RONALD CUMMINGS, DAD OF MISSING HALEIGH, ARRESTED CHRISTMAS DAY

Dec. 26, 2022

On Christmas Day morning deputies arrested and charged Ronald Cummings, 39, of Welaka with multiple felonies including battery on a law enforcement officer, trafficking amounts of oxycodone, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, resisting an officer with violence, obstructing police by depriving means of communication. He was also charged with possession of marijuana and drug equipment possession.

A deputy along with fire-rescue personnel responded shortly after midnight to a single-vehicle crash with possible vehicle fire at the intersection of Sisco Road and Olivia Lane in Pomona Park. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with Cummings who was sitting in the driver’s seat of a Hyundai Sonata that appeared to have hit the Olivia Lane road sign. The vehicle was still running and Cummings appeared unconscious with a bottle of alcohol in his lap. The deputy turned the vehicle off and instructed Cummings to exit the vehicle. Cummings attempted to exit the vehicle, then sat back down and tried to start the vehicle. The deputy then pulled Cummings out of the vehicle. Cummings then pushed the deputy, began reaching for the deputy’s agency issued firearm and attempted to pull the firearm from the holster. As the deputy attempted to restrain Cummings, he hit the deputy’s radio, knocking it to the ground, preventing the deputy access. The deputy was able to take Cummings to the ground and secure him with the assistance of fire-rescue personnel. After securing Cummings, the suspect began rapping to the deputy, “You think I’m scared of prison.”

Cummings was released from the Florida Department of Corrections in October of this year after serving 12 years for trafficking heroin and other illicit drugs. He is the father of Haleigh Cummings, who went missing in 2009 from her home. She was five at the time of her disappearance and her case is considered a homicide. She was never found and a body was never recovered. Cummings is not considered a suspect in her case.

Cummings was taken to HCA Putnam Hospital for medical clearance before being taken to the Putnam County Jail. During first appearance this morning Cummings was given an $185,000 bond.

“Despite being given a clean slate after serving his time in prison, Ronald has returned to his old ways and is a menace to our community,” Sheriff H.D. ‘Gator’ DeLoach said. He not only put lives in danger with his actions, he also attempted to endanger our deputy and medical personnel coming to assist him after he chose to drive while under the influence. Some people do not take the second chances they’ve been given to change their lives and his actions reflect this. I hope we can move swiftly to put him back in prison.”