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Deborah Russell - Editor/Publisher

Wednesday May 20, 2009

Inglis, FL 34449

Tom Russell - Consulting Editor

A Publication of

Sally Price - Correspondent

Permit No. 14

Newscaster Publishing

Have a Safe & Happy Memorial Day

Mike Moore - Photojournalist

Squawk Box

With Mike Moore

You did WHAT?

It’s been a couple of

months since I gave everyone

here fair warning that my 15

year old had earned the right

to be a sanctioned, legal dan-

ger behind the wheel. I’m happy to file this

uneventful progress report; for the most part,

driving with her has been pretty laid back

and safe, just the way I like it (and demand

it).

Yes, the first 25 hours have been bliss.

Eager and hungry, she’s had to put on her

best stoic face while I lecture her on the finer

nuances of defensive maneuvers, scrutinize

every movement through traffic, and no

doubt the hardest for her to endure, decid-

ing (by requiring me to sit shotgun) when

and where she is allowed to exercise her new

privilege; for a dad trying to survive regular

horn-locking with a particularly precocious

young adult, having this last bastion of con-

trol gives me great pleasure. I tip my hat to

the Florida lawmakers who saw to making

this chokehold a reality.

She is in fact already a very good driver

and that’s the part that’s scary. For years

now I’ve been going out of my way to dem-

Nearing completion, the historic Inverness courthouse undergoing final repairs; the copper clad top is undergoing a hi-tech accelerated aging process that

onstrate the driving skills that would allow

will result in a watertight patina stained surface. Still to do: the cupola. According to Dave Weber, Citrus County Public information Officer, "The main goal

me to sleep at night when I knew some day

which included the Patina was to seal the entire clock tower/cupola, belvedere and large roof vents from extensive moisture intrusion which was

she would be in command by herself; by vir-

destroying the exterior any many interior areas of the Historic Courthouse. Newscaster Photo by Mike Moore

tue of driving skills osmosis, even in her first

Citrus Deputy Cleared in Shooting Death

hour behind the wheel she had a pretty good

theoretical skill set and was well ahead of

the curve.

Deputy Cridland was reasonably in fear of

County had placed him aboard a Greyhound

Citrus County Sheriff's Office

The scary part is what I call “confidence

imminent death or great bodily harm and that

Bus with a ticket to New Nexico. The bus had

(CCSO) deputy Todd Cridland was cleared of

without experience” and perhaps because of

the use of deadly force was necessary to pre-

stopped in Crystal River around 8:30 p.m. to

wrongdoing, in the March 23rd shooting

too much tutoring, has happened to her. She

vent it. Accordingly, I recommend this office

discharge one passenger and pick up another,

death of 26-year-old Dominic James Giacobbe.

had already worked through the intimidation

take no further action in the matter."

and Giacobbe had gotten off the bus, al-

The ruling was made by State Attorney Brad

Continued on that a 4 Squawk Box faces.

and hesitation page new young driver

Ridgway reported some details of

though it was not a rest stop.

King of the 5th Judicial Circuit, after review-

Continued on page 4 - Squawk Box

Giacobbe's life and the events surrounding

Between 9:00 to 10:00 p.m., Giacobbe

ing the findings of Assistant State Attorney

Inverness Man Robbed &

the approximate five hours that Mr. Giecobbe

was at a convenience store on U.S. Hwy. 19,

Richard Ridgway. According to the CCSO, the

spent in Crystal River prior to his death:

and according to a clerk, when Giacobbe first

Florida Department of Law Enforcement

Injured, Suspect Arrested

Giacobbe had a lengthy criminal his-

came in, he was "quiet" and "shy" and asked

(FDLE) would have forwarded their findings

tory, which includes a prior imprisonment on

for directions to the police department, but as

to the State Attorney's Office for review, but

Citrus County detectives identified and

a charge of Battery by a Detainee. Giacobbe

time progressed, he became "agitated," "ag-

the sheriff's office has not yet received these

got a warrant issued for the Hispanic male

also had a history of mental health issues.

gressive" and "irritated," so she called the

results. A press release from Gail Tierney, Pub-

suspected of robbing and battering an eld-

The toxicology report showed that Giacobbe

sheriff's office. Deputies Morton and Cridland

lic Information Officer with the CCSO, states,

erly Inverness man on Monday evening, May

had Haldol (haloperidol )in his system at the

came came to the store and issued Giacobbe

"According to Sheriff Jeff Dawsy, a thorough

time of his death, "an antipsychotic drug used

a trespass warning at the request of the clerk.

review of the agency's policies and proce-

James Pendleton, 71, had met with whom

to treat schizophrenia and acute psychotic

dures, as they relate to the use of force, indi-

A customer at the store stated that Giacobbe

he believed to be a prospective buyer for a

states." Giacobbe had been committed by way

cated Dep. Cridland's actions to be in compli-

appeared to be on drugs.

travel trailer he was selling alongside E. Gulf

of Florida's Baker Act, on Feb. 21 (2009) in

ance."

As the deputies were finishing the

to Lake Highway in Inverness. After being

Hillsborough County, and his family had,

Ridgway's report states that infor-

convenience store call, they were dispatched

victimized, he told deputies that the Hispanic

since, attempted to have him recommitted, but

mation was obtained from the FDLE's com-

to the scene of a traffic crash, nearby, also on

male had struck him from behind and taken

he had not met the criteria for emergency

prehensive report and supporting documents,

Hwy. 19. As Deputy Morton was directing

cash and other personal items from him.

committment in that county.

recorded statements, and the Medical Exam-

traffic at the crash site, Giacobbe walked by

Continued on page 3 - Suspect Arrested

Giacobbe's family in Hillsborough

iner. He concludes, "It is my opinion that

Continued on page 3 - Deputy Cleared