Okeechobee Arrest Report

The following individuals were arrested on felony or driving under the influence (DUI) charges by the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO), the Okeechobee City Police Department (OCPD), the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the Department of Corrections (DOC) or the Okeechobee Narcotics Task Force (ONTF).

• Joseph Abruzzi, 60, KOA, was arrested Sept. 9 by OCSO and charged with multiple drug charges, DUI, possession of drug paraphernalia and one possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. Bond was set at $102,000. Abruzzi was discovered deceased in his cell on Tuesday, Sept. 13. His death is under investigation.
• Darlene Flesche, 36, U.S. 441 Southeast, was arrested Sept. 9 by OCSO and charged with two counts possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of drug paraphernalia driving without a license and one count possession of marijuana. Bond was set at $17,000.
• Cassandra Garcia, 30, Southwest 13^th Terrace, was arrested Sept. 9 by OCSO and charged with possession of marijuana resin and possession of a schedule II drug. Bond was set at $15,000.
• Martin Garcia, 37, Northwest 39^th Avenue, was arrested Sept. 9 by OCSO and charged with possession of cocaine and possession of marijuana resin. Bond was set at $6,000.
• Bobbi Hajen, 36, Northwest 39^th Avenue, was arrested Sept. 9 by OCSO and charged with possession of cocaine and possession of marijuana. Bond was set at $6,000.
• Scott Wander, 32, Northeast 26^th Avenue, was arrested Sept. 9 by OCSO and charged with tampering with evidence, DUI and driving without a license. Bond was set at $6,000.
• Austin Bussey, 26, Northwest 30^th Street, was arrested Sept. 10 by OCSO and charged with possession of fentanyl, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a concealed weapon or electronic device. Bond was set at $7,000.
• Harrison Eaton, 35, at large, was arrested Sept. 10 by OCSO and charged with domestic battery by strangulation. Bond was set at $2,500.
• Rex Erwin, 58, Southwest 19th Terrace, was arrested Sept. 10 by OCSO and charged with DUI. Bond was set at $1,000.
• Russell Ryan, 43, Southwest 13th Way, was arrested Sept. 10 by OCSO and charged with DUI. Bond was set at $1,200.
• Christopher Garcia, 36, Northwest Eighth Street, was arrested Sept. 11 by OCSO and charged with DUI. Bond was set at $1000.
• Victor Guttierez, 39, at large, was arrested Sept. 11 by OCSO and charged with DUI and operating a motor vehicle without a license. Bond was set at $1500.
• Gabriel Katz, 24, Naples, was arrested Sept. 11 by OCSO and charged with resisting arrest without violence and failure to leave property. Bond was set at $2000.
• Thomas Lunsford, 37, Southwest Connor Highway, was arrested Sept. 11 by OCSO and charged with DUI. Bond was set at $5000.
• Michael Martinez, 41, Northwest 46th Avenue, was arrested Sept. 11 by OCPD and charged with possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bond was set at $5750.
• Shane Sprague, 44, NW 168th Court, was arrested Sept. 11 by OCSO and charged with battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest without violence. Bond was set at $10,000.
• Robert Eugene Thompson, 64, Southeast 23rd Court, was arrested Sept. 11 by OCSO and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill. Bond was set at $100,000.
• Ryan Phelps, 41, US 441 Southeast, was arrested Sept. 12 by OCSO on a Vermont warrant for multiple charges. He is being held with no bond.
• Kevin Ottiwell, 27, Southwest 19th Street, was arrested Sept. 13 by OCSO and charged with possession of methamphetamine. Bond was set at $5000.
• Justin Albritton, 40, Northeast 304th Street, was arrested Sept. 13 by OCPD and charged with driving without a license/third offence or subsequent. Bond was set at $2500.
• Stephanie Sharp, 33, Northwest 102nd Street, was arrested Sept. 13 by OCPD and charged with possession of methamphetamine. Bond was set at $2500.
• Murphy Simmons, 59, Lorida, was arrested Sept. 13 by OCSO and charged with sexual battery on a victim over the age of 12 and false imprisonment. Bond was set at $30,000.
• Sandra Bailey, 65, Northeast 342nd Trail, was arrested Sept. 13 by OCSO and charged with driving without a license third offense or subsequent. Bond was set at $5000.
• Miguel Mederos, 35, Southwest Second Way, was arrested Sept. 14 by OCPD and charged with possession of cocaine. Bond was set at $5000.
• Joshua Grossman, 29, Northwest Fifth Street, was arrested Sept. 14 by OCSO and charged with burglary with assault or battery and violation of probation on pretrial release. Bond was set at $77,500.
• Holt, 38, Southeast Fourth Street, was arrested Sept. 14 by OCSO and charged with Grand Theft. Bond was set at $10,000.
• Seaton Gwinn, 37, Southeast 25th Street, was arrested Sept. 15 by OCSO and charged with DUI. Bond was set at $500.
• Cheryl Austin, 56, Northeast 30th Avenue, was arrested Sep. 15 by OCSO and charged with battery on a person 65 years of age or older. Bond to be set by the judge.
• Youvani Beltran, 15, Reservation Road, was arrested Sept. 15 by OCSO and charged with three counts battery on a law enforcement officer and one count resisting arrest without violence. He was transferred to the custody of the department of juvenile justice.
• Denise Ferrell, 40, Southwest 53rd Street, was arrested Sept. 15 by OCSO and charged with causing cruel death with pain and suffering. Bond was set at $5000.
• Joseph Rodriguez, 31, Stuart, was arrested Sept. 15 by OCSO and charged with Grand Theft Auto. Bond was set at $5000.
• Preston woods, 37, Northwest 20th Street, was arrested Sept. 15 by OCSO and charged with committing domestic battery by strangulation and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Bond was set at $100,000.

This column lists arrests and not convictions, unless otherwise stated. Anyone listed here who is later found not guilty or has had the charges against them dropped is welcome to inform this newspaper. The information will be confirmed and printed.