'Newspg3.indd' by The Newscaster

Crystal River man charged with trafficking marijuana

The Citrus County Sheriff's Office, Tactical Impact Unit served a search warrant

The Citrus County Sheriff's Office,Tactical Impact Unit located the

at 3388 N. Chameleon Point in Crystal River, Sept. 8. Attention had been drawn to the resi-

agency's Wanted of the Week' on Monday, Sept. 14.. Sgt. Ray Fischer's

dence by the Withlacoochee Electric Cooperative, which had evidence of utility theft occur-

squad, along with Dep. Behnen and K9 Jerry Lee placed 18 year-old Hen-

ring at the residence. Representatives of the utility company conducted an amperage reading

rekae "Nukie" Bellamy under arrest. He was wanted in connection to an

at the electric meter and determined that a theft of utilities was occurring. When detectives

armed robbery that occurred at 3:12 pm, August 31, behind MIckey's Bar

smelled the odor of cannabis at the meter box, they were able to secure a search warrant for

and Billiards, located at 770 NE 5th St. (Hwy. 44 East) in Crystal River. Bel-

lamy is a suspect in the robbery, in which the victim was robbed at gun point.

Inside the building, detectives found an

the suspect took an undisclosed amount of cash, and then fled in a Black Nissan Altima with

elaborate grow system with 34 marijuana plants.

two other unidentified black males.

The owner Joshua Destache, 36, whose official

Significant drug arrest made in Homosassa

residence is listed as 5620 Pine Bay Dr., Tampa,

On Friday evening, Sept. 11, the Intelligence Led Policing squad of the Citrus

was arrested and charged with possession of and

County Sheriff's Office, Tactical Impact Unit received information that a man wanted by

trafficking in greater than 25 pounds of marijuana.

both Sumter and Lake counties was staying in Citrus County.

The cannabis growing inside the structure was esti-

Unit members also learned that the wanted man, Richard John Figueredo, also

mated at approximately 55.3 pounds.

known as (aka) "Miami," had just received a large shipment of narcotics.

While detectives were on scene, Destache

Figueredo was tracked to a home in Homosassa, which was surrounded by depu-

returned home with his fiancee', but when he saw

ties. The homeowner was contacted by authorities and confirmed that Figueredo was inside

the narcotics detectives at his home, he attempted

the home. The homeowner allowed deputies to enter. Figueredo was found kneeling on the

to flee. He was stopped a short distance away and arrested on the charges. Destache's fiance'

floor of the bedroom, surrounded by narcotics and a scale. He gave himself up without inci-

was unable to give 5093tigators any Pt., rHomosassa, ng mariju34446 wng activity at the

inves S. Orwell info mation regardi Florida ana gro

residence and was not charge(352) 489-4588 Fax: (727) 362-4788

Deputies seized 211 grams of methamphetamine, 188 grams of cannabis, and

$5,082 in cash. The narcotics seized have an approximate street valuE ofailore than $22,000.Publisher:tthenewscaster1@gmail.comIEmail, Debbie Russell, Editor: debbienewsc

em m, Tom Russell, Suspec arrested in Hernando stabbing

If convicted, Figueredo could face a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years iitn sristhenewscaster.com t· 4:30 pm, Sept. 9, deputies with·thistory.newscasterarchives.como· thehea

Abou newscasterarchives.com he Citrus County Sheriff's Office resp nd-

ed to Goldpearl Lane, just off U.S. Hwy. 41 in Hernando, regarding a stabbing that had been

reported. When deputies arrived, they found a man, who had been stabbed multiple times,

- Continued from page 1

in the middle of the road. After a brief investigation of reviewing evidence and interviewing

specially developed native eel grass named "Rock Star". The grass will be protected with several witnesses, deputies determined that two friends who lived in the neighborhood had



Continued on page 11 - Stabbing

special cages. Rock Star was cultivated by the University of Florida specifically for this



project. The plan is to replace the Lyngbya and assist Rock Star in out-competing it. Rock

Star eel grass has the ability to uptake dissolved nutrients in the water faster than the Lyng-

  

bya, enabling the growth of the eel grass to substantially exceed that of the Lyngbya.

              

The final critical stage of the project involves maintenance and protection as spe-

      

cifically designed protective cages will be positioned over the newly planted grasses. The

grasses will be monitored and managed to allow them to take over their area. Unlike Lyn-

      

gbya, Eel grass is a natural food for manatees, ducks, turtles and many other species. The



restoration of the bay's ecology is crucial for the future of the ever-growing manatee popu-

lation that winters in the bay, according to SCR. The manatee will even be able to begin to

   

nibble some of the grass when it grows beyond the wire of the protective cages. When the



restoration is complete, all the animals will have healthy, native foods again.

"We believe this project is worthy of the support of everyone in Citrus County



and the great state of Florida to guarantee clean water and revive one of its gems of the

Nature Coast," said SCR President Lisa Moore. "This is the first step in beginning to solve



the problem that has destroyed the natural habitats of Kings Bay. SCR and our contractors



have worked very hard to demonstrate to legislators this can be done and we appreciate their

confidence in the plan by funding it. We especially want to thank our state Senator Charlie



Dean, for his unrelenting efforts to make this project a reality. We also want to commend

the efforts and support of Representative Jimmie T. Smith and so many others for providing



 

invaluable assistance during the process.



The project is scheduled to begin approximately Sept. 15 and will be completed by

the manateeNov.   the

opening of   season, 15. Staging  equipment will occur first on the prop-

 

   Every  



 ertleased  theintersection of Bayshore Dr. and NE 2nd Court in Crystal

 y   for this project at   



 

River and then operations will be set up in the adjacent residential canals. Water removed

      

   

with the Lyngbya and debris will be cleaned and returned to the canals. The extracted mate-

rial will be used fertilizer  

  as  in agriculture.

  

        and government to get an im-

"This is citizens working with private enterprise

portant environmental project accomplished," Moore said. "This is just the kind of public/

private partnership that Governor Scott has championed," she said and noted that Scott had

specifically left the project in this year s budget demonstrating his commitment and support

of critical water projects like this one.

"The vision of SCR is to recreate the healthy ecosystem, one ideal for manatees,

    

fish, crabs, native plants, and humans. We envision a restoration of the balance of the whole

   

environment. We believe we will be successful and this project could be a model for similar



restoration projects throughout Florida."

    



Construction, Inc.

  

    



New Homes - Renovations - Additions

Home Inspections - Wind Mitigation

 



www.alumbaughhomes.com





Licensed & Insured CRC058012 & HI5744







1129 Sterling Rd. Inverness

  