Local

HAWTHORNE – On Monday, Nov. 11, 2024, at approximately 7:30 p.m., Alachua County Fire Rescue (ACFR) responded to a significant accident at a railroad crossing in the city of Hawthorne.

A train collided with two semi-trucks at a railway crossing causing a major incident. One person was injured and transported to Shands Hospital for further treatment and evaluation.

While one of the semi-trucks sustained only minor damage, the other semi-truck, which bore the brunt of the impact, was visibly crushed in the front, with its engine compartment almost entirely destroyed.

The freight train, still on the tracks, sustained impact damage, while the semi’s trailer remained partially intact but displaced. The force of the impact led to a complete blockage of the railway and intersection, causing a spill from a large diesel fuel tank.

Fire crews from Melrose, Windsor, and Gainesville Fire Rescue joined ACFR to handle the incident. The situation was quickly brought under control, with all hazards effectively mitigated. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and CSX, the train’s operator, were also on the scene to manage environmental concerns and assess railway conditions.

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ARCHER – A 61-year-old man was arrested on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, after allegedly firing a gun into the air twice during an argument over a bicycle. Deputies with the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) took Arnold Bernard Hickey into custody at approximately 5:05 p.m., following a call to 911.

The incident occurred in the 12700 block of Southwest 170^th Street, where the victim told deputies he had asked Hickey if he could use his bicycle to ride “up the street” and then rode the bicycle to a friend’s house on Southwest 170^th Street. The victim stated that he returned the bike about 30 minutes later.

Upon returning the bike, Hickey reportedly became upset, repeating, “I told you about taking my bike, I told you about taking my bike, I got something for that,” while clutching his waistband. According to the victim, Hickey then pulled out a pistol and fired two rounds into the air, prompting the victim to call 911 as Hickey fled the scene on the bicycle.

Deputies located Hickey a short time later in the 12900 block of Southwest 174^th Street. A search during his arrest reportedly produced a handgun along with two loaded magazines. Deputies also recovered a shell casing at the location of the incident and found two unfired bullets nearby.

Hickey was arrested without further incident and has been charged with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon.

Hickey’s criminal history includes seven misdemeanor convictions, all related to traffic offenses. Judge Adam Lee set his bail at $150,000.

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ALACHUA – In the early afternoon of Nov. 25, 2024, Alachua County Fire Rescue (ACFR) responded to a report of a residential fire in the city of Alachua, where there were initial concerns that two people might still be inside. Upon arrival, crews encountered smoke seeping from the eaves of a single-story home and visible flames near the kitchen window.

Demonstrating effective action, the firefighters launched an aggressive attack on the blaze, successfully extinguishing it before it could spread further. A thorough search of the home revealed that no one was inside, as all occupants had safely evacuated and gathered outside on the street.

Thanks to the efforts of the E21 crew, the fire was contained with minimal damage to the home. Timely intervention saved the structure and prevented what could have been a devastating loss.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. In the wake of the incident, Alachua County Fire Rescue emphasized the importance of preparedness, urging families to establish a fire evacuation plan with a designated meeting point to ensure everyone’s safety in emergencies.

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ALACHUA ‒ A 34-year-old man, Jonathan Ellis O’Steen, was arrested on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, following a Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) investigation into a CyberTip about child sexual abuse material. The arrest came after nearly a year of investigation into online accounts linked to O’Steen, culminating in multiple charges and a significant bond.

The investigation began on Jan. 8, 2024, when an FDLE Special Agent received a CyberTip regarding child sexual abuse material on a Kik account. That same day, the agent issued a subpoena to Google for information about the email address linked to the Kik account.

According to the FDLE, Google’s response included Google Pay transactions in O’Steen’s name and a phone number that had been associated with him since 2016. Additionally, a search warrant for the Google account revealed internet searches for pedophilic content, along with several images related to child exploitation. Authorities also reportedly found images of O’Steen’s driver’s license and Social Security card within the account and three more child sexual abuse images were reportedly found in the Google account.

Further investigation into the Google account led agents to a Yahoo email account serving as the recovery email. Subpoenaed records from Yahoo confirmed O’Steen’s name and linked another phone number to the account.

IP addresses tied to both the Yahoo and Google accounts provided critical evidence. One IP address associated with the CyberTip and Yahoo account was traced to a Windstream subscriber in Alachua, while another IP address linked to the Google account belonged to a nearby subscriber. Records revealed that O’Steen had reportedly updated his driver’s license to reflect an address near the two subscribers in September 2024.

Search warrants for the suspect Kik account uncovered six images, some depicting juveniles engaged in sexual activity, according to the affidavit. Meanwhile, the Yahoo email account produced an email attachment showing an image of O’Steen’s Florida driver’s license, further connecting him to the investigation.

Based on the FDLE’s findings, Judge James Colaw issued a warrant for O’Steen’s arrest on Dec. 5, 2024. O’Steen was taken into custody by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office on Dec. 9. The case is being prosecuted by Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution.

O’Steen now faces seven counts of possession of child pornography and one count of using a two-way communications device to facilitate a felony. Notably, he has no prior local criminal history.

O’Steen’s bail set at $1.1 million.

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Cont.:     Bail set at $1.1 million in child porn case

ALACHUA – A 35-year-old Alachua woman, Alexei Francis Bellow, was arrested on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, following an alleged road rage incident that escalated into aggravated battery. She has been charged with using her car as a deadly weapon to ram another vehicle and driving with a suspended license.

The victim reported the incident to 911 while driving southbound on U.S. Highway 441 in Alachua. According to his statement, Bellow repeatedly swerved into his path and accelerated erratically to match his speed. While on the phone with the 911 operator, the victim followed Bellow as she drove to a Starbucks on Northwest 43^rd Street in Gainesville, where she purchased two drinks. She then proceeded to a residence in the Millhopper Station subdivision.

At the residence, Bellow allegedly confronted the victim while he remained on the phone with police. After the confrontation, she returned to her vehicle and intentionally backed into the victim’s car, which was parked in the road. The victim reported that after hitting his car, Bellow exited her vehicle, walked around the front yard, and then drove away, cutting through neighboring lawns.

The victim followed Bellow’s car to U.S. Highway 441, where a Gainesville Police Department officer stopped her near the Staghorn subdivision.

Post-Miranda, Bellow admitted to swerving at the victim and accelerating but claimed it was due to being a "bad driver." She also said she refrained from calling 911 or seeking shelter at the Starbucks because she was afraid.

The victim, who was driving a Tesla, provided video recordings of the incident to law enforcement, which may serve as critical evidence. The arrest report did not clarify whether Bellow and the victim had any prior relationship.

Bellow’s arrest adds to her existing legal troubles. She was previously arrested in May for allegedly breaking into her ex-boyfriend’s home, causing $4,000 in damage, and stealing items. In that case, she was charged with burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, grand theft, and felony property damage.

Although the State Attorney’s office initially sought to hold her without bail, the motion was withdrawn, and Judge David Kreider set bail at $50,000 with a GPS monitoring requirement. Bellow posted bail and had been compliant with the terms of her pretrial release until this latest arrest.

Bellow now faces charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and knowingly driving with a suspended license. Her license had reportedly been suspended in April. She claimed to have renewed her license in January, but records contradicted her statement.

Given her criminal history and pending felony case, Judge Kristine Van Vorst ordered Bellow held without bail. The State Attorney’s office has filed a motion to hold her in custody until trial, with a hearing pending.

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ALACHUA – Alachua welcomed its newest addition on Monday, Dec. 16, 2024, as Wawa celebrated the grand opening of its new location with a festive ribbon-cutting ceremony and an exciting sub sandwich-building competition between local first responders. The event brought together city officials, Wawa representatives, Chamber of Commerce representatives and community members eager to experience everything the convenience store has to offer.

Wawa’s regional leadership team was joined by Alachua Chamber of Commerce President Adam Boukari, Alachua Mayor Gib Coerper, Vice Mayor Ed Potts, City Commissioners Shirley Green Brown, Dayna Miller, and Jennifer Blalock to mark the official opening. Cheers erupted as the bright red ribbon was cut with oversized scissors and colorful confetti flew, symbolizing the beginning of Wawa’s role in serving both locals and travelers.

Prior to the ribbon-cutting, excitement reached a fever pitch during a spirited “Hoagies for Heroes” competition – a sub sandwich-building showdown featuring the Alachua Police Department and Alachua County Fire Rescue. The friendly rivalry saw both teams racing to see who could build the most subs in the allotted time, with onlookers cheering them on.

The competition was fierce, with the Fire Department assembling an impressive 21 subs. However, the Police Department edged out the win by crafting 23 sandwiches, securing their victory. The crowd erupted into applause as Wawa’s lovable mascot, Wally the Goose, presented the Police Department with a trophy to commemorate their win.

The event wasn’t just about the competition. Both teams’ efforts highlighted Wawa’s commitment to giving back to local communities. As part of the “Hoagies for Heroes” tradition, Wawa presented donations to charities chosen by both the Police and Fire Departments, ensuring the fun-filled event also supported meaningful causes.

Throughout the morning, attendees enjoyed free coffee, giveaways, and Wawa merchandise as they explored the new store. Wawa Regional Director of Store Operations Nancy Dulaney and Area Manager Angela Reynolds emphasized the company’s enthusiasm for joining the Alachua community. Both expressed that Wawa is committed to building relationships and supporting local causes.

The new Wawa, located at 16304 N.W. U.S. Highway 441, Alachua, will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, offering its full range of fresh, made-to-order food, signature coffee, beverages, snacks, and fuel services. Wawa’s expansion into Alachua marks another milestone for the company as it continues to grow across Florida.

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