CCSO Receives Accreditation

On Wednesday, June 26, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office received accreditation from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation at their meeting in Orlando. Sheriff Mark Hunter was present and accepted a plaque signifying the achievement. In April, CCSO underwent a detailed inspection by a team of assessors from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement…

Columbia County Crime Down

This year’s Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) uniform crime report (UCR) shows a significant decrease in crime for Columbia County. Yearly, the Sheriff’s Office sends its crime information to Tallahassee, where FDLE makes a report and sends it to the FBI in Washington, DC. The statistics are compiled and used to track crime trends…

Deputy Benjamin Dupree Awarded Life Saving Medal

On Wednesday, June 5, in a ceremony attended by family, friends and Sheriff’s Office personnel, Sheriff Mark Hunter awarded Deputy Benjamin Dupree, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Lifesaving Medal for his actions on February 26, 2019. Deputy Dupree responded to a call involving an adult male having a significant cardiac event and he was no…

Third Arrest Made In McGee Murder

Shortly after midnight, Monday April 15, the third suspect in the murder of Steven McGee was taken into custody outside a Lake City Motel where he was staying. After obtaining information from the U.S. Marshals, CCSO detectives responded to the Super 8 Motel off SR 47.  After a short time, the suspect, Cody James Bartosek,…

Arrests Made In McGee Murder

Arrests Made In McGee Murder In the early morning hours of Friday, April 12, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Detectives arrested two in the murder of Steven McGee, who was found Monday morning deceased along Old Spanish Road in the Fort White area. Arrested were Dashan Ricardo Lewis, 42 and Danielle Katherine Cianelli, 22 both of…