Bank Robbery Suspect Assaults Law Officer With Motor Home During Chase
                                                    
   According to law enforcement reports, At approximately 3:16 p.m. on Wednesday, November 21, the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office relayed a "be on the look out" (B.O.L.O.) concerning a large motor home which stole $300 worth of fuel and was being pursued towards the Florida state line and Madison County.
   Sergeant Arthur J. Deno II intercepted the Lowndes County pursuit as they passed Rocky Springs Road southbound on Hwy. 145 in Madison County.
The beige and bronze in color 2007 40' Fleetwood Providence motor home was being pursued by Deputy Jeffrey R. Payne, Lieutenant Mike Weldon and Deputy R. "Harvey" Keeling of the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office at that point. The motor home was driving in a continuously reckless and erratic manner as it traveled southbound towards Madison at approximately 80 to 85 m.p.h. The driver intentionally swerved towards oncoming traffic and drove in the oncoming traffic lane. Vehicles were forced to take evasive action by swerving off of the roadway to avoid colliding with the massive motor home.
   The driver of the motor home, who was later identified as being 45-year-old John O. Study of Zionsville, Indiana, swerved around Stop Sticks (tire deflation device) that Deputy Bill D. Hart II deployed near Fantasy Motor Coaches on Hwy. 145 at N.E. Alyssum Loop. It was apparent that Study was intent on ramming anything, or anyone, that was in his path as he continued southbound. Chief Deputy Leonard R. Harris and Deputy Chris J. Andrews were in the process of establishing a Stop Stick point near the intersection of N.E. Dusty Miller Road (C.R. 254) when Study abruptly swerved into the northbound lane and narrowly avoided a rear-end collision with a truck in his path.
   Study entered the heavy traffic within the city limits of Madison traveling approximately 60 m.p.h. He drove down the middle of the roadway forcing other motorist out of his path. Near the intersection of N.E. Duval
Street and N.E. Livingston Street Study intentionally drove into the eastbound lane and forced a Madison Police Department patrol vehicle off of the roadway.
   The motor home continued to force vehicles off of the roadway as it continued westbound, ran the stop sign at N.E. Washington Avenue and turned southbound. At this point Sergeant Deno attempted to overtake the motorhome to clear the busy intersection of Hwy. 90.
   Study accelerated and veered the motor home into the northbound lane and intentionally forced Sergeant Deno off of the roadway. Sergeant Deno narrowly missed two power poles but he managed to maintain control, accelerate and overtake the motor home. Study pushed Sergeant Deno's patrol vehicle with the front of the motorhome, causing it to spin out of control. The patrol vehicle struck a roadway sign and narrowly missed a large oak tree near the intersection of N.E. Sumter Street before coming to rest.
   At this point Deputy Andrews and Deputy Marcus A. Jones joined the pursuit and the motor home fled eastbound on Hwy. 90. Study completely ignored traffic signals and other motorist as he aggressively drove approximately 70 m.p.h. in the 35 m.p.h. zone.
   Lieutenant Mark W. Joost, the Chief Investigator for The Madison County Sheriff's Office, was at the State Attorney's Office in Live Oak when he heard the radio traffic concerning the pursuit entering Madison County. Due to the violent and reckless nature of the pursuit, as well as Study's violent attack of Sergeant Deno, it was apparent how determined he was in his attempts to elude capture. Lieutenant Joost retrieved his Stop Sticks and M-14 rifle from the back of his unmarked patrol vehicle and headed westbound towards the approaching pursuit.      
   At approximately 3:50 p.m., Deputy Andrews transmitted that the pursuit was passing the entrance to Suwannee River State Park in Suwannee County and still traveling at over 80 m.p.h. At that point Lieutenant Joost was in Falmouth and traffic was heavy in the area. Lieutenant Joost placed his Stop Sticks on the roadway between his patrol vehicle and the logging trailer before taking cover behind the trailer with his rifle. Within seconds the motor home approached in a reckless manner. There were numerous pedestrians and parked vehicles lining both sides of the roadway, therefore Lieutenant Joost held his fire. The motor home was traveling approximately 70 to 80 m.p.h. when it ran over the Stop Sticks. At this point, approximately five or six marked units were involved in the pursuit and Lieutenant Joost fell in behind them.
   The Florida Highway Patrol blocked the I-10 on-ramps, so Study continued eastbound towards Live Oak.  After passing I-10 on Hwy. 90, Study erratically swerved towards civilian vehicles and a Suwannee County deputy on the north shoulder. Since Study was approaching Live Oak through heavy holiday traffic, with complete disregard for public safety, Lieutenant Joost chambered a round into his shotgun and pulled along the left side of the motor home. As the motor home continued eastbound at approximately 80 m.p.h., Joost fired one 12 gauge slug at the motor home's partially deflated left rear tire. Study swerved violently towards his patrol vehicle before continuing eastbound at the same speed on the now flat tire. As the motor home continued to swerve towards him, Lieutenant Joost accelerated to the front of the motor home and fired another 12 gauge slug at the left front tire. As Study continued his attempts to sideswipe Lieutenant Joost's patrol vehicle, large portions of the deflated left side tires peeled off of the rims.
   The motor home slowed to approximately 40 m.p.h. as the pursuit entered the city limits of Live Oak. Law enforcement officers from the Live Oak Police Department and Suwannee County Sheriff's Office blocked all of the intersections. Study recklessly wove eastbound through the heavy traffic, parked vehicles and pedestrians as the motor home smoked heavily.
   Visibility was very poor due to the smoke and flying rubber. As the pursuit approached the east city limits of Live Oak the rear of the motor home erupted in flames. Study made a final swerve towards a patrol vehicle and a pickup truck on the north shoulder before the motor home came to a stop. The motor home came to rest facing a northeasterly direction. The front of the motor home was on the north shoulder and the back of it was blocking the westbound lane of Hwy. 90. The flames were quickly spreading from the back of the motor home. Lieutenant Joost approached the left side of the motor home on foot while several Lowndes County deputies approached the right side of the motor home. Study complied with instructions to prone out on the ground and he was then taken into custody without further incident.    
   Members of Suwannee County Fire Rescue extinguished the flames but the $238,000 motor home appeared to be a total loss. A computer check revealed that the motor home was stolen from a dealer in Pontiac, Illinois. Pontiac R.V. noticed the motor home missing November 19.
   Lieutenant Joost recovered evidence from the charred motor home that appeared to link Study to numerous bank robberies in Indiana. A computer check revealed that Study was a violent fugitive. His history included bank robberies which started in 1983 and resisting law enforcement with violence. Study had active arrest warrants for two counts of Bank Robbery from Boone County, Indiana and one count of Receiving Stolen Property from Putnam County, Indiana. Hamilton County (Indiana) Sheriff's Office confirmed that
Study was wanted for seven counts of Bank Robbery in their county as well. Study shot at a U.S. Marshal in Indiana as he managed to elude capture.
Study has local charges of Aggravated Assault On Law Enforcement Officer With A Deadly Weapon and Aggravated Fleeing And Attempting To Elude.    He remains in the Madison County Jail without bond.

Diann Douglas Receives National Distinguished Service Award

   Diann Douglas, Extension Agent and UF/IFAS Madison County Director, was honored recently at the National Extension Association for Family and Consumer Sciences 2007 annual session, "Bridging Scholarship and Entrepreneurship."  She received the Distinguished Service Award at the conference held in St. Paul, Minnesota.
   The DSA award is the highest award presented by the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences.  The award recognizes members for leadership, outstanding program efforts and personal and professional development. 
   Douglas has been an Extension educator for 24 years and has worked in Madison County for the last 13 years.

Woman Injured In Accident With Deer

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   A woman was injured and her Toyota pickup sustained $2,500 in damages because of an accident with a deer on Wednesday, November 21.
   According to a Florida Highway Patrol report, Angela H. Baldazo Ahumada, 34, of Jennings, was traveling westbound on County Road 150, six miles east of Pinetta. A deer that was traveling north entered from a wooded area located on the south side of the road.
   The deer went onto County Road 150 into the path of Ahumada's 2007 pickup.
   The front of the truck collided with the deer.
   Ahumada received minor injuries and was transported to the local hospital.
   Units from the Madison County Sheriff's Office, Madison County EMS and the Pinetta Volunteer Fire Department rendered assistance at the scene.
   FHP Trooper Berry Crews was the investigating officer.

Woman Charged With Careless Driving Following Wreck

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   A woman was injured and charged with driving while license suspended or revoked knowingly and careless driving on Friday, Nvember 23.
   According to a Florida Highway Patrol report, Ivana S. Carley, 21, of Tampa, was traveling west on Interstate 10 near the 240-mile marker.
   For unknown reasons, Caroley ran off the road into the grassy meidain and then aggressively overcorrected, crossing both westbound lanes.
   Carley entered the north shoulder, rotating clockwise. The rear of her 2005 Chevrolet struck a tree.
   The car then rotated counterclockwise, striking a tree with its left side. The vehicle then continued in a counterclockwise rotation, coming to a final rest, facing west.
   Carley suffered minor injuries in the wreck.
   The Madison County Sheriff's Office, Madison Fire and Rescue and Madison County EMS provided assistance at the scene.
   FHP Trooper Billy Ernst was the investigating officer.

Military Helicopter Lifts Eyebrows In Lovett Area

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   A helicopter hovered over property in the Lovett area on Wednesday afternoon.
   The property is owned by Tom Moffses.
Moody Air Force Base denied any knowledge of any training going on in the area. A public relations person from the base told newspaper editor Jacob Bembry that there might have been a flyover but the area was outside of Moody's training area.
   Moffses said the helicopter was flying extremely close to the tops of trees. He said that the helicopter was in the area for over five minutes and shook his house.
   The helicopter was identified as an H-60 model, which is the model used by Moody and listed on their website.

Healthy Start Director Hinchliffe Receives Governor’s Appointment

By Michael Curtis
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   Governor Charlie Crist appointed George Hinchliffe, Executive Director of the Healthy Start Coalition of Jefferson, Madison and Taylor Counties, to the Governor’s Child Abuse Prevention and Permanency Advisory Council.  The 32-member Council will serve as the research arm for the office and is critical to Florida’s efforts to prevent child abuse and promote adoption.
   The Council will assist with the strategic planning for better coordination and integration of the goals, activities and funding pertaining to the promotion and support of adoption and the prevention of child abuse, abandonment and neglect.  The initial objective is to maximize staff and resources at the state level.
   Hinchliffe will not only represent the issues of the three rural counties that his organization serves, but all Healthy Start Coalitions across the state.
“The vast majority of members are from urban areas of the state,” Hinchliffe noted.  “Other than an appointee from Niceville, I appear to be the only member from a rural area.  I hope I can carry the message for our special concerns,” he added.