OKEECHOBEE — When you try to scam a member of law enforcement it’s normally not going to end well — just ask James, whoever that may be.

Michele Bell, the public information officer at the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO), decided earlier this month to sell a Riverside desk for $750. So, on Oct. 1 she put it on craigslist.

“I was immediately contacted by a man who said his name was James,” said Mrs. Bell. “He said he would send me some extra money to cover the shipping.”

She knew this was a scam, so she decided to have some fun with James.

James authored a text and asked Mrs. Bell if the desk was still available? To which she replied, “Yes, it’s available.”

It should also be mentioned that she was contacted by someone claiming to be in the U.S. military and currently deployed.

“What would he be needing with a desk?” mused the wife of OCSO Captain Gary Bell.

Despite his alleged interest, she ignored him.

“I can only play one game at a time,” she laughed.

James, being the honest scammer that he is, stood true to his word and sent Mrs. Bell a check for $2,650. It didn’t take long to realize the check was hastily put together, especially since the account numbers are on an angle as are the company’s name of StockCross Financial Services, Inc.

Scammer’s check

Here’s another interesting point — Mrs. Bell saved all of the man’s texts and both phone numbers used by the scammer. So, when those texts are quoted here they are exactly as she received them.

Anyway, at 3:14 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 2, James sent Mrs. Bell another text: “Thanks for the response, This is James, I’m okay with the price & condition, i plan to send the money in a bank check and USPS it to you, then I will arrange for a pick up after check cleared at your bank… I’ll need your Name and Delivery Address for the check to be issue out to, i await your response ASAP.”

Continuing to play along, she gave James a bogus mailing address.

But, by now, Hurricane Matthew was bearing down on Florida and Mrs. Bell didn’t have time to mess with James even though he kept badgering her to deposit her $2,650 check.

“For the THIRD TIME Florida is preparing for a hurricane. This is low priority!!!!” she told James, as her patience was obviously wearing thin.
Not phased by Matthew’s threat to the Sunshine State, James shot back: “I dont understand what your try to say?”

“Florida is under a state of emergency!” replied Mrs. Bell.

“Okay So, what is going on about the check now?” asked James.

That did it. Mrs. Bell replied on Oct. 7: “The check is sitting in the envelope and will remain there until after the freaking hurricane!”

Finally, he got the message — sort of. On Oct. 8 he sent her another text asking if she had deposited the check?

“Ur check is no good,” she replied, adding that her bank had deemed the check to be bogus.

At last the text messaging stopped. Until Thursday, Oct. 20, that is.

“Hello, I received a confirmation message now that the check has already delivered to you, have you deposit the check yet?” asked James.

Mrs. Bell decided she had played this game long enough and sent James one last text.

“I told you on your other phone number the check is no good, so you go to Walmart and you get some money grams and you can call me with the numbers on them and then I’ll send you the furniture.”

Oddly enough, as of late Friday afternoon James had not contacted her.

“This is the type of stuff people fall for, especially if they are having a hard time financially,” she offered.

But, what about the desk?

“It’s still for sale,” Mrs. Bell replied.

OKEECHOBEE — A local deputy narrowly escaped a very dangerous situation early Tuesday morning when a car he was chasing twice rammed his patrol vehicle and caused him to spin out of control on the S.R. 70 East overpass.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the amount of damage to Deputy Sergeant Brian Hagan’s patrol unit was not known.

The Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office sergeant was not injured.

Two men have been arrested, one on felony charges.

Tameron Pryce Wilcox, 18

Arrested on the felony charges was Tameron Pryce Wilcox, 18, Knotts Landing, Okeechobee. He was charged with aggravated fleeing with injury or damage, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.

He was also arrested on misdemeanor charges of possession of marijuana under 20 grams, possession of drug paraphernalia, no valid driver’s license, reckless driving and leaving the scene of a crash involving property damage.

Wilcox is being held in the Okeechobee County Jail without bond.

An arrest report by OCSO Deputy Robbie Lamb stated Wilcox had recently been released from the county jail on bond following his arrest on a felony charge of fleeing and attempted eluding of a law enforcement officer.

Ta’Noris Jones, 20

In the car with Wilcox was Ta’Noris Isaiah Jones, 20, N.E. 16th Ave, Okeechobee. He was arrested on misdemeanor charges of possession of marijuana under 20 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond was set at $3,000.

Jail records show he has been released on bond.

Deputy Lamb’s report stated the Oct. 25 incident started at 1:34 a.m. when he tried to stop a red Nissan on S.R. 70 West for doing 61 mph in a 45 mph zone. It was later learned that the car was being driven by Wilcox.

According to Deputy Lamb’s report Wilcox was eastbound on S.R. 70 West when he ran the red light at the intersection of S.R. 70 West and U.S. 98 North. He then ran the red lights at S.R. 70 West at S.W. Fifth Avenue, S.R. 70 and U.S. 441.

“The suspect vehicle was veering in and out of traffic as it approached the intersection of S.E. Eighth Avenue and S.R. 70 attempting to elude the city officer and I,” stated Deputy Lamb.

That Okeechobee City Police Department (OCPD) officer was not identified.

At speeds of 60 mph Wilcox then blew through the red light at S.R. 70 East and S.E. 10th Avenue.

Wilcox then turned onto N.E. 16th Avenue, continued Deputy Lamb, and led deputies and two unidentified OCPD officers in a chase throughout the Douglas Park Subdivision.

At one point, Wilcox tried to ram head-on into OCSO Deputy Nathaniel Mitchell on N.E. 15th Avenue.

“There is no doubt if I had not turned my patrol vehicle he would have run head-on into me,” stated Deputy Mitchell’s report.

By now deputies Brian Cross and Sgt. Hagan were involved in the chase. Sgt. Hagan was immediately behind the red Nissan and Deputy Cross was behind the sergeant.

As the vehicles were speeding along S.R. 70 East they approached the overpass where Wilcox ran off the road, then slammed on his brakes in attempt to have Sgt. Hagan ram into the back of the Nissan.

As they reached the crest of the overpass Wilcox swerved and rammed his car into the left rear quarter panel of Sgt. Hagan’s patrol vehicle.

Wilcox rammed the patrol vehicle a second time which caused Sgt. Hagan to lose control of his vehicle and “… slide sideways down the overpass and into the median.”

Fortunately for Sgt. Hagan, he didn’t go off the other side of the overpass and plunge onto the railroad tracks below.

Deputy Cross continued following the Nissan and it finally stopped in the 14000 block of S.R. 70 East. He — along with his K-9 Magnum, OCSO detectives Javier Gonzalez and Bryan Lowe, Deputy Lamb and OCPD Officer Michael Jordan — then approached the vehicle.

Wilcox and Jones both got out of the car when ordered and were taken into custody without further incident.

Arrest records show Wilcox was arrested April 24 by OCPD Officer Aurelio Almazan for high speed fleeing and eluding, no driver’s license and reckless driving. He was then released from jail on $11,500 bond.

OKEECHOBEE — As the woman stood in the doorway to the small bathroom she screamed to Mark Glen Deschamps: “You just killed me!”

A couple of minutes later, her life was over.

As Deschamps was allegedly stabbing Flavia Leticia Escobar Munoz, 23, to death, another man was in that same small bathroom Monday morning trying to clean his facial wounds from where he had just been stabbed.

Mark Glen Deschamps, 47

Detectives say Duane Ford Thomas, 40, will live but his injuries were extensive. The Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) investigators detailed how Deschamps reportedly plunged a 10-to-12-inch hunting knife into the right side of the man’s face.

That blade broke the man’s orbital bone under his right eye, his nose and came out the left side of Thomas’ face leaving a laceration of nearly 3 inches in his cheek.

When it was all over, OCSO Detective Howard Pickering said that small bathroom in the Playland Park home was covered in blood.

“It looked like a slaughterhouse,” he said.

Deschamps, 47, was arrested Oct. 24 on felony charges of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine).

Deschamps, who has 30 felony arrests with 15 convictions, is being held in the Okeechobee County Jail without bond.

Detective Pickering indicated things got out of hand in the three-bedroom, two bath concrete block home in Playland Park not long after Deschamps awoke shortly after 3 a.m.

“He woke up in a delusional state of mind,” offered the detective.

By 3:30 a.m. Munoz was lying in the driveway of the home on N.W. 45th Terrace and Deschamps was calling 9-1-1 and telling the dispatcher the woman was dead, said OCSO Detective Corporal Ted Van Deman, who is also working the case.

When Deschamps awoke early Monday he went into the living room and accused Munoz and Thomas of stealing from him and also accused them being in a relationship. He then took the man and woman into his bedroom, that he often shared with Munoz, and showed them what he claimed was a surveillance video of them stealing from him.

Deschamps, pointed out Detective Van Deman, was actually renting the bedroom from Thomas. The home, he continued, is owned by Thomas’ family.

“When shown the tape, both victims saw no one on the tape. Yet, the suspect saw what he thought was the two victims stealing from him,” stated Detective Pickering’s arrest report.

Thomas then felt a blow to the face and thought Deschamps had punched him. Actually, said the detectives, he had been stabbed.

As blood began to pour from the wounds to Thomas’ face, Deschamps helped him to the bathroom.

As Thomas was trying to clean the blood from his face, Munoz was standing in the doorway of the bathroom.

“He was telling her to get away from him,” said Detective Pickering, adding that Thomas feared Deschamps would again stab him.

As she stood there, Deschamps allegedly stabbed her once in the right-center of her chest.

Detective Pickering said she walked out of the home and died in the driveway.

“We believe she died within minutes of being stabbed,” said Cpl. Van Deman.

Her autopsy was to be done Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 25.

Thomas was initially taken to Raulerson Hospital, but has since been transferred to a hospital on the east coast.

“We believe the murder was done out of perceived jealousy,” said Cpl. Van Deman, when asked about a motive. “He (Deschamps) was seeing things and believing things that weren’t true. According to what we know, he was up for several days prior to this.

“We believe he was not in his right mind due to the drugs,” he added.

OCSO investigators executed a search warrant on the home Monday afternoon. During that search they found a residue in the bedroom occupied by Deschamps, as well as some syringes.

The residue, pointed out the detectives, was tested and indicated a positive result for the presence of methamphetamine. That, along with the syringes, will be sent to the Indian River Crime Lab for further analysis.

During that search a 12-gauge Mossberg shotgun was found in the home that reportedly belonged to Deschamps. Because he is a convicted felon Deschamps is not allowed to have a gun in his possession.

A records check shows that Deschamps was sent to prison March 17, 2013, after being found guilty on felony charges of driving while license suspended and driving under the influence – fourth conviction.

He was released from the Department of Corrections (DOC) July 28, 2014.

Besides the felony arrests and convictions, Detective Pickering also stated in his report that Deschamps has 16 misdemeanor arrests with five convictions.

OKEECHOBEE — “9-1-1, what’s your emergency?” inquired dispatcher Samantha Plummer.

“Yeah. My name is Mark.” answered the caller, Mark Glen Deschamps.

“Do you need an ambulance?” asked Ms. Plummer.

“I need ambulance and police and all that,” replied Deschamps.

Mark Glen Deschamps, 47

“What’s goin’ on?” the dispatcher asked.

“Pretty g.. damn simple,” answered the caller.

When Deschamps placed that call to 9-1-1 at 3:56 a.m. Monday, Oct. 24, it was to report a stabbing that turned into murder when 23-year-old Flavia Leticia Escobar Munoz died in the driveway of the Playland Park home where she had been staying.

Deschamps is being held without bond in the Okeechobee County Jail on charges of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of methamphetamine.

Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) detectives have learned when Deschamps, 47, awoke from a methamphetamine-induced stupor early Monday morning he began to accuse Munoz and roommate Duane Ford Thomas, 40, of stealing from him. He also thought they were seeing each other behind his back.

After plunging a 10- to 12-inch hunting knife into the right side of Thomas’ face, detectives said Deschamps then used that same knife to stab Munoz once in the chest. She then walked out of the house and collapsed in the driveway of the concrete block home at 1648 N.W. 45th Terrace.

Ironically, as Deschamps was reporting the incident Thomas was also placing a call to the sheriff’s office. Thomas, whose family owns the three-bedroom home, had left the home and walked about a mile to another home where he called for help.

“I need ambulance and police,” said Thomas to Ms. Plummer.

“What happened?” she asked.

“I don’t know. My roommate … my … roommate woke up being hysterical. And paranoid. And he punched me in the face and split my face open. And, he ended up stabbin’ her!”

Thomas, who didn’t realize he had been stabbed, then tried to tell Ms. Plummer what happened.

“He woke up … he woke up … he woke up hysterical. I don’t know how to explain it right now. I’m getting weak now,” he said.

Thomas went on to describe to the dispatcher how he was “bleeding out” and had cuts all over his face.

Actually, when the 6-foot-2, 225-pound Deschamps plunged the knife into his roommate’s face he broke the man’s orbital bone, his nose and when the knife exited Thomas’ left cheek it left nearly a 3-inch cut.

“Could you please hurry up the ambulance? Please!” Thomas pleaded with Ms. Plummer.

As Ms. Plummer spoke with Thomas, another dispatcher, Corporal Liz Kelly, was dealing with Deschamps.

Cpl. Kelly told Deschamps OCSO deputies were on their way, which raised the ire of Deschamps.

“If anybody comes to this door I’m gonna blast him!” shouted Deschamps, adding that he had a shotgun and a rifle.

Switching gears, Cpl. Kelly asked Deschamps if he’d been drinking?

“No. I do meth,” he answered.

“Have you done meth tonight?” she asked.

“I’m always doing meth,” answered Deschamps.

He then warned Cpl. Kelly again not to send any deputies into his home.

“I mean what I say. I’ve got a shotgun. It’ll blow a …….. in half!” he shouted into the phone. “I’ll come out when I’m ready. It won’t be long.”

Cpl. Kelly remained steady and soon had Deschamps more relaxed.

“I just want to know if you’re all right?” she asked.

“Yeah, I’m all right. Fixin’ to be. Fixin’ to go to Valhalla,” he replied.

Valhalla is the great hall in Norse mythology where heroes slain in battle are received. It’s also defined as a place of honor, glory or happiness.

As Cpl. Kelly continued to develop a rapport with Deschamps, he began to grow calmer. He also began to realize what had happened.

“This is a dream. This is a dream. I know it,” whispered Deschamps.

OKEECHOBEE — A very wise boy at Seminole Elementary School avoided a dangerous situation Wednesday when a stranger approached him and offered to take him home.

Deputy Yero Todman, of the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO), indicated in his report that as the boy was walking to the school’s infirmary before lunch, the white male approached him.

The stranger reportedly told the boy he was there to pick him up. But, without hesitation, the boy simply kept walking.

That, said Renee Geeting, the assistant superintendent of administrative services for Okeechobee County Schools, was the right thing to do.

“He was very smart and we certainly want to complement him on what he did. I only wish he had told someone right then,” she said.

Apparently, the child didn’t tell anyone about the incident until he told his mother later that day. She then contacted the sheriff’s office around 7 p.m.

Ms. Geeting said Thursday afternoon, Oct. 27, she did not know why the boy was going to the school’s infirmary.

Deputy Todman’s report described the man as being in his early 40s, with dark blonde hair and a beard. He was wearing a white T-shirt with a gray hoodie and red and blue jogging pants.

Ms. Geeting said it was her understanding the boy was walking along a walkway at the school where parents normally pick up their children.

“I believe he (the stranger) just drove in where parents drive in — that’s my understanding,” said Ms. Geeting. “To our knowledge he (the stranger) did not talk to any other children and he did not make physical contact with the boy.”

She went on to say the man may have been driving a white, four-door Subaru.

She went on to say the school’s principal, Dr. Thelma Jackson, was going to talk to the student to try and learn more about what happened.

As for what a child should do when confronted by a stranger in this type of situation, Ms. Geeting said the boy did the right thing by getting away. She said students at Seminole Elementary normally walk in pairs for safety.

Deputy Captain Gary Bell, who heads up the OCSO road patrol division, said even though he has viewed surveillance video from the school it was difficult to discern the man’s identity.

“At this point in time, we really don’t now who that person was,” he said.

Like Ms. Geeting, Capt. Bell said the boy’s inclination to put distance between him and the stranger was the correct thing to do.

“If you don’t feel comfortable or you don’t know this person — get away,” offered Capt. Bell.

He went on to say this is something parents should constantly bring up to their children.

“This should be talked about religiously,” he continued.

The captain went on to say it’s been a long time since a situation like this has occurred in a local school.

Stranger Danger

Parents, please take the time to look at these security tips and review with your child and teen to make sure they know what to do if put in a frightening situation if approached by a stranger.
• A stranger is ANYONE they don’t know.
• It is okay to say NO to an adult, if they feel uncomfortable or don’t know the adult, even if it seems rude.
• To not wear any type of headphones while outside. This will make them oblivious to any vehicle or person stalking them.
• They know that NO ONE has the right to touch them if they don’t want them too.
• They should tell a parent if they are asked to keep a secret.
• They should never get into anyone’s car without their parent’s permission.
• They should not take candy or gifts from a stranger.
• They should never help strangers. Remember, tell your children that grownups should NOT ask kids to do things that other adults can do for them.
• They run away from a car that pulls up beside them if they do not know the driver.
• They never say they are alone when they answer the phone and should never answer the door if they are alone.
• They never invite people into their home without their parents’ permission.
• They always let their parents know where they are.
• That they never play in deserted buildings or isolated areas.
• They should scream for help if they are forced into a car or building.
• How to identify “safe” people (like store clerks, mothers with children, and police officers/security officers) if ever lost.
• They always let you know where they are playing at a park or playground.
• Tell an adult if a stranger is taking a picture of you.

Parent’s Checklist:

• I have a recent photo of my child, his/her fingerprints, and a current record of his/her height and weight.
• I have my cellular phone charged up.
• I make a mental note of what my child is wearing every day.
• I carefully check babysitter and child care references.
• I know my child’s friends’ names, addresses and phone numbers.
• I always accompany my young child to a public bathroom.
• I designated a neighbor’s home as a “safe house” where my child can go if I’m not home and there is an emergency.
• I have discussed with my child that they will not approach a vehicle if it stops and asks them questions, offers them candy or toys, or wants to talk with them.
• I will report suspicious vehicles or people to law enforcement.
• Does my child know how to dial 911?
• I have talked to my children about strangers.
• I will not let my child walk home alone or stand alone at a bus stop without adequate supervision.

OKEECHOBEE — The Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office has requested the public’s help in locating a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox, Model LS, four-door, white in color, bearing Florida tag: CTE0R.

The vehicle was possibly loaned out or stored during the recent hurricane. Any information regarding this vehicle location, please call Detective Faulkner at 863-357-5330 or 863-763-3117.

OKEECHOBEE — A school resource officer is seeking the identity of the person or persons who used zip ties to secure entrance doors together on a couple of buildings at Okeechobee High School (OHS).

Deputy Donnie Holmes, of the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO), said the prank presented a danger in that it was carried out during school hours and there were students inside the buildings at the time.

He said someone tied the east side, double-entrance doors to the math building shut during third hour — 9:10 until 10 a.m. — Tuesday, Oct. 25.

Then, on the following day, the prankster or pranksters struck again by tying the double entrance doors on the west side of Building 5 together.

According to the deputy’s report school officials were concerned that “… if any of the doors are zip tied shut and an emergency happens the students and staff will not be able to get out.”

Even though the prank was carried out during school hours, the deputy said it was done in areas where there are no surveillance cameras.

“On Oct. 27, during third hour, we went into different classes and watched all of the entrance doors to building 5 and building 7. At no time did anyone go to the entrance doors and zip tie them together,” stated the deputy in his report.

Deputy Holmes described the ties as big, black ties like the ones used in air conditioning work.

“You can’t break them. You have to cut them,” he said, in a Monday, Oct. 31, interview.

The OCSO deputy said his investigation is continuing, and if anyone has information concerning this case they are asked to call him at 863-462-5025.

He explained he has discussed this case with the state attorney’s office and was told the perpetrator could be arrested on a felony charge of false imprisonment.

OKEECHOBEE — Detectives are investigating the death of a man found Tuesday morning lying along side the road near his home in Fort Drum.

Although information was sketchy, Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office public information officer Michele Bell said the man was apparently jogging when the incident occurred. He was found Nov. 1 by a passerby around 9:30 a.m.

She said foul play is not suspected.

Mrs. Bell said the white male, thought to be around 50 years of age, was wearing jogging clothes.

The man’s family has been notified, and the body has been taken to the District 19 Medical Examiner’s Office in Fort Pierce, added Mrs. Bell.

OKEECHOBEE — An early morning single-vehicle accident Wednesday on S.R. 70 East claimed the life of an Okeechobee woman, stated a Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) release.

According to the release Shannon Wakelee, 42, was pronounced dead at the scene of the Nov. 2 crash near VPI Grove Road in St. Lucie County.

The FHP release states the accident occurred at 6:36 a.m. when Ms. Wakelee was eastbound in the inside lane of S.R. 70. For reasons not yet known, she drove her 2013 Ford Focus through the grass median in a northeasterly direction and across the westbound lanes.

Ms. Wakelee continued in a northeasterly direction across the northern grass shoulder of the four-lane highway, and into a canal.

The woman’s car was completely submerged with Ms. Wakelee trapped in the driver’s seat, continued the release.

The cause of the crash is under investigation by lead investigator, Trooper Corporal B. Timmons.

OKEECHOBEE — Information was sketchy as police were busily canvassing homes along N.E. Fifth Street as they tried to determine a motive for a late-afternoon shooting Friday.

Detective Bill Saum, of the Okeechobee City Police Department (OCPD), said his agency got the call late Nov. 4 that a man had been shot but was conscious. He estimated the man to be in his early 20s.

He did say his agency has three possible suspects.

“We got the call there was a shooting and when we arrived the victim was in a home at 1009 N.E. Fifth St.,” said the detective. “He had several gunshot wounds and was flown out to a hospital on the coast.”

The veteran investigator chose not to speculate on the motive for the shooting, but did say he found suspected marijuana lying on the street.

Other OCPD officers were walking up and down the street of this quiet residential neighborhood looking for anyone who may have information as to what happened.

A Tampa General Hospital helicopter landed in an empty lot between the Okeechobee City Fire Department and the American Legion as they waited Friday afternoon to load a shooting victim. Police had no motive for the shooting but did say the man was shot multiple times. Photo by Eric Kopp.

OKEECHOBEE — Arrest reports detail how a local couple took a man’s pickup truck because he owed them money for drugs, and wouldn’t give it back to the man’s wife.

The report by Deputy Joseph Hall, of the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO), went on to say the female victim has since kicked her husband out of their home.

Caretrice Gordon

Caretrice Earline Gordon, 30, N.W. Ninth Drive, was arrested Tuesday, Nov. 1, on felony charges of burglary of an occupied dwelling, extortion and grand theft-motor vehicle.

Her boyfriend, Cornelius Monray Merriweather, of the same address, was arrested Thursday, Nov. 3, when his bond was revoked. Sheriff’s office records show he is charged with the same three felonies.

Like Gordon, Merriweather was booked into the Okeechobee County Jail. Gordon’s bond was set at $15,000. Jail records show she has been released on bond.

Cornelius Monray Merriweather

Even though Merriweather’s bond on the new charges was also set at $15,000, he is being held without bond on the bond revocation.

Merriweather, 21, was free on bond following his arrest earlier this year on sale of a controlled substance (cocaine) and possession of a controlled substance (cocaine) with intent to sell.

According to Deputy Hall’s Nov. 1 report, Merriweather and his paramour went to the truck owner’s home and demanded the woman pay them $900 “or, they wouldn’t get their truck back.”

A friend of the victims later found the 2014 Dodge Ram pickup at the apartment shared by Merriweather and Gordon on N.W. Ninth Drive.

“I located the Dodge pickup truck on vacant property in the 800 block of N.W. 12th Street unoccupied with the keys on the passenger’s seat,” stated Deputy Hall. “The truck didn’t appear to be damaged.”

Gordon was arrested later that day.

Deputy Hall’s report stated the truck has been returned to the female victim.

OKEECHOBEE — A local couple saw their joint checking account drained of more than $3,000 when someone used a cloned check in their names.

The couple first became aware of the problem on Oct. 28 when the husband tried to use his debit card and it was declined, stated a report by Deputy Mark Margerum of the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO).

According to the man’s wife someone got her name and made out a check in her name.

“The check was actually written to me but was on someone else’s check. So, they were a victim too,” she said, asking that her name be withheld.

She went on to explain that the second party was from Miami and the name at the top of the check, which would normally be the name on the account, was Shawn Philip of Miami.

When asked if whomever cashed the bogus check had her identity, the local woman said they must.

“I would assume so. They passed the check on our account,” she said. “On the memo line they wrote payment, like they made a payment to me.”
Initially, she thought her husband was taking money out of their joint account.

The couple learned on Oct. 18 someone had used a virtual Automated Teller Machine (ATM) in Hallandale Beach and withdrew $1,200 from their joint checking account. The next day, someone in Pembroke Pines used a virtual ATM and took another $500 out of their account.

The man was later told by his bank that someone had used a cloned check — #485 — to withdraw another $1,650 from their account, stated the deputy.

The bank, he continued, did not know where that check had been passed.

“I do have a copy of the check. The check was #485, but it wasn’t our check,” she offered.

In all, the couple lost $3,350 from their account.

The couple next filed a fraud complaint with their bank. That bank, stated the deputy, then refunded all the couple had lost due to the fraud.

Deputy Margerum went on to indicate the couple will later give him their bank account statement which documents the fraudulent withdrawals from their local account.

Since this happened, the woman said she and her husband have had to set up a whole new bank account. Plus, the bank put a hold on their account.

“I told them we have to get money out of the account. How do you expect me to put gas in the car or feed my kids? But, that (hold) has been lifted,” she offered.

She said they’ve not had any other losses.

OKEECHOBEE — A detective is asking for the public’s help in finding a 2005 Honda Blackmax generator that was recently stolen.

According to Detective Javier Gonzalez, of the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO), the #6750-8450 generator is red and black in color and is on wheels.

The missing generator also has handles but is missing a rubber grip from one of those handles.

If you have recently purchased or have seen an ad for this generator, contact Detective Gonzalez at 863-763-3117, extension 5106.

OKEECHOBEE — A man and woman have been arrested for their alleged connection with the theft of donated items from the front porch of Martha’s House, which operates a shelter for victim’s of domestic violence.

Records at the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) show Lisamarie Amanda Lorenz was arrested Saturday, Nov. 5, after trying to flee from deputies. Lorenz lists an address of N.E. 356th Court in Okeechobee.

Also reportedly involved in the Friday, Oct. 28, theft was Dale Lee Proudfoot, 34, of a N.W. 110th St. address in Okeechobee. He was arrested Monday, Nov. 7.

Lorenz and Proudfoot have both been charged with one felony count of burglary of an unoccupied structure and one misdemeanor charge of petit theft. Lorenz has also been charged with one misdemeanor account of resisting a law enforcement officer without violence.

Lorenz was booked into the Okeechobee County Jail on a bond of $6,000. Jail records show she has been released on bond.

Proudfoot’s bond was set at $3,000.

The pair are charged with going onto the Martha’s House porch and helping themselves to a DeWalt cordless drill, valued at $100; a standing floor lamp valued at $25; and, miscellaneous clothing valued at $100.

OCSO Deputy William Jolly’s arrest report stated while making a traffic stop in the 9000 block of N.W. 240th St. on Friday, Nov. 4, he saw a small car enter the parking lot of Eagle Island Farm. The deputy stated he tried to make contact with the driver of the 2007 blue Kia automobile, but the driver would not stop.

“The car sped away and drove up into an open bay where the driver exited the vehicle and fled on foot. I did not see the driver at any point,” noted Deputy Jolly.

Other deputies soon arrived to help Deputy Jolly. Among them was Deputy Brian Cross and his K-9 Magnum.

“Deputy Cross gave a K-9 warning then we heard a female voice, later identified as Lorenz, state ‘I am coming out. I’m over here,’” noted Deputy Jolly’s report.

The woman was then seen climbing down from the top of a storage room inside the building. She was taken into custody without further incident.

Deputy Jolly, Deputy Cross and K-9 Magnum searched the building did not find anyone else at that time.

Martha’s House, located on U.S. 441 N., provides shelter for victims of domestic violence.

OKEECHOBEE — Two men and a local teen have been charged in connection with the alleged shooting of a 19-year-old Okeechobee man in what police describe as a “dope deal gone bad.”

Okeechobee City Police Department (OCPD) detectives say Brian Gorby, N.E. Fifth Street, was shot multiple times Friday afternoon with a medium-caliber handgun. Detective James Pickering said the gun has been recovered, but it’s still not clear as to whom the gun belongs.

Arrested Nov. 4 were: Daivondre Allen Queener, 18, of Conyers, Ga.; Roman Chase Bennett, 17, S.W. Eighth St., Okeechobee; and Noah Wayne Collins,

Roman Chase Bennett, 17

19, S.R. 78 W., Okeechobee.

Daivondre Allen Queener, 18

Noah Wayne Collins, 19

Queener has been charged with one count of armed robbery with a firearm with serious bodily injury. He is being held in the Okeechobee County Jail on $100,000 bond.

Collins, who is charged with one felony count of accessory after the fact-armed robbery, is being held in the county jail on a bond of $70,000.

Because Bennett is a juvenile, he was booked into the county jail then taken to the St. Lucie Regional Detention Center in Fort Pierce. He is charged as a principal with one felony count of robbery with a firearm with serious bodily injury.

OCPD investigators said the firearm was recovered a couple of blocks from the N.E. Fifth Street shooting scene. It was found in the 300 block of N.E. Eighth Ave. lying in the roadway after being tossed from the black two-door vehicle by Queener, noted Detective Pickering.

When asked how much pot was taken, Detective Pickering said Monday afternoon he didn’t yet know.

“The majority of it is still in the car,” he said.

When Detective Pickering was contacted Monday he was in the process of penning a search warrant application for the vehicle. Once approved by a judge, the detective will search the vehicle.

Okeechobee City Police Department detectives James Pickering (left), Bill Saum (center) and Jack Boon (right) spent much of Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 8, executing a search warrant on the 2006 Mitsubishi owned by Noah Collins. Collins, along with Daivondre Queener and Roman Chase Bennett, are accused of shooting Brian Gorby, 19, late last week in what detectives say was a drug deal gone bad. Photo by Eric Kopp.

The detective went on to say it was Queener who actually pulled the trigger.

“It was a dope deal gone bad,” said the veteran investigator. “They didn’t want to pay (Gorby) for it. Basically, they robbed him. We just don’t know how much they took.”

A small amount of suspected pot was found at the shooting scene and seized by OCPD Detective Bill Saum.

He went on to say it’s still not clear how many times Gorby was shot.

“He had four wounds, but one was a through-and-through that re-entered his body. A bullet was recovered from his body,” added Detective Pickering.

Gorby was airlifted to a hospital on the coast where he is sedated and being held in the intensive care unit, noted the detective.

The police department was notified of the shooting in the 1000 block of N.E. Fifth Street around 3:15 p.m. Friday. When officers arrived on scene they found Gorby sitting outside his home on the cul-de-sac as he waited for the officers.

“They shot him in the cul-de-sac and went off and left him in the street,” explained the detective. “He walked to his house, went inside and a family member called the police.”

The black two-door car occupied by the trio was stopped shortly after the shooting by Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Max Waldron at the intersection of N.W. 10th Street and N.W. Fifth Avenue.

A cell phone apparently stolen from Gorby was found in some shrubbery in front of the Walgreen Pharmacy, 100 N.W. Park St. Like the gun, Queener had apparently tossed it from the car, said Detective Pickering.

OKEECHOBEE — A local woman is accused of stealing another woman’s bank card and buying over $1,000 worth of items online — most, of which, were cosmetics and hair care products.

Ashley Nicole Casselton, 29, S.E. 86th Blvd., was arrested Nov. 8 on one felony count of grand theft. She is being held in the Okeechobee County Jail on a bond of $2,500.

Ashley Nicole Casselton, 29

Detective Javier Gonzalez, of the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO), stated in his arrest report that Casselton purchased the items from either amazon.com or walmart.com.

In all, he continued, Casselton bought items totaling $1,090.73.

The theft was discovered when the victim checked her bank account and noticed her account was in the red by about $300.

Through his investigation the OCSO investigator found several boxes in the victim’s name that were delivered to a N.E. 71st Avenue address where Casselton was apparently living at one time. When queried by the detective, the homeowner verified the woman had lived there for a time but he had “… kicked her out,” stated the report.

Among the items reportedly purchased on the stolen card were: seven containers of red hair color; shampoo; hair conditioners; clothing; a touchscreen tablet; a Kindle e-reader; makeup; and, gift cards.

One gift card, four containers of ‘runway red’ hair color; one, four-pack of shampoo and conditioner; and, two gift cards have been recovered, Detective Gonzalez noted.

OKEECHOBEE — Because of a 4th District Court of Appeals opinion, Circuit Court Judge Sherwood Bauer issued an order Thursday to release Andrew Logan Wheeler from prison.

Assistant state attorney Ashley Albright said he didn’t know just when Wheeler would be released from the Okaloosa Correctional Institution. But, around 3:15 p.m. Thursday, Judge Bauer was issuing the order.

Andrew Logan Wheeler, 21

Wheeler, 21, was sentenced in August of 2015 to serve 30 years in prison after being convicted of beating a highly-intoxicated 16-year-old boy at a house party. The entire incident was recorded by a friend of Wheeler’s on a cell phone.

Judge Bauer was the trial judge and, because of that, it is up to him to release Wheeler.

“I was sick to my stomach after I read that,” said Mr. Albright of the 4th DCA’s opinion Wednesday, Nov. 9. “It’s a classic example of they don’t like the fact he got 30 years.”

The prosecutor had spent much of the day Thursday on the phone with the state attorney general’s office in hopes they would request a rehearing in front of the high court. He also asked that a video of the beating be shown to the justices, since they did not view it prior to handing down Wednesday’s ruling.

“But, the attorney general’s office refused to request a rehearing,” said the dejected prosecutor late Thursday.

A jury had found Wheeler guilty of aggravated child abuse and Judge Bauer then handed down the sentence. And, because Wheeler had only been out of prison 74 days when he committed the new felony, the judge sentenced him as a prison releasee re-offender which boosted his prison term to 30 years.

“Thirty years is an exceptionally long time,” said Judge Bauer at that sentencing. “But, the legislature has taken the decision out of the judge’s hands.”

Then, on Nov. 9, 2016, justices on the 4th DCA ruled the 30-year sentence was too long. They also opined the aggravated child abuse charge was not the correct charge.

According to the high court that statute applies when a person “(w)illfully tortures, maliciously punishes, or willfully and knowingly cages a child.

The justices went on to say a subsection of that statute is violated when a person “(k)nowingly or willfully abuses a child and in so doing causes great bodily harm, permanent disability or permanent disfigurement to the child.”

Florida statutes define a child as anyone under the age of 18.

Police records show the then-teenaged victim went to the S.W. Ninth Street home owned by Evadean Lydecker Daily and drank four mixed drinks, four Locos and whiskey, three or four beers and some whiskey straight from the bottle. He was so drunk he couldn’t stand up, continue those records.

The cell phone video clearly shows Wheeler lashing out at the helpless teen as he punched and kneed the teen in the head.

Justices ruled during Wheeler’s trial the state failed to prove the teen, Aaron Hill, was willfully tortured, was permanently disfigured or that there was malicious punishment. They described the beating as a high school fight.

The high court also ruled the jury in Wheeler’s trial only had two choices — find him guilty of aggravated child abuse or not guilty. The justices said the trial court denied the appellant’s request for the jury to be offered a lesser included crime of misdemeanor battery.

“In this case,” stated the DCA opinion, “there was no medical testimony. The victim did not testify. There was an absence of evidence that the victim suffered great bodily harm. Testimony that the victim was moaning and crying in the video are, at best, proof of moderate harm insufficient to support a conviction.”

Mr. Albright explained that because the rehearing was not granted, Judge Bauer’s hands were tied and Wheeler must be allowed to “walk away free.”

It’s a touch of irony that Wheeler is going to be set free, since Hill, now 18, is currently incarcerated in a state prison

On Dec. 16, 2015, Judge Bauer sentenced Hill to 36 months with the Department of Corrections (DOC) after he was found guilty of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, placed on probation then violated that probation when he was convicted of grand theft.

Mr. Albright said, in his opinion, the court’s ruling “… appears to be judicial activism. The appeals court didn’t like the fact he got 30 years for what they referred to as a high school fight. They replaced the verdict with their own personal feeling that it was not malicious punishment.

“They replaced their verdict for the jury’s,” he added.

OKEECHOBEE — A local detective is asking the public’s help in locating a boat, motor and trailer that was stolen from a home on S.E. 128th Avenue.

Detective Mark Shireman, of the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO), stated a 20-foot Express boat was reported stolen Friday, Nov. 11.

The 2013 boat has a gray and black hull, and should be sitting on a 23-foot aluminum Back Country trailer with chrome rims.

The boat has gray interior and is equipped with a 150hp, four-stroke Yamaha outboard motor and a Garmin fish finder on the console.

According to the investigator the boat’s registration number is FL9335PM, and its vehicle identification number (VIN) is JBC79216E313.

The trailer should be displaying Florida license tag BUF R01, and its VIN is 5HEAH2210DH138548.

If you have any information about this case, you are asked to contact Detective Shireman at 863-763-3117, ext. 5113, an refer to case number 16S25705.

OKEECHOBEE — A sheriff’s office report indicates a local woman was taken Wednesday to Raulerson Hospital due to injuries she allegedly received during an argument with her husband.

Charles Wilson Ross, 34, N.W. 22nd Ave., Okeechobee, was arrested Nov. 16 on felony charges of kidnapping, domestic felony battery and tampering with a victim.

Charles Wilson Ross, 34

Ross is being held in the Okeechobee County Jail on a bond of $50,000.

An arrest report by Deputy Quinton Speed, of the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO), stated he was dispatched to the Ross home around 3:54 a.m. Wednesday in regard to a reported domestic dispute.

According to the deputy’s report Ross took his wife’s phone and when she tried to get her phone back, he pushed her to the floor and injured her knee.

Deputy Speed went on to point out the woman was diagnosed with a fractured left patella (knee cap). She will have to undergo surgery to repair the fracture, added the deputy.

Even with the injury, continued Deputy Speed, she apparently continued to struggle with her husband and when she finally got the phone from him she went outside their home to call 9-1-1. Ross, however, grabbed her “… then kneed her in the back and forced (her) back inside the residence.”

He again took the phone, but this time threw the phone to the floor and broke it.

“Charles advised that he would kill (her),” noted the deputy’s report.
She was able to get out of the house and receive help.

Deputy Speed went on to indicate the woman also received injuries to her right arm, left hand and left wrist.

OKEECHOBEE — Two neighbors stepped in immediately to help Tuesday morning when they spotted a small child standing in the intersection of N.E. 28th Avenue and N.E. Eighth Street.

A report by Deputy Joseph Hall, of the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) stated the men saw a small child around 10:12 a.m. The blond haired little boy was clad in a diaper and standing by himself.

Deputy Hall pointed out in his report that a 66-year-old neighbor of the small boy picked him up and held him until the deputy arrived.

According to the deputy the neighbors directed him to the child’s house on N.E. Eighth Street. When the deputy went to that home he met with the child’s 25-year-old uncle. The child’s mother, continued the deputy, had gone into Okeechobee.

“I asked (him) if there was a child in the house and he said yes ­— his nephew was asleep in the bedroom,” stated Deputy Hall. “When (he) searched the bedroom, he realized (the child) was gone.”

The deputy’s report pointed out that the front door to the home was still locked with a dead bolt, but the back door was wide open. The uncle reportedly told the deputy his 2-year-old nephew can push a chair to the back door then unlock it.

Deputy Hall then turned the child over to the uncle. Because no crime had been committed, no charges were filed, added the deputy’s report.