Police seek man in 2 Jacksonville hotel robberies; photo released
Florida Crime News
Two Jacksonville hotels were robbed by the same man Monday afternoon with a short span but not before getting caught on security cameras.
The Sheriff's Office released one of the photos today.
Source: Crime
Toddler drowns after slipping away from his grandmother at Jacksonville apartment
Florida Crime News
A baby boy slipped away from his grandmother this morning and drowned in a drainage ditch off Powers Avenue, Jacksonville police said.
The grandmother was caring for the child about 10:15 a.m. and getting ready to take him in the car at Heron Walk Apartments, Sgt. Shawn Coarsey said. She put him on the ground in the car seat, but not strapped in yet, as she prepped the car.
When she turned around, the toddler was gone, Coarsey said. About 12 feet away there was a ditch he had crawled or tumbled into and drowned.
Source: Crime
Jury awards family $3 million in tired trucker accident in Flagler
Florida Crime News
A federal jury awarded $3 million Monday to the family of a 33-year-old Lake County man killed in late 2009 in a trucking accident on Interstate 95 in Flagler County.
The lawsuit verdict was handed down in U.S. District Court following two hours of deliberation by the jury in the death of Julio Rentas Jr., according to the Didier Law Firm.
Source: Crime
Guilty plea from Jacksonville title agent in mortgage fraud scheme
Florida Crime News
A Southside Jacksonville title agent pleaded guilty to bank fraud charges in federal court Thursday, after home appraisals were inflated in a mortgage fraud scheme that has already sent two others to prison, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Darlene Strickland, 45, was a licensed title agent and the owner of Premier Title Group, Inc. at 3886 Atlantic Blvd., and faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison.
Source: Crime
FSCJ security attacked in library stabbing
Florida Crime News
Two security officers were slashed with a knife Monday morning trying to remove a 20-year-old man at the North Campus library of Florida State College at Jacksonville.
A sheriff?s officer had to shoot the fleeing man twice with a Taser before the incident ended.
Jamiane Devon Finley of Key Haven Boulevard has been booked into the Duval County jail on charges of aggravated battery on a security officer and resisting arrest without violence, according to jail records.
Source: Crime
Crime Watch: Latest property crimes reported in Clay County
Florida Crime News
Attempted Robbery
Aug. 23
A male suspect walked up to the pharmacy counter at Walgreens on County Road 220 and handed the pharmacy technician a note saying he wanted Oxycodone. The victim said she did not have the key to the area where that drug was kept. The suspect then left the store in an unknown direction.
Thefts
Aug. 22
Gasoline was stolen from a U-Haul truck at SP JR Discount Beverage on Blanding Boulevard, Middleburg.
Source: Crime
Jacksonville cop who scammed police charity gets year in jail
Florida Crime News
A judge sentenced former Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Lt. Reginald Lott to a year in jail this afternoon for stealing thousands of dollars from the nonprofit Brotherhood of Police Officers.
Lott, who pleaded guilty in June to grand theft, could have gotten 15 years in prison. The 22-year police veteran was accused of stealing between $50,000 and $60,000 from the charity group of about 100 minority police and corrections officers. He had volunteered there as treasurer.
Source: Crime
Jacksonville cop who scammed police charity gets year in jail
Florida Crime News
A judge sentenced former Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Lt. Reginald Lott to a year in jail this afternoon for stealing thousands of dollars from the nonprofit Brotherhood of Police Officers.
Lott, who pleaded guilty in June to grand theft, could have gotten 15 years in prison. The 22-year police veteran was accused of stealing between $50,000 and $60,000 from the charity group of about 100 minority police and corrections officers. He had volunteered there as treasurer.
Source: Crime