located.
medium build. He was wearing a two-toned
vices. As the contract has been in effect
pornography.
gray baseball type shirt with blue sleeves
Inglis
for a minimum of three years, the city was
During the search warrant, comput-
with the name “reckless cult” printed on
Commissioner
able to opt out of the contract without a
ers and computer equipment were collected
the front. He was also wearing blue jeans,
penalty. As of now, up to 80 municipalities
and transferred to the sheriff office. A de-
brown cowboy boots with rounded toes and
Resigns, details pg.
in Florida use the red light cameras.
tective was able to forensically extract ten
Continued on page 3 - Robbery