THE NEWSCASTER
THE NEWSCASTER
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Deborah Russell - Editor
A Publication of
Wednesday May 27, 2015
Inglis, FL 34449
Tom Russell - Publisher
Newscaster Publishing
Permit No. 14
Sally Price - Correspondent
Please visit our website: thenewscaster.com
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Squawk Box
Coast Guard Hoax Calls
Are Felonies
The U.S. Coast Guard held a
press conference at the Coast Guard Sec-
tor Jacksonville (FL) command center,
May 21, to bring attention to the problem
of of distress calls that were later con-
firmed to be or suspected of being hoax
calls that have been received by watch-
standers since Oct. 1, 2014.
Nationwide, the Coast Guard
handles, on average, 18 intentional false
distress calls and another 121 suspected
hoax mayday calls annually. Each call
results in the launch of Coast Guard air-
craft and vessels as well as personnel and
equipment from other local agencies. This
results in waste of thousands of taxpayer
dollars.
The hourly cost of operating
Coast Guard assets varies, depending on
the asset: $1,598 for a (small) 25-foot Re-
sponse Boat; $9,006 for a (medium) 45-
foot Response Boat; $12,151 for a MH-65
Dolphin helicopter; and $21,205 for a HC-
130 Hercules airplane.
Hoax calls are not only wasteful
of taxpayers' dollars, they also take rescue
Relative? Friend? Family? Respective citizen? Mourning and remembering our servicemen and women knows no boundaries on Memorial Day.
personnel and equipment away from re-
Florida National Cemetery, (Bushnell)the resting place for some 129,000 veterans. All gave some, some gave all. TheNewscaster/Mike Moore.
sponding to a person who may actually be
Credit Card Two juvenile murder suspects
in distress. The Coast Guard takes all calls
for help seriously, and although Coast
Guardsmen across the nation train daily
Skimmers
will be tried as adults
to respond to various scenarios, sending
crews out onto the water is always a risky
operation and places personnel in harm's
Found In
will remain until trial.
From Citrus County Sheriff Dept.
way.
Robinson was also arrested - along
Under federal law, knowingly
with a third person, 16 year-old, Kyle Doug-
A grand jury has indicted Bryan
and willfully transmitting a hoax distress
Citrus County
las Dutcher, 6085 W. LaPrima Ct., Homo-
Thomas Robinson, 16, 6155 W. Pine Cir.,
call is a felony that is punishable by pos-
sassa - for the attempted pre-meditated mur-
Crystal River, and Tyzick Joseph Wall, 17,
sible prison time, a $5,000 civil fine, a
der and aggravated battery with a deadly
9520 N. Dunedin Rd., Dunnellon, of 1st
From The Fla. Dept. of Agriculture
$250,000 criminal fine and restitution
weapon of a 16 year-old Homosassa youth.
degree premeditated murder for the recent
to the Coast Guard for all costs incurred
During the past three months, in-
There was no mention of Wall in being in-
death of Stephen Gorney, 54, of Crystal
while responding to the call.
spectors with the Florida Department of Ag-
volved in this incident. One bullet allegedly
River. The two were also charged with rob-
If you feel you are in danger
riculture and Consumer Services (FDACS)
grazed the youth's head, the report stated,
bery using a deadly weapon and two counts
while on a boat trip, call the Coast Guard
have swept through Florida, checking gas
and the youth had a scar in that area. Rob-
of dealing in stolen property.
immediately. If your situation changes and
station pumps for `skimmers,' devices that
inson and Dutcher also beat the victim with
Both men were being housed in
you are no longer in distress, let the Coast
are illegally placed on gas pumps to capture
their hands and feet. The victim told detec-
separate juvenile detention facilities, Robin-
Guard know. This will prevent the Coast
credit or debit card information for the pur-
tives that Robinson attempted to shoot him,
son in Alachua County and Wall in Marion
Guard from needlessly expending time,
pose of identity theft.
several times, but the gun did not fire. The
County. Because they will be tried as adults,
money, assets and personnel.
Commissioner Adam Putnam of
victim also said that Dutcher threatened him
however, capias warrants were issued on
FDACS announced on May 20, that of the
with the gun after he got into Robinson's
May 18 for each to be transferred to an adult
Easier than eBay
7,571 gas stations inspected, 103 skimmers
truck, but Robinson told Dutcher not to fire
population jail. Robinson was transferred to
were located. In the local region, two were
the gun in his truck. The youth said he did
the Alachua County Detention Facility, and
Classified Ads
found in Citrus County: Kwik King/Su-
not come forward sooner because he feared
Wall was transferred to the Marion County
You can now place classified ads at the
noco, 1211 N. Florida Ave., Hernando, and
for his life and the lives of his friends. The
Detention Facility. On May 19, deputies
Food Ranch Service Desk - 25 words/$12.
Kwik Stop Citgo, 5445 S. Suncoast Blvd.,
report stated that the victim believes that
with the Citrus County Sheriff s Office re-
New deadline: Monday 12 noon at the Inglis
Homosassa; none were found in Levy Coun-
Dutcher thought he was with Dutcher's girl-
trieved the two and transported them to the
Food Ranch service Desk. Cash or Check.
friend, which Dutcher corroborated.
Citrus County Detention Facility where they
Continued on page 4 - Skimmers