Unpermitted handgun leads to arrest

MIDDLEBURG – A Middleburg man was arrested Tuesday after deputies discovered he was carrying a handgun without a proper concealed carry permit, a misdemeanor.

Deputies arrested Joshua Francis Bushey, 27, May 2 after a pat down revealed he possessed a handgun in his back pocket without proper permitting.

Deputies arrested Bushey on the 1700 block of Bluejay Drive in Middleburg and transported him to the Clay County Jail. At press time, he had bonded out of jail.

Incident in a tow yard with a shotgun leads to arrest

MIDDLEBURG – A man living in a trailer in a Middleburg A1 Towing lot was arrested Saturday after he allegedly pointed a shotgun at his co-workers in a drunken rage, the report said.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrested Charles Edward Carter, 63, April 29 after deputies were dispatched in response to reports that a man living and working at the A1 Towing tow yard on the 3000 block of Joe Johns Road in Middleburg had pointed a shotgun at his co-workers.

Deputies made contact with Carter, who exited his trailer unarmed and complied with deputies’ orders. According to the report, deputies smelled a strong odor of alcohol on Carter upon his arrest.

His co-workers at the tow yard said that after towing a vehicle to the yard because it had broken down, Carter exited his trailer, which is in the tow yard, wielding a shotgun. He then cocked the shotgun and threatened to kill the victims if they did not leave the tow yard, according to the report.

Deputies transferred Carter to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and charged him with one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill.

Deputies transferred him to the Clay County Jail, where he remained on a $75,003 bond.

Green Cove Springs man arrested for multiple auto burglaries

LAKE ASBURY – Deputies arrested a Green Cove Springs man Saturday for his alleged involvement with two juveniles in breaking into three automobiles.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrested Kieshawn Ray Capri Smith, 20, April 29 after deputies allegedly witnessed the defendants walking on the 3000 block of Southbank Circle not far from Lake Asbury Junior High with flashlights looking for unlocked vehicles.

The deputy asked for backup and made contact with the defendants, who then fled on foot. After a short distance, deputies apprehended all three defendants.

Deputies separated the subjects and discovered multiple items located in the back of a truck parked in a driveway along with multiple items scattered in the lawn.

The items appeared to be property from several automobile burglaries throughout the neighborhood.

An investigation revealed Smith to be the alleged ringleader of the group of two juveniles, the report said.

Deputies transported Smith to the Clay County Jail, where he remained on a $75,009 bond.

Cable cutting caper ends in arrest

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – A Green Cove Springs man is free from the Clay County Jail on bond after being arrested for vandalism.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrested Brandon Christopher Demott, 34, on May 1 at 1:38 p.m.

According to the police report, a witness told police they saw Demott break into an AT&T phone box in the 3000 block of Russell Road on April 30 and “cut all wires inside the box which connect residents to AT&T phone and internet services.”

An AT&T crew member estimated the value of the damage to be $1,500, police said.

Officials in the Jacksonville AT&T office could not provide the number of residents impacted by the cut, officials said they take such acts of vandalism seriously.

“Vandalism of communications infrastructure is a serious matter that affects public safety and the community at large. In this case, a small number of landline voice and internet service customers in the area were impacted by the Sunday incident. Our technicians quickly responded and restored services,” said AT&T spokeswoman Rosie Montalvo.

Demott was charged with one count of vandalism valued at $1,000 or more.

Melrose man seriously injured

Melrose – The Florida Highway Patrol reports that a Melrose man received serious injuries in a single-vehicle accident on April 28.

Police said Adam J. Kruger, 22, was driving southbound on State Road 21 at 10:30 p.m. when his 2007 Kia Sedona veered off the roadway and entered the southbound shoulder of the roadway.

The Kia entered the driveway of Keystone Heights United Methodist Church and struck a curb, travelled through a grassy lawn and rolled over several times, according to an FHP press release.

The roof of the Kia struck a tree and came to rest facing upright on the church property.

Kruger was ejected during the crash as he was not wearing a safety belte. He was transported to UF Health hospital in Gainesville.

Man extradited from South Carolina to face gun charges

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The Clay County Sheriff’s Office has extradited a Jacksonville man from a South Carolina jail to face charges here in Clay County.

On April 26, police charged Joshua Mantel Simmons, 25, with three counts of grand theft of a firearm and one count of grand theft in connection with a January incident involving Simmons’ former roommate.

According to the arrest warrant, the victim told police that he came home on Jan. 31 to find his bedroom ransacked and missing two guns valued at $1,455, a PlayStation 4 and games valued at $1,050 and $2,505 in cash.

A second victim also told police that he was missing a gun valued at $550 from the home in the 700 block of Kirk Street. The victim named Simmons as a suspect telling police that Simmons was the person seen in the house.

On Feb. 7, police in Sumter, South Carolina faxed a report to the Green Cove Springs Police Department to notify them that Simmons had been arrested there in a domestic incident between Simmons and the mother of his child. Police said Simmons, who had taken a bus to South Carolina, was also in possession of an AR 15 gun and 20 rounds of ammunition.

Police there charged Simmons with receiving stolen property.

At press time, Simmons remains in the Clay County Jail where his bond is set at $85,012.

Man charged with beating father

ORANGE PARK – Authorities have charged an Orange Park area man with battery on a person over age 65 after a brief investigation.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrested Kenneth Dwayne Green, 24, on April 26 at 8:11 p.m. after responding to a fight at a home in the 700 block of Washington Avenue.

According to the police report, Green and his father got into a verbal argument when the father asked Green something about a pressure washer that came up missing.

“The victim stated he left the bedroom and the defendant ran out of his bedroom, approached him, and began striking him in the face, neck, and ribs with a closed fist,” states the police report.

Police said the victim had lacerations on his left eyebrow, left ear and a bruise on the left side of his ribcage.

Police booked Green into the Clay County Jail where, at press time, he remained with bond set at $15,003.

Fleming Island High student suspended after posting “slaves” for sale

FLEMING ISLAND – Clay County authorities are investigating an inappropriate Craigslist posting apparently made by a student at Fleming Island High School.

According to reports the ad, which has since been taken offline, showed a picture of two black females sitting in school desks with the caption “Two healthy negro slavegals for sale. Good Condition and hard work ethic! If you need another pair of hands around the farm/house, you’re in luck!”

The Clay County School District has confirmed the post was made by a student who has been suspended for 10 days and the principal has referred the student to an alternative school. The school board has to act on that request and could choose to expel the child.

Clay County School Superintendent Addison Davis said the proper steps have been taken to discipline the student whose name has not been released. District spokesperson Nicole Synder confirmed the student was a senior and a male.

“Clay County District Schools was made aware of an inappropriate post on the internet last night(April 26). The Fleming Island High School administration immediately began to investigate this concern in order to identify the individual who posted this inappropriate picture. After launching an in-depth investigation, administrators have identified the student and will be taking actions as outlined in our Code of Student Conduct,” Davis said in a prepared statement.

“We do not tolerate this type of behavior and we are disheartened that any of our students would be subject to discrimination. Fleming Island High School administration and district leadership are working together to create a school-wide plan of action to strengthen the climate and culture while celebrating the school’s diversity. We encourage parents and guardians to take the time to talk to their child about this important matter. We appreciate support in this effort and we look forward to Elevating Clay,” Davis said.