Man sets home on fire

On Tuesday, August 31, 2010, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to a house fire at 128 N.W. Michelle Place, Lake City, FL at approximately 4:30 a.m. Deputies made contact with a resident at the home. The victim told deputies that her live-in boyfriend poured gasoline on the outside of their bedroom window and lit…

Phone Scam Targeting Residents

A new telephone scam is making the rounds in Columbia County. Several area residents have reported bogus solicitation calls to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office. This new scam informs residents that they have won the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes. The con man informs the “winner” that they must send money via Western Union as a…

Robbery Suspect Arrested

On August 25, 2010, the suspect in the armed robbery of a Columbia County Exxon store was arrested in Hillsborough County. Larry J. Marcell was arrested by the United States Marshals Service, acting on an arrest warrant issued by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. The Exxon located at U.S. 441 in Ellisville was robbed by…

Meth lab found in vehicle

On Monday, August 23, 2010, Columbia County Sheriff’s Deputies discovered a make-shift methamphetamine laboratory in a vehicle. Deputy Will Porter was dispatched to S.W. Clifford Drive to investigate a vehicle parked on the roadside after concerned citizens became suspicious. Deputy Porter found the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, asleep in the Dodge pickup…

Exxon in Ellisville Robbed

On Sunday, August 22, 2010, a man robbed a convenience store in Ellisville. At approximately 11:50 p.m., a man entered the Exxon store at 13769 U.S. 441 South. The suspect was armed with a rifle and ordered the clerk to give him the money from the cash register. The clerk complied and the suspect fled…