Cedar Key Police Beat

On August 9, while on routine patrol, Chief Castell heard the Cedar Key Fire Department being paged for a fire on Dock Street, and he responded for traffic control in the area. Upon his arrival smoke was observed coming from the wooden walkway in front of Dock Street Motel. The fire spread rather rapidly, but the Fire Department arrived and extinguished the flames before too much damage occurred to the walkway. The buildings were not in imminent danger at the time, but had the Fire Department not been there the results would have been devastating. The State Fire Marshall was called to investigate the incident, as the fire was of a suspicious nature. As of this date and time no information has been received from the Fire Marshall to indicate arson, but it appears there could have been some type accelerant used, since the fire did spread so rapidly in certain areas.

On August 12 at approximately 3:21 a.m., Sgt. John McMullen and Officer Mike Cosseboom responded to a 911 call reference an intruder in a local woman`s home. The victim said about 3:12 a.m. she was awakened and discovered a white male standing over her in her bedroom. She told the intruder to leave and he turned to leave through the front door. He hesitated momentarily but the victim finally encouraged him to leave. She then called 911. The victim stated she knew the defendant, Mr. Jacob R. Gatts of Cedar Key, but only casually. The victim advised that Mr. Gatts had left a jar of marijuana and a large bottle of whiskey on her hot water heater. The leafy material field tested positive for marijuana and weighed approximately 15 grams. Mr. Gatts was arrested and transported to the Levy County Jail on charges of Trespass of an Occupied Dwelling and Possession of Marijuana Less Than 20 Grams.