PAGE 2 - July 6, 2011
The Newscaster - Nature Coast News
Manhunt  - Continued from page 1
Pet Patrol
and driving while license revoked. Hills, who is classified as a violent sex offender accord-
ing to the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, had abscounded probation from the State of Illi-
nois. Deputies were combing the streets of Crystal River, especially in the area where Hills
was last seen - a swampy wooded area near N.E. 11th St., where a Code Red BOLO (be on
the lookout) had been issued around 3:00 p.m. Ground units, K-9 teams and the CCSO’s
helicopter were all involved in the manhunt. The two stolen vehicles were recovered, so
Hills was believed to be on foot.
The incident began around 2:17 a.m., when a deputy conducting radar patrol in
Homosassa Springs on Hwy. 19 found Hills traveling north at 57 mph in a 45 mph zone. He
attempted to stop Hills at Hwy. 19 and S. Stonebrook Dr., but rather than stopping, Hills ac-
celerated to about 70 mph. A traffic chase ensued. The deputy reported seeing the passenger
throw an empty beer can out of his window. Hills accelerated to 85 mph north on Hwy. 19,
east onto Hwy. 44, then north down a side street. As the vehicle traveled down N.E. 10th St.
approaching 8th Ave., the vehicle slowed to approximately 30 mph and the passenger, John
Spataro, Jr.,, opened his door and jumped out of the moving vehicle. As Hills turned onto
N.E. 11th St., he lost control of his vehicle and spun it around, but regained control. When
he reached the locked gate to the water treatment plant at the end of the street, Hills jumped
from the moving vehicle and ran into a wooded area to the left. The vehicle crashed through
Rocky is a cute Boxer puppy that was saved
the gate and came to rest against a telephone pole. The deputy ran after Hills, commanding
from a shelter. He is only about 10 weeks old
him to stop, but he continued running into a densely wooded area. The deputy deployed
and has the most adorable face and beautiful
his taser at a distance of about 5 ft. from Hills, but Hills showed no effect and managed to
brindle coat. He likes children and wants to
escape the deputy’s pursuit.
play with all the dogs. He will need the re-
The vehicle Hills was driving and had allowed to crash, a 2001 Dodge pickup
quired puppy training but will make a won-
truck, had been reported stolen from a used auto lot in Mount Carmel, Illinois on June 16
derfulpet. Adopt A Rescued Pet, Inc. does
“Schnookums, a beautifully coated, small 6
(2011). The report of the theft listed Hills as a suspect in the case. The deputy pursuing
home visits prior to adoptions, therefore, we
yo, s.f. Schnauzer, is such a well behaved
Hills obtained a photograph of Hills from the Wabash County (Illinois) Sheriffís Office and
can only adopt to the Citrus County and ad-
and quiet little girl. Check www.petfinder.
positively identified him as the driver of the vehicle. A few hours later, deputies learned that
joining county areas. If you are within these
com to see our 2 n.m. Yorkie-Poos, a s.f. Rat
a 2003 Dodge truck, which had been parked at the water treatment plant in Crystal River
areas, please, phone Adopt A Rescued Pet,
Terrier, a n.m. Pomeranian, a sm. lg. hr. n.m
with the keys in the ignition, had been stolen. A detective spoke with the passenger, Spataro,
leave your name, number, at 352.795.9550.
Chihuahua, and a pair of Shih Tzus that will
who had jumped from the stolen car being pursued by the deputy. Spataro said he’d been
All of our dogs have been sterilized, tested
be at A Humane Society of Central Florida
introduced to Hills a few days previous, and just prior to the attempted stop and car chase,
negative for heart worm, on heart worm
Pet Rescue, Inc’s Saturday Adoption Event
he’d gone with Hills to a bar in Homosassa. After the bar had closed, they were driving on
prevention, on flea prevention, up to date on
in Pet Supermarket, Inverness, 10-12 PM.”
Hwy. 19, when the deputy had attempted to pull them over, and Hills had refused to stop.
vaccines, ID chipped and vet checked.
Call 352-527-9050.
He said Hills had slowed down for him to jump out of the car because he didn’t want to be
Public Information Officer retires
involved in a police chase.
Around 12:47 p.m., Hills was taken into custody near his residence. At the Citrus
Citrus county names news media contact
County Detention Facility, he admitted to stealing the 2001 Dodge pickup truck from Herb’s
Auto Sales in Illinois. He said he’d pushed-in a window air conditioning unit, removed ciga-
Citrus County Executive Assistant Deborah Bloss will be taking over as the point
rettes and keys, then drove the vehicle to a relative’s residence in Crystal River. He said he’d
of contact for news media for the board of county commission government, when Jim Hunt-
fled from the deputy because his Illinois’ instructional permit had been revoked on Sept. 9,
er, the Public Information Officer retired June 30.
2006. He said his passenger had asked him to stop, but he didn’t because he knew he’d be
Bloss most recently served as the Executive Assistant to the Deputy County Ad-
in trouble. He said, when the deputy was pursuing him, he’d felt electricity and later found
ministrator. In addition to her other administrative duties, Bloss will be sending out the
a taser probe in his left upper chest. He said he’d hidden in the woods until the crashed ve-
normal press releases for commission government as well as being a facilitator for getting
hicle was towed, then he’d climbed the fence, back into the water treatment plant, found a
information for reporters and connecting them to department and administrative officials
city pickup truck with the keys inside, drove it away a distance, then parked it and hid in the
when appropriate.
woods while working his way back to his uncle’s house.
She can be reached by phone at 352-527-5211 or by email at: deborah.bloss@bocc.
Hills’ bond was set at $10, 250 on the charges. He was also issued numerous cita-
citrus.fl.us.
tions: theft of a motor vehicle, driving while license suspended or revoked, fleeing and elud-
ing a law enforcement officer, and leaving the scene of a traffic crash with property damage.
R&M
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS
Hills’ sex offender status comes from a conviction for lewd and lascivious molesta-
tion and sexual assault of a victim under the age of 12 when he was a teenager. He was sen-
Rebuilt - Repaired - Resealed
tenced on May 24, 2006 and transported to high-risk commitment center. He was released in
Complete Auto Repairs
late 2006 and placed on probation in Florida. His probation was transferred to Illinois where
A/C - Brakes - Front End - Exhaust - TuneUps
he had family members.
Computer Diagnostics
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