Going Ringside podcast goes live to cover sentencing of former wrestling superstar Tammy ‘Sunny’ Sytch
WWE Hall of Fame wrestler Tamara Sytch, aka “Sunny,” faced up to 26 years in prison after she was accused of DUI manslaughter that resulted in the death of a Daytona Beach Shores man. The Going Ringside with The Local Station podcast carried the entire 6 hour hearing on News4JAX+, News4JAX.com and the News4JAX YouTube channel.
Othal Wallace sentenced to 30 years in prison for manslaughter of Daytona Beach officer
Othal Wallace, who shot and killed a Daytona Beach police officer, will spend the next 30 years in prison, after a judge handed down a sentence Friday. According to WKMG in Orlando, Wallace was on trial for first-degree murder, but was convicted last month of a lesser charge.
Motorcyclist dies after crashing into RV pulled by van on US 1 in St. Johns County, troopers say
A 51-year-old motorcyclist from St. Augustine died Wednesday afternoon after crashing into an RV that was being towed by a van on U.S. 1 in the area of Smith Grade Road in St. Johns County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Investigators, defendant’s father testify in trial of man accused of killing Daytona Beach officer
Daytona Beach detectives say they got their first look at Othal Wallace from officer Jason Raynor's body camera right after the shooting. The investigator on the stand called it the most important piece of evidence.
Testimony begins in trial of man accused of shooting and killing Daytona Beach police officer
Testimony began Monday for the man accused of shooting and killing a Daytona Beach police officer. Investigators say Othal Wallace shot officer Jason Raynor in 2021. The trial was moved from Volusia County to Clay County at the request of the defense.
Wife, husband planned fatal shooting in hospital for weeks
Police say Ellen and Jerry Gilland had a murder-suicide plan in the works for weeks: If his unnamed illness took a turn for the worse, the 76-year-old woman would fatally shoot her terminally ill, 77-year-old husband and then take her own life.
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Girl accused of shooting at deputies makes 1st appearance from bed
A 14-year-old girl accused of breaking into a Volusia County home and using guns inside to shoot at deputies made her first appearance before a judge Tuesday from a bed. Deputies said she is still receiving medical care at a juvenile detention facility.
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Sheriff says Juvenile Justice system not equipped for violent teens
After 12- and 14-year-olds opened fire on his deputies Tuesday night, Volusia County’s sheriff is lashing out at Florida’s Juvenile Justice system, saying it is not equipped to handle the crimes that some children are committing these days.
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2 sisters from Maryland among 3 dead in Florida van crash
ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – A van carrying vacationers returning to Maryland crashed on Interstate 95 in central Florida, killing three of the 11 on board, authorities said. The dead included a 4-year-old girl and her 19-year-old sister from Glenarden, Maryland, Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Kim Montes said in a news release sent late Sunday. A 37-year-old man from Marlboro, Maryland, was found dead under the van, Montes said. A 5-year-old child was airlifted to a hospital in Orlando and was reported to be in stable condition, Montes said. Three were in critical condition, and the others, including the driver, were in stable condition, Montes said.
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Florida deputies rescue 73-year-old from sinking car
Deputies on Saturday rescued a 73-year-old woman from a car that crashed into a retention pond in Florida, authorities said. Volusia County deputies responded Saturday evening to reports of a car that went into a retention pond in the DeLand area. The deputies worked together to get the 73-year-old driver out of the sinking vehicle. Let’s go!”Infrared aerial video also captured the moment the deputies finally dragged the driver out of the car. The time from when the first deputy arrived until everyone was out of the pond spanned two minutes and 30 seconds.
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2 Jacksonville men arrested in Volusia County auto part sting
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Two Jacksonville men were arrested last week on suspicion of trying to buy catalytic converters off the black market, according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. The two arrests were among five the Sheriff’s Office made as part of a sting operation intended to crack down on a recent string of catalytic converter thefts throughout Volusia County dating back to November. AdIn Florida, secondary metals recyclers are required to register with the state, and they also must keep paper records of their transactions. Amel Osmanovic, 19, and Amir Osmanovic, 26, both of Jacksonville, are charged with violations of secondary metals recycler regulations. Three other men, hailing from Orlando and Pinellas Park, are charged with acting as unregistered secondary metals recyclers.
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Florida suspect kills Wisconsin siblings in wrong-way crash
A 21-year-old man from Omro, Wisconsin, and his 18-year-old sister were killed in the head-on collision, and two of their relatives in the backseat were seriously injured. Bodycam video posted on YouTube by the Volusia County Sheriff's Office shows a deputy chasing the suspect and detailing his speeds and maneuvers. The deputy jumps off the chase when the driver hits his brakes and heads the wrong way up the interstate. Chitwood said the Wisconsin family just missed their exit just before the crash happened. The driver then fled, got on the interstate and weaved between cars at high speed with its lights off, Chitwood said.
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Eta weakens back to a tropical storm, still tracking northward
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – At 10 p.m. Wednesday, a tropical storm warning was issued from the Flagler/Volusia County line northward to St. Andrews Sound in Georgia. As of 10 p.m. the center of Eta was located about 55 miles northwest of St. Petersburg and had maximum sustained winds of 65 mph. Weakening is expected as Eta moves on shore which will be followed by rapid weakening throughout Today. Tropical storms and tropical depressions are typically poorly organized and, as such, oftentimes, a freak area of torrential rains can explode rather randomly leading to extreme rainfall amounts -- amounts of more than 4-5″ over a rather short period of time, say 6 hours. As Eta gets closer, we will update this story with what we can specifically expect as Eta approaches.
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K-9 helps with drug bust in Volusia County
VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – A man who was wanted on charges of domestic battery and false imprisonment is now also facing drug charges, according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. Deptuies were called to a tire shop in DeBary on Friday. A K-9 was brought in to help. Deputies say they found crack cocaine, fentanyl, two handguns and about $3,500 after searching the vehicle. Menefee was also charged with trafficking in fentanyl, trafficking in cocaine, possession of a weapon/ammunition by a convicted felon and possession of drug paraphernalia.
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Severe weather damages buildings, power lines in Central Florida
DELAND, Fla. – Storms damaged buildings, power lines and cars Tuesday afternoon in Volusia County, with weather officials trying to confirm a possible tornado. Meteorologists with the National Weather Service told news outlets that it wasn’t immediately clear whether a tornado had touched down in DeLand. Forecasters said they detected what looked like a tornado on the radar, but they would survey the area Wednesday to confirm it. A tornado warning was issued around 4 p.m. Tuesday, and residents were urged to take shelter immediately. Shortly after the storm, DeLand officials posted photos of the damage on the city’s official Twitter page.
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Online groups work to deliver much-needed supplies to Clay County teachers
CLAY COUNTY, Fla. The need for classroom supplies is compounded in the age of COVID-19 but members of the Clay County community are coming through for educators with online donations, one teacher said. Were shy about asking for materials that we definitely need, Bader said. As the deliveries are received, recipient teachers post photos of the supplies theyve received along with a note of heartfelt thanks. Full Screen 1 / 14 Teacher giftsOther area school districts also have Stock Our Schools Facebook Groups including St. Johns County School District, Flagler County Schools and Volusia County School District. The Clay County group can be found here and the Leon County group can be found here.
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Surfer bit on foot by shark in Volusia County, suffers non-life-threatening injuries
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. – A 22-year-old surfer was bit by a shark in New Smyrna Beach Friday afternoon, according to Volusia County Beach Safety Ocean Rescue. The Sanford woman was on her surfboard in chest deep water around 5 p.m. when a shark chomped on her foot, according to Capt. She did not see the shark. The bite marks the fourth in Volusia County this year, Malphurs said. An 11-year-old boy was bit on the foot a week earlier by a shark in New Smyrna Beach.
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Why Volusia County sheriff quickly releases bodycam video
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Less than 100 miles south of Jacksonville, where people are demanding the release of body camera footage recorded by officers during police-involved shootings, Volusia County’s sheriff has shown success quickly making public such footage from his department. Deputy-involved shooting: 5/12/20 *WARNING: Contains video footage of a fatal shooting* Body camera and Air One video footage of this week’s deputy-involved shooting of an armed suspect in Deltona is provided here. even if it’s bad.”That’s been Chitwood’s philosophy on police-worn cameras since 2012, first as Daytona Beach Police Chief and now Volusia County sheriff. “Even when people had a complaint and they came in and viewed the body camera video and ... say, ‘Well, that’s not how I perceive what happened.‘”How does his department handle releasing body camera video that clearly shows his deputies violating police department standards and procedures? Chitwood said being transparent and releasing body camera footage goes a long way in putting credit in your bank account, so to speak.
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Officer responding to call hits, kills woman crossing road
ORANGE CITY, Fla. – A police officer responding to an emergency call hit a woman who was crossing the road early Monday, killing her, the Florida Highway Patrol said. The 41-year-old officer from the Orange City Police Department had his emergency lights activated when he hit the woman, Lt. Kim Montes said in a news release. The officer's sports utility vehicle hit the 51-year-old woman, Montes said. The woman, who was not in a crosswalk, died at the scene. Troopers did not release the names of the officer or the woman.
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Deputies hit by bottles at massive block party in Volusia County
Deputies hit by bottles at massive block party in Volusia CountyPublished: May 18, 2020, 11:01 pmDeputies said they were hit with cups of alcohol, bottles and bar stools after they made arrests at a weekend block party involving thousands of party-goers, officials reported Monday.
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Deputies hit by bottles at massive block party in Volusia County
DELAND, Fla. – Deputies said they were hit with cups of alcohol, bottles and bar stools after they made arrests at a weekend block party involving thousands of party-goers, officials reported Monday. The Volusia County Sheriff's Office estimated 3,000 people were at the outdoor party spanning several locations in DeLand that started Saturday afternoon and lasted until early Sunday. A deputy injured his knee, and an police officer who was hit by a jar had a minor head injury, the sheriff's office said. A passenger in a vehicle pointed a rifle or shotgun in the direction of a deputy and pedestrians gathered at a gas station, according to the sheriff's office. Deputies were at the block party for crowd control and to keep cars from blocking traffic, not for enforcing social distancing as a result of the coronavirus, the sheriff's office said.
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DeSantis: Florida hospitals not overwhelmed, ready to resume elective procedures Monday
Ron DeSantis’s plan to slowly reopen the state’s economy, hospitals can resume scheduling non-emergency procedures starting Monday. With that in mind, DeSantis held a press conference Sunday alongside doctors at Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach to encourage potential patients to visit Florida hospitals if they are concerned about their health. On March 20, DeSantis issued an executive order directing hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, office surgery centers, dental offices and other health-care providers to cease performing elective services. “We took a lot of these actions to be able to prevent the hospitals from being overwhelmed,” DeSantis said. DeSantis last week decided to lift the order and allow elective procedures to resume May 4.
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After 30 years, two murder victims in Volusia County identified through DNA
Volusia County sheriff’s spokesman Andrew Gant said that John Doe 1986 has been identified as Howard “Kip” Evans, and Jane Doe 1991 was identified as Doris Regina Chavers. Volusia County sheriff’s investigators worked Evans’ case, following various leads and tips throughout the years, but were unable to get his identification so Evans’ case went cold and became known only as “John Doe 1986,” Gant said. The Medical Examiner’s Office is working with Evans’ family for the release of his remains, Gant said. In Chavers’ case, the woman was last seen alive at her mother’s Sanford home in August 1989. Volusia detectives contacted Chavers’ daughter to deliver the news and said she was relieved that her mother had been found, authorities said.
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Boy, 10, killed, infant wounded in central Florida shooting
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – A man was arrested Thursday after shooting a 5-month girl and a 10-year-old boy, killing the grade-schooler, said authorities in Florida. Police officers arrested Terrance Young less than two hours after he fled the scene of the shootings in Daytona Beach, according to a news release from the Daytona Beach Police Department. Young, 37, who is from South Florida, shot both children with a rifle, but the motive wasn't clear, according to the Daytona Beach Police Department. Young was being held on outstanding warrants from Volusia and Miami-Dade counties for fleeing and probation violation. Authorities said charges were pending for Thursday's shootings, so there was no court record yet for Young.
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Duval, Volusia counties have most hepatitis A cases
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida has topped 280 reported cases of hepatitis A this year, with the largest numbers in Duval and Volusia counties. As of Saturday, 281 cases had been reported statewide, with 60 in Duval County and 25 in Volusia County, according to state Department of Health numbers. Other counties with double-digit numbers of cases were Brevard, with 17; Polk, with 16; Charlotte, with 13; and Citrus and Clay, with 12 each. Florida was hit with a major outbreak of hepatitis A in 2019, with 3,396 cases reported statewide. Hepatitis A, which causes liver damage, is spread through such things as fecal matter, sexual contact and intravenous drug use.
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Florida woman wins $2 million from new scratch-off game
This Florida woman scratched her way to be two million dollars richer. Joyce Klarberg, of Edgewater, Florida, won the first $2 million top prize from the Florida Lottery’s new 100X Scratch-Off game, according to lottery officials. The winning scratch-off was purchased at the Publix on 2970 South Ridgewood Avenue in Edgewater. The 100X Scratch-Off ticket costs $10 and features eight prizes of $2 million. According to lottery officials, the game’s overall odds of winning are 1 in 3.46.
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FHP: 19 cars hit by BB pellets on interstate in St. Johns, Volusia, Seminole counties
WORLD GOLF VILLAGE, Fla. – Three vehicles in St. Johns County were among 19 damaged Wednesday evening in a possible shooting rampage that investigators say began on Interstate 4 in Central Florida and continued up Interstate 95. “I was going down I-4 and somebody shot at my car and blew out my window,” one caller told a 911 dispatcher. Full Screen 1 / 8 Several vehicles were damaged Wednesday night in what the Florida Highway Patrol is calling a possible road rage incident in St. Johns County. According to FHP, three vehicles in St. Johns County sustained minor damage on the highway near International Golf Parkway. “I’m really upset that I have to replace this window, but, I mean, all things considered, it could’ve been much worse,” she said.
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Live video on Instagram leads to arrest of wanted man
VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – Social media can sometimes be redundant or overwhelming, but for a couple of deputies, watching an Instagram live feed is what led to a man they had been searching for wanted in connection with a drive-by shooting and robbery. Just before 1:30 a.m. Friday, deputies were watching an Instagram livestream. Volusia County Deputy Billy Leven was watching the livestream in search of Kevin Gaines Jr., 20. As deputies walked around a house, Gaines realized the police were there. Gaines abruptly ended the livestream, but not before saying the police were at his home, but he didn't go outside.

Woman passed out on side of highway from heroin overdose
CNN(CNN) - A 12-year-old girl called police after her mother passed out from a heroin overdose on the side of the highway in Volusia County, Florida, on Thursday night. When deputies arrived, they found Smith unconscious with her 12-year-old daughter, a 7-year-old boy, a 1-year-old boy and two dogs in the minivan. "I honestly took heroin because my back was hurting," Smith, 28, told the officials. "It's not, but I had no pain pill and my back was hurting and I'm making a five-hour trip," she responded. She was charged with neglect but was not immediately booked into Volusia County Branch Jail pending her treatment at the hospital, police said.

Man charged with burning child now accused of burning another
DELTONA, Fla. - A Florida man previously accused of burning a 3-year-old child is now accused of burning another, this time with boiling water. Citing a Volusia County sheriffs statement, news outlets report 47-year-old Terry May was arrested Thursday and charged with child abuse causing great bodily harm. The statement says the abuse was reported to deputies last month after the 3-year-old boys day care instructors noticed a burn on his back. It says an investigation determined that May had burned the child for accidentally peeing on the floor. It says May was arrested and charged last year in the burning of a 3-year-old girl, but the charge was ultimately not prosecuted.

Jacksonville man among 11 arrested in 'Operation Deviant Desire'
The Volusia County Sheriff's Office said Operation Deviant Desire went after people who use the internet to prey on children for sex. The Sheriff's Office posted a compilation of videos showing the dramatic arrests, which show suspects surrounded by law enforcement officers at places that included a convenience store and gas stations. According to the Sheriff's Office, Kumar Speicher (pictured), 41, of Jacksonville, was among the men arrested. was an excerpt from Speicher's conversation with an undercover detective, according to the Sheriff's Office. Speicher was booked Sunday into the Volusia County jail, online jail records show.

Another 64 cases of hepatitis A reported to state
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Another 64 cases of hepatitis A were reported to the state last week, bringing the total number of reported cases this year to 2,609, according to state data as of Saturday. Citrus County had nine new reported cases last week, the largest number in the state, a News Service of Florida analysis shows. Volusia County had the second-highest number of newly reported cases with seven, bringing its total number of reported cases to 236. Pinellas County had five newly reported cases, bringing its total this year to 363. Pasco County has had 392 cases this year, more than any other county in the state, though it had just one reported new case last week.

Teacher fights to get job back after being caught mowing yard naked
PORT ORANGE, Floria - A Volusia County teacher who was caught on camera mowing his lawn while nude is fighting to get his job back, WESH reported. Albert said that when longtime teacher Brian Wheeler mowed the yard naked at his Port Orange home in 2017, he made a very poor decision. This is a man who has over two decades of history teaching children in our community and successfully teaching them, Albert said. Wheeler was working at Cypress Elementary in Port Orange when he was removed. According to Albert and the paperwork she showed us, Wheeler will be fined but will retain his teaching credential.

Volusia County man jailed, accused of threatening mass shooting
DAYTONA BEACH SHORES, Fla. - A man was arrested Friday and accused of threatening a mass shooting in text messages, according to the Volusia County Sheriffs Office. It was unclear who Wix was texting or how deputies obtained the information. Authorities say Wix was arrested Friday at a supermarket in Daytona Beach Shores on a charge of making written threats to kill. The sheriffs news release says Wix told detectives he didnt own firearms but was fascinated with mass shootings. Was kinda hoping someone would come into my life worth not doing it for, for the sake of all those people (laughing cry face emoji).

9-year-old girl bitten by shark in New Smyrna Beach
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. - What might have been a fun day at the beach in Volusia County took a surprising turn Friday when a girl was bitten by a shark. The shark bite happened sometime before 11 a.m. while the 9-year-old girl, whos visiting from Ohio, was wading in the water off New Smyrna Beach, according to ClickOrlando.com. Authorities said the girl was taken to an area hospital to get checked out for an injury to her right leg, but shes expected to make a recovery, the website reported. Read the complete story on ClickOrlando.com. Copyright 2019 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.

Sharks bite 3 people in 24 hours at same Florida beach
On Saturday, 20-year-old surfer Emily Comfort was bitten on her left hand and wrist, according to Volusia County Beach Safety. Less than 24 hours after the first two bites, 51-year-old Peter Bourbeau was standing in knee-deep water when his right foot was bitten by what he described as a 4-foot-shark, Volusia County Beach Safety said. According to the International Shark Attack File, Volusia County has recorded 303 shark attacks -- the most in the United States -- since 1882. The second closest is Brevard County, Florida, with 147. Of the 1,441 confirmed unprovoked shark attacks in the United States since 1837, Florida dominates the list, with 828 recorded attacks.

'Monster of Mayport' charged with fellow inmate's murder
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Billy Wells, the convicted killer known as the Monster of Mayport, has been charged with yet another murder. On Friday, the State Attorneys Office confirmed Wells, 43, has been charged with murder in the case. He was arrested May 24, 2003, after police found the remains of his victims inside Wells double-wide mobile home in Mayport. Among those killed were Wells' wife Irene, his father-in-law Bill McMains, brother-in-law John McMains, and acquaintances Richard Reese and James Young. Already serving five consecutive life terms, Wells killed a fellow inmate in 2011.