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Man runs car into county complex

Authorities say the driver h eard voices telling him there were bodies in the building.

By JOHN FRANK
Published October 16, 2006

LECANTO - The doors to the Citrus County government complex are boarded up, but a government shutdown or hurricane threat aren't to blame.

On Saturday night, a 77-year-old Homosassa man used his vehicle as a battering ram to smash the glass-door entrance to the county's administrative offices in Lecanto, according to police reports,

Frederick F. Parez was arrested and charged with burglary to a structure with damage. He is being held on $25,000 bail at the Citrus County jail.

Assistant County Administrator Tom Dick said Sunday that the government offices will be open today, but visitors will have to enter through the employee entrance on the west side of the building.

Citrus County sheriff deputies responded to an alarm at 11:30 p.m. and found a gold Chevrolet Impala backed in under the white-columned portico at the entrance to the facility off W Sovereign Path, reports state.

Inside, deputies found Parez emerging from a hallway. Reports state Parez told deputies that "the head security officer for the state had advised him to break the doors down."

This security officer, Parez told authorities, said he was unable to find his way out of the building after being trapped for three hours.

Parez also said he was told three dead bodies were in the building.

As he was being put in the back of a deputy's car, Parez kept yelling for the security guard to come out of the building, reports state.

Dick said deputies told him that Parez was hearing voices in his head.

No dead bodies or anyone else were found inside and nothing appeared to be stolen.

County workers estimated the damage to the building at $3,000. They worked until 3 a.m. Sunday to take down the door frame and put plywood boards over the entrance.

"He did a number on the door but he lined it up pretty right," Dick said. "Obviously we may need to think about improving security in front of the building."

John Frank can be reached at jfrank@sptimes.com or 860-7312.

[Last modified October 15, 2006, 20:06:37]