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Jacksonville man pleads guilty to firearm possession by convicted felon
JACKSONVILLE, Florida - Anthony Rodriguez, Jr., a 32-year-old from Orange Park, has pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to the United States Attorney's Office. Rodriguez faces up to 15 years in federal prison and forfeiture of a Glock pistol and ammunition traceable to the offense. He made his initial appearance in federal court on July 9, 2024, and was ordered detained. According to court records, Rodriguez shoplifted merchandise from a retail store in Clay County on May 11, 2024. Store personnel stopped Rodriguez, and deputies from the Clay County Sheriff's Office responded. During a...
Teen arrested for allegedly murdering mother in Polk County
POLK COUNTY, Florida - A 17-year-old from Port Charlotte has been arrested for allegedly murdering his mother in unincorporated Auburndale.Collin Griffith, 17, of Port Charlotte, is accused of killing his mother, 39-year-old Catherine Griffith, also of Port Charlotte, on Sunday evening, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff Grady Judd will discuss the tragic details at a press conference scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, which will be streamed live on the PCSO Facebook page.Collin Griffith is currently in custody.
Death investigations training enhances interagency cooperation in Hendry County
LABELLE, Florida - The Hendry County Sheriff's Office is hosting a Death Investigations training session provided by the Office of the District 21 Medical Examiner.Multiple agencies, including Florida Wildlife Conservation, Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office, Glades County Sheriff's Office, State Attorney's Office, Hendry County EMS, and LaBelle Fire Department, are participating in the training, according to a press release from the Hendry County Sheriff's Office. Members of the Hendry County Sheriff's Office are also in attendance.This collaborative effort aims to improve interagency cooperation and ensure accurate, up-to-date training, ultimately contributing to the justice system and public safety, the press release stated.
Eustis woman arrested for burglary and destruction of property
EUSTIS, Florida - A woman from Eustis has been arrested after allegedly burglarizing an occupied dwelling and destroying multiple items on the property, according to the Lake County Sheriff's Office.On August 31, 2024, deputies responded to a residence in Eustis regarding Chelsea Smith, who was described by the victim as having brass knuckles while committing the burglary. The victim also provided a vehicle description. Smith fled the area in a vehicle before deputies arrived.Deputies worked diligently over two shift rotations to locate Smith. On September 1, 2024, after gathering intel regarding her location, deputies arrested Smith and transported her to the Lake County Jail. She has been charged with multiple felonies, according to the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Sixth grader arrested for posting school shooting threat on Instagram
ST. LUCIE, Florida - An 11-year-old girl from Southern Oaks Middle School was arrested after posting a school shooting threat on Instagram, authorities said.The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office reported that school staff and deputies immediately began investigating the incident. They quickly identified the student, searched her, and deemed the threat not credible. Despite this, her actions caused panic and violated the law.Sheriff Keith Pearson emphasized the seriousness of such threats. "Along with being arrested, she faces severe disciplinary consequences, up to and including expulsion," Pearson stated. He highlighted the strong collaboration between the school district, staff, students, and deputies to ensure student safety."We take every threat, whether made in person or online, seriously. The message is simple: If you see something, say something," Pearson added.
Pasco student arrested for threats against Wiregrass Ranch High School
PASCO COUNTY, Florida - A student has been arrested for making written threats to kill and unlawful use of a two-way communication device in connection to social media threats directed towards Wiregrass Ranch High School.The Pasco Sheriff's Office confirmed that there is no threat to the school, and all schools in the area have resumed normal operations. The office urged parents and guardians to discuss with their children the consequences of making threats and the dangers of sharing threats and rumors instead of reporting them immediately to law enforcement.Earlier in the day, Wiregrass Ranch High School and nearby campuses were temporarily placed on alert status as deputies investigated the social media threat. Deputies located the individual who made the threat, and there is no immediate danger to any school. The investigation is ongoing, according to the Pasco Sheriff's Office.
Marion County Sheriff's Office seeks public's help in solving 2014 murder case
MARION COUNTY, Florida - Authorities are asking for the public's assistance in solving the 2014 murder of Vitaliy Olenchuk, whose remains were discovered by a utility worker.On August 18, 2014, a utility worker found human remains near the 19000 block of Northeast Highway 315. Detectives identified the victim as Vitaliy Olenchuk, born December 9, 1972, and determined he had been murdered by blunt-force trauma, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office.Olenchuk's journey was marked by hope and heartbreak. Born in Ukraine, he moved to the United States seeking a new life and had connections to Eastern European communities in Jacksonville and St. Augustine. He worked in construction and was last confirmed alive on March 16, 2012. However, evidence suggests he may have been seen in Marion County around July 2013.As the investigation continues, authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward. "His family deserves closure, and we are determined to bring the person responsible for his death to justice," stated the Marion County Sheriff's Office.Anyone with information, no matter how small, is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers of Marion County at (352) 368-STOP (7867) or submit tips at www.ocalacrimestoppers.com.
Shooting investigation underway in Marion County
MARION COUNTY, Florida - A man is in critical condition following a shooting on Tuesday afternoon, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office.Deputies responded to a residence in the 4900 block of NW 56th Terrace at approximately 4:56 p.m. on September 10, 2024. Upon arrival, they found an adult white male suffering from a gunshot wound. Deputies provided immediate medical care, and the victim was transported to a hospital, where he remains in critical condition.The investigation has been taken over by MCSO Major Crimes detectives, and a suspect is currently in custody. The investigation is ongoing, and additional information will be provided as it becomes available, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office.
Former ATM technician sentenced to over 14 years for bank robbery and firearm offense
ORLANDO, Florida - U.S. District Judge Anne Conway sentenced Johnson Saint-Louis to 14 years and 3 months in federal prison for bank robbery and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Saint-Louis, a 39-year-old from Deerfield Beach, was also ordered to forfeit a Ruger firearm and assorted ammunition used during the offense. A jury found him guilty on May 30, 2024, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office. Evidence presented at trial revealed that Saint-Louis, a former ATM technician, tampered with ATMs serviced by his former employer across the southeast. On February 16, 2021,...
Tampa police resolve barricaded suspect situation peacefully
TAMPA, Florida - Tampa police successfully resolved a tense standoff with an armed suspect on Tuesday afternoon. At 10:19 a.m., officers responded to a call in the 3300 block of W. Arch St. after a utility worker reported being threatened by an armed man, identified as 64-year-old Robert Kelley, of Tampa, Florida, according to a press release from the Tampa Police Department. Kelley, who has a history of military service and claimed to suffer from PTSD, retreated into his residence when officers arrived. As a precaution, surrounding homes were evacuated to ensure the safety of neighbors. The Tampa Police SWAT...
Colombian national extradited to face charges of kidnapping U.S. soldiers in Miami
MIAMI, Florida - A Colombian national was extradited to the United States on Friday to face charges related to kidnapping and assaulting two members of the U.S. military who were on temporary duty in Bogotá, Colombia. Kenny Julieth Uribe Chiran, 35, of Bogotá, made her initial court appearance today in Miami, Florida, before Magistrate Judge Eduardo Sanchez of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. According to court documents, Uribe Chiran and her co-conspirators targeted, incapacitated, and kidnapped two U.S. soldiers in Bogotá in order to rob them of their valuables. Uribe Chiran is charged with kidnapping...
Ocala man arrested for attempted enticement of a minor
OCALA, Florida - Christopher Shaun Jonas, a 32-year-old from Ocala, has been arrested on charges of attempted enticement of a minor, according to United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg. If convicted, Jonas faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. The indictment was returned on August 6, 2024. According to court records, on July 23, 2024, Jonas contacted a profile on an internet application designed for prostitution. This profile, however, was operated by a Marion County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) undercover detective. The undercover detective told Jonas that she was a 13-year-old girl, and Jonas...
Federal inmate faces charges for assaulting officers and possessing contraband
OCALA, Florida - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced the arrest of Muller Vedrine, 33, of Miami, on a two-count indictment charging him with assaulting, resisting, and impeding officers of the United States, and possession of contraband by a federal inmate. Vedrine, a federal inmate at the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex in Sumter County, was found with a cellphone during a routine search of his cell on March 10, 2024, according to court records. When correctional officers ordered Vedrine to hand over the contraband phone, he punched an officer in the chest and began smashing the phone. Officers subdued...
"This Pervert thought he was traveling to Flagler County to take away the innocence of a child..." Sheriff Rick Staly said
PALM COAST, Florida - A Daytona Beach man was arrested Monday morning after driving to Flagler County to meet a 16-year-old girl for sex, according to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office.Alfred Smith, a 25-year-old from Daytona Beach, believed he was meeting a minor he had been messaging on a social media app. Instead, he was met by deputies at a gas station in Palm Coast. Smith admitted to deputies that he had been communicating with someone he thought was a teenage girl and had sent sexually explicit photos. He also acknowledged that he knew it was wrong to drive to...
Maryland man arrested for domestic battery and kidnapping in Flagler County
BUNNELL, Florida - A Maryland man was arrested Thursday after allegedly attacking and kidnapping his girlfriend in Bunnell, according to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office.Deputies responded to a domestic disturbance on September 5 and found the victim at a nearby residence in distress with visible signs of assault. The victim, who had been dating Steven McSwain, 47, of Maryland for about a month, told deputies that an argument escalated when she asked McSwain to leave. Instead, McSwain allegedly grabbed her by the neck, choked her, and threw her to the ground.The victim reported that McSwain then dragged her to a...
New Fire Engines join St. Lucie County Fire District Fleet
ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Florida - Continuing a long-standing tradition, the St. Lucie County Fire District officially put new Fire Engine 12 and Fire Engine 15 into service today. WATCH TRADITION: New Fire Engines FD Chaplain, Retired Lt. Tommy Neiman, blessed each truck, and attendees participated in the ceremonial 'push' of the apparatus into the bay. Following this, Communications officially announced the trucks into service, according to the St. Lucie County Fire District.
Okaloosa County woman scammed out of $3,000 by fake sheriff's captains
OKALOOSA COUNTY, Florida - A woman in Okaloosa County was duped into wiring $3,000 to scammers posing as captains from the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office.The woman received a phone call from individuals claiming to be captains with the OCSO, who told her she needed to wire transfer the money to put a hold on an arrest warrant, according to a press release from the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office. Unfortunately, she completed the transaction before realizing it was a scam.The OCSO emphasized that they will never contact individuals to request money transfers. "Please don't let these con artists take your cash," stated the sheriff's office.Anyone with information on the scam is urged to call the OCSO at 850.651.7400 or contact Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers. Tips can be given anonymously, and information leading to an arrest could earn a cash reward of up to $3,000.
Hernando County man convicted of sexually abusing child under 12, faces multiple charges for ongoing abuse
HERNANDO COUNTY, Florida - A jury has found 43-year-old Joshua Reginald Velez guilty of two counts of sexual battery on a child under 12 by a person in familial custody.Velez was arrested in December 2020 following an investigation by the Hernando County Sheriff's Office. The investigation began after the young victim disclosed the abuse to an adult, who then contacted law enforcement to report the crime.Officials made contact with the child, who reported numerous incidents of sexual abuse by Velez spanning over three different states. Detectives discovered that Velez had been abusing the victim since the victim was 10 years old, according to the Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney's Office.The case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Angelina Rodeo and Kasey Whitson.
Jacksonville man indicted for receiving child sexual abuse material
JACKSONVILLE, Florida - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced that Alexander James Koby, a 39-year-old from Jacksonville, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for knowingly receiving child sexual abuse material over the internet. If convicted, Koby faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison, and a potential lifetime term of supervised release. Koby, a convicted child sex offender, was previously convicted in 2014 for knowingly possessing child sexual abuse material. He is scheduled to make his initial court appearance on September 10, 2024, before United States Magistrate Judge Samuel J....
Tampa Fire Rescue training division releases internal audit report
TAMPA, Florida - The Training Division within Tampa Fire Rescue has released an internal audit report detailing the planning, administration, and record-keeping of ongoing training for the department. The full report is available for public viewing on TampaGov.net.
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