June 20 – Marcia Lane, roving reporter

This news bulletin is brought to you in conjunction with NATKIM Radio. Listen to WPLK (800 AM), WIYD (1260 AM) and WPLK FM (98.3 FM).

The man sought in the hit-and-run deaths of two women bicyclists in St. Augustine turned himself in Wednesday and was before a judge today. A mental evaluation of Henry Haigler III has been requested as a condition of bond which was set at $25,000 for each charge of hit-and-run. Haigler called St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office detectives early Wednesday and arranged to meet them at St. Augustine location. He was taken to St. Johns County Jail without incident. The tape of the 9-1-1 calls when the bicyclists were struck on Racetrack Road Saturday is available on the Sheriff’s Office web site.

A Flagler County woman may have been trying to commit suicide by cop after a domestic disturbance at a Palm Coast Monday evening. Deputies were called to the Beth Lane house by Melanie Botts’ boyfriend after she allegedly threatened him with a knife. When deputies arrived she had left the house but was found in the backyard holding a 12-inch knife to her throat. She became increasing upset, demanding deputies shoot her, encouraging a K-9 to attack and yelling profanities while all the time refusing to drop the knife. A sergeant finally fired a Taser at her and deputies were able to take her into custody.

For the third time in 10 days a Flagler County man has been arrested in a  domestic abuse-related incident.  Roy Carlisi, 43, originally was charged with domestic battery, assault and resisting arrest after allegedly knocking out two of his wife’s teeth, sending her to the hospital June 9. He was released the next day with an ankle monitor and told not to come within 500 feet of her. The same day the monitor alerted he disobeyed that order and he was charged with violating terms of his pretrial release. Out on Tuesday, Carlisi reportedly violated terms again when the monitor alerted he was tampering with the device. This time Carlisi was charged with critical violation of pretrial release and is being held in the jail without bond.

Sheriff’s  officials note help for domestic violence victims is avaiablel in Flagler at the Family Life Center, in St. Johns County at the Betty Griffin Center and in Putnam County at the Lee Conlee House.

In Putnam County a fundraiser is coming up for the Lee Conlee House on June 28. Author Sean Dietrick appears in An Evening with Sean of the South at Florida School of the Arts in Palatka. It’s a return visit for Dietrick, who recently had his first novel published, an excerpt of which is in this month’s Southern Living. Last year Dietrick did his show for the Conlee House and raised $13,000 for the shelter. He didn’t  charge for that show and isn’t charging for this one. You can buy tickets for $25 online at EventBrite or go by the shelter’s thrift shop at 906 St. Johns Avenue.

A Putnam County man is in jail on aggravated battery charges after reportedly firing a gun at a West Palmetto Avenue house, reports the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. Johnnie Holcy, 53, was taken into custody at his Elm Avenue residence where deputies reported finding a spent shell casing in the yard. A man injured by the gunfire identified Holcy as the assailant,the Sheriff’s Office reports. Holcy was out on a $100,000 bond for a 2017 drug trafficking charge now in trial. That bond has been revoked.

The Rio Grand Band is performing Saturday at the Woman’s Club of Palatka as part of a fundraiser for a new roof for the clubhouse. In addition to the concert, ribs, chicken and fixins are part of the ticket price. Call 904-377-5044. Also that day Putnam County Commissioner Larry Harvey will be helping the roof fund with a pork butt sale at the clubhouse. Quantities are limited so order online at gfwcpalatka.com

This is Marcia Lane, your roving reporter.