Convicted felon apprehended with firearm in Wildwood
A Wildwood man who was arrested on a warrant received additional charges for a stolen firearm found in his waistband. Deputies responded to 5095 CR 167, Wildwood, to serve a warrant to 25-year-old Jay Joseph Fournier around 12:15 a.m. Tuesday, according to an arrest report from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. He...
One person injured following stabbing incident in Florida
FLORIDA — Police are investigating after one person was stabbed early Thursday morning in downtown Ocala. According to the Ocala Police Department, an altercation broke out in Downtown Square after bars closed for the night. Officers said it is unclear what started the fight. One person was taken to the hospital with...
Villager facing DUI charge after crashing into light pole in roundabout
A Villager is facing a drunk driving charge after crashing into a light pole in a roundabout. Brandon Scott Salyer, 52, who lives on the Historic Side of The Villages, was driving a black Chevrolet Spark at about 7 p.m. Tuesday when he crashed into the light pole in the roundabout at Buena Vista Boulevard and Odell...
Marion County Animal Services temporarily closes dog kennel after ‘Strep Zoo’ outbreak
OCALA, Fla. (WCJB) — Marion County Animal Services officials said they are temporarily changing their operations after a dog tested positive for “Strep Zoo.”. Streptococcus zooepidemicus, also known as Strep Zoo, is not contagious to humans, but can cause sudden illness or death in dogs, officials said. Kennel...
Nonprofit Honors Ajike Owens, Supports Families Impacted by Gun Violence
OCALA, Fla. — Ajike “AJ” Owens’ family has launched the Standing in the Gap Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to helping families affected by gun and racial violence. The initiative follows the sentencing of Susan Lorincz, the woman convicted of killing Owens through a closed apartment door in 2023. Owens’ mother, Pamela...
Deputies search for burglar who took handgun, PlayStation 5 in Leesburg break-in
LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – Lake County deputies announced that they are searching for the culprit behind a break-in at a Leesburg apartment complex on Monday. In a release, deputies explained that the burglary happened at the Blueberry Hill Apartments complex. Per the sheriff’s office, the door of the unit...
Pickleball Billy hit with another body shot in neighborhood battle
A pickleball ambassador in The Villages who has spent part of 2025 in jail due to a conflict with a neighbor is now in hot water with Community Standards. The home of 78-year-old William “Pickleball Billy” Hartig, a well-known USA Pickleball ambassador, was the subject of a deed compliance hearing this week at the...
Woman claiming to be Eminem’s wife refuses to pay bill at Silver Springs diner,...
A 54-year-old woman was arrested at a Silver Springs diner after she allegedly refused to pay for her meal and told a manager that her “spouse,” hip-hop legend Eminem, would be paying the bill. On Monday, October 20, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office corporal responded to Darrell’s Dog...
Newbie to The Villages from Massachusetts lands in jail for third time
A woman from Massachusetts who moved to The Villages in 2024 has been jailed for the third time this year. Amy Lynn Griffing, 67, of the Village of Alhambra, was arrested Monday night on a warrant charging her with violating her probation. She was being held this week without bond at the Sumter County Detention Center.
What’s the deal with crime in The Villages?
We are new here and still trying to wrap our heads around this place called The Villages. Like so many, we were attracted to The Villages because of the beauty, the cleanliness and the limitless number of activities. But lately, I have been questioning our decision to leave our former...
