Ocala Resident Pleads Guilty to Pointing Laser at Marion County Sheriff’s Helicopter
Adam Santiago Lugo, 41, of Ocala, Florida, has pleaded guilty to a federal charge of aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft. The incident took place on August 2, 2025. Lugo pointed a green laser at a Marion County Sheriff's Office helicopter from his home. The helicopter was assisting in a burglary investigation at...
Speed skater Brittany Bowe’s goals for 4th Olympic Games include gold medal
Star long track speed skater Brittany Bowe, from Ocala, Fla., is not shy about her goals for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. She wants to come home with a gold medal.
Habitual traffic offender caught driving with suspended license
An Ocklawaha man with a history of habitual traffic offenses was arrested for driving with a suspended license. A deputy stopped 54-year-old Christopher Michael Jones in a blue sedan with no headlights at 7049 SE 92nd Loop, Belleview, around 2:15 a.m. Thursday, according to an arrest report from the Marion County...
DUI suspect runs vehicle off road on the way home from bar in Leesburg
An Ocala man was arrested for driving under the influence after running his vehicle off the road with no memory of how he got there. A deputy with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office saw 30-year-old Devin Gene Preston run off the road toward a retention pond at the U.S. Hwy. 441 interchange at 2:30 a.m. Saturday,...
Pair arrested on drug-dealing charges after traffic stop
Brianna Monique Ward, 22, of Ocala, and Travarious Deshaun Wilson, 28, of Bronson, were arrested yesterday on drug-dealing charges after a traffic stop for driving 101 mph on I-75; Wilson was also charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon after three pistols were reportedly found in the vehicle. The...
Rabies alert issued for Marion County after local raccoon killed with disease
The Florida Department of Health in Marion County (DOH-Marion) has issued a rabies alert following a confirmed case of the virus found in a raccoon in Ocala. The alert was issued on Thursday and is effective immediately. It is in response to a raccoon that tested positive for rabies after it was killed in the Meadow...
Florida Woman Charged After Smashing Through Bedroom Window To Batter Boyfriend
A domestic dispute over an uninvited visit and allegations of infidelity ended in felony charges for a Leesburg woman on Nov. 16, after authorities say she forced her way into a residence through a bedroom window. Gwendolyn Sherrelle Goldwire, 36, was arrested and charged with burglary with battery (domestic)...
Suspected shoplifter nabbed with duffel bag loaded with stolen items at Walmart
A Summerfield man was arrested for theft after loss prevention stopped him with $149 in stolen merchandise outside Walmart. An officer responded to Walmart, located at 17961 S U.S. Hwy. 441, Summerfield, right as 41-year-old Matthew Allan Kibbey walked out of the store at 4:40 p.m. Thursday, according to an arrest...
Florida’s fire service honors firefighters who died in line of duty at memorial ceremony
OCALA, Fla. (WCJB) - Florida’s fire service gathered in Ocala Friday morning to honor the lives of firefighters who died in the line of duty and their families. The ceremony was held at the Florida Fallen Firefighter Memorial at the Florida State Fire College. Florida’s State Fire Marshal Blaise...
Ocala man who robbed elderly couple at gunpoint in their home gets life sentence
An Ocala man convicted of tying up an elderly couple, rummaging through their home, and stealing their car will spend the rest of his life behind bars. On Wednesday morning, 57-year-old Robert Leroy Connor II was sentenced to life in prison. Back in September, his jury trial came to an end when jurors found him...
