On a peaceful January 23rd morning in Inverness, a scene interrupted the bubble of calamity that left residents intrigued. A modified Dodge Ramcharger ran into a stop sign as it took no heed to the falling lumber along the road. Police began a high-speed pursuit against the determined Dodge before a climactic stop at the front of the Dodge owner’s house. A young driver stopped out of the vehicle while a police officer quickly drew his weapon.
Inverness native Edward Gromling, 22, faced charges that included reckless driving, fleeing, attempting to elude and driving with a suspended license on January 23, following his thievery of lumber from a city construction site.
Grooming claimed that he took the lumber because it was discarded as trash. He also insisted on his oblivion of the pursuit by Officer B. Scott Roush. He stated that upon realization, he simply chose to head home.
Citrus County Judge Gary Graham, renowned for unconventional sentences, presented Gromling with an ultimatum. Grooming would either serve a three-month sentence in county jail or cosign the demolition of his truck, which would reduce the sentence to one month.
Grooming quietly opted to bid farewell to his truck and pleaded no contest to the faced charges.
Judge Graham reflected upon his pattern of nonconformity in sentences.
“Perhaps some of my judgments are considered unusual because they are unusual,” said Graham after the hearing. “Perhaps that’s because I am at the risk of being criticized for doing what I think is right and necessary to protect our community. So to the extent that anyone says my sentences are unusual, in a way, it’s a compliment.”
