R News is Your News
R News is Your News
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SPRING HILL – A week after the incident occurred, the Hernando County Sheriff's Office released a statement on the now-former employee who claimed two black men shot him during a carjacking at Linda Pedersen Park. R News first broke the story on July 1st, after sources reported that 21-year-old Dakotah Wayne Wood, a former dispatcher for the Hernando County Sheriff's Office, fabricated a botched carjacking attempt. According to a statement provided by officials today, at a...
BROOKSVILLE - A shooting investigation is underway at Freedom Gardens Apartments, after sources say a suspect drove by the victim's apartment and fired at least one shot. There are no reports of injuries. There are unconfirmed reports that investigators have the suspect in custody near the scene of the crime. This is the same apartment complex where an investigation is currently underway into the death of a 2-month-old boy that occurred earlier today. Freedom Gardens...
HUDSON – According to the most recent study from the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 36 children in the U.S. have been diagnosed with autism, and around 76 million people currently have autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Experts say there are three functional levels of autism, requiring varying degrees of support. Individuals with ASD 1 are usually able to speak full sentences and communicate, but they have limited social skills, and trouble with planning and organization. P...
TAMPA – The Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced the arrest of 23 suspects from around the state who were profiting from the theft and sale of luxury vehicles. The FDLE says multiple agencies participated in what they call Operation Gone in 60 Days. The investigation focused on the crime ring's illegal activities centered around profiting from the theft and sale of luxury vehicles from brands like Porsche, Land Rover and Maserati. Suspects would illegally acquire t...
FLORIDA – Occasionally, R News receives complaints about local business owners who contract with residents to provide a service or product and then never deliver. Sometimes the circumstances are unintentional because the business experiences an unexpected financial hardship, but when the owner knowingly collects deposits on work they cannot complete, the true motive is most likely more nefarious. Earlier this month, Spring Hill resident Tasha Johnson reached out to R News w...
BROOKSVILLE – The Hernando County Sheriff's Office is investigating the death of a 68-year-old woman, after sources say she was found in a ditch at an address on McCaw Road. The investigation is just getting underway, but sources say the woman appears to have been riding a lawnmower when overturned into a ditch. It's unknown how long the woman was in the ditch or the exact cause of death. Officials have not commented on the incident....
BROOKSVILLE – At least one person is injured after he was struck by his own vehicle during a carjacking. Numerous deputies have converged in the area of 26421 Dallas Drive, after a suspect attempted to steal the victim's vehicle. The suspect then ran over the victim with the vehicle, causing possible back injuries. The suspect is described as a black male, approximately 30 years of age, wearing gray shorts, and has short dreadlocks. The suspect is possibly armed according t...
SPRING HILL – A Hernando County Sheriff's Office employee is in hot water, after an incident early Friday morning landed him behind bars. Yesterday, R News reported that an alleged armed carjacking occurred at Linda Pedersen Park around 3:00 a.m. Friday morning. Sources say, the victim claimed that two black males held him at gunpoint and attempted to steal his car. The victim claimed he was shot by one of the suspects in the thigh, before they fled the scene. The victim w...
HUDSON – Hernando and Pasco County Deputies are investigating a possible kidnapping that occurred just minutes ago. According to sources, Hernando County Deputies responded to US-19 in Spring Hill, after reports that a woman was being held against her will inside a pickup truck. Deputies soon located the alleged victim, who was dropped off on US-19 in the area of Spring Hill Drive. The suspect fled the scene but was quickly spotted crossing into Pasco County. Hernando C...
UPDATE: Suspect in custody and two children are safe. More to come... HERNANDO BEACH – A standoff is underway between a Hernando County Sheriff's Deputies and a shooting suspect, after a domestic dispute turned violent. According to sources, a woman shot her husband at an address on Flounder Drive and then barricaded herself inside the residence. The victim was transported to a trauma center with a gunshot wound to the torso. The victim's condition is unknown at this time. T...
HERNANDO BEACH – The suspect in today's shooting and near 4-hour standoff on Flounder Drive has been formally charged and is behind bars. Around 2:00 p.m. today, deputies responded to an address on Flounder Drive after a man reported being shot. The victim, whose identity we are not releasing at this time, was shot in the upper torso and transported to a trauma center for treatment. His condition remains unknown at this time. The suspect, who has been identified as 3...
SPRING HILL – Three young siblings found themselves behind bars Monday, after officials say they burglarized an apartment and stole several electronics and other household items. According to the Hernando County Sheriff's Office, School Resource Officer Dustin Mormando was working patrol for the summer and responded to a burglary at Mariner Cay Apartments located on Northcliffe Blvd. The victim's had been away for a few days and came home to find their apartment ransacked. M...
SPRING HILL – A drowning investigation is underway after an infant was found unresponsive in a residential pool on Deltona Blvd. Sources say, a family member discovered the 1-year-old victim in a pool at the 3200 block of Deltona Blvd. Due to inclement weather, Bayflite could not airlift the child to a trauma center. The victim was transported locally to HCA Oak Hill for treatment. CPR was in progress while en route to the hospital. A crime scene has been established and d...
LECANTO – Earlier this afternoon, R News broke the news of a shooting that occurred in Citrus County that injured a 22-year-old male suspect. Officials have not commented on the incident, but cellphone video has emerged showing shots being fired at a fleeing suspect on West Gulf to Lake Hwy. A pursuit ensued westbound until the vehicle crashed in the area of the Suncoast Parkway. There are unconfirmed reports that the suspect suffered a gunshot wound to the arm and several lac...
SPRING HILL – A woman’s threat to harm herself and her children has left a father feeling helpless, after he says authorities refuse to take the matter seriously and protect his son. Adam Gonzales has been in an on and off relationship with Amber Ortiz for several years. Ortiz is the mother of Gonzales’s 17-month-old son and a 3-year-old daughter by a former boyfriend. Gonzales says Ortiz is an “out-of-control” alcoholic, which is what he says led to the most recent separatio...
BROOKSVILLE – Yesterday afternoon, R News reported that an alleged sexual assault of a minor was occurring at an address on Huston Street. Sources say the victim's mother was contacted by cellphone, who in turn contacted the Hernando County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff's Deputies immediately responded to the residence and secured the underage victim who was still on scene. The suspect had already left through the rear of the residence but was taken into custody moments later. T...
SPRING HILL – There is a big difference between Tagger Graffiti and Gang Graffiti, and if you're from a major city like New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago, you are very familiar with both. Taggers are basically street artists who enjoy the thrill of tagging a building, train, or other large structure, and it's often used to express opinions on social issues. Gang graffiti is more sinister, as it often used to mark territory, challenge other gangs to violent acts, and i...
BROOKSVILLE – Another member of the famed Carter family landed herself in hot water, earlier this month, after she was caught stealing from a local department store. According to reports, on June 10th loss prevention employees with Hobby Lobby witnessed 41-year-old Bobbie Joe Carter take coloring markers and conceal them in her purse. Carter then tried to leave the story but was taken into custody. While waiting in the loss prevention office, Carter allegedly tossed a blue c...
BROOKSVILLE – The Hernando County Sheriff's Office is reporting the resignation of a deputy who violated several agency policies, but it's not what the deputy did insomuch as who the deputy is that may shock you. According to reports, at 5:00 a.m. on March 21, 2023, Deputy Joseph McClellan claimed to initiate a traffic stop on Elgin Blvd. At the same time, a Sergeant was passing McClellan's location and noticed his vehicle blacked out in the median. The sergeant made a U...
SPRING HILL – A very popular Hernando County Park is set to close this summer, due to scheduled maintenance and repairs, making it the third closing over the summer school break this year. According to a media release from Hernando County Government, Hernando County Parks and Recreation will close Delta Woods Park on June 19th and partially reopen on June 30th. Officials say the closure is for the demolition of the current playground, general maintenance, and tree removal, a...
SPRING HILL – Another controversy is brewing in the Hernando County School District that has some parents wondering if it's safe to send their children back to a local elementary school next year. Last month, R News began receiving complaints from several parents and teachers at Gulf Coast Elementary School who say the school's Principal allowed a convicted child molester on campus several times. According to numerous complaints, Principal Melinda Heater was dating 43-year-old...
BROOKSVILLE – A local Circuit Judge thought his divorce was coming to close without dispute, until his soon-to-be ex-wife raised new concerns over parental time-sharing and equitable distribution last week in a Hernando County Courtroom. Fifth Judicial Circuit Judge Joel Fritton filed for dissolution of marriage from his estranged wife Maria Fritton last year, and just like a lot of divorces, this one has proven to be quite a roller-coaster ride. Judge Fritton used to be g...
BROOKSVILLE – Last night, in a crescendo to the 2022-2023 Hernando County school year, hundreds of parents, teachers, and students converged at Hernando High School for the final school board meeting of the year. But they weren't there to honor the scholastic achievements of the alumni; instead, it was filled with hate, division, intolerance, and accusations of indoctrination. The Hernando County School district has been in complete chaos since early April, when R News b...
SPRING HILL – The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has identified the suspect in Friday's fatal shooting on Nebraska Ave that left one person dead. According to officials, 25-year-old Joel Elkanah Jr. of Spring Hill is wanted for 1st Degree Murder with a Firearm in connection with Friday's shooting. Early Saturday morning, Hernando County Sheriff's Deputies learned that Elkanah was dropped off at an address on Elwood Road, but they were unable to locate him in the area. D...
UPDATE: There are now unconfirmed reports that the victim may have died of natural causes as a result of being involved in the altercation. The Sheriff's Office has not released a statement or any details into the investigation. WEEKI WACHEE – An investigation is underway into the death of at least one person at an address on Bonnet Way. Deputies responded to the area of Galloway Road and Bonnet Way, after receiving reports of a possible stabbing, where a machete was a...
