Volusia News Now

DAYTONA BEACH SHORES -- An Orlando hotelier group is planning to close late this month on the 200-room Surfside Hotel and Conference, 3209 S. Atlantic Ave., city officials confirmed.

Avista Properties, owner and manager of Orlando area hotels for three decades, last month paid $2.8 million for the Islander Resort at 3161 S. Atlantic Ave., in bankruptcy court. It was owned by the Bray & Gillespie group whjich declared bbankruptcy in 2008 on two dozen beachside hotels.

Avista also owns the Hampton Inn in the Shores.

The shadows dance around the flames. The Republicans walk out of the debt limit talks to dramatize their opposition to raising taxes. The president is dragged off the golf course and into the negotiations, whereupon he promptly makes a campaign speech promoting class warfare rather than seeking a debt crisis solution. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke scratches his head in puzzlement as his monetarist remedies fail to offset the damage to the economy exacerbated by the socialist policies of the Obama Administration.

And all of this is theater.

It is in the nature of these political confrontations that a solution will not be reached until the last possible second. The good of the nation be damned – there are too many political careers at stake to compromise before it is absolutely unavoidable.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Joey Logano took the checkered flag Friday in a last-lap crash-marred Jalapeno 250 at Daytona International Speedway.

Logano, whose No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota rolled off 40th due to an unapproved adjustment after qualifying, survived a spin in lap 27 and paired up with Jason Leffler with 30 laps to go.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- It's not unusual for teenagers to get worked up playing video games like grand theft auto. Two 17-year-olds played the real-life version, which was no game for the cops.

Jerrid Buhler and Samuel Parks Jr., wracked up a lot of charges following a police chase at 2:40 p.m. that ended with their arrests at 2:40 p.m. Friday in the 100 block of Field St.

Here is a synopsis of what happened, according to a report filed by Sgt. Christopher Roos: Officers were dispatched to a report of two suspicious vehicles in the area of the New Smyrna Beach Utilities Field Street Substation. While cops were responding, information was obtained that both vehicles, a green Ford Expedition and
a beige Plymouth Voyager, were reported as stolen and the two subjects were leaving in the green Ford Expedition."

Officer Reve arrived in the area and located the Ford Expedition. A traffic stop was attempted at which time Buhler fled with the vehicle. During the subsequent pursuit, Buhler turned down a narrow dirt road that abruptly ended at a ditch. Buhler and Parks both jumped out of the vehicle and ran off with Reve right behind them.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- I was driving my son to his baseball game and we were chatting about various topics, his batting average (not so great), his FCAT Scores (awesome), his birthday that just passed (14, where did the freakin time go), his father (a subject for another day) and the weather.

At one point I really did not think he was paying any attention to me so I asked him if he was listening.

"Yes Mom, I heard you."

So I said, "So, what do you think?"

NSBNews.net video and photos by Henry Frederick / Oak Hill City Hall had a courtroom feel to it Monday night with Police Chief Diane Young and suspended Sgt. Manuel Perez airing their differences before the Personnel Board with a happy ending. Perez, was represented by attorney David Hood, former Ormond Beach mayor. Young is shown at left with Personnel Board member Jeff Bracy. The video has highlights from both sides. NSBNews.net was the only media outlet present.

OAK HILL -- Suspended Sgt. Manuel Perez is returning to the police force after an intense hearing Monday night before the city's Personnel Board where he and Chief Diane Young were able to iron out their differences.

Courtesy photo / Reckless gun play led to the Tuesday arrest of 20-year-old New Smyrna Beach resident Marcus White in his father's June 7 shooting death, a complete change of story over what he initially described as an accidental shooting, according to Sheriff's investigators.

SAMSULA -- Scared that an intruder was trying to break into his family's camper, 20-year-old Marcus White initially said he armed himself for protection with a pistol that accidentally discharged and killed his father earlier this month. But during a follow-up interview with Volusia County Sheriff's investigators, a different story emerged and the son was charged with manslaughter.

"White told investigators that he lied about a possible intruder and instead was playing with the gun out of curiosity when he inadvertently fired the fatal shot into his father's back," Sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson said.

"White told investigators that he lied about a possible intruder and instead was playing with the gun out of curiosity when he inadvertently fired the fatal shot into his father's back," Sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson said.

Based on the follow-up investigation and White's admission, the June 7 killing inside a camper in Samsula was determined to be the result of White's negligent handling of the gun, Davidson said. After consulting with prosecutors at the State Attorney's Office about the change of story, the decision was made to charge White with manslaughter, a second-degree felony, he added.

The shooting occurred in a rural area of the county, on Alligator Ranch Road off of State Road 415.

Courtesy photo / Joshua Lee Groves is being held without bond after his Tuesday warrant arrest by Holly Hill police accusing him of sexually molesting three children earlier this month.

HOLLY HILL -- A 30-year-old Magnolia Avenue man accused of sexually abusing three children in their Holly Hill home and while swimming in a neighbor's pool home, was arrested earlier today after police secured a warrant.

Although police investigators are not releasing details of Joshua Groves' association with the victims, they did say he was in a custodial position over the children -- ages 9, 11, and 12 -- during at least some of the assaults. The investigation determined that the crimes occurred at various times during the months of March, April, May and June, police said.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The sea surface temperatures around the surf and the adjacent inlet waters of Volusia County have been in the 80s. Menhaden and large mullet are holding in these waters as are some tarpon but there have been no reported catches of tarpon. Catches of bluefish, pompano, and sharks provided the most action in these waters.