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Central Florida Halloween forecast calls for scattered showers as coastal concerns persist
By Katherine Langford
Osceola County deputy accused of using excessive force on 67-year-old bonds out
Marcus Chen
Marcus Chen
Managing Editor · St. Paul, MN
Marcus manages the day-to-day editorial workflow across all brands, coordinating coverage assignments and ensuring editorial standards are met. He previously served as city editor at the Pioneer Press and holds a degree in Political Science from Carleton College.
More from Marcus →Managing Editor · Wednesday, October 28, 2026 at 10:19 PM · 1 min read
An Osceola County deputy has bonded out of jail after he was accused of using excessive force during a DUI traffic stop involving a 67-year-old. 29-year-old Joseph Billittier faces charges including battery on a person 65 or older, official misconduct, perjury in official proceedings, and falsifying a court or public record. On Wednesday, a judge granted Billitier $11,000 bond on the charges but he won’t return to his role as an Osceola County deputy. Osceola County Sheriff Christopher Blackmon called Billittier’s conduct “completely intolerable” and stated the deputy has been immediately relieved of duty pending formal termination proceedings. According to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, a random body camera review found discrepancies in Deputy Joseph Billttier’s sworn report about a DUI arrest last month.According to court records, Billittier arrested 67-year-old Lucy Castano-Pereira after she allegedly was under the influence, drove the wrong way down Simpson Road in Kissimmee,
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