CRIME & SAFETY
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.
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...
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.
Wildwood woman jailed after impersonating sister during traffic stop
A Wildwood woman remained behind bars this weekend after she was jailed for impersonating her sister during a traffic stop in 2022. Joyce Evelyn Rose Foster, 23, was arrested on a warrant last month charging her with criminal use of personal information, giving a false name to a law enforcement officer, unlawful use of a driver’s license, and driving while license suspended.
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...
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.
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.
Florida man arrested after stolen ring found for sale online by rightful owner: police
SUMTER COUNTY, Fla. - A Florida man's alleged attempt to cash in on stolen jewelry took a turn when the custom rings he tried to pawn wound up on a website that caught the attention of the rightful owner. Connor Sanford, 27, was arrested and charged with dealing in stolen...
The gates are more beneficial than you might think
Gate attendants merely slow down traffic enough to make roadways a bit safer, in theory. But have you every noticed the cameras taking pictures of all traffic both in and outbound? This is one of the main reasons you don’t hear too much of burglaries within the confines of The Villages. With every car and truck plate being photographed, it makes police work much easier when a burglary does occur, as there is a record of every vehicle coming and going. That narrows down the list of suspects considerably. The thieves know this and I’m grateful for those gates. This is one of the very few communities in the country where you can literally keep your doors unlocked without fear of burglary or home invasion. Trust me, the creeps who commit these crimes know about it.
Central Florida jewelry store owner outsmarts thief, leaving him empty-handed
LAKE MARY, Fla. (WSVN) — A Central Florida jewelry store owner thwarted a burglary attempt, resulting in the suspect walking away with nothing. The incident unfolded as Casa Leon Jewelers in Lake Mary when owner Rene Barrios noticed suspicious activity on his security cameras. He described the moments when he saw a man backing up his truck into the store and entering with a sledgehammer.
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