INSIDER
Facebook groups in Clay and Putnam counties are posting mugshots without context. Are they doing more harm than good?
Read full article: Facebook groups in Clay and Putnam counties are posting mugshots without context. Are they doing more harm than good?If you’ve recently been arrested in Clay or Putnam county, there’s a good chance your mugshot has been posted on social media.
3 arrested in Palatka drug house bust suspects in recent shootings: investigators
Read full article: 3 arrested in Palatka drug house bust suspects in recent shootings: investigatorsIn Palatka, a two-year investigation into illegal drug activity led to multiple arrests during a raid on a suspected drug house.
6th graders, ages 12 and 13, sickened by marijuana gummies at Putnam County elementary school
Read full article: 6th graders, ages 12 and 13, sickened by marijuana gummies at Putnam County elementary schoolThree elementary school children required medical attention after consuming marijuana gummies on campus.
Man accused in 2015 murder of woman, unborn child found burned in remote Putnam County cemetery
Read full article: Man accused in 2015 murder of woman, unborn child found burned in remote Putnam County cemeteryThe Putnam County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday announced an indictment in the 2015 murder of a pregnant woman from Daytona Beach.
Former Putnam County corrections officer accused of assaulting inmate, bringing drugs into jail
Read full article: Former Putnam County corrections officer accused of assaulting inmate, bringing drugs into jailA now-former Putnam County corrections officer has found himself on the other side of the law.
Monthslong drug operation nets 16 arrests, seizure of illegal narcotics, Putnam County sheriff says
Read full article: Monthslong drug operation nets 16 arrests, seizure of illegal narcotics, Putnam County sheriff saysA monthslong drug investigation named “Operation Deck The Cells” netted the arrests of 16 people and the seizure of illicit drugs such as methamphetamine, MDMA and fentanyl.
‘Operation Young Guns’: Behind the tech tracing stolen weapons used by young people
Read full article: ‘Operation Young Guns’: Behind the tech tracing stolen weapons used by young peopleState law enforcement officers, ATF agents and sheriffs from four different counties gathered Monday in Flagler County to discuss “Operation Young Guns” and the technology used to trace stolen weapons that get into the hands of children.
Putnam County youth resource deputy arrested, charged with custodial sexual battery
Read full article: Putnam County youth resource deputy arrested, charged with custodial sexual batteryA now former Putnam County youth resource deputy was arrested Monday on charges related to an alleged sexual relationship with a student of a local school, according to Sheriff Gator DeLoach.
Teen tasered by Putnam deputy, hospitalized for head injury; sheriff says action was justified
Read full article: Teen tasered by Putnam deputy, hospitalized for head injury; sheriff says action was justifiedCellphone video obtained Thursday by News4JAX shows a 17-year-old girl being tasered by a Putnam County deputy in Crescent City. The Sheriff’s Office says the deputy’s actions were justified.
Putnam sheriff accuses Palatka mayor of interfering with police duties. Mayor says it’s never happened.
Read full article: Putnam sheriff accuses Palatka mayor of interfering with police duties. Mayor says it’s never happened.Putnam County Sheriff Gator DeLoach and Palatka Mayor Terrill Hill appear to be at odds.
St. Augustine High School resource deputy who died after battling COVID-19 laid to rest
Read full article: St. Augustine High School resource deputy who died after battling COVID-19 laid to restDeputy Jody Hull, a four-year member of the Sheriff’s Office, had most recently served as the Youth Resource Deputy at St. Augustine High School, the Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post announcing his passing.
Man found guilty of 2nd-degree murder in 2018 killing at Interlachen home
Read full article: Man found guilty of 2nd-degree murder in 2018 killing at Interlachen homeA man was convicted last week of murder and attempted murder in a shooting and stabbing in January 2018 at an Interlachen home, authorities said.
Real gun disguised as Nerf toy seized in North Carolina drug raid
Read full article: Real gun disguised as Nerf toy seized in North Carolina drug raidJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Deputies in North Carolina seized what looked like a Nerf toy gun but turned out to be an actual firearm. “That’s unbelievable.”The Catawba County Sheriff's Office says a converted Glock model 19 pistol with a 50-round drum magazine had been altered to resemble a toy gun. (Catawba County Sheriff's Office)Putnam County Sheriff Gator DeLoach said something like that is a game changer for anyone in law enforcement. I saw the Nerf logo and immediately thought this was a Nerf gun. If it’s a child with a Nerf gun, you might have a slight pause.
2 Putnam County deputies hospitalized after cruisers collide
Read full article: 2 Putnam County deputies hospitalized after cruisers collideTwo deputies “have a long road to recovery” after a crash Tuesday evening on State Road 20, west of Motes Road, according to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. The Florida Highway Patrol said the Putnam County deputies, ages 24 and 25, were responding to a call around 7:40 p.m. when their cruisers collided. The Sheriff’s Office said both deputies were taken to a nearby hospital before they were airlifted to Orange Park Medical Center. The Highway Patrol described the deputies’ injuries as “serious but non-life-threatening.”“One of the deputies suffered some internal injuries which was the initial emergency surgery that took place last night. The Highway Patrol is investigating the crash, and the Sheriff’s Office is investigating the domestic incident that the deputies were responding to.
Putnam County Sheriff’s Office proposes takeover of Crescent City law enforcement
Read full article: Putnam County Sheriff’s Office proposes takeover of Crescent City law enforcementCRESCENT CITY, Fla. – A controversial proposal by the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office to take over all law enforcement operations in Crescent City comes during a time when the entire city police department has been placed on administrative leave. During Thursday night’s City Council meeting, Crescent City Mayor Michelle Myers explained to a packed room why this was an issue of great concern. Putnam County Sheriff Gator Deloach was also at that meeting, where he proposed having the Sheriff’s Office permanently take over law enforcement operations in the city. The Sheriff’s Office and jail is a 30-minute drive from Crescent City, but the plan on the table is to use the existing police office as a Sheriff’s Office sub-station, so that deputies will always be near. Proposals by the Sheriff’s Office to take over policing in Crescent City are nothing new.
Clay County man suspected of 5 armed robberies in 3 counties arrested
Read full article: Clay County man suspected of 5 armed robberies in 3 counties arrestedKEYSTONE HEIGHTS, Fla. – A Clay County man suspected in a string of armed robberies has been arrested, Sheriffs from four local counties announced Tuesday. Investigators said Noe Cruz, 22, is thought to be behind a series of at least five hold-ups in Putnam, Alachua and Bradford counties. The Keystone Heights resident, who has no prior criminal history, is believed to have worn a red bandana during the robberies and drove the same car, a green SUV. “The very nature of the actions of this individual potentially could have resulted in injury or death to an innocent person as in each instance the suspect was armed with a firearm,” Putnam County Sheriff Gator DeLoach said. Investigators said they believe Cruz intended to continue his crime spree if he had not been arrested.
Death penalty sought for man indicted in murders of Putnam County boys
Read full article: Death penalty sought for man indicted in murders of Putnam County boysPUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. – The state intends to seek the death penalty for the man accused of killing two young boys in Putnam County, State Attorney R.J. Larizza announced Tuesday afternoon. “If there was ever a case for the death penalty, this is the one,” Larizza said Monday. News of the state’s decision to seek the death penalty quickly spread among Putnam County residents who have been outraged over the killings. It breaks the whole community apart.”“They need to get the death penalty. Robert and Tayten Baker (Kim Rigney/GoFundMe)The last time there was a Putnam County death penalty case was in 2012 when Timothy Fletcher was sentenced to death after being convicted of first-degree murder in a 2009 killing.
‘Sick monster’ arrested in murder of 2 Putnam County boys
Read full article: ‘Sick monster’ arrested in murder of 2 Putnam County boysThe Putnam County Sheriff’s Office announced that Mark Wilson Jr. is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of 12-year-old Robert Baker and 14-year-old Tayten Baker. The boys’ mother found their bodies when she woke up on Wednesday morning, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office said. On his Facebook page, Putnam County Sheriff Gator DeLoach wrote: “...The sick monster responsible for Tayten and Robert’s brutal murder was arrested last night. !”On the Putnam County jail website, Wilson’s last address is listed as Newberry, Florida. DeLoach said the Bakers had moved from Polk County to Putnam County just over two weeks ago to be closer to family.
Putnam County deputies: 2 teens found dead inside Melrose home
Read full article: Putnam County deputies: 2 teens found dead inside Melrose homeMELROSE, Fla. – Two teenage boys were found dead Wednesday inside a home in Melrose, according to family and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. “This is being investigated as a double homicide,” the Sheriff’s Office said. “This is believed to be an isolated incident with no threat to the community.”Putnam County deputies responded Wednesday to Shiloh Road. Deputies said multiple people will be interviewed at the Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Gator DeLoach said his office is aware that the home had just been purchased around the time when the family moved in.
Putnam County deputy who tested positive for COVID-19 now ‘fully recovered’
Read full article: Putnam County deputy who tested positive for COVID-19 now ‘fully recovered’PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. – A Putnam County deputy who tested positive for COVID-19 said he has recovered from the sometimes deadly illness. In a public Facebook post on Sunday, deputy Kenny Roberts wrote that after 17 days of quarantine he received a second negative COVID-19 test and has fully recovered. According to the Sheriff’s Office, Roberts tested positive for the new coronavirus on April 12 after he noticed symptoms. And, at that point, it was decided that he should be tested based on his symptoms," said Col. Joe Wells, with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. As of Sunday, according to the Florida Department of Health, there were 87 COVID-19 cases in Putnam County, with one death.
Putnam County sheriff: 2 guns found in middle school student’s backpack
Read full article: Putnam County sheriff: 2 guns found in middle school student’s backpackPALATKA, Fla. – Two guns were discovered Tuesday in the backpack of a student at Jenkins Middle School in Palatka, Putnam County Sheriff Gator DeLoach said. The Putnam County Sheriff's Office responded Tuesday to Jenkins Middle School. “Otherwise, today, my worst fears might have been imagined.”Dr. Rick Surrency, superintendent of the Putnam County School District, said all students, faculty and staff were safe, but the school was placed on a modified lockdown. This was the second time this year when a loaded gun was brought on a school campus in Putnam County. DeLoach and Surrency originally called for the news conference Tuesday afternoon to discuss an unrelated fight between two Interlachen High School students that was captured on video.
Deputies: Please stop sharing ‘disturbing’ school fight video
Read full article: Deputies: Please stop sharing ‘disturbing’ school fight videoINTERLACHEN, Fla. – Deputies with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office have been investigating a fight Friday between two Interlachen High School students that was captured on video. On Tuesday, the Sheriff’s Office posted a message on its Facebook page, asking anyone who has shared the video to remove it from their news feeds. The post described the video as “graphic and disturbing," saying it showed one student being repeatedly punched by another student. If a student, parent or visitor to the school sees a behavior that is harmful to another person, report it,” the Facebook post said. But at the news conference, DeLoach announced that two guns had been found in the backpack of a 13-year-old student at Jenkins Middle School in Palatka.
Putnam County officer takes loaded gun from 12-year-old at middle school
Read full article: Putnam County officer takes loaded gun from 12-year-old at middle schoolINTERLACHEN, Fla. – Putnam County deputies and school officials say a loaded gun was brought on the campus of C.H. Price Middle School in Interlachen on Tuesday. According to Sheriff Gator DeLoach, an anonymous tip was given by someone who said they believed a student had a gun. “We’re not quite sure how it fell into his hands, but I believe he may have had the gun for a couple of days actually prior to bringing it to school,” DeLoach said. Price Middle School.
Putnam County’s new K-9 deputy helps trauma victims
Read full article: Putnam County’s new K-9 deputy helps trauma victimsThe Putnam County Sheriff’s Office has introduced a K-9 deputy whose main purpose is to help people who have been traumatized. Bailey, a 2-year-old dog from a shelter in Brevard County, was sworn in Thursday morning as the Sheriff’s Office’s therapy dog. “It gives us an opportunity to engage victims in a way we were never able to before," DeLoach said. “It’s such a relief to see it on a child’s face and the happiness it brings out in them," Reynolds said. The Sheriff’s Office said Bailey was shot before he ended up in a shelter, and there are pellets still inside the dog’s body.
Palatka man sentenced for child molestation
Read full article: Palatka man sentenced for child molestationPALATKA, Fla. - A Palatka man was sentenced to 51 years in prison for child molestation. The case against William Ray Swinehart started in 2018. He was found guilty on two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation of a child younger than 12. The Palatka Sheriff's Office arrested Swinehart at his house in 2018 after getting information about the abuse. "Swinehart is more than likely going to spend his final days in prison.