R News is Your News
R News is Your News
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BROOKSVILLE – Yesterday, R News broke the news of several deputies missing depositions in a recent homicide case. Those deputies and a detective could face jail time if a Judge doesn't accept their explanation of why they each ignored two subpoenas. Under pressure from the media, Sheriff Al Nienhuis released a statement this morning, asserting that the incident is isolated and there are no systemic issues with deputies ignoring subpoenas. Nienhuis says, "The Hernando County Sh...
BROOKSVILLE – Chief Judge Daniel B. Merritt Jr. could hold several Hernando County Sheriff's deputies and a detective in contempt of court if they can't explain why they failed to appear for depositions in a 2023 manslaughter case. According to court records, Deputies Mitchell Vesper, Chelsea Reid, John Longobardi, and Craig Milne all failed to appear for depositions on September 12, 2023, and again on December 20, 2023, in reference to State vs Regina Cassie Ritter. Detective...
BROOKSVILLE – Hernando County Fire Rescue is reporting a residential fire that claimed the lives of two people. Fire Rescue responded to the 19000 block of VFW Road just before midnight Tuesday after reports of a fully engulfed home. Witnesses reported that the home was possibly occupied by at least two people, but the fire was too intense for firefighters to make entry. After extinguishing the fire, rescuers discovered two victims near the front door who were attempting to e...
WARNING: This video contains graphic images and language. HUDSON – The Pasco Sheriff's Office provided new details into a deputy-involved shooting that took place on US-19 this evening, leaving one person dead. During a press conference near the scene of the shooting, a spokesperson said, "None of this had to happen. If the suspect had just done what the deputy had said, none of us would be here talking about this shooting." According to officials, a male suspect who was possi...
HUDSON – The Pasco Sheriff's Office provided new details into a deputy-involved shooting that took place on US-19 this evening, leaving one person dead. During a press conference near the scene of the shooting, a spokesperson said, "None of this had to happen. If the suspect had just done what the deputy had said, none of us would be here talking about this shooting." According to officials, a male suspect who was possibly wanted on felony strangulation charges was a...
HUDSON - The Pasco Sheriff's Office is investigating a deputy-Involved shooting that occurred earlier this evening on US-19. Officials say a preliminary investigation indicates that an adult white male is deceased after an altercation with deputies. No deputies are injured and there is no threat to the public. Both directions of US-19 between New York Ave and Bolton Ave are shut down. We will bring more on this story as it develops....
SPRING HILL – The Florida Highway Patrol is reporting the death of a motorcyclist who was involved in a crash on Spring Hill Driver yesterday afternoon. Officials say a 50-year-old Spring Hill man was traveling westbound on a Suzuki motorcycle in the inside lane when the driver of a Chevy Colorado merged into the inside lane, striking the motorcycle. The motorcyclist suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene. The driver of the truck, a 55-year-old Spring Hill woman, was u...
TALLAHASSEE – In anticipation of a potential influx of illegal immigrants from Haiti, Governor Ron DeSantis has ordered additional state assets to the Keys and southern waters of the State of Florida. "For quite some time, the State of Florida has been dedicating significant resources to combat illegal vessels coming to Florida from countries such as Haiti," said Governor Ron DeSantis. "Given the circumstances in Haiti, I have directed the Division of Emergency Management, t...
ZEPHYRHILLS – The Florida Highway Patrol is reporting the death of an Apollo Beach woman after a near head-on collision on Chancey Road. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a 44-year-old woman was driving a Honda FIT northbound on Chancey Road, when she failed to negotiate a curve in the roadway and struck a Honda Civic traveling in the opposite direction. The driver of the FIT suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene. A 43-year-old Zephyrhills woman and a 3...
HOMOSASSA – Rooster fighting is still a popular and illicit form of gambling in Florida, and it can lead to serious felony charges. The Citrus County Sheriff's Office is reporting the arrest of a Homosassa man after officials say he raised nearly three dozen chickens for the purpose of fighting. According to reports, an anonymous tip led deputies to a residence on S. Gross Ave in reference to Rooster fighting. Upon arrival, Animal Control Officers (ACO) noticed several s...
BROOKSVILLE – Last night, R News broke the news of a brutal domestic-related stabbing that occurred at the 16000 block of Ft Myers Street. The suspect later identified as 23-year-old Douglas Albert Fuller fled the scene on foot and is still at large. Today, the Hernando County Sheriff's Office reported that Fullerton had gained access to his live-in boyfriend's cell phone and became angry after reading text messages on his phone. That's when Fullerton retrieved a machete and b...
SPRING HILL – Sheriff's Deputies are searching for two men involved in an armed carjacking that occurred in the area of Mariner Cay Apartments on Northcliffe Blvd. Sources say one suspect is in custody but two suspects are still at large and considered armed and dangerous. One suspect is a light-skinned black male with a black hoodie. The other suspect is a black male with a dark camouflage hoodie. Both men displayed firearms during the carjacking. The vehicle has been r...
SPRING HILL - Sad news to report after a man was found deceased in a residential pool. According to officials, Fire Rescue responded to the 1200 block of Gilpin Ave around 1:30 p.m. yesterday, after receiving reports of a possible drowning. Upon arrival, rescuers found an elderly man deceased from an apparent drowning. The Hernando County Sheriff's Office is investigating the incident....
HOMOSASSA – The Citrus County Sheriff's Office is reporting the arrest of a suspect who allegedly fired shots during a road rage incident earlier this week. According to officials, on March 5th the victim was traveling northbound in the outside lane on US-19 when another vehicle swerved and intentionally struck the victim's vehicle. Following the crash, the victim heard what sounded like a gunshot. The victim briefly lost control of the vehicle and the suspect drove off, p...
BROOKSVILLE – The Hernando County School District confirmed that a teacher at Nature Coast Technical High School has been removed pending the outcome of a threat investigation. Sources say sophomore English teacher Sheri Padgett was removed from her class Wednesday, after allegedly threatening to harm a student. School District Spokesperson Karen Jordan says the following message was sent to NCT parents following the incident: NCT school administration and law enforcement a...
UPDATE: Yesterday, R News reported that a dash-cam video posted on Facebook by the Hernando County Sheriff's Office was missing 75 seconds, but officials refused to explain why. Today, pressure from the community forced officials to respond, not directly to our emails, but by publishing their reason on another Facebook post. The post reads: On 03-06-2024, the Hernando County Sheriff's Office posted dash cam video of a recent arrest in the rear parking lot of Home Goods in...
SUMTER – The Florida Highway Patrol is asking for the public's help in locating a hit-and-run suspect who killed a 63-year-old Lake Mary man last month. The incident occurred on February 17th when a vehicle was traveling in the inside southbound lane of US-301. The vehicle struck the victim who was walking in the roadway just south of CR-102. The driver fled the scene without rendering aid or calling 911. Around 8:00 a.m. that morning, the victim's body was discovered lying i...
BROOKSVILLE – A local middle school student will be competing at The Great History Challenge in Chicago, Illinois after beating hundreds of students at a regional competition in Clearwater earlier this year. Sophie Tollefson is a 6th grade student in Ms. Amy Weir's history class at BEST Academy, and they'll be joining 7th grader Vincent Cannone and 8th graders Joseph Chapman for the National Championship on May 24th and 25th. We spoke to Ms. Weir earlier today who said, "Sophi...
PORT RICHEY – Trouble is brewing for the Port Richey Chief of Police after the West Central Florida Police Benevolence Association passed down a vote of no confidence. Sources say the recent arrest of Port Richey Police Officer Catey Caramiello is the last straw in what led to the PBA's vote of no confidence in Chief Cyrus Robinson and Captain Michael Koch earlier this month. Caramiello was arrested for Domestic Battery on February 12, 2024, after she got into a physical a...
SPRING HILL – The Hernando County Sheriff's Office has identified the suspect in last night's execution-style murder that occurred in the Pristine Place gated community. ORIGINAL STORY According to officials, 61-year-old Roland Maurice Akins told investigators he was involved in an argument with his live-in girlfriend at their home on St. Ives Blvd. Akins claims the victim was holding a gun and when he took it away from her it accidentally discharged, striking the victim. P...
SPRING HILL – An investigation is just getting underway into a fatal shooting that occurred late Wednesday evening in the Pristine Place gated community. Just before 11:00 p.m. Wednesday, dispatchers received a call from a resident on St. Ives Blvd who claimed a man approached them covered in blood and admitted to shooting his girlfriend. Numerous deputies arrived on the scene within minutes of the call and placed the suspect in custody without incident. Upon entering the r...
BROOKSVILLE – A presentation for the Hernando County Sheriff's Office's proposed $300 million Master Plan took place in front of the Board of County Commissioners Tuesday, leaving board members and county residents with more questions than answers. On Monday, R News "broke" the news of the nearly-year-old plan to rebuild the entire Sheriff's Office, which includes a new jail, shooting range, skid pad, and much more. We emphasize the word "broke" because not a single media o...
BROOKSVILLE – Last year, the Hernando County Sheriff's Office introduced a $300 million Master Plan to completely rebuild the Sheriff's Office. Something the Sheriff has never publicly touted, leaving the public virtually in the dark. At the same time, The Hernando Board of County Commissioners approved a 12.2% increase ($8.5 million) to the Sheriff's annual budget, totaling $77.9 million. All of which will inevitably result in higher taxes for Hernando County residents. D...
BROOKSVILLE – A body has been discovered in a burned-out vehicle at a residence on Hancock Lake Road. According to sources, just after 4:00 p.m. today a Hernando County Sheriff's Deputy reported a vehicle fire at the 200 block of Hancock Lake Road. Prior to Fire Rescue arriving on the scene, the deputy reported observing a gas can in the front seat of the vehicle. Upon arrival, firefighters quickly extinguished the fire, which was beginning to spread to a nearby wood line. U...
FLORIDA – Due to the shortage of qualified teachers in Florida, several school districts have opted to hire non-citizen foreign exchange teachers to fill the vacancies, but in light of recent arrests, some parents are starting to voice concerns over the safety of their children in public schools. The U.S. State Department's J1 visa program authorizes teachers from around the world to work in the United States for up to 5 years. Florida's Department of Education sanctions teach...
