Local

GAINESVILLE ‒ An Alachua traffic stop has resulted in jail time for one man. On Thursday, Dec. 15, 18-year-old Ronnie Ryan Padgett was sentenced to 90 days in the Alachua County Jail.

On Sunday, Sept. 4, by City of Alachua Police Sergeant B. Young was conducting traffic control on Northwest U.S. Highway 441 and saw a white passenger van traveling at 77 miles per hour in a 55-mph zone. He conducted a traffic stop at the 15000 block of Northwest U.S. Highway 441.

The vehicle pulled into a nearby gas station and struck a concrete barrier near the gas pump, which caused the vehicle to come to a complete stop.

Padgett admitted to not having a valid driver’s license and having marijuana inside his pocket. A search of the vehicle revealed a glass smoke pipe with a piece of Brillo pad and a smoked blunt.

Padgett claimed the pipe was not his and he did not know what it was used for. Young also located four gas cards that belonged to an Alachua business, which Padgett said he was given by a friend. He also said the vehicle belonged to his mother’s friend named “Brian,” and that he had dropped it off for him to use because Padgett’s personal vehicle had been disabled on the highway.

Alvin Crews, a 51-year-old passenger, was “sleeping” in the front seat during the officer’s encounter with Padgett. After being awakened by officers, Crews was asked if he had anything illegal inside the vehicle or on his person.

Crews said, “That’s a good question” and began to empty his pockets. Crews pulled out a glass smoke pipe stuffed with a Brillo pad and a small silver container. The container had a clear lid and officers were able to see a white powdery and solid substance consistent with cocaine. The substance tested positive for crack cocaine during a roadside field test. The total weight of the crack cocaine was 20.8 grams.

Officers contacted the registered owner of the passenger van and it was discovered that the van was stolen from their residence.

Officer C. Vargas responded to the business that was listed on the gas cards located on Padgett. He discovered a crow bar stuck between the passenger side window and the door frame of a vehicle belonging to the business and several of the business vehicles were unlocked.

Padgett was credited for 55 days served toward the jail sentence, but he must serve two years of drug offender probation, repayment for the cost of prosecution and fines, no alcohol or illegal drug use and random drug screens.

#     #     #

Email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com

HIGH SPRINGS/LAKE CITY ‒ A Jan.1 multi-car crash on Interstate 75 involved 21 vehicles and three fatalities. The 12:40 a.m. accident occurred at northbound mile marker 414, the U.S. Highway 441 High Springs/Lake City exit, and required road closure for s12 hours while the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) investigated the scene.

For reasons yet to be determined, a series of collisions occurred as the 21 vehicles were traveling north on I-75. According to the FHP, the vehicles involved were a Ford F150 truck, a white transit van, a Lexus RX 300, a Lexus RX 350, a Nissan 3500 van and trailer, a Toyota Rav4, a Toyota Corolla, a Nissan Ultima, a Lincoln Navigator, a Ford F250 truck, a Dodge Ram pickup and trailer, a Nissan Sentra, a Ford Maverick pickup and trailer, a Nissan Ultima, a Ford Mustang, a Kia Soul, a Chevrolet Suburban, a Subaru Outback, a TEMSA Charter Bus with 15 passengers on board, a Toyota Camry and a Nissan Ultima.

There was in excess of 45 persons involved, including two men and a woman, all from Chicago, Ill., who were killed. Other injured drivers and passengers were transported via five separate rescue units to Lake City Medical Center or to Shands UF. “The exact number of persons injured is still be determined as some drove themselves to a medical facility,” said FHP Troop-B Public Affairs Officer Lt. Patrick Riordan.

Once FHP’s Major Crash Investigation Unit finished mapping the scene, collecting evidence and removed all persons, vehicles and debris the Interstate was reopened at 12:40 p.m.

“Once this large-scale investigation is concluded, FHP’s investigators will have more specific facts, data and details of what occurred that caused the chain reaction of collisions,” Riordan said. Heavy fog was reported in the area at the time of the incident.

*   *   *

In Hawthorne, the FHP reports that on Dec. 29 a vehicle crashed into an ambulance in Putnam County.

Troopers say that around 3:40 p.m., the vehicle stopped at the intersection of State Road 20 and Gordon Chapel Road in Hawthorne.

The driver then failed to yield the right of way to an ambulance heading west on Gordon Chapel Road, causing a collision between the front of the ambulance and the passenger side of the vehicle.

Officials say a non-emergency patient was in the ambulance at the time of the crash but no major injuries were reported.

#     #     #

Email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com

NEWBERRY ‒ Christopher Joshua Jackson, 35, was arrested on Thursday, Dec. 29, and charged with possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of drug equipment and possession of marijuana.  He was also arrested on a warrant for violating probation in a previous case.

A Florida Highway Patrol trooper stopped Jackson at about 8:45 p.m. Thursday night near the Circle K in Jonesville for having an inoperable front headlight.  When the trooper made contact with Jackson, Jackson reportedly said he had just hit a deer.  

The trooper noted that Jackson seemed nervous and was sweating profusely.  The trooper received information from dispatch that Jackson was wanted on a warrant for violation of probation and placed him under arrest.

While conducting an inventory of Jackson’s vehicle, the trooper reportedly found marijuana, MDPV, a glass pipe that smelled like marijuana, a straw with white residue on it and an open beer.

Jackson’s warrant was issued in October after his probation officer filed an affidavit stating that he had violated multiple terms of his probation, including failure to pay fines and fees and completing the Batterers’ Intervention Program.  The probation was ordered after Jackson violated a no-contact order with a victim in a previous case.

Jackson has nine misdemeanor convictions.  Judge Thomas Jaworski ordered him held without bond for violation of probation and set bond at $14,000 on the new charges.

#     #     #

Email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com

HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The High Springs Chamber of Commerce’s Christmas parade attracted spectators from all around north Florida on Dec. 10, with more than 300 floats featuring this year’s theme of a Candy Cane Christmas.

“We had around 7,000 people that came to see our Christmas parade this year,” said Chamber President Sharon Decker. “It was a beautiful night and a great turn out. We had some people that came from Cedar Key, Ocala and all around the surrounding area.”

Martial arts demonstrations, Santa Claus riding on the Historical Society’s old fire truck float and Santa visiting with children after the parade were highlights of the event.

Announcers Damon Messina and Ben Boukari, Jr., brought the parade to life as they described the high points of each of the floats as they traveled down High Springs Main Street.

This year’s parade may have been the largest turnout for a Christmas parade ever according to some long-time High Springs citizens.

#     #     #

Email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com

WALDO ‒ Alachua County Fire Rescue was dispatched to a commercial vehicle fire on Friday, Dec. 30, at 4 a.m. The blaze was located on U.S. Highway 301 near County Road 225, north of Waldo.

Upon arrival fire rescue crews reported a semi car hauler carrying nine vehicles that was on fire with four of the vehicles on the trailer fully engulfed in flames. Assistance was requested from the Melrose and Windsor Fire Departments who provided water tanker support and manpower.

Although the fire was brought under control quickly, southbound traffic was diverted due to fire operations for approximately nearly two hours.

Crews were able to contain the fire to the trailer and four of the nine vehicles on the trailer.

#     #     #

Email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com

ALACHUA - Members of the Alachua Business League's (ABL) board participated in the Alachua Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 10.

#     #     #

Email editor@

alachuatoday.com