INSIDER
Former sheriff candidate Jefferson crosses party lines to endorse Waters
Read full article: Former sheriff candidate Jefferson crosses party lines to endorse WatersIn what is expected to be a closely contested race for Jacksonville sheriff, Republican T.K. Waters announced an endorsement Monday from one of his former opponents: Democrat Ken Jefferson.
Fighting crime, building trust & transparency: Sheriff candidates pledge to make Jacksonville safer
Read full article: Fighting crime, building trust & transparency: Sheriff candidates pledge to make Jacksonville saferFive people who hope to become the next sheriff of Jacksonville met together Wednesday night and answered your questions about the biggest issues facing the city.
Gangs, crime and transparency: JSO sheriff’s candidates address issues with business leaders
Read full article: Gangs, crime and transparency: JSO sheriff’s candidates address issues with business leadersIn two weeks, voters will pick a new Jacksonville sheriff during a special election on August 23. Tuesday the candidates talked to potential voters at a forum with the Northside Business Leaders group at the Jacksonville Zoo.
Jacksonville sheriff candidates address gun violence following 5 shootings over weekend
Read full article: Jacksonville sheriff candidates address gun violence following 5 shootings over weekendFrom the Mayport area to Moncrief to the southside, Jacksonville saw five shootings in 10 hours over the weekend that left two dead and five injured.
‘We owe it to the public to be transparent’: Sheriff candidate Wayne Clark promises to release body camera footage
Read full article: ‘We owe it to the public to be transparent’: Sheriff candidate Wayne Clark promises to release body camera footageDemocrat Wayne Clark has over 40 years of experience in law enforcement -- both with corrections and patrols -- and served 30 of those years with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Candidate Ken Jefferson: ‘I intend to be a totally, unequivocally, 100% transparent sheriff’
Read full article: Candidate Ken Jefferson: ‘I intend to be a totally, unequivocally, 100% transparent sheriff’Ken Jefferson spent 24 years with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and said if elected he will bring about changes and more transparency.
Jacksonville sheriff candidates invited to face off in roundtable forum
Read full article: Jacksonville sheriff candidates invited to face off in roundtable forumCandidates to become Jacksonville’s next sheriff faced off in a roundtable event Friday night. The Jacksonville Urban League hosted a 90 minute meeting with prepared questions and audience participation.
All 5 candidates for Jacksonville sheriff have qualified, elections officials say
Read full article: All 5 candidates for Jacksonville sheriff have qualified, elections officials saySix candidates had announced they were running for Jacksonville sheriff – but that number was down to five Friday after Mat Nemeth withdrew from the race and tossed his endorsement to JSO Chief of Investigations T.K. Waters.
By the numbers: How much money candidates for Jacksonville mayor, sheriff have raised so far
Read full article: By the numbers: How much money candidates for Jacksonville mayor, sheriff have raised so farWe’re getting an idea of where candidates for Jacksonville mayor and sheriff stand with their fundraising now that they’ve reported how much money they collected in April.
State Attorney Melissa Nelson backs T.K. Waters for Jacksonville sheriff during WJCT interview
Read full article: State Attorney Melissa Nelson backs T.K. Waters for Jacksonville sheriff during WJCT interviewMelissa Nelson, state attorney for Florida’s Fourth Judicial District, was a guest Thursday on WJCT’s radio talk show First Coast Connect.
Candidates for Jacksonville sheriff field questions from public during forum
Read full article: Candidates for Jacksonville sheriff field questions from public during forumThe election isn’t until 2023 — but Tuesday night, members of the Jacksonville community got a chance to get to know some of the candidates for sheriff and where they stand on the issues that matter most to them.
Man shot while confronting suspected car burglar expects to fully recover
Read full article: Man shot while confronting suspected car burglar expects to fully recoverA man who was shot while confronting a suspected car burglar makes up a total of nine shootings that were reported over the weekend in Jacksonville.
Another social media threat aimed at Florida university
Read full article: Another social media threat aimed at Florida universityNot even a day after authorities said a University of North Florida student threatened a mass shooting on social media, another threat was made on the same app. This time, it was at the University of Florida.
Armed robber posing as Amazon driver forces way into home, police say
Read full article: Armed robber posing as Amazon driver forces way into home, police sayA home invasion robbery Thursday night involved one of the two suspects posing as an Amazon delivery driver, according to Jacksonville Beach police.
Man seriously injured in shootout with officers on Lem Turner Road, police say
Read full article: Man seriously injured in shootout with officers on Lem Turner Road, police sayA man is in the hospital after he fired at officers in Northwest Jacksonville and was wounded when they returned fire, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Jacksonville mother of 3 says home was struck by celebratory gunfire on NYE
Read full article: Jacksonville mother of 3 says home was struck by celebratory gunfire on NYEA Southside Jacksonville mother of three is thankful that she, her family and their pets were not harmed when a bullet came crashing through the roof of their home.
Here’s your warning: Don’t ring in 2022 with gunfire
Read full article: Here’s your warning: Don’t ring in 2022 with gunfireAs the River City prepares to ring in 2022 with fireworks, others may think about shooting off something else. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has been warning people against shooting guns during New Year's Eve celebrations for years.
Investigation continues after man’s body found during welfare check
Read full article: Investigation continues after man’s body found during welfare checkDetectives with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office are investigating after the body of a man was found Monday evening inside a home in the St. Nicholas neighborhood.
FDLE: Glock recovered in traffic stop had been converted into fully-automatic handgun
Read full article: FDLE: Glock recovered in traffic stop had been converted into fully-automatic handgunInvestigators with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement have revealed that a Glock handgun that had been converted into a fully-automatic weapon was among several items recovered by deputies during a traffic stop in Flagler County.
Additional videos show reckless drivers that manager says have caused $60K in damage
Read full article: Additional videos show reckless drivers that manager says have caused $60K in damageFor the past couple weeks, News4JAX has been chronicling complaints of street racing and car groups tearing up local parking lots throughout Jacksonville.
Warrant: Man arrested 16 years after woman reported sexual battery
Read full article: Warrant: Man arrested 16 years after woman reported sexual batteryA man is facing a sexual battery charge more than 16 years after a woman reported it to police, according to a report from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Street racing is not just a problem downtown, it’s a citywide issue, residents say
Read full article: Street racing is not just a problem downtown, it’s a citywide issue, residents sayNews4JAX viewers from around the city have been complaining that street racing is a problem city-wide — from Mayport to San Jose.
Doughnuts & drag racing: Late night reckless drivers a nuisance for downtown residents
Read full article: Doughnuts & drag racing: Late night reckless drivers a nuisance for downtown residentsPeel outs and drag racing right in front of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office headquarters downtown -- it’s an ongoing issue that some residents say has become a nuisance late at night.
911 dispatcher charged with leaving scene of crash that left bicyclist injured, JSO says
Read full article: 911 dispatcher charged with leaving scene of crash that left bicyclist injured, JSO saysA 911 dispatcher is charged with fleeing the scene of an accident with bodily injury, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday.
Man accused of taking upskirt photos in Clay County Target store
Read full article: Man accused of taking upskirt photos in Clay County Target storeThe Clay County Sheriff’s Office has released an image of a man it said was taking photos up a woman’s dress inside a Target store in Fleming Island. Now deputies are searching for him.
School district to offer counselors after deadly Orange Park knife fight
Read full article: School district to offer counselors after deadly Orange Park knife fightThe Clay County School District confirmed to News4Jax on Tuesday that the teen who was stabbed to death during a brawl over the weekend was not a student in the school district.
Georgia man accused of selling over 2 dozen guns, cocaine to undercover officer
Read full article: Georgia man accused of selling over 2 dozen guns, cocaine to undercover officerA three-month investigation disrupted a Georgia-to-New York gun trafficking pipeline and resulted in the seizure of 25 guns, including five assault weapons, according to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, which said the guns and a quantity of cocaine were sold to an undercover officer.
JSO searching for driver involved in road rage shooting on Hart Expressway
Read full article: JSO searching for driver involved in road rage shooting on Hart ExpresswayThe Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is searching for the driver responsible for a road rage shooting that resulted in a hit-and-run crash on the Hart Expressway early Monday morning.
Body found in burning Jacksonville strip club that city officials are trying to close
Read full article: Body found in burning Jacksonville strip club that city officials are trying to closeThe body of a man found inside a Jacksonville strip club Sunday night will undergo an autopsy Monday to determine how he died, police said.
Arrest report: Computer tech alerts St. Johns deputies to child porn on customer’s laptop
Read full article: Arrest report: Computer tech alerts St. Johns deputies to child porn on customer’s laptopA St. Johns County man is facing felony charges of obscene material possession after it was discovered that a laptop brought into a computer repair shop contained images of child porn, according to an arrest report from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office.
Road rage leads to shooting on Merrill Road at I-295, authorities say
Read full article: Road rage leads to shooting on Merrill Road at I-295, authorities sayPolice are working to make an arrest after a man was shot Wednesday evening following a shooting on Merrill Road that’s believed to have stemmed from road rage, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
🔒Panhandling becoming safety issue on busy stretch of Blanding Boulevard, drivers say
Read full article: 🔒Panhandling becoming safety issue on busy stretch of Blanding Boulevard, drivers sayViewers are again complaining about the ongoing issue but now they’re saying it’s become a safety hazard -- causing near-crashes regularly.
Gun found during search for evidence in investigation into killing of Nassau County deputy
Read full article: Gun found during search for evidence in investigation into killing of Nassau County deputyA gun was found during a search for any additional evidence in the investigation into the killing of Nassau County Deputy Joshua Moyers, Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper said Thursday.
‘I feel betrayed’: Mother of man beaten during traffic stop outraged at not guilty verdict
Read full article: ‘I feel betrayed’: Mother of man beaten during traffic stop outraged at not guilty verdictA jury on Wednesday found a former St. Johns County deputy not guilty of aggravated battery in connection to the beating of a man during a 2019 traffic stop.
Motorcyclist killed in hit and run Saturday morning at Arlington Road and Atlantic Blvd.
Read full article: Motorcyclist killed in hit and run Saturday morning at Arlington Road and Atlantic Blvd.A man is dead after his motorcycle collided with a truck at Arlington Road and Atlantic Boulevard, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Gun stolen from car in Riverside entered into evidence in Coast Guard member’s murder
Read full article: Gun stolen from car in Riverside entered into evidence in Coast Guard member’s murderA gun stolen from a car in Riverside last month was entered into evidence in the murder of an active-duty U.S. Coast Guard member in the same neighborhood, according to a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office report.
After kids found in hot car, deputies locate mother shopping
Read full article: After kids found in hot car, deputies locate mother shoppingA 31-year-old mother was arrested Thursday after St. Johns County firefighters were called to help two young children left in a car parked in a shopping center lot about 3 p.m.
Woman stabbed to death in Arlington apartment with children inside, police say
Read full article: Woman stabbed to death in Arlington apartment with children inside, police sayA woman was killed in a stabbing Friday morning at an apartment complex on University Boulevard near the Jacksonville University campus.
Condo tragedy reminiscent of Berkman garage collapse in Jacksonville
Read full article: Condo tragedy reminiscent of Berkman garage collapse in JacksonvilleFlorida condo collapse is reminiscent of a catastrophe that occurred in Jacksonville on Dec. 6, 2007, when the Berkman Plaza II garage collapsed. That garage was under construction and killed one person when it fell. Twenty-three others were injured.
Fernandina Beach man accused of sexual battery volunteered at church, investigators say
Read full article: Fernandina Beach man accused of sexual battery volunteered at church, investigators sayInvestigators tell News4Jax that a Fernandina Beach man arrested earlier in the month on a charge of sexual battery with a minor was also a volunteer at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church.
Bodycam: Jacksonville officer shoots, kills 17-year-old wielding machete
Read full article: Bodycam: Jacksonville officer shoots, kills 17-year-old wielding macheteThe Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has released body camera video of the moment a police officer shot and killed a 17-year-old last Fourth of July on the Westside.
JSO requests temporary assistance with housing inmates ahead of Orange Crush
Read full article: JSO requests temporary assistance with housing inmates ahead of Orange CrushThe Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday confirmed that, as a precautionary measure ahead of the Orange Crush Festival, the department has requested help from surrounding counties for the temporary housing of inmates.
Viral video shows Jacksonville officer under attack in Brooklyn neighborhood
Read full article: Viral video shows Jacksonville officer under attack in Brooklyn neighborhoodA video circulating on social media shows the moments when an officer with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office was attacked when responding to a call in the Brooklyn neighborhood.
Advocates, loved ones remember victims of gun violence in Jacksonville, nationwide
Read full article: Advocates, loved ones remember victims of gun violence in Jacksonville, nationwideStarting Friday and going through the weekend, members of the gun control activist group Moms Demand Action will honor those impacted by gun violence.
Ken Jefferson: News4Jax crime and safety expert
Read full article: Ken Jefferson: News4Jax crime and safety expertKen Jefferson, a 24-year veteran with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, a motivational speaker and community leader, serves as crime and safety expert with News4Jax and appears daily to offer expert law enforcement perspectives and tips on crime prevention.
Sheriff says Juvenile Justice system not equipped for violent teens
Read full article: Sheriff says Juvenile Justice system not equipped for violent teensAfter 12- and 14-year-olds opened fire on his deputies Tuesday night, Volusia County’s sheriff is lashing out at Florida’s Juvenile Justice system, saying it is not equipped to handle the crimes that some children are committing these days.
2 Jacksonville men accused of street racing
Read full article: 2 Jacksonville men accused of street racingTwo Jacksonville men were arrested after a police officer saw them street racing and hit speeds of 116 mph trying to keep up with them on Saturday night, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Bond set at $125K for man arrested after DEA agents track down 46 lbs. of pot at Jacksonville train station
Read full article: Bond set at $125K for man arrested after DEA agents track down 46 lbs. of pot at Jacksonville train stationThe suspect arrested Wednesday after federal agents said they found 46 pounds of hydroponic marijuana at the Jacksonville Amtrak Station has been identified.
2 seriously injured in head-on crash on Heckscher Drive, JFRD says
Read full article: 2 seriously injured in head-on crash on Heckscher Drive, JFRD saysTwo people were seriously injured in a head-on crash Tuesday on Heckscher Drive on the city's Northside, the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department said.
Officers told to look out for red car following public indecency incidents in Murray Hill
Read full article: Officers told to look out for red car following public indecency incidents in Murray HillAfter neighbors in Murray Hill expressed concerns about a man who they say has repeatedly exposed himself, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has told its officers to be on the lookout for the car that neighbors have seen.
Jacksonville man, 19, held on $1.1M bond in sexual battery case
Read full article: Jacksonville man, 19, held on $1.1M bond in sexual battery caseA 19-year-old Jacksonville man is being held on $1.1 million bail after he was arrested over the weekend in connection with a sexual battery case, authorities said.
Lake City councilman seen cursing at officers in bodycam video calls out police chief
Read full article: Lake City councilman seen cursing at officers in bodycam video calls out police chiefBodycam video of a Lake City councilman during a traffic stop back in January was put out for the public to see during a council meeting Monday.
Former Minnesota officer charged with manslaughter in shooting of Daunte Wright
Read full article: Former Minnesota officer charged with manslaughter in shooting of Daunte WrightA former suburban Minneapolis police officer was charged Wednesday with second-degree manslaughter in the killing of 20-year-old Black motorist Daunte Wright.
Duval among 4 counties to benefit from new Florida program for young crime victims
Read full article: Duval among 4 counties to benefit from new Florida program for young crime victimsA new program launched Friday in Florida will provide funding for Urban Leagues in Duval and several other counties to help young victims affected by crime.
Jacksonville officers arrest man accused of using homeless people to peddle narcotics
Read full article: Jacksonville officers arrest man accused of using homeless people to peddle narcoticsUndercover narcotics officers with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday arrested a man who they said is suspected of using homeless people to pedal narcotics.
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.
Woman killed in crash that blocked I-295 at Town Center Parkway for hours
Read full article: Woman killed in crash that blocked I-295 at Town Center Parkway for hoursJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 28-year-old woman was struck and killed early Monday morning after she hit a guardrail along the entrance ramp to southbound Interstate 295 from Town Center Parkway and then got out of her car, the Florida Highway Patrol said. The report said the woman “exited the vehicle and began to stand on passenger side” when an SUV traveling up the ramp to southbound I-295 struck the woman and the sedan. The driver of the SUV, a 58-year-old Jacksonville Beach man, was taken to a hospital with minor injuries, troopers said. Due to the deadly crash, all southbound lanes of I-295 at Town Center Parkway for more than four hours, causing heavy delays for morning commuters. But they say also this is 3 in the morning and that needs to be taken into account.
Electric scooters in downtown Jacksonville raise safety concerns
Read full article: Electric scooters in downtown Jacksonville raise safety concernsJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Electric scooters have been the craze in downtown Jacksonville since they were first introduced two weeks ago as a one-year pilot program. News4Jax crime and safety expert Ken Jefferson said what can be seen in the video is a legitimate traffic safety concern. Recently managers of the Carling Apartment building filed complaints with the city over traffic hazards and safety concerns involving the use of scooters in front of the building. City Council member LeAnna Cumber was instrumental in bringing the electric scooters to the River City as a way to bring new life into downtown. AdCumber said both drivers and scooter riders are responsible for paying attention while on the road.
Rash of Downtown Jacksonville smash-and-grabs under investigation
Read full article: Rash of Downtown Jacksonville smash-and-grabs under investigationPolice officers are investigating a series of car burglaries reported in Downtown Jacksonville. Specifically, they’ve happened near the Hyatt hotel and near popular bars on Bay Street and surrounding side streets. Jacksonville police are warning people that their vehicle could still be targeted, even if valuables are not in plain view. “It doesn’t bring as much attention to the car with that noise because the noise is so minimal,” Jefferson said. And this is why these crimes, which aren’t far from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office headquarters often go undetected.
Suspect in Atlanta-area killings was planning to go to Florida, authorities say
Read full article: Suspect in Atlanta-area killings was planning to go to Florida, authorities sayA white gunman accused of killing eight people, most of them of women of Asian descent, at three Atlanta-area massage parlors was planning to go to Florida, authorities said Wednesday. Long told police that Tuesday’s attack was not racially motivated and claimed to have a “sex addiction,” with authorities saying he apparently lashed out at what he saw as sources of temptation. News4Jax crime and safety expert Ken Jefferson, a former sex crimes investigator, said he’s never seen anything like this case. AdOne law enforcement agency along Interstate 75 told News4Jax it had no intel that the suspect was planning to go to Florida. He does claim that he has an issue, what he says is a sex addiction,” said Columbia County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office Capt.
Police seek information about gunfire at youth football jamboree as parents mull fate of season
Read full article: Police seek information about gunfire at youth football jamboree as parents mull fate of seasonJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Police are seeking information about gunfire that erupted Sunday during a youth football jamboree at a Mandarin park, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday. The request for information came just hours before parents of youth football players met with the Mandarin Athletic Association to weigh whether the spring football season will be canceled. Shortly after 4:30 p.m. Sunday, officers responded to shots fired at Greenland Park, where there were about 500 players and fans gathered for youth football games. Parents like Brown would also be refunded the money they paid in advance for their child to participate in spring football. Earlier Tuesday, News4Jax learned that parents were also told Elite South Youth Football League wanted parks to be responsible for security.
Clay County authorities investigate vague social media threats against schools
Read full article: Clay County authorities investigate vague social media threats against schoolsThe Clay County District Schools Police Department posted a warning to parents Tuesday night about social media posts that could threaten schools in the county and neighboring areas. “The author of a newer social media post apparently formed conclusions of what they heard. We will continue to monitor safety and security measures at all Clay County Schools,” the department’s updated Facebook post read. UPDATE from social media post from March 9, 2021 Clay County District School Parents: After yesterday’s notice to... Posted by Clay County District Schools Police Department on Wednesday, March 10, 2021Visible police presence could be seen at schools around the county Wednesday. “Social media is a platform that everybody uses in one way or another.”
Camera enforcement proposed for school zones could cost speeders
Read full article: Camera enforcement proposed for school zones could cost speedersJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A bill pending before the Florida legislature would allow cameras in school zones to watch for speeding vehicles and issue tickets to speeders. House Bill 357 and Senate Bill 1474 would install cameras at school zones in Florida to catch speeders who go above the posted speed limit. Photo enforcement of speeders in school zones is already being used in several Georgia cities. We don’t need to wait for someone to get hurt or killed in a school zone,” Jefferson said. “Where the school zone starts and where the school zone ends, so there won’t be any mishaps of tracking.