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Sheriff Chitwood Reinforces Seriousness of Making School Threats & Arrests 2 Students

Last night and early this morning, two Heritage Middle School students (ages 13 and 14) were arrested for posting threats on TikTok and Instagram to commit a school shooting.

Both students are charged with making written threats to kill, which is a felony.

Students should be aware that all threats are taken seriously by law enforcement, and threats from “anonymous” accounts can be traced, even if the post and the account itself are deleted.

The Sheriff’s Office will pursue criminal charges to the full extent of the law in every case possible.

Threats meant as “jokes” are no exception.

Over the past week, law enforcement agencies across Florida have been dealing with a spike in school threats.

No credible threats to any Volusia County schools have been identified.

However, each threat causes disruption, alarm, and a major consumption of the law enforcement resources required to thoroughly and immediately investigate every case.

Florida law allows the cost of these investigations to be charged to the parents of the juvenile defendants.

Sheriff Mike Chitwood and Volusia County Schools Superintendent Dr. Carmen Balgobin are asking parents and guardians to take a proactive role in reinforcing this message with students.

This message is not meant to dissuade anyone from reporting a tip about a possible threat, even if the threat turns out to be a hoax.

The Sheriff’s Office and School District continue to encourage students to “See Something, Say Something” and allow authorities to fully investigate every potential threat.

Source: Volusia County Sheriff

Carl and Susan Persis Campaign Signs Defaced in Unprecedented Local Election Tensions

Campaign signs for Volusia County School Board member Carl Persis and his wife, City Commissioner Susan Persis, were vandalized earlier this month, with damages to six of Carl’s signs and one of Susan’s. Carl Persis, who is seeking re-election, filed a police report after discovering the damage, which included stickers with derogatory messages that stripped the paint from his signs. Days later, a sign for Susan’s mayoral campaign was defaced with black spray paint. Both are running in non-partisan races, but the hostility marks a sharp departure from typical local elections. Carl Persis attributed the animosity to his vote in favor of a mask mandate during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has drawn the ire of local critics. The couple has offered a $1,000 reward for any information leading to the identification of those responsible for the vandalism.

Source: See Full Story at Ormond Observer

Winn-Dixie in Ormond Beach to Become Aldi Following $1.7 Million Renovation

The Winn-Dixie store in Ormond Beach will soon be converted into an Aldi as part of the German-based supermarket chain’s expansion following its acquisition of Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket in 2023. The store, located on W. Granada Blvd., will undergo a $1.7 million interior renovation, according to a building application submitted by Aldi in late August. City officials confirmed the application was returned for missing documents but stated the project is set to proceed once complete. Southeastern Grocers (SEG), Winn-Dixie's parent company, confirmed the conversion, aiming to better support the local community. Store employees have been informed of the upcoming closure, with opportunities to apply for roles at Aldi or transfer to nearby Winn-Dixie locations. The adjacent liquor store will remain open.

Source: See Full Story at Ormond Observer

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