The Mount Dora police chief has sent a directive to his officers, following a 9 Investigates report. charged last month with first-degree murder and grand theft, Waterman Village senior living complex on Dec. 31. the resident hit an alarm button, and the woman then grabbed a set of keys and fled. Anyone with information on this theft is asked to call the Mount Dora Police Department at 352-735-7130. Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. He also produces the podcast Florida Foodie. In interviews, Williams insisted that she got the car from an acquaintance in Georgia named Fuller Blue, that she was living in the car, and that she hadnt been in Florida in years. Coy Hunter. But I do know this, at the time the officer approached my car he had no probable cause to even talk to me, Stevens said during the interview. About a dozen residents showed up at the press conference to try to get some answers. 2009-2019 James Hope D/B/A Lake Legal News, located in Tavares, Florida. OGrady was succeeded by Robert Bell, who had been serving as deputy chief. Theyre investigating whether Meade was forced out under pressure because Meade said he refused to violate internal affairs procedures. We entered into an agreement with a third-party organization; however, the organization reconsidered and declined to move forward. The chief told Channel 9 last month that he never saw the video until Channel 9 investigative reporter Daralene Jones raised questions. According to police, the woman in custody who was "dressed in a particular way" was escorted off the Waterman property by security on Friday, Dec. 30. around 3 p.m. More than an hour later, she was captured on a security camera on Lake Margaret Circle wearing the same outfit, which Gibson referred to as "very unique.". Frank and Pat Blair said the day before the murders, a woman tried to get them to let her in their home. We have not wavered from our search. Mount Dora Interim Police Chief Mike Gibson said she was arrested out of state and will be extradited back to Florida in the coming days. When security went to the home of the couple identified by officials as 80-year-old Sharon Getman and 83-year-old Darryl Getman they found a crime scene and called police. Around 2 a.m. on Saturday, a green Kia Soul, the Getman couple's vehicle, was captured on camera driving out of the complex, police said. Watch: 4th person dies after last weeks fire at Orange County warehouse used to store fireworks. In July 2019, Howell-Gonzalez took FMLA due to work stress; upon her return she was to switch to night shift, limiting her interactions with Severance and Bell. (Our website also offers breaking news and web exclusives.). Police are not releasing any details at this time. The woman accused of killing a Mount Dora couple at their apartment in a senior living community has been indicted on a murder charge. WebMike Gibson Interim Chief of Police Ph: (352) 735-7130 Fax: (352) 383-4623 Email gibsonm@cityofmountdora.com Police said they located the missing vehicle using license plate readers and by pinging one of the victim's cell phones, which was left inside the vehicle. Its extensive, at more than 200 pages, and uncovered problems with culture and policies that are inconsistent, as well as a lack of training. Channel 9 asked police multiple times if they were looking for a suspect and if the community was safe. After several minutes, it became apparent LLN was going to once again be ignored by MDPD and LLN left the scene. 32 talking about this. Bloom is a former assisted living administrator and has major concern about security at senior living facilities like Waterman Village. MOUNT DORA With the departure of Mount Dora City manager Robin Hayes, the city's search for a new police chief has been put on hold. Sheriff: 4 found dead, including child, at Brevard County home, Governor requests information from state attorneys office on accused Pine Hills shooters record, All aboard: Ride SunRail for free this Saturday, West Virginia could pay former residents $25,000 to come back, Breeze Airways adds 4 new routes from Orlando International Airport. Howell-Gonzalez is represented by Christopher Pace of Jill S. Schwartz & Associates in Winter Park. LLN has also been tipped off that Bell is just weeks away from retirement, following command staff complaints (including by Fewless), which informed Hayes of the unrest and hostile work environment in the department, created by Bell. Channel 9 spoke to a couple who said they have experienced multiple days of strange situations leading up to this homicide. No MDPD or other investigator followed up with Howell-Gonzalez or the witness about the threat, according to the lawsuit. Officers said they followed her off the property and eventually lost sight of her. Vickie Williams was charged last month with first-degree murder and grand theft in the slayings of Darryl and Sharon Getman, a retired couple in their 80s. In September 2021, a Mount Dora police sergeant pulled him over, because he said Stevens, was driving recklessly. Police in Mount Dora are looking for a woman who reportedly stole thousands of dollars from a Walmart. Stevens was ready and waiting when Investigative Reporter Daralene Jones arrived in the visitors area at the Lake County Jail. MOUNT DORA, Fla. 9 Investigates has learned more about why the Mount Dora police chief suddenly resigned last week. Our Editor-in-Chief, Marilyn M. Aciego, began writing forLake Legal Newsin 2010. READ: Mount Dora residents pack meeting to discuss controversies surrounding police department. Interim Police Chief Mike Gibson said there is no threat to the public, but he was hesitant to say anything else. The main topic was a proposed high-rise multiuse development in the Wolf Branch Innovation District east of downtown that would be taller than the maximum height allowed in the city. Sheriff: 4 found dead, including child, at Brevard County home, Governor requests information from state attorneys office on accused Pine Hills shooters record, All aboard: Ride SunRail for free this Saturday, West Virginia could pay former residents $25,000 to come back, Breeze Airways adds 4 new routes from Orlando International Airport. Stevens is charged with a long list of felonies, in part, because the officer said Stevens backed into his patrol car, and Stevens car door hit him as he took off. Several calls to City Hall Friday went unanswered. In a press conference on Sunday, police said the couples deaths are suspicious and they will investigate the case as a homicide. That means hiring a training supervisor, as well as a crime analyst who can identify trends in crime. Mount Dora police 9 Investigates is reporting ongoing turmoil within the Mount Dora Police Department tied to the retirement of its last chief of police. (WFTV.com News Staff) MOUNT DORA, Fla. Mount Dora Police Chief Brett Meade on Wednesday afternoon announced his retirement, the city said in a news release. He shot me with the taser twice and the last thing I remember thinking is that hes going to shoot me, so I had to get away from him, Stevens told Jones. 3 min read. Adam Poulisse joined WFTV in November 2019. The suspect put his vehicle in reverse while I was standing next to the vehicle with the drivers door open. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. At press time, LLN was awaiting numerous public records to confirm these allegations. And the deputy Chief, Mike Gibson, who is now serving as interim chief, also signed off on the report. The Sergeants Lieutenant, the former chief and interim chief - all signed off on the incident, though they agreed it was against department policy to tase someone sitting behind the wheel of a running vehicle. By Kevin Connolly Lake County. I prayed and prayed, and the Lord blessed me with you Ms. Jones, I guess, because youre the one that researched and found the incident because they have me facing 45 years in prison, Stevens told Jones. The state listed five aggravating factors in its reasoning, including that the alleged crime was "especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel," the victims were "particularly vulnerable" due to age or disability, and that the alleged crime was committed for "pecuniary gain,' or money. The assessment reads, during the past two years, the Mount Dora Police Department has been in a state of organizational turmoil, resulting in the termination of a Chief of Police, a Deputy Chief, and the retirement of another Chief of Police., READ: He gets things done: Embattled former Mount Dora police chief up for new position with Deltona code enforcement, The problems trickled down throughout the agency, with several employees reporting they searched their offices for listening devices, as the level of suspicion and distrust was bordering on paranoia, with the vast majority describing the environment as toxic.. The officer described the situation in a hostile work complaint as offensive and humiliating. Since a medical emergency kept the couple from attending, the chief allowed a Hispanic officer to accept the award on their behalf. A woman has been taken into custody as a person of interest in the murders of a Florida husband and wife at a senior living community over New Year's weekend, police announced during a news conference Tuesday afternoon. According to her lawsuit, Howell-Gonzalez asked that this activity cease immediately and that her concerns be immediately investigated. MDPD allegedly ignored her request, and inexplicably, Howell[-Gonzalez] was instead told that the IA investigation into Severance must first be completed.. Neighbors said they are very concerned for their safety, but police will be keeping a watchful eye on the community for the time being. MOUNT DORA, Fla. - A Georgia woman who police believe is connected to the murder of an elderly Mount Dora couple has a criminal history spanning back decades. The suit alleges Howell-Gonzalez complained of fellow officer Ivy Severance using city time for her personal errands and it being a chronic issue. [TRENDING: Tropical wave could bring heavy rain to parts of Florida for weekend | She shouldnt have hit my momma: Witnesses describe girl, 10, accused of fatally shooting Orlando woman | Become a News 6 Insider (its free!)]. Mount Dora police said a security guard had called 911 to report the suspicious activity. READ: Investigation provides insight into Mount Dora police chiefs sudden resignation. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. MOUNT DORA, Fla. Police are investigating the death of a man and woman at a Senior Living Community apartment in Mount Dora. On Saturday, officers responded to a report of potentially suspicious activity in the Senior Living Community, Waterman Village, located at 150 Waterman Avenue. MOUNT DORA, Fla. - A woman has been taken into custody as a person of interest in the murders of a Florida husband and wife at a senior living community over TAVARES State prosecutors will seek the death penalty for Vickie Lynn Williams if she is convicted of killing Darrell and Sharon Getman in their Waterman Village home in late December. In May, LLN was on scene the only media on scene of a murder at Lowes, 18795 U.S. Highway 441, Mount Dora attempting to get information from MDPD officers investigating the crime. Williams, 50, was arrested in Savannah, Georgia in the couples stolen car. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. Police are investigating the death of a man and woman at a Senior Living Community apartment in Mount Dora. (Photo via Mount Dora Police Department). This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. READ: Police search for men shooting people with airsoft guns in downtown Mount Dora. Meade served as interim chief beginning in July 2020 and was named as the permanent replacement in April 2021. It appears it was a random crime, Gibson said during a news conference. Please utilize our website regularly and follow us on Facebook, Nextdoor, Ring, Twitter, and Instagram to stay informed. The Mount Dora Police Department was the first law enforcement agency in the nation to receive full accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). Williams Death Penalty Filing by Sam Dunne on Scribd. Pat Blair said two police agents wanted them to look at a picture that they had of three people to possibly identify her. If you need help with the Public File, call 407-291-6000. [PHOTO CREDIT: Bonnie Whicher], Published since 2009, Lake Legal News is a high-quality, glossy magazine blending current events with both topical and historical profiles of Lake County, Florida, attorneys, judges, police officers, elected officials, and residents. Copyright 2022 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved. Vickie Williams, 50, given no bond amount on 3 charges. Channel 9 spoke to a couple who said they have experienced multiple days of strange situations leading up to this homicide. Authorities investigate an incident in Mount Dora. Brenda Argueta is a digital journalist who joined ClickOrlando.com in March 2021. Born and raised in Lake County, she is a graduate of Umatilla High School and Lake-Sumter State College. Police in Mount Dora are investigating the deaths of a man and woman at a senior living community. Afterward, Williams went to an apartment, knocked on the door and asked a resident inside whether she could take a shower, according to the police department. ). If you have any information, call the Mount Dora Police Department Criminal Investigations Unit at (352) 735-7130. (Karla Ray, WFTV.com). The assessment noted that in some cases, policies and procedures are inconsistent, contradictory, and in different formats., READ: Heres the form medically vulnerable Floridians need filled out to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The officer replied by saying shes Puerto Rican and OGrady said, same thing, according to the report. We will provide updates as we move through this process.. Once he reached a red light, he activated his emergency lights and siren to conduct a traffic stop. !#TeamTEGNA #ABC24 Liked by Steve Darrell, B.S./M.F.A ShoPros Live Event Service On The Road This Week! Mount Dora Records appear to show that Williams had had a decades-long criminal history, including 24 arrests in Ohio or South Carolina. Newly-released documents are sharing new details and information into the murders of two older residents at a senior living facility on New Year's Eve in Mount Dora, Florida, including how the couple may have died and how authorities were able to track down the alleged suspect in Georgia. The report said a butcher-style knife was in Darryl's abdomen when detectives found him, and that he had defensive injuries. READ: Mount Dora police chief fired after investigation into racially insensitive comments. Police in Mount Dora are looking for a woman who reportedly stole thousands of dollars from a Walmart. More than 600 citizens participated in the assessment process. A woman has been taken into custody as a person of interest in the murders of a Florida husband and wife at a senior living community over New Year's weekend, police announced during a news conference Tuesday afternoon. Sharon Getman and Darryl Getman (Photos via Mount Dora Police Department). Police are investigating the death of a man and woman at a Senior Living Community apartment in Mount Dora. Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Police said the woman doesn't appear to have any ties to the Central Florida area, and they believe the woman was passing through. She spoke to the interim chief about a department-wide assessment that took six months to complete. READ: Police search for men shooting people with airsoft guns in downtown Mount Dora. You can also contact us on our Facebook page and make sure you Like and Follow us there. We went to City Hall today, to ask the City Manager about his plans to have an outside against investigate this and other incidents 9-investigates has exposed. VIDEO: Investigation provides insight into Mount Dora police chiefs sudden resignation Investigation provides insight into Mount Dora police chiefs sudden resignation. The Sergeant then goes to open his car door, and the incident escalated from there, as he tries to pull Stevens from the vehicle who refuses to comply. Video: Report notes toxic environment at Mount Dora PD: Whats being done to change that Only 9 Investigates went over the plan to revamp the Mount Dora Police Department after it went through two police chiefs in a year. Read: Foggy and wet start to the New Year. Last Tuesday at the Mount Dora City Council meeting, attendees who stuck it out until the end found themselves in a session that lasted until almost midnight. She has been charged with two Mount Dora officials on Sunday announced a man and woman were found dead the day prior in an apartment at a senior living community. Following the discussion, LLN inquired if there were any updates on either the murder or the double shooting and Fewless took LLN to the office of Capt. PUBLISHED 5:16 PM ET Jul. And my phone needs charging, can I come in and charge my phone?". [TRENDING: Woman runs into record books, beats entire field at Disney Princess Half Marathon | US Supreme Court denies Crosley Greens petition in murder case | Become a News 6 Insider], The filing, dated Feb. 23, 2023, seeks the death penalty against Williams due to the killings being especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel.. On the way to the shooting LLN texted Fewless, who said a lieutenant on scene would be available as a point of contact. The news release did not say what prompted the chiefs decision to leave his post. The top priority, though, is reworking all agency policies and procedures. Thomas is originally from Northeastern Pennsylvania and worked in Portland, Oregon before moving to Central Florida in August 2018. Police said Williams was spotted wandering around the retirement community multiple times between Dec. 30 and 31, and on one occasion, knocked on another resident's door and asked to take a shower before that resident pressed her panic button. In 2019, Mount Dora police Chief John OGrady was relieved of duty after he was supposed to present an award to the couple who owns Las Palmas restaurant. MOUNT DORA, Fla. Only 9 Investigates went over the plan to revamp the Mount Dora Police Department after it went through two police chiefs in a year. Chicago Mayor Lightfoot ousted; Vallas, Johnson in runoff, King asks Duke and Duchess of Sussex to move out of Frogmore so Prince Andrew can move in, Biden Mocks Marjorie Taylor Greene With 1 Simple Hand Gesture, A Nebraska high-school cheerleader competed on her own after the rest of her squad quit. 600 citizens participated in the visitors area at the press conference to try to some. 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