NSBNEWS.net: Volusia County / State

DAYTONA BEACH -- Passenger traffic at Daytona Beach International Airport (DBIA) decreased 42 percent in February 2009 compared with the same month a year ago.

During February, 37,277 passengers traveled through the county-operated airport, compared with the 64,295 travelers recorded in February 2008. For the 12-month period ending Feb. 28, 549,178 passengers traveled through DBIA, compared with 695,017 passengers in 2008, representing a 21-percent decrease.

ORMOND BEACH -- Four years in the can apparently wasn't enough for a 38-year-old convicted babk robber who was arrested over the weekend on charges of robbing the same bank Friday, police said.

Shawn Carl Bullard served four years in prison for the 2003 robbery of the Bank of America branch at 299 North Nova Road, police said. On Friday, that same banlk was robbed, and like the first time, surveillance vcameras captured the robber on video.

ORMOND BEACH -- A man identified as the robber who was foiled by a knife-wielding store clerk in January was arrested Monday on charges of armed robbery and aggravated assault, Volusia Sheriff's spokesman Brandon Haught said.

DAYTONA BEACH SHORES -- Two teenage girls run over by a pick-truck Monday while getting a tan on the beach were likely saved by soft sand, the beach patrol reported.

The girls, whose names ad ages were not immediately available, were treated briefly at the Halifax Urgent Care Center in Port Orange --one for an injury to her legs and the other for an injury to her upper body.

DELTONA -- The victim of a Sunday afternoon liquor store robbery in Deltona got a good look at the bandit and his getaway vehicle, giving Volusia County Sheriff’s deputies a good enough description to find Joseph Fine less than half a mile away, agency spokesman Gary Davidson said.

"Fine was found with the stolen cash tucked into his shirt pocket and he admitted to committing the robbery at knifepoint," Davidson said.

No one was injured during the robbery.

The robbery happened at 3:07 p.m. at the Publix Supermarket Liquor Store, 2783 Elkcam Blvd.

DELAND -- A tanker truck rolled over early Friday on the eastbound exit of State Road 44 off Interstate 4, forcing the shutdown of lanes on both sides well into the day as clean-up crews dealt with 3,800 gallons of spilled disel fuel, the Florida Highway Patrol reported.

The tanker hit his brakes suddenly when traffic slowed in front of him at 4:15 a.m., causing the tanker to jackknife near a retention pond. Because of the heavy fume smell, troopers closed all four lanes of I-4 for eight hours to allow clean-up crews to deal with the spill.

DELAND -- The Volusia County Sheriff's Office made its way into a house south of DeLand just before 6 p.m. Friday to arrest a suspect accused of firing
at a deputy, Volusia Sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson said.

The arrest of 21-year-old Gary Jamel Cannon, Jr. brought a 4-hour standoff to a close. No shots were fired and no one was injured during the standoff.

Deputy Justin Stewart came under fire late Thursday night while investigating a car break-in on West Lisbon Parkway.

DELAND -- When residents “spring forward” Sunday, March 8, Volusia County Fire Services recommends not only changing the time on the clock, but also the batteries in their smoke alarms, sas county spokeswoman Shelley Szafraniec.

ORANGE CITY -- A Volusia County firefighter has been indicted by federal authorities on a two-count indictment charging him with receiving and possessing child pornography.

Steven James Bussard Jr., 30, of Sanford, arrested Feb. 17, was later presented in federal court and released on condition that he wear a GPS tracking device and surrender all firearms.

Bussard, employed at Station 31 in Orange City by Volusia County Fire Services since 2000, has been suspended without pay, pending the outcome of his criminal case, county officials said.

DELAND -- A Volusia County Sheriff's deputy escaped injury late Thursday night when he came under fire while investigating a car break-in.

The shooting began after a resident on West Lisbon Parkway just south of DeLand called the Sheriff's Office at 11:23 p.m. to report a car burglary. While it's unclear whether anything was taken, the resident called after noticing that the car door and glove compartment were open.