Officers shut down cocaine 'drive-through'

KAREN VOYLES Sun staff writer

Published: Sunday, July 8, 2007 at 6:01 a.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, July 8, 2007 at 12:00 a.m.

Levy County deputies late Friday shut down an apparent cocaine "drive-through" that they say had been operating from a portable storage shed east of U.S. 27.

The drive-through drug sales were reportedly happening from a storage shed at a place know as The Land, which is located off County Road 318 about a half mile east of U.S. 27. Levy County sheriff's spokesman Lt. Evan Sullivan said the Levy County Drug Task Force served a search warrant at the property on Friday.

"It was set up like a drive-through operation where cocaine was being sold, so we got in there and eight arrests were made," Sullivan said.

At about the same time that deputies were shutting down the cocaine shed operation, DUI Task Force Commander Scott Finnen was leading another group of deputies in operating an unrelated DUI checkpoint on State Road 24 across from the Bronson Motor Speedway.

"This is part of our ongoing traffic enforcement around the county - the fourth of what will probably be six DUI checkpoints we will have this summer in part from a Department of Transportation grant," Finnen explained.

Westbound drivers on SR 24 were directed to pull into the checkpoint area, asked to show deputies their driver's license, vehicle registration and proof of insurance.

"While the deputies were looking over the information, they were also listening for tone and volume of every driver's voice, which can be indicators of DUI impairment," Finnen said. Anyone suspected of driving drunk or who may have pulled into the checkpoint without wearing a seatbelt was pulled aside for further examination.

Finnen assigned one person to time the length of the stops. The result was that all but a few of the 136 vehicles that went through the checkpoint were off the highway for less than five minutes and most made their way through the checkpoint in under three minutes.

Sullivan said one person was arrested at the checkpoint on an outstanding Columbia County warrant and another person was arrested for DUI and other charges after speeding through the checkpoint and leading deputies on a short chase on SR 24.

"We did the first one of these checkpoints in Chiefland and we arrested 19 people, including three for DUI," Finnen said. "Another one we did was in Inglis and we issued 20 citations there. We think these are a good way to let people know that we are out actively looking for impaired drivers."

Karen Voyles can be reached at 352-486-5058 or voylesk@gvillesun.com.

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SCOTT FINNEN WINS OFFICER OF YEAR 2009

By Mark Scohier

By MARK SCOHIER

news2@chieflandcitizen.com

Catching bad guys and saving lives is often a thankless job.

But last week, members of the community got together to make sure that a few of the people working in these professions got exactly what they deserve: a thank you.

Law Appreciation Night, sponsored by the Chiefland Women’s Club, honored seven law enforcement and emergency service workers on Thursday, Sept. 10, at Chiefland Elementary School for their commitment to their jobs.

The evening opened with a dinner and a few words from State Rep. Leonard Bembry.

“It’s so important,” Bembry said to the crowd, “that we let them (law enforcement) know how important it is what they do. Their lives are on the line, and they put their lives on the line for us.”

Chiefland Police Chief Robert Douglas, before presenting his award, told the audience that military, law enforcement and fire departments are the only things standing in the way of chaos.

“I think law enforcement is a calling,” he told the audience. “The reason we do this, and I’ve been doing it for 33 years, is because it’s a calling. It’s not for the money.”

The seven employees who received awards, by order of appearance, are as follows:

Officer Alton Horne—Chiefland Police Department

Luther Eugene Stochman, Jr.—Chiefland Fire and Rescue

Kristi Ward—Chiefland Emergency Medical Services

Officer James Umhoefer—Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Officer Kevin Harris—Florida Highway Patrol

Officer Lisa Brock—Levy County Correctional

Lt. Scott Finnen—Levy County Sheriff’s Department

Wanted Alabama Suspect Located in Levy County, Attacks Police Officer by Robert Bradfield · May 21st 2009 · See more Local News

A man wanted in connection with an armed bank robbery in Alabama was arrested early this morning near Yankee Town in Levy County.
Chad Jeter, 30, went on the run Tuesday after robbing a bank in Atmore, Alabama.
Thursday morning, he was found in Levy County and before he was arrested, police say he put up a fight.
Blurry images taken from the First National Bank and Trust in Atmore, Ala., show what appears to be Jeter robbing the bank.
Police say after the robbery, Jeter fled to Florida, making it to Levy County.
As Sgt. Timothy Swiggett questioned Jeter, police say Jeter attacked Swiggett with a chinese throwing star, injuring him in the neck.
Lt. Scott Finnen with the Levy County Sheriff's Office says, "We are currently further studying on the case, so processing evidence retrieved from the scene, and getting the correct documentation to go for that to determine whether other charges are going to proceed later."
A warrant is being sought to search his car for more evidence, which Finnen says may lead to more charges.
Jeter now sits in the Levy County Jail in confinement, facing a charge of attempted murder on a law enforcement officer and pending charges for an armed robbery in Alabama; charges that may keep him behind bars for years.
The sheriffs office is also looking into threats made by Jeter to several military bases.
Finnen says, "We have made contact with military police units and trying, they've been contacted with me to try to further to see what level of interest he had in the service but that has yet to be determined on one level."
The sheriff's office can not confirm if Jeter was or is in the military. Jeter will remain in the Levy County Jail until the investigation is complete. Lt. Finnen says Sgt. Swiggett is doing fine and is recovering at home.

Handgun class has its sights on helping family in need

About $2,500 was collected Saturday from 46 participants in a concealed weapons permit class at the Levy County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff's Lt. Scott Finnen said the proceeds from the event would go to the Cates Children Family Fund — set up for the five children who lost their mother, Carrie L. Cates, 39, in a traffic accident about a month ago.

Cates, who moved to Bronson from Vermont in August to be closer to her family, died after a passenger-side mirror struck her while she was jogging along side U.S. Highway 27A just outside of Bronson. She was active in the First Baptist Church of Bronson, which is attended by Sheriff Johnny Smith and others in the department.

“That was one of the reasons I came,” Jimmy Faulk, a participant from High Springs, said. “I was gonna’ donate whether I came or not. Not only is the sheriff’s department educating the public, but it’s for a good cause.”

Faulk, who owns several guns, said he’s wanted a concealed weapons permit for years.

“You never know when that time’s gonna’ be there,” he said. And if that time comes, according to Faulk, “It’s better to know how to use one, how to handle one; to give yourself peace of mind.”

Faulk said the class was informative, and he came away better educated in gun safety, selection, maintenance and technique.

Rachel Parsons, a spokesperson with the National Rifle Association, said nationally gun and ammunition sales have been on the rise for the past year.

“Folks are concerned with the economy on the downswing,” she said.

People are afraid of the rise in crime during hard economic times, she said. People want to protect themselves and their property.

But she said gun owners are also worried their rights to own guns may soon come under tighter regulation.

“We have a lot of anti-gun leadership, right now,” she said. “A lot of people are concerned about potential gun bans.”

Richard Tew, from Southern Sportsman in Fanning Springs, said he’s also seen an increase in guns purchased over the last year.

“Handguns sales have gone through the roof. And ammo, too,” he said.

Finnen said over 40 people have already signed up for the next LCSO class scheduled for Dec. 5. The cost is $50 per person.

For more information, call the Sheriff's Office at (352) 486-5111 or email sfinnen@levyso.com.

Donations can be made to the Cates Family Children's Fund at Capital City Bank, 140 E. Hathaway Ave., Bronson, FL 32621.