Review Ordered in Wake of Shooting Provided by the Lake City Police Department in August, Officers Responded to a 911 Dis- Huddleston Looks at Possible Cer on Campus
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1 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2012 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | 75¢ Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM COUNTY SCHOOLS Officer cleared Safety to get a boost in fatal shooting Armed man was killed in encounter at apartment complex. By TONY BRITT [email protected] A Columbia County grand jury ruled Monday that a Lake City Police officer’s shooting of an armed man during a con- frontation at the Windsong Apartment Complex in August was justified. J e r a m e y S w e e n y , 30, died in the con- f r o n t a t i o n with Lake City Police Officer Brian Bruenger. Sweeny S w e e n y was the vic- tim in a fight with one his roommates before authorities arrived and happened to fit the physical description of the assailant. However, Sweeny was carrying a gun when he Photos by JASON MATTHEW WALKER/Lake City Reporter was met by authorities and ABOVE: Students at Westside Elementary load the bus for home Monday. BELOW: April Montalvo kisses her daughter, Eva, 6, after school at Westside on killed in a confrontation when Monday. he pointed the gun a law enforcement officers. According to information Review ordered in wake of shooting provided by the Lake City Police Department in August, officers responded to a 911 dis- Huddleston looks at possible cer on campus. tress call at 2:27 a.m. Tuesday, “We would certainly like to enhance that at the Jitters for some, Aug. 21 at 2720 SW Windsong federal funding as means for elementary level...,” Huddleston said. “We will Circle. Apartment 203 in increased security here. take every advantage of (federal grant money).” but school day Building 5 was Sweeny’s resi- Sheriff Mark Hunter said Monday that he was dence, according to police. It By DEREK GILLIAM “in total agreement” with a plan that would place goes smoothly was unclear the nature of the [email protected] a deputy in every county school. 911 call beyond there being Under the current system, deputies make daily By DEREK GILLIAM some type of disturbance. Superintendent Terry Huddleston said rounds at the elementary schools and respond [email protected] Officers Brian Bruenger, Monday that district officials will be touring there when needed, said Ed Seifert, public infor- Garrett Register and Sgt. county schools this week and talking with prin- mation officer for the sheriff’s office. The first day back to school since Larry Shallar responded to cipals about the crisis response plan as well as Chief Argatha Gilmore of the Lake City Police the mass-shooting in Newtown, the call. ways to improve security. Conn., left some parents nervous, As Bruenger, Register and On Saturday Huddleston but most said they were confident Shallar approached the door, said he had ordered a renewed that Columbia County provides a Sweeny reportedly exited the emphasis on the crisis response safe place for their children. apartment with a handgun plan but stopped short of calling Supt. Terry Huddleston said and pointed it at the officers. for specific changes. Monday there were no reports of Monday he significant absences and that every- OFFICER continued on 3A noted areas that thing ran smoothly. may require “I understand there’s some improvement uneasiness, but we had a great or alteration, day,” he said. Stormwater including the Cherie Hill, principal at Westside location of an Elementary, said “it was a real system will entrance gate at smooth day.” get 2nd look Huddleston Melrose Park “We are continuing to look at our E l e m e n t a r y emergency procedures and ways to that allows visi- keep our children safe,” Hill said. By DEREK GILLIAM tors to pass near classrooms and “That’s our number one priority.” [email protected] out of sight of school personnel. Michelle Strand, mother to a sec- Huddleston said federal fund- ond-grade daughter and a pre-kin- The Lake City Utility ing may also become available for increased Department said some school resource officers dergarden son at Westside, said she Advisory Committee on school security in the wake of the shooting at were previously supplied by LCPD, and said could not imagine what the parents Monday discussed how to Sandy Hook Elementary School that left 20 chil- she welcomed the possibility of providing that in Connecticut are experiencing, implement a stormwater dren and six adults dead Friday. service again. especially this close to Christmas. management utility system - As of now, only secondary schools in Columbia - including the creation of a County have a permanent school resource offi- DISTRICT continued on 3A SCHOOL continued on 3A new service fee. In August 2008, the city council passed an ordinance establishing a city stormwater Armed robber strikes management utility system. The system hasn’t been imple- Stop-n-Go on Sunday mented because of public opposition of the stormwater utility service fee. Opposition From staff reports an undetermined amount came mostly from local busi- of money, the suspect fled ness owners in 2008. The Columbia County the scene on foot. Reports The proposed fee would be Sheriff’s Office is search- did not indicate whether $5 a month for all residential ing for a lone gunman who anyone was injured during property owners. Owners of robbed a local convenience the robbery. commercial property would store Sunday morning. The suspect is described have to have an assessment Deputies were dis- as a black man approxi- of their property to determine patched to the Stop-n-Go mately 6 feet tall, weighing their fee. The service fee (Exxon), 3974 SW State around 165 - 175 pounds. would use equivalent residen- Road 47, around 8:40 a.m. The suspect was wearing tial units determined by the to investigate reports of an a light gray hooded sweat- average “impervious area” of armed robbery. shirt, light gray sweat a single family residence. According to Columbia pants, black sneakers and a Impervious area is the land County sheriff’s reports, white T-shirt. The suspect that doesn’t allow for natu- a man entered the store also had a black stocking ral drainage of stormwaters. armed with a handgun and cap on under the hood of Buildings and parking lots are demanded money from the COURTESY CCSO store clerk. After receiving ROBBER continued on 3A Surveillance still of an armed robber at a convenience store Sunday morning. CITY continued on 3A Vol. 138, No. 230 Opinion . 4A CALL US: TODAY IN COMING (386) 752-1293 73 39 People. 2A PEOPLE WEDNESDAY SUBSCRIBE TO Mostly sunny Obituaries . 5A THE REPORTER: Advice & Comics . 4B Stones finish Local news Voice: 755-5445 Fax: 752-9400 WEATHER, 2A Puzzles . 5B 50th anniv. tour. roundup. 1BSPORTS Lake City Reporter Story ideas? Contact Tim Kirby Sports Editor SPORTS 754-0421 [email protected] Tuesday, December 18, 2012 www.lakecityreporter.com Section B GAMES Thursday n Columbia High boys soccer vs. Eastside High, 6 p.m. Friday n Columbia High wrestling in Beast of the War party Beach at Fort Walton Beach High, 3 p.m. CST n Fort White High girls Fort White puts basketball vs. Williston High, 6 p.m. hoops hurting on n Columbia High girls Columbia, 74-53. soccer vs. Suwannee High, 7 p.m. (JV-5) By TIM KIRBY n Columbia High boys [email protected] basketball at St. Augustine High, 7:30 p.m. (JV-6) FORT WHITE — Fort Saturday White High’s basketball n Columbia High team made short work of wrestling in Beast of the visiting Columbia High with Beach at Fort Walton a 74-53 victory on Monday. Beach High, 9 a.m. CST The Indians stayed n Columbia High unbeaten at 8-0, while the basketball vs. Hamilton Tigers dropped to 4-3. County High, 7:30 p.m. Columbia played with- (girls-6) out its top scorer, Morris Marshall, who rolled an ankle at school on Monday, BRIEFS but coach Horace Jefferson said it would not have made CHS SOFTBALL a difference. “We missed his points, Lady Tiger but that did not cost us tryouts Jan. 8 the game,” Jefferson said. “I thought we had enough Columbia High softball firepower, but Fort White tryouts are 2:45 p.m. just outplayed us. They Jan. 8 at the CHS field. got every loose ball and Participants must meet we made poor decisions. academic requirements We didn’t compete like we and have paperwork. should have.” For details, call Jimmy Fort White played with- Williams at 303-1192. out starter Trey Phillips, who is away at an all-star ZUMBA football camp. Both teams were tight Beginner, weight early — the first points loss classes came at 5:44 of the first quarter. A Zumba beginner Trailing 6-4, Fort White class and weight loss went on a 10-0 run and that contest will be offered at set the tone. The Indians Teen Town Recreation led 21-11 at the end of the Center on Jan. 6. The quarter. Zumba beginner class is Columbia cut the lead 3-4 p.m., with the weight to six in the second quar- loss contest starting at ter, but Fort White pushed 4 p.m. it back to 11 at halftime, For details, call Sarah 33-22. Sandlin at 758-0009. The officials let the teams play and that played into ADULT BASKETBALL the hands of the Indians. Charity games Fort White was scrappier on defense and under the for USSSA youth basket, and faster down the Richardson court on fast breaks. Community Center/ When the treys starting Annie Mattox North, falling for Fort White in Inc., is sponsoring the the third quarter — Jalen Wyche alone had three — third annual charity JASON MATTHEW WALKER/Lake City Reporter basketball games at there was no way Columbia was going to catch up.