The fast action of a concerned citizen probably saved the life of a Crawfordville couple who were sleeping in their home July 16 while a motor home parked outside their door turned into a burning inferno, according to Sheriff David Harvey.

Rosa L. Burdette of Crawfordville was driving past the home of Thomas J. Colligan on Hiada Trail at 12:02 a.m. when she stopped to render assistance. Deputy Ward Kromer was dispatched to the scene and observed a motor home fully engulfed in flames close to the house.

The victim told Deputy Kromer that he and his wife were awakened by Burdette who shouted for them to get out of their home as the RV fire raged on. The victim got his wife and dog and moved their vehicles away from the home. Colligan said he and his wife owed their lives to Burdette’s bravery.

Burdette spotted the fire as she was driving by and made sure the couple was awake. After they were awakened, she grabbed Colligan’s cell phone and made an emergency call to 911.

The Wakulla County Fire Department arrived on the scene and extinguished the flames. The RV, valued at $10,000, was a total loss. The residence suffered minor damage due to the extreme heat exposure. Two light fixtures were damaged, several pieces of vinyl siding melted and a number of windows were cracked.

Firefighters said the motor home fire was electrical in nature which may have been caused by a lightning strike and the blaze was ruled accidental.

On July 15, Joe D. Ward of St. Marks reported a fraud. The victim found an unauthorized transaction for $275 on his bank account. Deputy Nick Gray investigated.

On July 15, Dorothy Jean Stephens, 40, of Panacea was charged with disorderly intoxication, possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana and introduction of contraband into a detention facility. A Panacea bar owner contacted the sheriff’s office regarding Stephens refusing to leave the establishment. Stephens allegedly entered the establishment with outside alcoholic beverages and lit a marijuana cigarette.

Deputy Josh Langston asked the suspect to leave the establishment and she allegedly became belligerent and shouted obscenities at him. Sgt. Ronald Mitchell arrived and Stephens was transported to the Wakulla County Jail.

The suspect was warned about not entering the jail with weapons or drugs. During the search of the suspect inside the jail, a misdemeanor amount of marijuana and prescription pills were discovered.

On July 17, Lt. Brad Taylor and Deputies Lorne Whaley and Ben Steinle investigated a boating accident on Lake Ellen. Two teenage girls were injured in the accident. Brittany Renee Hagan, 17, and Rachel Marie Gustetic, 16, both of Crawfordville, were injured after striking trees. They were being pulled behind a motor boat by Jacob Rawls when their rope line snapped at the inner tube. Hagan suffered serious head trauma and was flown to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital by helicopter. Gustetic also suffered injuries and was taken to the hospital by ground ambulance. The case investigation was turned over to Lt. Eric Johnston of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

On July 17, James J. Leek of Crawfordville reported losing his wallet and cell phone at Wal-Mart. The victim left the property on top of his vehicle and realized it was up there after getting to the highway traffic light. His cell phone was turned in to Wal-Mart, but his wallet was not. Deputy Evelyn Brown investigated.

On July 17, Dianna Reams of Tallahassee reported a burglary of a vehicle while it was at a Woodville Highway business. The victim’s purse was stolen with contents valued at $25. Deputy Nick Boutwell investigated.

On July 19, a 24-year-old male victim reported a domestic disturbance as a female friend entered the home of another friend uninvited. Deputy Lorne Whaley arrived at the victim’s home to find EMS treating the man’s hand for a laceration.

Tabitha Antoinette Hicks, 31, of Crawfordville allegedly entered the home and threw a car stereo faceplate at a female victim and cut the male victim with a knife. Hicks allegedly removed a guitar from a truck that was parked at the home and smashed it on the truck. More damage was done to the vehicle and the guitar was destroyed. Hicks fled the scene in the damaged truck, but was later interviewed by Deputy Whaley at another Crawfordville area home. Hicks was charged with burglary, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, battery and criminal mischief. She was transported to the Wakulla County jail without incident.

On July 16, Alan S. Dick of Crawfordville reported a grand theft at a Crawfordville home he had used for storage. A total of $510 worth of boating equipment and a hammock were stolen. Deputy Ian Richards investigated.

On July 17, Bari L. Shepard of Panacea reported a burglary at the Wakulla Moose Lodge in Panacea. A forced entry was discovered and a cash register was stolen. Damage to the window was estimated at $300 and the register was valued at $400. Deputy Nathan Taylor and Lt. Danny Harrell investigated.

On July 17, Lisa M. Daily of Crawfordville reported a criminal mischief at Mashes Sands BP. A customer observed a suspect kicking her vehicle. Damage was estimated at $150. Suspects have been identified. Deputy Nathan Taylor investigated.

On July 19, the Ashley Hall Road home in Crawfordville of James A. McKenzie was a total loss following a 2:53 p.m. house fire. Tallahassee Fire Department officials responded to the scene because they were not sure which county the fire was in. The homeowner was not at home at the time of the fire. He returned home with a friend and spotted the fire as they approached the home. They fought the fire with a hose until the fire department arrived.

The state Fire Marshal was called to the scene. Firefighters believe the fire started near a power meter. The loss was estimated at $150,000. Lt. Mike Kemp and Det. Jeremy Johnston investigated.

On July 19, Muazzem H. Siraji of Tallahassee and the Chevron convenience store in Crawfordville reported a gas drive off. The fuel taken was valued at $59. Deputy Taff Stokley investigated.

On July 19, Steve M. Strange of Crawfordville reported a credit card fraud. The victim’s bank account was used by an unknown individual from July 16 to July 19 and a total of $3,467 worth of charges was amassed over the Internet and in Europe. Deputy Taff Stokley investigated.

On July 19, William R. Yates of Crawfordville reported a fraud as someone created charges on his bank account. A total of $629 worth of charges was amassed in Indiana and Iowa. Captain Steve Ganey investigated.

On July 19, Deanna W. Maresco of Crawfordville reported a fraud. Six debits were discovered on her account worth $758. The charges were created in the United Kingdom. Lt. Mike Kemp investigated.

On July 20, Mark Anthony Robison, 24, of Crawfordville was charged with introduction of contraband into a detention facility. Lt. C.L. Morrison received information that the inmate, who was part of a work crew, would attempt to bring tobacco into the jail facility. Robison admitted to Detention Deputy Michael Zimba that he was hiding loose leaf tobacco inside his body. The inmate gave up the tobacco which was hidden in part of a latex glove known as “suitcasing.”

On July 20, William B. Treadway of Crawfordville reported a residential burglary. A television was removed from a camper home. A fax machine and air compressor was recovered in the victim’s driveway. The television is valued at $250. Deputy Jerry Morgan investigated.

On July 20, Matthew Cole Metcalf, 27, of Panacea was charged with DUI and knowingly driving while his license was suspended or revoked. Lt. C.L. Morrison and Deputy David Renna witnessed a near traffic accident on Crawfordville Highway. Vehicles in both lanes had to stop and one vehicle left the roadway to avoid a crash. The driver was operating the truck with a flat front tire and the tire was just about to come off the rim.

After the traffic stop, Metcalf was observed allegedly attempting to jump over a passenger and get out the passenger door. Beer and whiskey were located inside the vehicle. Two passengers in the vehicle were released and Metcalf was taken to the Wakulla County jail without incident. Deputy Will Hudson also investigated.

On July 20, Brandi Nicole Mathews, 28, of Crawfordville received a notice to appear in court for public affray after a witness reported that the suspect and a male were in a physical disturbance in a street in Sopchoppy. The suspect said she got into a disturbance with a male friend after flicking a cigarette in his face. Deputy Josh Langston investigated.

On July 21, Michelle Norman and Frances Lowe, both of Crawfordville, reported criminal mischief cases as someone damaged their mailboxes. Damage to the Norman mailbox was estimated at $150. The damage to the Lowe property was estimated at $500. Deputy Mitch Revels investigated.

On July 21 Sheila Babb of Crawfordville reported a criminal mischief as fecal matter was discovered on the family motorcycle. The fecal matter had been smeared all over the motorcycle. A van owned by Winifred Jenkins-Rice of Sopchoppy was discovered nearby with matter smeared on the window. Deputy Nathan Taylor investigated.

The Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office received 873 calls for service during the past week including 18 residential and business alarms; 118 citizen contacts; 14 disturbances; 39 medical emergencies 208 residential and business security checks; 47 special details; 28 suspicious vehicles or people; 11 traffic enforcement; 34 traffic stops; 12 disabled vehicles; 13 reckless vehicles; and 13 wanted people.