INDIAN RIVER, FL – A man who has been riding around on his bicycle in Indian River, Florida, stealing American flags and political campaign signs has been caught by the local sheriff’s deputies.  On Tuesday, deputies responded to the theft of American flags in the neighborhood. Deputies sought the public’s help by posting photos of the suspect who has been stealing flags and signs from yards.

“If you know this person or information where he lives please contact the Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers or the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office,” the office said in a Facebook post.

Today, at approximately 6:00 am this subject was caught destroying the same victim’s solar lights and window who reported him on Tuesday. Deputies in the area were able to locate him. The subject admitted to stealing the flag and damaging the lights. Thank you for all of your help and tips on this subject.

The department did not specify which signs were stolen, but one commenter on the department’s Facebook said, “If he was stealing Biden signs, he was just picking up trash, not stealing.”

The department did not release the man’s name.

VALRICO, FL – The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department is searching for a man who robbed a female clerk at a gas station at gunpoint.  At one point the man pointed the gun at point-blank range at the woman’s head.

“We are  searching for the suspect seen in this video threatening a convenience store worker at gunpoint, firing a round inside the business and running away with stolen cash,” the department said.  “This happened Saturday at 10:50 p.m. at the Shell Gas Station on Lithia Pinecrest Road in #Valrico. During the incident, the man pointed the gun away and fired a round through a display shelf. In fear for her life, the clerk opened the cash register. The suspect removed an undisclosed amount of money and ran out of the store toward an unknown vehicle.”

Sheriff Chad Chronister said the man shot one round inside the gas station.

“This man entered a business with a loaded gun and was clearly not afraid to use it,” Chronister said. “We can only imagine how frightened the clerk must have felt when he pointed a gun at her, and even more so when he fired a shot at a display shelf just a few feet away.”

Chronister said deputies are working hard to identify the gunman and urges anyone who may have a tip to assist in the investigation and come forward.

“Please come forward and help us get this suspect off the streets,” Sheriff Chronister added.

HERNANDO COUNTY, FL – A 13-year-old girl at a local gas station approached a deputy regarding an individual who she claims was following her, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Department reported today. The girl indicated she initially got a ride to the gas station from the individual. Prior to arriving at the gas station, she said the man grabbed her arm and attempted to persuade her to get into his vehicle. She said he eventually let go and she ultimately decided to get into his vehicle. While riding in the vehicle, she said the man tried to hug her. The man denied touching the girl. During the investigation, deputies discovered the girl had recently run away from home. The girl’s parents responded to the scene and took the girl home. The incident remains under investigation.

Photo by JFernandez on Unsplash

HERNANDO COUNTY, FLORIDA – A marine deputy responded to the area of Jenkins Creek in reference to a kayaker in need of assistance. The kayaker advised his kayak had sunk and it was too dark to determine how close he was to the shore. The deputy was able to locate the kayaker who was blowing his emergency whistle. The deputy returned the kayaker to shore safely

In other news today:

Parrott Middle School — A student showed another student a photo of a firearm. The student with the picture then told the other student not to mess with him.

Powell Middle School — A School Resource Deputy was advised of a student who wanted to commit self-harm. Following an evaluation by the Mobile Crisis Response Team the student was Baker Acted.

Photo by Carl Heyerdahl on Unsplash

PALM COAST, FL – Early Tuesday morning, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) Special Investigations Unit (SIU) with the assistance of Sheriff Rick Staly and the FCSO SWAT team served a Narcotics Search Warrant at 10 Warner Place in Palm Coast. This Search Warrant stemmed from a lengthy investigation by Detectives into allegations of suspected drug dealing occurring from the residence. Detectives were able to confirm those allegations through a series of covert investigations.

While serving the Search Warrant, 3 adults were located inside the residence. While Detectives were on scene, many neighbors in the area expressed their appreciation and gratitude to the Sheriff and the Detectives for helping to clean up their community.
Detectives seized trafficking amounts of Fentanyl, a loaded shotgun, Cannabis, prescription medication, and various drug paraphernalia to include over 100 used hypodermic needles.

Additionally, Detectives recovered a safe inside of the residence that contained jewelry valued at over $1,000.00 which was previously reported stolen by a resident in Palm Coast. Other stolen property was also recovered within the residence. Property Crime Detectives are following up with the victims and that investigation is ongoing.

Detectives arrested 24-year-old John William Iles (DOB 3/5/1996) on charges of Trafficking Fentanyl, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Possession of Cannabis, Possession of New or Legend Drug, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He is being held in the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility with no bond allowed.

Detectives located a loaded 12 gauge shotgun inside the doorway to Iles’ bedroom. Iles is a convicted felon, and has a previous felony conviction for Burglary. Iles was also found to be in possession of approximately 42 grams of Fentanyl which, if convicted, carries a minimum mandatory 25-year prison sentence.

“According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), 2 milligrams of Fentanyl is considered a lethal dose to most people,” Sheriff Staly said. “To put that in perspective, Iles had approximately 21,000 lethal doses of Fentanyl in his possession. It was time to get these poison peddlers off the street and help clean up the community.”

29-year-old Daniel Clark McIntyre (DOB 8/30/1991) was arrested and charged with Possession of Schedule III Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

25-year-old Tylor Whitaker (DOB 2/13/1995) was arrested and charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

“This residence has been a problem house for a while and as a result has made the Sheriff’s High Interest Target list,” Sheriff Staly continued. “As always, we welcome tips from the community and thank everyone for being patient while our detectives obtained evidence for a search warrant. Guns, drugs and burglaries fuel the drug trade and destroy neighborhoods. Our detectives and SWAT team did another outstanding job successfully and safely serving a high risk search warrant. My warning to poison peddlers is if you make the Sheriff’s High Interest Target list it is only a matter of time before your new home is the Green Roof Inn and your drug house is closed down.”

McIntyre has past arrests for Domestic Violence, Criminal Mischief, Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer, Violation of Probation, and more. Whitaker has past arrests for Failure to Appear, Solicitation, and Loitering.

Additional charges are pending and the investigation is ongoing.

If you have information regarding suspicious activity in your neighborhood or near your business, contact FCSO at 386-313-4911 or send an email to [email protected]. You can also call Crimestoppers to remain anonymous at 1-888-277-TIPS (8477).

NORTH NAPLES, FL – Deputies arrested a 29-year-old man Tuesday after he used fraudulent identification to purchase merchandise from a North Naples auto parts store. Rey Ernesto Borroto Derrick of 8690 Weir Drive, Unit 305, is charged with identity theft, credit card fraud and petty theft. Collier County Sheriff’s Office arrest reports gave this account:

Two men entered Advance Auto Parts, 1935 Pine Ridge Road, and requested assistance. One of the men, later identified as Borroto Derrick, purchased two calipers, two rotors, brake fluid, and two ignition coils. Borroto Derrick used a credit card and a pin number to complete the transaction which totaled more than $600.

As the salesman was assisting the pair, he received a phone call from the victim saying his credit card had just been used at the store. The salesman provided the amounts of the purchase just made by Borroto Derrick which the victim confirmed to be the amounts used by his card.

The salesman excused himself and alerted law enforcement. Borroto Derrick and his companion fled the store and drove off in a black Chevrolet Camaro. Deputies located the Camaro at the intersection of Savannah Court and Plantation Circle in East Naples and conducted a traffic stop. Borroto Derrick was one of two passengers in the vehicle. The vehicle owner gave deputies permission to search the vehicle. The search turned up the items that Borroto Derrick had just purchased at Advance Auto Parts inside the trunk.

Borroto Derrick was taken into custody and booked into the Collier County jail on the felony and misdemeanor charges.

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS, FL – The Clay County Sheriff’s Office Sex Offender/Predator Tracking Unit is looking for a wanted and absconded convicted sexual offender. David Otis Gentry has a warrant for a violation of his sexual offender requirements. Gentry is known to frequent the Keystone Heights area, along with Union and Bradford counties. He’s known to work in the construction trade and was last known to specialize in pipe line construction. If you have any information, please alert your local law enforcement agency, the FDLE, or the Clay County Sheriff’s Office Sexual Offender/Predator Tracking Unit at 904-213-6600.

BAKER COUNTY, FL _ On September 30, 2020 at approximately 4:30 a.m., two suspects entered a storage shed located behind Bennett’s Feed on U.S. Highway 90 and stole numerous pellet / BB rifles valued at approximately $925 in total. Shortly after assuming the investigation, detectives identified the suspects using surveillance footage, as Mark Stoddard Jr. and Tricia Bennett, both of Baker County. In an interview with Bennett (no relation to the feed store), she admitted to assisting Stoddard in committing the burglary and stealing the BB guns, and led Detectives to a location where most of the property was recovered. Stoddard, however, did not cooperate with law enforcement in this investigation and went into what can only be assumed was his version of “hiding”. A day later he was captured in Duval County after attempting to scale a barbed wire fence during a rather brief foot pursuit from JSO officers & BCSO detectives. Both suspects were arrested and charged with burglary of Bennett’s Feed and grand theft.