Crime

Victim arrested dozens of times on misdemeanor charges like drinking in public

Carl Labreck, 49, struck and killed by train, is shown here in a 2012 Volusia County branch jail mug shot. He had been arrested dozen of times over past several years on misdemeanor charges like drinking in public. 

DAYTONA BEACH -- A man killed by a train on the tracks of the Florida East Coast Railway on Monday night at the crossing near International Speedway Boulevard has been identified as 49-year-old Carl Labreck, authorities confirmed.

His body was found 75 feet from where he was struck just before 8:30 p.m. A train dispatcher called the crash in to authorities.

Investigators with the FEC and local police are trying to figure out he was standing on the tracks in the first place. The city had an epidemic of suicides by train a decade ago where several men stood in the path of oncoming trains, even with lights and sirens by the conuctors.

Photo for Headline Surfer / Scott Barkley of DeLtona is the sixth and final suspect aarrested for his alleged role in the armed invasion of a DeLand-area home at 1302 9th Ave. as shown in this locator map.

DELAND -- Sheriff's deputies apprehended a sixth and final suspect wanted in connection with a Feb. 25 armed home invasion outside the DeLand city limits.

"Volusia County Sheriff's deputies located 19-year-old Scott Barkley at his Deltona home (Tuesday) morning and arrested him without incident," Sheriff's spokesman Brandon Haught said.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- A 29-year-old man who allegedly robbed a couple while brandishing a knife was apprehended after fleeing into nearby woods was apprehended with the help of a canine, New Smyrna Beach police said.

ORLANDO -- State law enforcers are asking the public's help in coming forward with any information on a 46-year-old Orlando man who may have solicited for sex of children or involvement of human trafficking beyond two alledged victims -- a father and son, following the suspect's arrest.

Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's Miami Regional Operations Center Cyber/High-Tech Crimes squad arrested Donald W. Purviance, 46, of Orlando, on charges of solicitation of a parent, human trafficking, soliciting the procurement of a minor for prostitution and attempted lewd and lascivious battery.

The investigation began last year, following an anonymous tip, when Purviance lived in Biscayne Park, FDLE spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger said. She said Purviance moved to Orlando (20156 Quinlan St.) last September, and in February, allegedly solicited an undercover agent he thought was the parent of a 14-year-old son. 

"Purviance offered to pay $750 in exchange for sex with the father and the son," Plessinger said. "FDLE agents arrested Purviance in Sumter County on Monday without incident. Agents believe there could be additional victims."

Convicted New Smyrna Beach arsonist James Bates allegedly sat in his yard chair, beer in one hand, cell phone in the other, while reporting an arson next door to an empty house after torching it, but waiting for flames to shoot through the roof.

In fact, it ended with the convicted arsonist who lives right next door -- the same man who called authorities in the first place to report the fire, a Volusia County Sheriff's official said.

A motorist was twice shot on the Dunlawton Bridge as shown in this locator map by someone in a Fordd F-150 pick-up truck just before midnight Saturday.

PORT ORANGE -- A 46-year-old motorist was in critical condition this morning with gunshot wounds suffered just before midnight by an unknown person in another vehicle who pulled up next to his on the Dunlawton Bridge and fired several shots, Port Orange police said.

The victim, Kanwaljit Singh of Port Orange, was shot twice -- in the upper thigh and left side of his lower stomach. Singh had his 13-year-old son with him in the front passenger seat, but he was not injured. Police have no motive for the shooting.

A woman was robbed at gunpoint of cash and prescriptions at 218 N. Dixie Freeway in New Smyrna Beach just after 11 p.m. as shown in this locator map.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A 26-year-old petty criminal robbed a woman of cash and medicine at gunpoint Wednesday night, but he couldn't outrun the long arm of the law even after ditching his getaway car, New Smyrna Beach cops said.

Eddie Selph was taken down by a K-9 dog and arrested after a brief chase through a wooded area and charged with armed robbery. Here is a synopsis of what happened in the 11:09 p.m. pursuit as described by Sgt. Valerie Joyce: Regina Krouse, 36, told cops she had been robbed at gunpoint of cash and prescriptions at 218 N. Dixie Freeway.

Victim is Volusia County's first reported homicide of 2013

Volusia County's first homicide of the New Year was reported in the 900 block of South Parsons Avenue outside DeLand as shown here.

DELAND -- Sheriff's investigators have are investigating what appears to be Volusia County's first reported murder of 2013, after a shotgun victim was dropped off late Tuesday at Florida Hospital Hospital-DeLand where he died less than an 40 minutes later, an agency spokesman said.

The victim was described only as an adult male, and though authorities know his identity, they're not releasing any further information until his family is first notified.

A still photo taken from a surveillance camera provided to media by New Smyrna Beach police shows robbers confronting the young clerk early Wednesday inside TK's Right Stop, 218 N. Dixie Freeway.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The cops are looking for five people who robbed a clerk at T.K.'s Right Stop early this morning and fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Here is a synopsis of the 3 a.m. strong arm robbery at TK's, 218 N. Dixie Freeway, also known as US1, as described by New Smyrna Beach Police Sgt. Christopher Roos: A dark-colored car with five people in it pulled up to the store. Three of them walked inside and accosted the 20-year-old clerk, Charles Michaux, with two of the assailants them jumping on him and holding him down while the third grabbed a cash box before they all three bolted out the door and hopped into the car, which sped off.