CRIME & SAFETY
94-year-old Villager’s wild ride ends with crash into ambulance
A 94-year-old Villager’s wild ride ended with her vehicle crashing into the back of an ambulance. The Village of Springdale woman was transported to UF Health-The Villages Hospital after her blue 2023 Hyundai Tucson utility vehicle at 7:38 p.m. Tuesday crashed into the rear of an ambulance from The Villages Public Safety Department, according to an accident report from the Florida Highway Patrol.
Severe crash in Wildwood causes major delays on Florida Turnpike
THE VILLAGES, Fla. — A severe accident is causing major traffic delays in Sumter County. According to the Sumter County Sheriff's Office, all southbound lanes and one northbound lane are currently shut down on the Florida Turnpike at mile marker 304 in Wildwood. The crash is near The Villages.
Suspect allegedly steals more than $1,200 in merchandise at Walmart
A suspect has been arrested after allegedly stealing more than $1,200 in merchandise at Walmart at Buffalo Ridge Plaza in The Villages. Kirt Clark, 42, of Clermont, was arrested after fleeing the store in a silver Ford Escape at about 8:30 am. Thursday, according to an arrest report from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.
Villager helps police nab his daughter who stole his pickup truck
A Villager helped police nab his daughter who stole his pickup truck. Wendi Sue Alvir, 37, who lives with her father on McLaughlin Terrace in the Village of Chitty Chatty, was found in the early morning hours Thursday with the stolen red GMC pickup at Walmart in Leesburg, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department. The truck, which had been reported stolen by her father, was in the parking lot of the store, which was closed. Alvir “appeared to be fixing her hair” and had stepped outside the truck, which had been traced thanks to an Apple Airtag.
Employee at Buffalo Ridge Walmart arrested on 37 counts of theft
An employee at the Walmart at Buffalo Ridge Plaza in The Villages has been arrested on 37 counts of theft. Dominic Justice Dera, 21, of Leesburg, stole merchandise between Dec. 9 and April 7, according to an arrest report from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. Dera would go on...
Florida DCF worker accused of abusing 11-year-old foster child
WILDWOOD, Fla. - A Kids Central employee was arrested after he aggressively threw an 11-year-old foster child onto a couch and hurt her, according to an arrest affidavit from the Wildwood Police Department. Cordell Baugh-Samuels was arrested and charged with child abuse after the incident that unfolded at the Kids...
Caretaker charged with ripping off Villager suffering from dementia
A caretaker has been charged with ripping off a Villager suffering from dementia. Katelyn Marie Haire, 30, of Belleview, was arrested this week on warrants charging her with fraud and theft. Haire had been hired through Assisting Hands to work for a woman living in the Village of Pine Ridge,...
Man and woman, both 63, found dead inside SE Marion home. Two accidental drug overdoses.
A man and woman found deceased inside a Summerfield residence in March each died from an accidental drug overdose, according to a Marion County Sheriff's Office report. Detective Daniel Pinder noted in his report the cause of death for Christopher Brian Collette was combined drug toxicity of fentanyl and amphetamine. His manner of death was listed as an accident. Collette was 63.
Wildwood man arrested after allegedly selling drugs near church
A Wildwood man has been arrested after allegedly selling drugs near a church. Joshua Malin, 27, was taken into custody on Thursday on charges of possessing and selling drugs within 1,000 feet of a church, according to an arrest report from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. Malin, who has a history of drug use, allegedly sold $70 worth of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in 2023 near a house of worship. The name and address of the church were redacted from the arrest report.
Driver with fake decal on license plate claims he was short on money
A man who put a fake temporary tag on his vehicle claimed he did so because he was short on money. William Francis Coughlin, 54, of Riverview, was driving a white 2020 Hyundai Tucson at 3:40 p.m. Wednesday southbound on South Main Street at Cleveland Avenue when an officer ran the license plate and found the license plate had expired in 2021, according to an arrest report from the Wildwood Police Department. However, the officer noticed the yellow decal on the license plate indicated it was good through “7/24.”
South Carolina man arrested near entrance gate in The Villages
A South Carolina man was arrested in an unregistered, uninsured vehicle near an entrance gate in The Villages. Alfonso Olivares Chavez, 45, of Greenville, S.C., was driving a black Nissan Versa at 8:45 a.m. Thursday at U.S. 301 and Marsh Bend Trail near the entrance to the Village of DeLuna when an officer noticed the vehicle had a vanity tag that said, “Test Drive,” but did not have an actual license plate, according to an arrest report from the Wildwood Police Department. The officer asked Chavez where the car’s license plate was and he said he “just bought the vehicle and has not registered it yet.”
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