Operation Step Up results in 20 local domestic violence arrests
Photo from CCSO video of Operation Step Up.
Citrus County, Florida - Citrus Abuse Shelter Association (CASA) issued a calling to the community to "step-it-up" for survivors of domestic violence during the month of October, and in response to this calling, the Citrus County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) coordinated with the 19th annual National Family Violence Apprehension Detail, and as a result, arrested 20 individuals for domestic violence-related offenses.
According to the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), more than 10 million adults experience domestic violence annually in the United States. In 2020, 106,515 crimes of domestic violence were reported to Florida law enforcement agencies resulting in 63,217 arrests, of which 831 were in Citrus County. Many of those arrested were repeat offenders.
"We here at the Citrus County Sheriff's Office want these offenders to know their actions are unacceptable and they will be held accountable," said Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast. "We will not sit idly by; we will take a steadfast approach and stop the power and control these individuals have over their victims. The Behavioral Health Unit, specifically our Domestic Violence Unit, works diligently to reduce domestic violence across the county by working with our community partners like CASA, to intervene and stop the cycle of violence. Thanks to our dedicated team, Citrus County started off this week a little safer than last."
On October 20 and 21, the Citrus County Sheriff's Office implemented its plan to capture wanted domestic violence suspects and to also raise awareness of domestic violence. The National Apprehension Detail calls for agencies across the United States to participate in serving outstanding family-violence warrants. Warrants are served for all types of family related crimes, such as incidents of domestic violence, interfering with a victim making a 9-1-1 call, injunction violations, pretrial release agreement violations, non-payment of child support, child abuse crimes, elder abuse crimes and any other type of family violence. During the agency's search efforts, deputies located other people with active warrants, or people who had committed other crimes.
On Thursday afternoon, October 20, detectives from the agency's Behavioral Health Unit, Tactical Impact Unit, Community Crimes Unit, Aviation and K9 Units began searching for subjects with outstanding warrants across Citrus County. The office attempted to serve 69 arrest warrants and simultaneously conduct pre-trial release spot checks.
By 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 21, twenty suspects were arrested within Citrus County as a result of Operation Step Up:
Marty Taylor, 42, of Homosassa, FL, who has a history of domestic violence, was charged with strangulation (no bond).
Carl Collier, 41, of Beverly Hills, FL, who has a history of and previous conviction for domestic violence, was charged with strangulation and felony battery (no bond).
Nicholas Sullivan, 32, of Hernando, FL, was charged with strangulation (no bond).
Shamy Tommie, 37, of Crystal River, FL, was charged with domestic battery (no bond).
Devin Picard, 26, of Hernando, FL, was charged with child neglect without great bodily harm ($2,000 bond).
Leah Barnes, 27, of Crystal River, FL, who has a history of domestic violence and evaded arrest for over a year, was charged with violation of probation on an original charge of battery (no bond).
Katlyn O'Brien, 29, of Hernando, FL, who has a history of domestic violence and evaded the arrest warrant for two years, was charged with failure to appear in court on a battery charge ($4,500 bond).
Emily Perez, 34, of Inverness, FL, who has a history of domestic violence, was charged with violation of probation on original charges of violation of an injunction and violation of pretrial release terms (no bond).
Eric Luckey, 38, of Beverly Hills, FL, who has a history of domestic violence, was charged with violation of probation on original charges of theft and possession of fentanyl (no bond).
Joshua Fitzwater, 38, of Homosassa, FL, was charged with violation of probation on an original charge of possession of drug paraphernalia ($500 bond).
Donald Cash, 45, of Homosassa, FL, who has a previous charge of domestic battery and is a career offender in Citrus County, FL, was charged with failure to pay child support, possession of a firearm with an altered serial number, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon ($15,485 bond).
Jeremy Martin, 37, of Lecanto, FL, was charged with violation of pretrial release terms (no bond).
Dawn McDonald, 53, of Lecanto, FL, was charged with violation of pretrial release terms (no bond).
Jamey Waters, 49, of Hernando, FL, who has a history of domestic violence, was charged with violation of pretrial release terms (no bond).
Kevin Kelly, 39, of Inverness, FL, who has a history of domestic violence, was charged with violation of pretrial release terms (no bond).
Jamie Mullen, 45, of Floral City, FL, was charged with failure to pay child support ($1,678 bond).
Jessica Cadett, 37, of Dunnellon, FL, was charged with failure to pay child support ($1,178 bond).
David Scheibelhoffer, 41, of Homosassa, FL, was charged with failure to pay child support ($1,178 bond).
Shawn Lapointe, 48, of Beverly Hills, FL, who has a history of domestic violence, was charged with failure to pay child support ($2,178 bond).
David Smith, 53, of Hernando, FL, was charged with failure to pay child support ($1,178 bond).
Even though National Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October) is ending, the fight against domestic violence is ongoing. If you know someone who is experiencing domestic abuse and needs to file a report, please call the CCSO at 352-249-2790. If you want to speak with a domestic violence advocate, you can also contact CASA at 352-344-8111.
Link to CCSO Operation Step Up video: https://youtu.be/DvPVcWr-oxI