R News is Your News
R News is Your News
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HERNANDO – A Spring Hill woman says she and a former co-worker were told to forge the signatures of hundreds of women, in an effort to obtain thousands in federal aid that is supposed to go to victims of domestic violence. Between 2019 and 2020, Lisa Deitsch and Joseph Burgos worked as domestic violence advocates at Dawn Center, a shelter for abused women. Last year, Deitsch contacted this reporter and offered to "blow the whistle" on the shelter, after witnessing horrific c...
HERNANDO – A Fifth Judicial Circuit Judge was recently under investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for allegedly threatening his estranged wife and the man she is dating. R News first reported the incident ( CLICK HERE ) on September 5th, after sources revealed that Fifth Circuit Judge Joel Fritton was allegedly threatening his estranged wife, Maria Fritton, at her residence in the Brighton Place subdivision. R News soon learned that current Hernando Count...
BROOKSVILLE – Fire Rescues is on the scene of a plane crash that occurred at the Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport. Sources say a small plane crash landed and is currently upside down on the runway. The pilot is out of the plane and has suffered only minor injuries. Firefighters are attempting to shut off the fuel to prevent risk of explosion. We will bring more on this as it develops....
BROOKSVILLE – A defendant in a high-profile drug trafficking case is currently housed at the Hernando County Jail. In 2019, 43-year-old Nefer Alfonso Hinojosa of Riohacha, Colombia and three other defendants were captured off the coast of Colombia, attempting to transport nearly a ton and a half of cocaine to Central America. The four suspects, who were well-known fisherman, used a large fishing vessel to transport the cocaine. In addition to local charges in Colombia, the U...
BROOKSVILLE – One person is in custody, after a two-hour standoff with an armed suspect on December Lane. Numerous Sheriff's Deputies responded to a mobile home located at 5087 December lane before noon Thursday, after reports of shots fired. The suspect, 64-year-old Leonardo Ralph Digirolamo was intoxicated and in possession of numerous firearms. There are unconfirmed reports that Digirolamo shot at or struck an unknown victim, but officials have not commented on the facts o...
SPRING HILL - The Hernando County Sheriff's Office and State Fire Marshal are investigating a patrol car fire at Portillo Road and Northcliffe Blvd. Just before 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, Fire Rescue responded to an apartment complex at the intersection after report of a patrol car fire. Deputies soon found evidence at the scene that the fire was intentionally set. There are no reports of injuries at this time. Click for VIDEO...
SPRING HILL – Fire Rescue responded to the scene of a VEHICLE FIRE , Wednesday, that turned out to be a Hernando County Sheriff's Office Patrol Car. Numerous deputies responded to Northcliffe Apartments located at the corner of Northcliffe Blvd and Portillo Rd, just before 5:00 p.m., where they discovered an agency SUV with fire damage to the rear of the vehicle. Deputies immediately suspected arson after finding evidence that an accelerant was used to ignite the blaze. S...
SPRING HILL - An unusual call for service today, after Hernando County Sheriff's Deputies responded to an address on Palmgren Lane in reference to a domestic battery. There are unconfirmed reports that the alleged victim, a 21-year-old woman, called 911 to report that her 14-year-old boyfriend had battered her, and that she had bruises all over her legs. Upon arrival, the woman told deputies that her boyfriend had fled on foot from the residence. One deputy deployed a drone...
BROOKSVILLE – Several people have suffered serious injuries in a three-vehicle crash at Broad Street and Snow Memorial Hwy. Fire Rescue is reporting the need for four medical helicopters respond to the scene and five rescue units. At least one patient is reportedly a trauma code. There is complete road blockage this time. Fire Rescue is also working two other major accidents at Powell Rd and Broad Street and at Barclay and Lucky Lane. Hernando County Fire Rescue is down to j...
BROOKSVILLE – There aren't many jaw-dropping moments during a Hernando Board of County Commissioners meeting (BOCC), but during last Tuesday's citizen comments, one resident dropped a unexpected bombshell that stunned the gallery. Tuesday, November 29th was the inaugural meeting for incoming commissioners Jerry Campbell and Brian Hawkins, after Wayne Dukes retired and Jeff Holcomb went on to serve as a Florida State Representative. The first item on the agenda was to choose a...
BROOKSVILLE - The Hernando County Sheriff's Office is reporting the arrest of a Department of Corrections Probation Officer, after three women filed complaints of inappropriate behavior. The following is a statement was provided by officials: In January 2022, a female victim reported to the Florida Department of Corrections and the Hernando County Sheriff's Office that she was battered/touched and kissed inappropriately by Probation Officer Raul Marrero Jr. She reported he had...
BROOKSVILLE – Deputies are on the scene of a drive-shooting that just occurred at Freedom Garden Apartments. Sources say, three black males wearing masks and gloves exited a black SUV, possibly a GMC Yukon, and began shooting at the apartment complex. Deputies on scene say several windows were struck during the shooting. There are no reports of injuries at this time. We will bring more on this story if new information develops....
HERNANDO – Last night, R News began receiving dozens of inquiries from concerned parents about a threat to "shoot up" Hernando High School. One parent sent R News a copy of what she says is the written threat. It reads, "I am shooting up this school on 11/30 at 11:30 am." The message has not been confirmed by officials. The threat prompted District officials to notify parents of the threat and assure them that additional law enforcement would be present at all Hernando C...
SPRING HILL – Detectives with the Hernando County Sheriff's Office are investigating a shooting that may have injured a teenage boy. There are unconfirmed reports that a 13-year-old boy was shot at a residence on Allston Ave and that the child's parents may have transported the victim to Bravera Health Brooksville on Cortez Blvd. It is unknown if the shooting was an accident or intentional, or if there is a suspect at large. The victim's condition is unknown at this time. W...
SPRING HILL – Three people are confirmed dead in what officials say is a murder suicide inside the Wellington subdivision. According to Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis, deputies responded to 11071 Heathrow Ave around 2:00 p.m. today, after reports of a domestic dispute. Upon arrival, deputies learned that the homeowner wanted a certain family member removed from the residence, but they refused to leave. Deputies explained the eviction process and left the residence. T...
BROOKSVILLE – Fire Rescue is on the scene of a vehicle accident involving two pedestrians in the area of Marvelwood Road and Papercraft Ave. Sources say, a male victim is deceased and a female victim will airlifted to a trauma center for treatment. A passerby discovered the victims in the roadway and called 911. We will bring more on this story as it develops. UPDATE: 8:30 a.m. – Investigators with the Florida Highway Patrol say a Toyota RAV4 driven by a 19-year-old Weeki Wac...
WEEKI WACHEE – On Friday, an elderly man was taken into custody on charges of molesting a victim under the age of 12. According to jail records, 78-year-old Frank Joseph Michali of 13058 Maycrest Ave was booked into the Hernando County Jail on 8-counts of Lewd and Lascivious Behavior and 1 count of Domestic Battery by Strangulation. Michali is currently held without bond at the Hernando County Jail. No further details are available at this time. The Hernando County S...
BROOKSVILLE – A Brooksville couple are behind bars this morning, after sources say they were found in possession of several stolen vehicles. Investigators with the Hernando County Sheriff's Office received information that 49-year-old Amy Joy Patton and her husband Michael Aaron Patton, also 49, had active warrants out of Marion County. Investigators conducted simultaneous search warrants at Brooksville Elementary and Big Lots on Cortez Blvd (City), where they located a BMW a...
HOLIDAY – You never know who is lurking in the dark corners of chatroom apps, perusing the profiles of young children in the hopes that one might become their next victim. It happens every day in every town, and it could be your neighbor, your child's teacher, or even a member of your church. They are the stealthy villains of our society, and the heroes are greatly outnumbered. But there is one group of citizen investigators that is committed to exposing these modern-day monst...
SUMTER COUNTY – A former candidate for Hernando Board of County Commissioners and South Sumter High School Teacher is behind bars tonight, after officials say he engaged in unlawful contact with a minor. According to officials, on November 11, 2022, a student at South Sumter High School reported that 48-year-old Patrick Jason Sager engaged in inappropriate communications and physical contact. The Sumter County Sheriff's Office conducted an investigation and discovered Sager en...
SPRING HILL – A high-speed pursuit of a stolen vehicle on County Line Road led to a head-on collision that injured at least one person. Earlier today, Steven King contacted R News after his Dodge Charger was stolen in the area of Mariner Blvd and Curry Street. King was offering a reward for the return of his vehicle, but around 4:00 p.m. this afternoon, sources reported that King's vehicle was involved in a high-speed pursuit with the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP). Minutes l...
NEW PORT RICHEY – A 2001 murder investigation has come to a close and the suspect will remain behind bars the rest of his life. According to the New Port Richey Police, on November 28, 2001, Police responded to 4725 Sanctuary Drive in reference to a death investigation. The victim, Simon Clarke, was found deceased in a room of a house that was under construction. Clarke had sustained injuries to his head and chest. An autopsy revealed the cause of death to be multiple blunt f...
SPRING HILL – A family of five found themselves in need of a new work vehicle, after a career criminal stole their Dodge Charger and crashed during a high-speed pursuit. Steven and Sandra King prepared for what they thought was a normal day, Thursday, until Steven noticed his 2007 Dodge Charger missing from their driveway on Landfair Street. Around 3:30 p.m. the same day, the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) spotted Steven's vehicle traveling on Little Road in Pasco County. T...
SPRING HILL – An early morning deputy-involved shooting that claimed the life of 61-year-old Gary Schryver has left his family grieving and searching for answers. It was 2:40 a.m. Saturday morning, when two deputies entered Schrvyer's home located at 12480 Feather Street to serve an arrest warrant. Shots rang out and schryver lie dying in front of his family. Officials with the Hernando County Sheriff's Office provided a brief statement on the shooting, but Sheriff Al N...
BROOKSVILLE - Sheriff's Deputies are searching for a suspect who attacked a restaurant employee with scalding hot water. According to sources, a man wielding a hammer walked into the Wendy's Restaurant on Cortez Blvd, near I-75, and threw boiling water onto a female employee. The suspect fled on foot towards Winn Dixie. Two other victims who were the intended targets of the attack are locked in a backroom of the restaurant. Fire Rescue is on the scene, treating the victim's...
