Deltona, FL – The District 3 Deltona City Commissioner is set to hold an open-to-the-public forum to address concerns about blight, crime, and code and law enforcement.

From 6 PM to 8 PM on November 15, Commissioner Heidi Herzberg will host the forum at Deltona City Hall, located at 2345 Providence Boulevard. The focus of the night is to discuss “The Role of Code Enforcement and the VCSO on Blight & Crime.”

Dale Baker, Deputy City Manager and Director of Building & Enforcement Services, and Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood will also be in attendance. The goal of the night is for residents to have an open dialogue with City and law enforcement officials.

“Research shows Blight serves as a venue that attracts crime, and this second town hall seeks to define the roles of the VCSO and City code enforcement in combating both crime and blight in our neighborhoods,” said Herzberg. “With a strong partnership of code enforcement, the Sheriff’s Dept. and residents, we can work to bring a great quality of life to all of Deltona.”

Photo courtesy of Congarashu and Shutterstock.com.

Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.

DeLand, FL – On Saturday night, a pedestrian was hit and killed on I-4 near DeLand.

According to the crash report, 42-year-old Ann Lucas of St. Augustine was driving westbound on I-4 near mile-marker 118 in a Toyota 4-door at around 8:55 PM. A 57-year-old man from Daytona Beach was standing on the median. The man suddenly left the median and traveled into the westbound lane of I-4 and was hit head-on by the Toyota.

The crash is under an investigation and the man has not yet been identified. The woman driving the car was not injured and FHP has ruled out alcohol as a factor for her, but not for the pedestrian.

Photo courtesy of Volodymyr Baleha and Shutterstock.com.

Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.

Deltona, FL – The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a case regarding a person found dead with a gunshot wound in Deltona.

Right before 8 PM on Saturday, deputies arrived at the intersection of Malaga Avenue and Puritan Street in response to a body found behind a car stuck in a ditch. According to deputies, 60-year-old Carlos Cruz Echevarria had a gunshot wound and was not breathing.

Echevarria was pronounced dead at the scene. The case is currently under investigation and no further details are available at this time.

Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.

Daytona Beach, FL – A Daytona Beach couple has been arrested after drugs and paraphernalia were found inside their home and within reach of children.

Eric Snook, 28, and Devon Reed, 26, were arrested Thursday after a search warrant was executed at their house and various drugs and paraphernalia were found. There were two children and an infant in the home.

Among the items found were marijuana and residue, a metal grinder, glass pipes, loaded and empty syringes, cocaine and residue, Clonazepam, and Alprazolam. Some marijuana was found on the coffee table and several syringes were found underneath a child’s toilet.

In addition to drug charges, the couple faces child abuse charges since the drugs were within reach and there was enough to be considered intent to sell. Police say that the danger of selling drugs out of the home was also a factor in the abuse charge.

Both Snook and Reed admitted to the marijuana, but initially denied any other drugs. Snook then told police that he tried to hide his cocaine problem from Reed and that all of the drugs and paraphernalia were his.

(Reed and Snook mugshots courtesy of Volusia County Corrections)

Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.

DeBary, FL – A domestic disturbance on Sunday afternoon at a DeBary home led to the discovery of several explosive devices and substances.

Volusia County deputies, detectives, Hazmat units from Volusia County and Deltona Fire Departments, and members of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms were all on scene early Monday morning, hours after the initial disturbance call led deputies to find a grenade in the backyard.

Deputies first got to 124 Bradwick Circle in DeBary at around 4:11 PM on Sunday after getting a call about an argument between 31-year-old Christopher S. Langer and his parents. During the argument, Langer, who was reportedly intoxicated, told his parents that he had put an explosive substance inside of a grenade. When deputies first asked him about the grenade, Langer said it didn’t exist. Later, he admitted that he had thrown the grenade outside and showed the deputy where it was. Deputies found the metal pineapple-style grenade, which had a paperclip holding the lever to keep it from exploding.

Deputies evacuated the home and after a search warrant was obtained, they searched the house and found an estimated 200 containers filled with unknown powders, acids, and other materials. Officials say many of those containers were filled with bodily fluids, not bomb-making materials.

A bomb robot was used to investigate a hole in the backyard where a small explosive device was found, and another suspected explosive device was found in a lunchbox. Officials say two other suspected explosives were found as well.

Several neighboring homes in the area were evacuated early on in the investigation, but those residents were allowed to return to their homes by Sunday night.

As of Monday morning, Langer was being held at the Volusia County Jail on $5,000 bail. He’s been charged with making/possessing a destructive device and officials say additional charges are possible, depending on the outcome of the investigation.

(Langer’s mugshot courtesy Volusia County Jail)

Photo courtesy Stavchansky Yakov and Shutterstock.com.

Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.

Florida – For the fifth year in a row, state Sen. Dorothy Hukill (R-Port Orange) has filed legislation looking to make a half-credit financial literacy course a requirement for Florida high schoolers.

HB 88 received unanimous support on Wednesday from the Pre K-12 Appropriations panel.

Senators unanimously passed a financial literacy bill during the 2017 session, but the bill didn’t make it through the House.

More on this story at the Tampa Bay Times.

Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.

Palm Coast, FL – The Flagler County Sheriff’s (FCSO) Office is investigating a double shooting in Palm Coast that sent two men to the hospital in critical condition early Monday morning.

Deputies responded to a home at 28 Seamanship Trail in Palm Coast just after 12 AM Monday after reports of multiple shots being fired. Deputies found one victim at the home that had been shot twice outside the home. At the same time, Florida Hospital Flagler called saying that the hospital had one victim that had been dropped off with one gunshot wound. FCSO says that the shootings were connected.

The two men were transferred to Halifax Health in Daytona and remain in the hospital in critical condition after the shooting, but their injuries are not life-threatening. Officials are still investigating the case. Deputies found a gun that they believe was used in the shootings, and they also found narcotics in the home in plain view, according to FCSO.

The investigation had been slightly delayed since one of the victims had given officials a false name, but deputies have released the names of the two victims. One of the men who was shot was 18-year-old Tristan George, who lived at the home with his mother and a roommate. 21-year-old Michael McRoberts Jr. was the gunshot victim who had given the hospital and deputies a false name. Officials later discovered that McRoberts is wanted for violation of probation and grand theft in Flagler County.

FCSO has not named any suspects at this time. “At this time, we do not believe anybody in the community is in danger. We believe this was a very focused shooting incident,” says Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly.

Deputies are also searching for a person of interest in this case. Brooklynn Marino dropped McRoberts off at Florida Hospital Flagler in a Honda Accord on Monday, according to FCSO. She did not give hospital staff her name, and deputies are searching for her as a person of interest.  The Honda has been located and towed to the Sheriff’s Office for processing.  Marino is now thought to be driving a silver 2013 Nissan Altima with tag IISS74.

(Photo of Marino courtesy FCSO)

Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.

Volusia County, FL – With the holidays right around the corner, the Florida Department of Health in Volusia County (DOH-Volusia) is reminding residents to be mindful of food safety procedures.

According to DOH-Volusia, 1 in 6 people in the U.S. contract foodborne illness every year. In order to ensure a safe holiday for you and your family, DOH-Volusia recommends that you:

• Refrain from preparing food if you are vomiting or have diarrhea.
• Always refrigerate perishable food and keep your refrigerator below 40°F.
• Transport food cold to limit bacterial growth.
• Put food from the refrigerator into the cooler right before leaving home.
• Cook in a clean area and periodically wash hands, cutting boards, utensils, and countertops.
• Wash your hands for 20 seconds with warm water and soap before and after touching food.
• Keep raw meat and other food separate.
• Utilize a food thermometer to make sure food is at a safe internal temperature.
• Store leftovers in small portions and refrigerate within 2 hours.
• Throw away perishable food that has been left out after two hours.
• Heat leftovers to  165°F and have them sit out for a couple of minutes to allow the heat to kill bacteria.

For additional information of food safety during the holidays, head to foodsafety.gov.

Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.

Volusia County, FL – Soon, Volusia County Beach Safety will be evaluated for reaccreditation.

During the second week of December, a team of representatives from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA) will review Volusia’s Beach Safety Ocean Rescue. The CFA, who has accredited Beach Safety since 2006, will be looking at policies, procedures, management and operating practices in their review. The U.S. Lifesaving Association also accredits Volusia Beach Safety as an advanced lifesaving organization.

Every year, Beach Safety is responsible for over 8 million people visiting beaches in Volusia County. The law enforcement officers, lifeguards, and emergency medical technicians employed with Beach safety are all triple-certified and cross-trained.

They are also the ones who you see at the County’s 4 lifeguard stations, lifeguard substation, four control towers, and 90 portable lifeguard towers. Volusia Beach Safety also utilizes 15 lifeguard trucks, 12 all-terrain vehicles, 2 utility vehicles, 4 jeeps, 7 watercrafts and a 21-foot rescue boat.

In 2016, the agency issued:

• 1,091 warning citations
• 1,929 citations
• 922 arrests and NTAs

In 2016, the agency assisted beachgoers with:

• 1,840 rescues/victims
• 400 major medicals
• 4,634 first aid incidents
• 3,167 jellyfish stings
• 996 environmental calls
• 2,026 disabled vehicles
• 226 found adult or child cases
• 71,149 preventive actions

Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.

Deltona, FL – Volusia County Sheriff’s Office (VCSO) is looking for the person they say shot and killed an Army veteran in Deltona who was only trying to help the suspect, who was having car trouble, and a reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest.

The victim, 60-year-old Carlos Cruz of Deltona, was found dead beside a vehicle that was stuck in a ditch at the intersection of Malaga Ave. and Puritan St. in Deltona just before 8 PM on Saturday. Deputies responded to the scene and found Cruz with a gunshot wound and no pulse.

According to VCSO, Cruz heard the suspect having car trouble, and Cruz drove his truck over to try to help pull the car from a ditch. The suspect shot Cruz and stole his truck. It was later discovered that the suspect’s car was stolen.

Cruz is the brother-in-law of a VCSO employee who says the Army veteran was always there to help those in need. “If you needed something and he had it, he would give it to you,” Edgar Burgos, Cruz’s brother-in-law, says. “Knowing him, I bet he went over there to see if they needed help.”

If you have any information on the case, you are urged to call 386-248-1777 to reach the VCSO Communications Center and speak to a dispatcher. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida at 888-277-TIPS, on the web at westopcrime.com, or via the app available for download at the website. VCSO is now offering a $10,000 reward for anyone who with information leading to an arrest and conviction.

“We owe it to Mr. Cruz and his family to find the ruthless, cold-blooded killer or killers who took his life,” Sheriff Mike Chitwood said Monday. “It takes a special kind of evil to gun down a stranger who is only trying to help you, and anyone who knows something and stays silent is complicit in this heinous act.”

(Photo of Cruz courtesy VCSO)

Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.

Daytona Beach, FL – Police are looking for the man and woman who stole a 2 carat diamond ring worth $27,000 from the Zales Jewelry Store at the Volusia Mall on Sunday.

According to the Daytona Beach Police Department, an unknown black man and woman went into the Zales Jewelry Store in the mall at around 2 PM and asked to see the 2 carat diamond ring, which is estimated to be worth about $27,000. After looking at the ring, the two left and then came back a short time later to look at the ring again. As the salesman was holding the ring in his hand the black man snatched it and ran away from the store.

Witnesses say the suspects then got into a white SUV and drove away from the mall.

Anyone with information is being asked to contact Detective J. Wallace at 386-671-5207, or via email at wallaejayson@dbpd.us.

(Photos of the suspects courtesy DBPD)

Photo courtesy BestStockFoto and Shutterstock.com.

Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.

DeLand, FL – DeLand Police are looking for the man who reportedly robbed a DeLand Taco Bell and sprayed an employee with a chemical spray.

Police responded to the Taco Bell at 1501 N. Woodland Blvd. in DeLand just after 1:30 AM on Tuesday. Employees reported that a white man in his 30’s pulled up to the drive-through window and handed an employee, Jo Ann Escamilla, a note with writing on both sides. Police reports say that after receiving the note, Escamilla handed the suspect the cash drawer. The man then sprayed Escamilla with a chemical spray.

Escamilla was treated at the scene for chemical contamination and then transported to Florida Hospital DeLand to be treated, according to police reports.

A store manager, Samantha Skinner, reported that she saw the incident occur and that she believed the suspect was driving a Honda with the tag removed. She ran to the front of the store to try to keep track of the vehicle and stated that she saw the vehicle drive off east on E. International Speedway. The suspect made off with an undisclosed amount of cash in the cash drawer.

Photo courtesy Susan Montgomery and Shutterstock.com

Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.

Volusia County, FL – According to Volusia County, there has been a record number of sea turtle nests on the beaches this year.

Sea turtle nesting season begins in May and ends in October. Typically, each female lays 100 eggs per nest, and they will lay several nests. The species a nest belongs to can be identified based on the tracks left behind from the mother crawling ashore.

“We were excited to see so many turtles using our beaches again this summer,” said Habitat Conservation Plan program manager for Volusia County, Jennifer Winters. “While our season officially ended Oct. 31, we still have some turtle nest activity, thanks in part to Hurricane Irma.”

720 sea turtle nests were recorded this nesting season, the 2^nd highest number on record in the County. Out of those nests, 634 belong to loggerhead turtles, 82 belong to green sea turtles, and 4 belong to Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles. The largest number of loggerhead sea turtle nests recorded on Volusia County beaches was 885 in 2017.

The number of green sea turtle nests set a new record this year, beating out the 2007 and 2013 record of 55. The presence of 4 Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle nest is extremely rare for the county as it surpasses the record of 2 set in 1996 and repeated in 2014.

“We were well into our hatching season with hundreds of nests still marked in the sand when Hurricane Irma impacted us,” said Winters. “We lost approximately 200 nests completely because of erosion or tidal inundation, meaning the eggs were either washed away or drowned by water saturating the sand. Fortunately, after the storm, we were able to re-establish about 50 nests, and we even had some new nests laid.”

Since there are still 9 active nests left on the beach in Volusia, it is estimated that 39,000 eggs hatched this season. Over 1,000 baby sea turtles were rescued by beachgoers and Volusia County Beach Safety after Hurricane Irma uncovered several nests.

800 baby sea turtles were washed back with seaweed beds brought to shore due to the large surf created by Irma. Every year, volunteers are trained to collect washback sea turtles for the Washback Watcher program. These volunteers are authorized to take washback sea turtles to the Marine Science Center.

Thanks to a grant from Sea Turtle Grants Program, the Volusia County Environmental Management Division was able to design and purchase a sea turtle character costume named Cara Caretta (CC). CC is named after Caretta caretta or the scientific name for loggerhead sea turtles. The goal is to educate beachside hotels and businesses on the environment, wildlife, and practices so that they can pass it onto their patrons.

To learn more about sea turtles, go here or call 386-238-4668, and to get additional information on the grant program, go here.

Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.

Daytona Beach, FL – On Wednesday, The Daytona Beach City Commission is expected to vote on spending up to $600,000 in debris removal services related to Hurricane Irma and up to $600,000 for Irma-related debris monitoring and grant management services.

The Public Works Department is requesting that the City approve a purchase order of up to $600,000 to DRC Emergency Services for supplying the City with debris removal services in response to the storm, according to City records.

Additionally, Daytona Beach Public Works is requesting the City’s approval of a maximum of $100,000 in grant management services and $500,000 in debris monitoring and related services to Thompson Consulting Services. The City is expected to approve spending for both of these measures.

For all of these expenses, FEMA historically reimburses the City for at least 75% of these costs. The State also is expected to reimburse the City for 50% of the remaining balance of the local cost share. Any costs not reimbursed by FEMA or the state will come out of the general fund up to $75,000.

Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.

Volusia County, FL – Two young men have been arrested in connection with a car burglary and vehicle theft spree that has plagued Volusia County since October.

Both Erik Smith, 20, and Markees Shine, 18, were arrested on Tuesday, November 14. Both have been charged with twelve car burglaries, three counts of grand theft auto, and grand theft firearm. Shine is also being charged with carrying a concealed firearm and carrying a firearm on school grounds. He was arrested at Seabreeze High School on Tuesday and had a stolen gun on him. Deputies are still looking for a third suspect, 19-year-old Carmaine Givens, in the vehicle burglary spree.

Detectives think these three men are responsible for up to twenty vehicle burglaries and at least three stolen vehicles that spanned from Deltona to Ormond Beach. According to VCSO, the suspects even bragged about the crimes on social media and said they wouldn’t be caught.

(Shown are suspects Carmaine Givens, front, and Markees Shine, who’s holding a stolen SIG Sauer handgun)

(This post appeared on Carmaine Givens’ Instagram account in which the suspects appear to brag about their criminal activity)

“I commend our detectives and deputies for their tireless work to catch these thugs,” Sheriff Mike Chitwood said. “They have put in hours and hours to track down the people responsible for these car breaks. And we expect more charges as the cases continue to be investigated.”

VCSO says the suspects used stolen vehicles to search neighborhoods for unlocked vehicles, and sometimes they hit multiple addresses on a single street. The suspects allegedly stole wallets, purses, tools, money, credit cards, laptops, and even firearms. In most cases, the vehicles had been left unlocked. In some cases, the thieves burglarized a vehicle and found spare keys to another vehicle.

VCSO urges residents to lock their vehicles and remove valuables, including vehicle keys, spare key sets, and garage door openers. “Help us help you. Be smart and don’t give these thieves the opportunity to steal your stuff,” Chitwood said.

(Erik Smith)

(Markees Shine)

Photos courtesy VCSO and mugshots courtesy the Volusia County Jail.

Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.

Florida – A plan to create a statewide board to oversee Florida’s state and community colleges has cleared a Senate committee, but college presidents are objecting to a proposed cap on four-year degrees and a stricter performance measure for graduation that are part of the legislation.

SB 540, sponsored by state Sen. Dorothy Hukill (R-Port Orange), cleared the Senate Education Committee on Monday in an 8-2 vote.

According to data cited by Hukill, only 17.7% of students who enrolled in two-year associate degree programs in the college system in 2009 ended up with baccalaureate degrees within six years. About 26% of the students were still enrolled in the associate degree programs, and 13% had left with either an associate degree or certificate… but 43% left the system without any degree or certificate.

The new bill would establish a 13-member State Board of Community Colleges to manage the state college system, which has about 800,000 students and a budget of around $2.24 billion. Right now, the system falls under the state Board of Education, which also oversees FL’s pre-kindergartedn through 12th-grade system.

More on this story at the USA Herald.

Photo courtesy KMH Photovideo and Shutterstock.com.

WARNING: This article contains graphic images.

South Daytona, FL – A 58-year-old South Daytona man is facing a 3rd-degree felony animal cruelty charge after he threw a lit M80 firecracker at a pair of dogs, causing severe injuries to one of the dog’s legs, which had to be amputated.

South Daytona Police went to Pineapple Rd. at around 1:44 PM on Tuesday, November 14, in response to an animal complaint. The reporting person told officers that their neighbor’s dog from across the street was running around loose in their yard. The first officer to arrive on scene called central dispatch to report that a 15 lb purebred dachshund had suffered severe injuries. The dog’s owner had already left and taken the dog to the animal hospital.

The suspect, Madison E. Carroll, 58, told officers that his neighbor had two small dogs who were always aggressive towards him and others. He said that he and his niece were sitting on the front porch when the dogs ran loose into his yard. Carroll told police that the dogs frequently get loose and run into his yard. The dogs approached the two, and Carroll’s niece tried to pet one of the dogs, and according to Carroll, it tried to bite her. Carroll told police that he went into his house to get an M80 firework, then lit it and threw it near where the dogs were in his front yard to try and scare them away. When the firework exploded, one of the dogs was right next to it and had its paw blown off.

Carroll admitted that his actions were excessive, but he said he was in fear for his life from the dog. In the incident report, the responding officer wrote that they could smell a strong odor of alcohol on Carroll’s breath and the man’s speech was slurred and mumbled. Carroll’s niece admitted to police that the 58-year-old has a drinking problem and is frequently intoxicated.

The dog’s owner told police that when she asked Carroll what happened, he responded, “I was getting rid of the damn dogs,” then he laughed.

According to the incident report, the dog will need surgery and its right leg will be amputated. The officer also noted that “a firework of that size could have killed the dog had it picked it up with its mouth.”

Police say that there were no prior reported animal complaints of the dogs getting loose. Carroll was arrested for aggravated animal cruelty and was brought to the Volusia County Jail, where, as of Wednesday, he was being held on $2,500 bail.

(Carroll’s mugshot courtesy the Volusia County Jail)

Photos courtesy the South Daytona Police Department.

Deltona, FL – The niece of Carlos Cruz, the army veteran who was shot and killed in Deltona on Saturday, sent a letter to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office in which she urges anyone with information about the murder to share it with investigators.

Maria Peralta, Carlos Cruz’s niece who lives in Boston, Mass., wrote:

“This past week, my uncle was murdered by someone he was trying to help. Our family has been shaken by this incredibly painful loss. It all feels painfully unreal.

Carlos Cruz-Echevarria was many things to many people. He was a small business owner who had high standards for his work. He was an animal lover and raised the most beautifully delicate exotic birds. He was what someone from my generation would call “a maker.” He was a loving husband who wanted his family to be happy and healthy. He liked getting to know people. I don’t think there’s anyone he couldn’t strike up a conversation with. He was the kind of person you’d imagine when you think of what a good neighbor should be. He was always helping someone out with something. He’d drop whatever he was doing to help if you asked. He was the kind of man I hope my son one day grows into.

Our family has lost a man who made this world and this life so much more rich and beautiful just for being himself. We lost Carlos well before we should have, because he was doing what came natural to him: helping out when he saw a need. If you know anything about what happened to our loved one, this includes anything that led up to or anything relevant that occurred after his murder, please share that information with the law enforcement investigators. We want to understand what happened and why. Please help if you know anything about what happened.

-Maria Peralta”

Carlos Cruz was found dead of a gunshot wound beside a vehicle at the intersection of Malaga Ave. and Puritan St. just before 8 PM on November 11. Detectives believe that Cruz heard the suspect having car trouble near his home on Puritan St., so he offered to help. The suspect’s vehicle, which was stolen, was stuck in a ditch and Cruz would have been able to pull it out with his truck. VCSO says that Cruz was shot to death and his truck was stolen.

VCSO is offering a $10,000 reward for any information that leads to an arrest and conviction in this case.

If you have any information on the case, you are urged to call 386-248-1777 to reach the VCSO Communications Center and speak to a dispatcher. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida at 888-277-TIPS, on the web at westopcrime.com, or via the app available for download at the website. VCSO is now offering a $10,000 reward for anyone with information leading to an arrest and conviction.

For earlier reporting, click here.

(Photo of Cruz courtesy VCSO)

Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.

Palm Coast, FL – A Flagler County Sheriff’s Deputy was injured early Wednesday morning when a fleeing armed robbery suspect crashed into the deputy’s patrol vehicle.

A 911 call about an attempted robbery was made from the Palm Coast Taco Bell at around 12:48 AM on November 15. A cashier told deputies that a white man in a blue four-door vehicle went through the drive-through and handed over a note that read “be quiet and hand me the money. I have a gun.”

Deputies searched the area and found a vehicle matching the description in the parking lot of the McDonalds on Old Kings Rd., but the suspect fled as soon as he saw the patrol cars.

Deputies gave chase and pursued the vehicle on I-95 all the way into Volusia County, where the suspect exited onto US-1. The suspect crashed into Deputy Craig Rossi’s patrol car at the intersection of US-1 and Nova Rd. According to FCSO, Rossi’s airbags deployed and he suffered injuries to his chest and forearm. He was taken to Halifax Hospital in Daytona Beach for treatment. He has since been released and is at home recovering.

(Deputy Rossi’s patrol car after the hit-and-run crash; photo courtesy FCSO)

Deputies successfully deployed stop sticks near the Walmart in Ormond Beach, bringing the chase to an end. The driver, 37-year-old Jason Klokow, was arrested for robbery with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and two counts of fleeing and attempting to elude law enforcement. The passenger, who fled the vehicle after it was stopped, was found near the back of the Walmart. Christopher McMillian, 28, was arrested for fleeing and attempting to elude law enforcement and accessory after the fact. He had an active warrant out of Daytona Beach for failure to pay child support.

“We’re grateful for the assistance of the surrounding agencies in helping us take these two dangerous dirtbags into custody before they seriously hurt someone,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “Our deputies did an
outstanding job apprehending these two armed robbers. Deputy Rossi is going to be okay and back out
fighting crime before we know it. Two more beds are filled at the Green Roof Inn.”

McMillian and Klokow are being held at the Volusia County Jail, but they’re scheduled to be transferred to the Flagler County Detention Facility in the near future. Both men have prior arrest histories in Volusia County, but according to FCSO, this is their first arrests for crimes committed in Flagler County.

(Klokow, left, and McMillian, right; photos courtesy the Volusia County Jail)

Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.

Volusia County, FL – On Thursday, the Volusia County Council will vote on raising the daily beach access fee from $10 to $20 for 2018, and the Council will also vote on an amended and extended contract for $930,337.09  in beach toll services.

The raising of the daily beach pass fee for next year is expected to bring in an increase in $4 million in revenue if approved. That money would go to the beaches for ramps, toll workers, and litter collection services. If the Council approves the $20 rate, the County will be able to use $4 (as opposed to $2) from the sale of each daily and annual beach pass solely for capital beach improvements. For earlier reporting, click here.

The ordinance raising the access fee would also eliminate a period of free beach access for residents during December and January. Additionally, the measure would allow full-time college students from Bethune-Cookman, Embry-Riddle, and Stetson University to purchase annual beach access passes for $25, the same rate as for Volusia County residents. The charge for an annual pass for non-residents is $100, according to County records.

Another item on the County’s agenda is an amendment to a contract for beach toll collection services. In October of 2015, the Council approved a bid for toll collection services to Faneuil Inc., and the Council directed the opening of additional beach access ramps in October of this year. If approved, the amendment would extend the contract with Faneuil through September 30, 2022, as opposed to September 30, 2020. The contract may be renewed for up to three years after that. The amended contract would also allow daily beach pass purchases to be credited towards the purchase of an annual pass, according to County records.

The cost of this proposed amended toll services contract is $195,604.13 for a one-time start-up cost and $734,732.96 in annual fees. The cost includes 7 additional year-round beach toll booths, 33 additional peak season booths, and 12 additional off-season booths.

Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.