OKEECHOBEE — A pair of thefts were apparently cleared up with the Sunday arrest of a 47-year-old Okeechobee man.

Arrest affidavits indicate Michael Howard Ramsburg, S.E. 37th Way, was arrested March 12 on a felony charge of burglary in one case and grand theft in the second case.

Michael Howard Ramsburg, 47

He was booked into the Okeechobee County Jail on a bond of $10,000. Jail records indicate he has been released on bond.

According to an arrest report by Deputy Jonathon Gove, of the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO), he was sent to a burglary complaint at Island Cruize Golf Carts, 4190 U.S. 441 S.E.

Surveillance video at the business showed a white male with blond hair and a black spider tattoo on his back crawling through a window. The man apparently went to an office desk and removed a small amount of cash, stated the report.

For unstated reasons, deputies Ryane Ammons and Gove then went to Ramsburg’s home to speak with him. During that conversation Deputy Ammons asked the man to remove his shirt. When Ramsburg took off his shirt the deputies apparently saw a black spider tattoo on his upper back.

He was then placed under arrest for his alleged connection in the burglary.

As Deputy Ammons was leaving the home he reportedly noticed two Echo straight-shaft weed eaters lying in a vehicle. Both weed eaters still had anti-theft devices attached to them.

The deputy later went to The Home Depot, from where the weed eaters had reportedly been stolen, and spoke with an employee who supposedly saw a man leaving the store with the two items. Deputy Ammons showed a photo of Ramsburg to the employee who allegedly identified the man as the person they saw with the two weed eaters.

The weed eaters had a total value of $398.

Neither report indicates if the cash was recovered and returned to the golf cart business.

OKEECHOBEE — A sheriff’s office detective is seeking the public’s help in locating a 30-foot pop-up camper that was stolen from the front yard of a home on U.S. 441 S.E.

The tan 2016 Rockwood Premier camper was stolen between the hours of 11 p.m., March 10, and 6:45 a.m., March 11.

Information from the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) indicated the camper had a for sale sign on it when stolen.

According to the sheriff’s office the serial number on the camper will be: 4X4CPR727GD295793. It will also be displaying Florida license tag number GGZL85.

A report by OCSO Deputy Mathew Huffman stated the owner of the camper returned home around 8 p.m. Friday, March 10, but did not notice if the camper was gone. The victim went on to reportedly tell the deputy that his dog began barking around 11 p.m. then stopped around 11:30 p.m.

Deputy Huffman pointed out that a trailer lock was not used to secure the camper.

The case has been turned over to OCSO Detective Mark Shireman.

If you have any information regarding this case, contact Detective Shireman at 863-763-3117, ext. 5113. When you call, refer to case #17SO5856.

OKEECHOBEE — You can’t always believe what you read on the internet, and one local man found out the truth of that adage the hard way.

On March 17 at 12:46 a.m, Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jonathon Gove met with the 22-year-old man at his residence. Upon his arrival, the man told the deputy that around 9 p.m. on March 16, he was on the Plenty of Fish dating website. He allegedly began to message a female with the username JennyRocks016, whose profile page described her as being 18 years old. According to the report, they began to talk through the site’s instant messenger.

After a short time, the female gave the young man her phone number so they could text photographs of themselves to each other, according to the report.

The young man allegedly called the phone number the female provided him, intending to talk to her so they could get to know one another better. He then asked her when she was turning 19, and the female reportedly replied that she’s “16 and will be turning 17 in a few months.”

The young man immediately ended the conversation and called law enforcement to file a report.

OKEECHOBEE — A car jacking suspect led local deputies on a brief chase before he was apprehended and booked into the Okeechobee County Jail, where he is being held on $210,000 bond.

Deputy Mark Margerum, of the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO), stated in his arrest report that Joshua Aaron Huskin is accused of forcing a woman out of her 2011 Lincoln automobile Friday night in Highlands County. The woman was not harmed.

Joshua Aaron Huskin, 24

Huskin, 24, N. 18th St., was arrested March 17 on felony charges of grand theft-auto and fleeing and eluding a law enforcement officer. He was also arrested on a misdemeanor charge of resisting a law enforcement officer without violence.

According to Deputy Margerum’s arrest report he and other local deputies were told about the car jacking around 8:30 p.m. by the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO). It was thought the suspect would possibly pass through Okeechobee County on his way to Fort Pierce.

Deputy Margerum and OCSO Deputy Ronnie Baker, who were riding together, spotted the silver Lincoln around 8:42 p.m. as it traveled in an easterly direction on S.R. 70 West. The deputies got behind the car and tried to stop it but the driver, later identified as Huskin, refused to stop. At the time Huskin was driving the stolen car at a speed of 92 mph in a 60 mph zone.

Finally, Huskin pulled off the road in the 6700 block of S.R. 70 West where deputies ordered him out of the vehicle.

Apparently the victim, who was brought to Okeechobee County by an HCSO deputy, identified her car. She reportedly told Deputy Margerum the man who forced her out of her car had something in his hand, but she couldn’t tell what it was. Fearing for her life, she complied with the man’s demands, added the deputy’s report.

She reportedly told Deputy Margerum the alleged suspect grabbed her and pulled her out of the car.

OKEECHOBEE — An early morning blaze that destroyed a small county-owned building in a camping area at Okee-Tantie has unofficially been ruled as arson.

According to an Okeechobee County Fire/Rescue (OCF/R) report by Firefighter/paramedic Lieutenant Robert Banfield the fire that razed the unoccupied pavilion was “intentional.”

That report notes OCF/R was notified Sunday, March 19, of the fire at 4:35 a.m. Fire crews arrived on scene at 4:48 a.m., and the fire was under control by 6 a.m.

When those crews arrived on scene, 95 percent of the building was in flame and about half of the roof had collapsed. What was left of the roof “… was unstable,” noted the OCF/R lieutenant.

Okeechobee County administrator Robbie Chartier said Monday the building held bathrooms and had a screened area where people could picnic.

Lt. Banfield estimated the building sustained $100,000 in damages.
Another report by Deputy Nathaniel Mitchell, of the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO), indicated an angler stopped him in the marina parking lot and said he saw a vehicle in the area of the building near campsite 133. The angler assumed the person he saw was getting ready to go fishing.
At the time, the witness was on his boat and about 500 feet from the Kissimmee River bridge.

“A short time later I saw the vehicle leave in a hurry. It was bouncing over the speed bumps,” the angler reportedly told Deputy Mitchell. “I looked again and saw the glow of the fire.”

Mrs. Chartier said because of plans to renovate the campground and existing buildings, this one will not be rebuilt by the county. And, she continued, it’s unlikely it will be turned in to the county’s insurance carrier.

“If I’m not going to do anything with it, then why turn it in?” she asked.

The investigation has been turned over to the state fire marshal’s office.

Fire caused an estimated $100,000 in damages to this pavilion at Okee-Tantie early Sunday morning. The fire is thought to be caused by arson. Photo by Eric Kopp.

OKEECHOBEE — After leading police on a brief foot chase in the northeast section of the city, a man was finally apprehended Wednesday as he tried to hide behind a tree in a N.E. Third Street yard.

Police arrested Serafin Espinoza Ruiz, 24, March 22 on a felony charge of fleeing and eluding a law enforcement officer. He was also arrested on a misdemeanor charge of resisting a law enforcement officer without violence.

He is being held in the Okeechobee County Jail on a $5,500 bond.

An arrest report by Officer Luis Rojas, of the Okeechobee City Police Department (OCPD), indicated his involvement with the case started at 1:47 a.m. Wednesday when he answered a reckless driver complaint. The complainant reportedly told the officer the driver of a white Mitsubishi was spinning his tires and doing donuts in front of McDonald’s restaurant on S.R. 70 East.

When OCPD Sergeant Dawn Wendt went to the restaurant, she apparently saw the car in question at the eatery’s drive-through window. When the driver of the white car saw the blue lights flashing on the OCPD patrol unit he allegedly hit the gas, squealed his tires and tried to flee.

With Officer Rojas behind him, the driver of the Mitsubishi — later identified as Espinoza — turned east onto N.E. Second Street and drove down an alley between N.E. Fifth Avenue and N.E. Sixth Avenue.

“The vehicle slid to a stop and I observed the driver, a Hispanic male, exit the vehicle from the driver’s door and begin to nun north behind the residence,” noted Officer Rojas.

The fleeing man continued to flee in a northerly direction by hurdling fences and running through peoples’ yards, added the officer.

OCPD Officer Michael Jordan later found Espinoza crouching behind a tree and placed him under arrest at that point.

An 18-year-old man in the car with Espinoza was later arrested on a misdemeanor charge of resisting a law enforcement officer without violence.

He was booked into the county jail on a bond of $500, and was still in jail as of Thursday afternoon.

OKEECHOBEE — It’s déjà vu all over again — Andrew Wheeler has been arrested and is in jail.

Wheeler, 21, was arrested Thursday, March 23, by the Forest Park, Ga., Police Department while in a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck that had been reported stolen in Okeechobee.

Andrew Wheeler, 21

According to Detective James Pickering, of the Okeechobee City Police Department (OCPD), that pickup was stolen Wednesday, March 22, from a home in the southwest section of the city. And while Wheeler was in the truck Thursday, the detective said Wheeler has not been charged with the theft.

Wheeler, who has a long and extensive criminal history, is being held in the Clayton County, Ga., Jail on a bond of $13,500. He is facing felony charges of theft by receiving property stolen in another state and obstruction of an officer. He is also charged with one misdemeanor count of driving while unlicensed.

Records at the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) show Wheeler was currently out of the Okeechobee County Jail on bond. He was arrested Feb. 20 on a misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia, then released on $1,000 bond.

Prior to that, he was arrested in December 2016 on a felony count of grand theft – auto and a misdemeanor count of resisting a law enforcement officer without violence. He was later released on $55,000 bond.

This is the same Andrew Wheeler who was sent to prison in August of 2015 after being convicted of aggravated child abuse for beating a highly-intoxicated 16-year-old boy at a house party. Video of the beating was taken by a friend of Wheeler’s and posted on social media.

And because he had only been out of prison for 74 days when he committed that crime, then-Circuit Court Judge Sherwood Bauer ruled that Wheeler should be designated a prison releasee reoffender. That designation then boosted his prison term to 30 years.

However, the 4th District Court of Appeals ruled Nov. 9, 2016, that Wheeler’s sentence was too long and the aggravated child abuse charge was incorrect. Justices then decreed that Wheeler should be released from prison immediately. And, he was.

Wheeler has been in and out of corrections facilities since a young age.

Records show when he was 16 he was arrested and sent to the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ).

On May 21, 2013, he was sent to prison after being found guilty of felony burglary and petit theft charges. He was released Oct. 30 of that same year.
He was arrested again on felony burglary and petit theft charges and on May 1, 2014, he was returned to prison. Wheeler was released May 27, 2014.

He was then sentenced to prison for beating the teen.

Wheeler was arrested Thursday in Forest Park after the pickup’s in-vehicle security system, OnStar, issued a ‘hit’ on the truck’s location Thursday evening around 5:30 p.m. When police in the Atlanta suburb stopped the truck, Wheeler allegedly jumped out of the vehicle and tried to flee on foot.

But, he didn’t get far.

Detective Pickering said there were four other people in the truck with Wheeler — three of them were from Georgia and the other was from Tennessee. None of them were charged.

The OCPD investigator went on to add the owner of the Silverado last saw the vehicle around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday in his carport. It was not known Friday morning if the truck was locked.

Also, continued Detective Pickering, whoever took the truck apparently tried to disable the OnStar system because there is “… extensive damage to the dashboard.”

Detective Pickering said his investigation is continuing and if anyone has any information about this case they can contact him at 863-763-9785.

OKEECHOBEE — One man is in custody and a second is being sought for questioning in connection with the theft of items from a local funeral home.

Robert Bryan Smith, 48, N.E. Fifth St., Okeechobee, was arrested March 3 on three counts of felony grand theft. He is being held in the Okeechobee County Jail on $45,000 bond.

Robert Bryan Smith

According to Detective James Pickering, of the Okeechobee City Police Department (OCPD), Smith reportedly took a mourners’ tent, a dump trailer and a Bobcat excavator from the Buxton Funeral Home.

The detective said Monday, March 27, Richard Anthony ‘Tony’ Bonnell is currently being sought for questioning in connection with those thefts.

If anyone has information concerning this cases or the whereabouts of Bonnell, they are asked to contact Detective Pickering at 863-763-9785.

Richard Anthony Bonnell

Richard Bonnell

OKEECHOBEE — A man wanted in Illinois and described as “armed and dangerous” led local law enforcement on a 13-minute chase early Monday through the southwest and southeast section of the county.

Deputy John Fisher, of the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO), indicated in his arrest report that two OCSO patrol units were damaged in the March 27 100-mph chase around 5 a.m. that didn’t end until Austin Ehrhart Dale’s Toyota pickup overturned.

Austin Ehrhart Dale, 38

Dale, 38, was arrested on felony charges of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, assault on a law enforcement officer and fleeing and eluding a law enforcement officer. He was also charged with reckless driving with damage to person or property, which is a misdemeanor.

Tuesday, March 28, additional felony charges were filed against Dale. Those charges were possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and possession of a controlled substance (oxycodone) without a prescription. He was also charged with the misdemeanors of possession of marijuana under 20 grams and possession of a drug not properly labeled (two counts).

The Illinois native was booked into the Okeechobee County Jail, where he is being held without bond.

According to Deputy Fisher the chase started when he tried to stop Dale on S.W. 28th Street because he was driving erratically. Prior to stopping the man, Deputy Fisher pointed out his dispatcher told him the State of Illinois had outstanding warrants calling for Dale’s arrest.

Those warrants charged Dale with obstruction of justice, armed and dangerous, obstruction of justice for leaving the state and aggravated fleeing from police.

“According to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) entry, the subject (Dale) is considered to be armed and dangerous, and Illinois would extradite the subject based on the warrants,” noted Deputy Fisher.

At one point, continued the deputy, Dale ran a red light on U.S. 441 South and turned onto S.E. 28th Street and was traveling at speeds topping the century mark.

On S.E. 24th Blvd., Dale turned around in a cul-de-sac, and intentionally struck a chain link fence as law enforcement tried to box him in, stated the report. Dale then intentionally drove his pickup into the patrol unit driven by OCSO Deputy Sergeant Chris Hans, which disabled the unit and caused damage to the car’s front end.

He also tried to run his vehicle into a patrol unit driven by Deputy Brian Cross, continued the report.

“Deputy Cross had to take immediate evasive action to avoid the collision, and drove off the roadway and into a yard. No damage was done to the Deputy Cross’ patrol unit or the yard,” stated Deputy Fisher.

Deputy Joseph Hall then laid out some stop sticks at S.E. 31st Street and S.E. 18th Terrace, but Dale avoided the devices by leaving the roadway.

As Dale tried to make “an abrupt turn onto S.W. Fifth Avenue,” noted Deputy Fisher, he slammed on the brakes which caused the OCSO unit driven by Deputy Justin Deluca to hit the Toyota in the back end. The deputy’s vehicle sustained damage to the front end.

“The truck struck a raised curb median and rolled over, ending the pursuit,” continued the deputy’s report.

The 13-minute chase covered about 9.8 miles, indicated Deputy Fisher.

Dale was taken to the Raulerson Hospital emergency room to be treated for unspecified injuries. None of the deputies were injured.

Besides the criminal charges, Dale was issued traffic citations for violating a traffic control device and aggressive reckless driving.

OKEECHOBEE — The search is on for two men who broke into four vehicles Thursday afternoon and made off with debit and credit cards, a laptop computer and a small amount of cash.

Detective Jack Boon, with the Okeechobee City Police Department (OCPD), said the brazen burglars committed the thefts around 2:10 p.m. from vehicles parked behind Glades Gas and Big Lake Eye Care.

Surveillance video shows two black males walking in the alley behind the former Jetson Rents store to the back of Glades Gas, 804 N. Parrott Ave.

Here, they enter two vehicles parked behind the business. Neither vehicle was locked, noted the detective.

Their haul here was fairly small — two gasoline cards.

From there the thieves continue south to the back of the eye care center, 606 N. Parrott Ave., where they broke out the passenger-side door windows of two cars belonging to employees at the center.

According to the detective the men took a backpack from one of the vehicles.

The backpack apparently belonged to an elementary school student because it contained a $1,200 Apple computer, as well as some school books and school papers.

The men then took $20 in cash, as well as some credit and debit cards from the second vehicle.

Both vehicles were locked, added Detective Boon, who added he didn’t know what the thieves used to break out the windows.

“They did not damage the vehicles in any way other than the two broken windows,” said the OCPD investigator.

Detective Boon said he’s still not certain from where the two men came, or where they went after breaking into the vehicles at the eye care center.

“They did not come back past Glades Gas,” he said, after watching the video.

If anyone has information concerning this case they are asked to contact Detective Boon at 863-763-9786.

OKEECHOBEE — An Okeechobee man was the victim of a con known as ‘the renters scam’ when he paid to rent a home on N.W. 37th Avenue that was already rented.

Not only did he miss out on renting the home, but the scammer conned him out of $1,350.

Ironically, an Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office deputy met with the property manager of the home on March 27 who complained that people are trying to rent the house but he already has people living in it.

Deputy Sergeant Donald Ellis stated in his report the manager initially listed the home on the Real Estate web site Zillow for $800 a month, and he has since rented the home. However, he has continued to receive inquires about the property.

Those inquiries, continued the manager, mention that the rent for the place is $400 per month.

As it turns out, noted Sgt. Ellis, someone copied his ad on the Zillow site and placed it on the site housesforrent.ws and listed a phone number of 508-556-4662.

The manager reportedly told Sgt. Ellis he’s called that number but no one will answer. They will, however, respond by text message and ask that a deposit be sent.

“He supplied me with a printout of the information he located on the web site. He also said he has tried several times, with negative results, to have the ad taken down,” noted Sgt. Ellis.

So far, the landlord has suffered no monetary loss.

But, that’s not the case for the 22-year-old man who tried to rent the home.

OCSO Deputy Ronnie Baker took that man’s complaint on March 29 after he had already sent $1,350 to cover the first and last months rent, and the security deposit.

The man reportedly told Deputy Baker he had been dealing with a person known as Quantilya Florence Mellerson via text message to the number of 508-556-4662. That number just happens to be the same number for the housesforrent.ws site.

The victim, continued Deputy Baker, kept trying to get the key to the residence but he was unable to reach the scammer.

Also, added the deputy, the victim said he did receive some sort of a contract/lease agreement but it had not been signed by either party.

“(He) advised that since the transactions were made he went back to the residence in question and made contact with the residents occupying it. It was determined the residence was being lawfully rented by said occupants,” the deputy pointed out.

The deputy went on to state he is waiting for the victim to give him copies of the text messages and emails between the scammer and the victim.

OKEECHOBEE — After being stopped Monday evening for allegedly speeding, an Okeechobee man was later arrested on a felony weapons charge by a detective with the Okeechobee Narcotics Task Force.

Shaun Eric Almodovar, 37

Shaun Eric Almodovar, 37, N.W. Seventh Ave., was arrested on felony charges of possession of an electronic weapon by a convicted felon and possession of a controlled substance (hydromorphone).

He was booked into the Okeechobee County Jail on a bond of $15,000. Jail records indicate he has been released on bond.

An arrest report by the detective stated Almodovar was stopped around 6:30 p.m. April 3 on S.E. 28th Street for traveling at a speed of 50 mph in a posted 40 mph zone.

After stopping the man, the detective said Almodovar “… was visibly shaking and his voice was horse,” stated the report.

Another task force detective, who is also a K-9 handler, was called to the scene. The K-9, noted the detective, alerted to the man’s 2002 Chevrolet automobile.

During a search of the passenger car the detectives allegedly found a fully-operational stun gun and a plastic bag containing four pills and one partial tablet. They were identified as 8mg hydromorphone tablets, which are a schedule II controlled substance, pointed out the investigator.

According to court records Almodovar’s first felony conviction as an adult came in 2006 when he was found guilty of possession of cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to sell and possession of a controlled substance. He was then sentenced to serve nine months in the county jail.

Almodovar was arrested again in 2008 and later found guilty of carrying a concealed weapon, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of marijuana under 20 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Then-Circuit Court Judge Lawrence Mirman sentenced Almodovar to serve four years in prison.

Department of Corrections (DOC) records show Almodovar was sent to prison May 14, 2009, and was released May 12, 2013.

Those same DOC records show Almodovar was also convicted on the felonies of possession of a concealed weapon, possession of a controlled substance and driving while license suspended in DeSoto County.

He was sentenced to four years in prison and served that sentence at the same time he was serving his prison stint from Okeechobee.

OKEECHOBEE — An 18-year-old Okeechobee woman has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Robert Curtis Joiner, 60.

Detective Bill Saum, of the Okeechobee City Police Department (OCPD), said Mr. Joiner, of a S.E. Fourth Street address was first reported missing by his family on Tuesday, April. 4. Later that day his body was found along a wooded road in the 400 block of S.E. 32nd Avenue.

“He had been killed and placed at that location,” stated Detective Saum in a prepared release.

Brandie Dailey, 18, (center photo) S.E. Fourth St., was arrested Tuesday, April 4, on one count each of first-degree felony murder with a weapon and tampering with evidence.

Also arrested in connection with the murder with the case were Michael James Raulerson, 21, S.E. Fourth Street, and Michael Wayne Jacobs, 35, N.W. 33rd Avenue. Both of the Okeechobee men are charged with one count of tampering with evidence.

Michael J. Raulerson, 21

They both helped Dailey dispose of the body, stated Detective Saum.

Raulerson and Jacobs were both arrested Thursday, April 6.

The trio is being held in the Okeechobee County Jail without bond, pending their first appearance hearing, pointed out Detective Saum.

Michael Jacobs, 35

The OCPD investigator went on to state he was assisted in this investigation by Detective Corporal Javier Gonzalez of the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office.

The OCPD press release did not give a suspected motive for the alleged murder.

OKEECHOBEE — As the Okeechobee community reeled from the news of the murder of Robert C. Joiner, 60, and the arrest of the 18-year-old Brandie Dailey who is accused with pre-meditated murder, a few details have come to light.

Brandie Ariel Dailey, 18

According to the Okeechobee City Police Department report, Mr. Joiner was physically challenged and had lived in his Southeast Fourth Street home for many years. He allowed Dailey and her boyfriend, Michael Raulerson, to live in his home in exchange housekeeping and cooking. The couple had lived in Mr. Joiner’s home for about one year, according to the report.

Mr. Joiner’s family routinely received calls from him daily. When he failed to call and they were unable to reach him, his sister filed a missing person report.

Responding to that report, Detective Bill Saum went to Mr. Joiner’s house, where Dailey invited the officers in and allowed the entire property to be searched.

“A short time later, I was advised a deceased person had been found in the 400 block of S.E. 32nd Avenue in Okeechobee,” the detective’s report continues.

“I and others at that scene recognized the deceased as Robert “Bobby” Joiner. Joiner was tied up, hands behind his back and feet tied together. He was wrapped in a blanket,” the report states.

Brandie Ariel Dailey, 18, S.E. Fourth St., was arrested Tuesday, April 4, on one count each of first-degree felony murder with a weapon and tampering with evidence.

Also arrested in connection with the murder and the case were Michael James Raulerson, 21, S.E. Fourth Street, and Michael Wayne Jacobs, 35, N.W. 33rd Avenue. Both of the Okeechobee men are charged with one count of tampering with evidence. They are accused of helping Dailey dispose of the body, according to the arrest report.

Michael J. Raulerson, 21

Law enforcement officials have not released any information in regard to the motive for the murder or the cause of death. Dailey is charged with “murder with a weapon,” but officials have not yet released any details about what type of weapon was used.

Michael Jacobs, 35

OKEECHOBEE — An 18-year-old is being held on bond in the Okeechobee County Jail following his arrest for allegedly having sexual relations with two teenaged girls.

Austin Lee Campbell, 18

Austin Lee Campbell was arrested Friday, April 7, on two felony counts of lewd and lascivious battery – victim under 16 years of age, suspect over 18 years of age.

He is being held in the county jail on $500,000 bond.

An arrest report by Detective Corporal Ted Van Deman, of the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO), indicated both incidents occurred earlier this year.

According to the detective Campbell twice allegedly forced each girl to engage in relations with him on different occasions.

The detective’s report does not state if either of the teenage girls were physically injured by the 6-foot-4, 140-pound Campbell.

OKEECHOBEE — A man competing in a shooting contest Saturday at the OK Corral Shooting Club over the weekend apparently became excited and shot himself.

Deputy Jose Garduno, of the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO), said the victim of the accidental shooting was taken to the Raulerson Hospital emergency room for treatment. The report did not indicate if the victim was admitted to the hospital.

The 34-year-old West Palm Beach man reportedly told the deputy he was taking part in a shooting competition and became excited.

“(He) stated he began dancing with the firearm in his right hand. While ‘busting a move’ (he) accidentally pulled the trigger,” noted the deputy’s report. “(He) was unaware a round was in the chamber, therefore shooting himself in the leg.”

Deputy Garduno also pointed out when he arrived at the gun range all firearms had been “… stored for safety,” — including the victim’s.

The victim, added the deputy, was conscious and in high spirits.

The bullet entered the upper right side of the man’s thigh then exited near the knee. The projectile then traveled down his leg and struck the top of his shoe.

“(He) admitted the shooting was an accidental discharge,” added the deputy.

According to Deputy Garduno no charges were filed.

The OK Corral Shooting Club is located at 9449 N.E. 48th St.

OKEECHOBEE — A local woman tried to avoid a deputy by hiding under a pontoon boat in a Treasure Island canal, but residents in the area gave her away and now she’s being held on bond.

Deputy Sergeant Donald Ellis, of the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO), indicated in his report that he was in that area Tuesday, April 11, due to a complaint. Apparently, three people in a Jon boat were traveling along canals in the area and catching ducks.

When the deputy caught up to them around 7:34 p.m. in a canal that separates S.E. 35th Avenue and S.E. 36th Avenue, he had them pull ashore in the 3000 block of S.E. 35th Avenue.

There was a man and two women in the boat.

The man and one of the women readily identified themselves to Sgt. Ellis.
But the third woman reportedly stumbled over her last name before settling on Bullock. The sergeant went on to state she also gave him two different dates of birth. She also could not give him any state-issued identification and she could not remember her Social Security number, added Sgt. Ellis.

According to the deputy’s report he returned to his vehicle in an effort to determine her identity when the other female in the aluminum boat approached him. She apparently told him the other woman was running away.

“I advised dispatch that the female fled on foot and gave her description and the direction (the other woman) advised she ran,” stated the deputy’s report.

Residents in the area then told him she jumped into the canal and swam under a pontoon boat.

Sgt. Ellis found her then placed her under arrest on a misdemeanor charge of resisting a law enforcement officer without violence.

Rachael Michelle Miller, 28

As it turns out, Sgt. Ellis learned her real name is Rachael Michelle Miller, 28, N.E. 56th Ave., in Okeechobee. He also found out she is wanted in Broward County on a Widman Act violation based on a felony charge of violation of probation – grand theft.

Wednesday, April 12, she was being held in the Okeechobee County Jail on $5,000 bond.

The sergeant’s report did not indicate if any ducks were found in the trio’s possession, or if the other man and woman were charged.

OKEECHOBEE — Ron Jones received quite a surprise Saturday: He had apparently moved, but didn’t know it.

In fact, if it hadn’t been for the letter from the United States Postal Service (USPS) he would have had no idea his new address was in Miami, even though, he was still living in Taylor Creek Isles.

Since both the envelope and letter were official, Mr. Jones went to the local post office for some information.

USPS representatives there told him the address change was a scam, but would not give him the numerical address in Miami.

“They only verified the address had been changed,” said Mr. Jones, Tuesday.

“They also gave me some different web sites for information purposes.”

Since then he has talked with a postal inspector who is handling the investigation, and has talked with his local bank to ensure his account is safe.

Mr. Jones, 64, said his credit and debit cards are protected.

When asked how scammers could have stolen his information, Mr. Jones only shrugged and said: “They can pull it up on a computer from anywhere.”

The ‘snail mail’ change-of-address postal fraud comes in two varieties — both, of which, are to steal a person’s identity.

• In the first instance, a crook changes your address so all your mail gets diverted to them. They can then steal whatever information they desire before the victim notices anything is wrong.

• More commonly, the scammer has already stolen the victim’s identity and is arranging for credit card bills to be taken out in the victim’s name to go to another address.

The postal service now conducts security checks when notified of an address change. But, if you’re used to getting mail every day, contact them after a couple of empty days.

Monitoring your credit report is the most likely way you’ll be able to discover if someone has stolen your identity and is using another address.

So, watch out for a letter from the USPS like Mr. Jones that reads: “The Postal Service has received a Change-of-Address order asking us to forward mail from the following address to the person named below:”

If you receive such a letter, and you haven’t changed your address, take it to your post office immediately. You are also asked to call: 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777).

OKEECHOBEE — Six vehicles were burglarized Saturday at the Okeechobee Sports Complex as adults were nearby watching baseball or softball games.
Incident reports by Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) deputies state that all of the vehicles were locked. Thieves gained entry into the vehicles by breaking out door windows.

Those reports also note that latent fingerprints were found on some of the vehicles.

The break-ins all occurred April 15 between 1:23 p.m. and 2:17 p.m.
In the first burglary, thieves entered the vehicle parked near the baseball fields and took an Ipad, Iphone, a Samsung cell phone, a Vera Bradley wallet, a Florida driver’s license, bank cards and a credit card.

At 2:06 p.m. the thieves hit their second vehicle of the afternoon. In this theft, they made off with a: black wallet; six different credit cards; Walmart gift cards; a driver’s license; an insurance card; and, a gift card with $20 on it.

“The wallet was laying in plain sight on the center console. Nothing else in the vehicle was disturbed or out of place,” pointed out Deputy Daniel Eng in his report.

In the day’s third burglary, thieves really got very little. The vehicle owner told Deputy Corporal Marcus Collier all that was missing was a gray, Nine West purse; a woman’s driver’s license; and, several credit cards.

“(The victim) advised that the purse was sitting on the floor board of the truck, between the driver’s seat and passenger seat,” stated Cpl. Collier’s report. “It appeared that whoever busted the window just reached in and grabbed the purse and did not disturb anything else.”

Around 2:10 p.m. the brazen burglars broke out the passenger door window, dumped the contents of a woman’s purse onto the floor and made off with: a wallet; Florida driver’s license; Social Security card; and, multiple prepaid debit cards.

OCSO Deputy Robbie Lamb went on to point out in this burglary that the victim left her purse “… in between the front seats and covered it with a towel.”

The next break-in took place about 6 minutes later when thieves broke out the passenger-door window of a 2013 Ford pickup truck. The method of entering the truck was the same as in the other burglaries, noted OCSO Deputy Devon Satallante.

Deputy Satallante noted the victim lost a brown leather purse containing $200 in cash and her driver’s license.

“While looking at the truck for evidence, I looked underneath the driver’s side rear wheel. I found an I-pad and two cell phones wedged in the wheel well,” stated Deputy Satallante.

He also learned the electronics were taken in another burglary and returned them to their rightful owner.

The final reported incident of the day took place at 2:17 p.m. when the thieves used the same modus operandi and made off with a woman’s wallet, Florida driver’s license and Social Security card.

“It should be noted the person or persons appeared to use a glass punching tool to gain access to this vehicle,” stated Deputy Nathaniel Mitchell.

The burglaries have been assigned to OCSO Detective Heath Hughes.

OKEECHOBEE — A young man recently released from the local G4S youth facility on U.S. 441 North now finds himself in the county jail where he is being held on several felony charges.

Ladarian Robinson, 20, was arrested Tuesday, April 18, on felony charges of burglary of an unoccupied conveyance (four counts) and grand theft. He is also charged with three misdemeanor counts of petit theft.

Ladarian Robinson, 20

Those arrests stem from his breaking into four vehicles around 2 p.m. on March 29, stated arrest reports by Detective Jack Boon of the Okeechobee City Police Department.

Robinson was first arrested by the detective on April 12 when he was charged with resisting a law enforcement officer without violence, carrying a concealed firearm and possession of a firearm/ammunition by a delinquent.

He is being held in the Okeechobee County Jail on a total bond of $73,000.

Detective Boon said Wednesday, April 19, he is still looking for a second suspect in those burglaries. That suspect is described as a black male with a slim build who is 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-9 in height. He is thought to be around 20 years of age.

The OCPD investigator said both men were brought to the G4S facility in Okeechobee from the Fort Lauderdale area. He did not know why they were sent to the local youth facility. A phone call to that facility seeking information was not returned by newspaper deadline.

According to Detective Boon, surveillance video shows the two men walking south in the alley behind the former Jetson’s store on U.S. 441 N.

“The suspects cross N.E. Ninth Street and enter the rear parking area behind Glades Gas. Robinson (and the other man) enter a red Ford Explorer and steal two gas cards for the Glades Gas company,” stated the detective’s arrest report. “Robinson then moves to a black Ford four-door sedan where Robinson gains entry and steals a brown purse while the other man keeps watch.”

That purse was valued at $150, added the detective.

About 3 to 5 minutes later the duo committed two more vehicle burglaries behind Big Lake Eye Care, 606 N. Parrott Ave. The men broke out the passenger-side window to gain entry into the vehicles from which they took: a black and grey backpack, valued at $20; an Apple MacBook laptop valued at $1,200; a pair of prescription glasses valued at $569; a college textbook valued at $100; and a Jessica Simpson purse valued at $50.

One of the gas cards was found on or about April 2 along side N.W. 36th Street in Basswood, noted Detective Boon.

If anyone has information concerning this case, they are asked to call Detective Boon at 863-763-9786.