Fair, 64°
Weather sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Police Briefs 051817

Posted 5/18/17

Child manslaughter charge for Fleming Island man FLEMING ISLAND – Authorities have charged a 41-year-old Fleming Island man with aggravated manslaughter of a child and drug charges following an …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Don't have an ID?


Print subscribers

If you're a print subscriber, but do not yet have an online account, click here to create one.

Non-subscribers

Click here to see your options for subscribing.

Single day pass

You also have the option of purchasing 24 hours of access, for $1.00. Click here to purchase a single day pass.

Police Briefs 051817


Posted

Child manslaughter charge for Fleming Island man
FLEMING ISLAND – Authorities have charged a 41-year-old Fleming Island man with aggravated manslaughter of a child and drug charges following an investigation on Tuesday.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office has charged and arrested Ashley Keith Smart for one count each of possession of heroin and a misdemeanor charge of possession of marijuana.
According to the police report, officers responded to the home in the 300 block of Oldfield Drive at 10:34 a.m. on May 16 where they found two-and-a-half-year-old Aiden Keith Smart “unresponsive and turning blue,” states the police report.
“When Clay County Fire Rescue arrived on scene, the victim was unresponsive and was subsequently transported to Baptist Clay in full cardiac arrest.”
The child arrived at the hospital at 10:53 a.m. and was pronounced dead 10 minutes later.
The heavily-redacted police report does not indicate how the child died, but does give details of the drugs relating to Smart’s charges. Police seized seven-tenths of a gram of heroin and 2.5 grams of pot, as well as needles and a spoon used to inject the illicit drug.
At press time, Smart remained in the Clay County Jail where his bond is set at $277,508.

Two held on separate $1 M bonds
MIDDLEBURG – Five days after being called to the Circle K convenience store and gas station at 3137 County Rd. 220, police made two arrests for using a credit card skimmer.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrested Pedro Julio Gutierrez Roque, 28, and Richel Leon Enriquez, 28, both of Miami, on May 10 and booked them into the Clay County Jail on various felony charges.
According to the police report, investigators found the two men had installed a credit card skimmer in the gas pumps without the store management’s knowledge.
While at the store on May 5, a CCSO officer attempted to have the two men stop so he could ask them some questions, but they fled onto nearby Henley Road. They were later stopped by other CCSO officers on U.S. Highway 17 north.
Both face charges of charges of conspiracy to commit criminal use of personal identities and possession of personal information and the use of the identity of 20 to 30 others. Meanwhile, Roque has additional charges of possession of counterfeit credit cards, resisting an officer and possession of burglary tools.
Police did not disclose what they uncovered in the van the two men were traveling in, but did state that Enriquez had hidden $1,960 in cash in his underwear and $426 in his wallet. Rique had $167 in cash.
At press time, both remained in the Clay County Jail where bond for Roque is set at $1,017,511 and $1,005,003 for Enriquez.

Jacksonville man arrested for armed burglary of pawnshop during Hurricane Matthew
ORANGE PARK – A Jacksonville man accused of armed burglary while Hurricane Matthew left Florida in a state of emergency has been transferred to the Clay County Jail from the Duval County Jail using to a warrant for his arrest.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office booked Kyrell Joseph Davis, 21, on May 11 over allegations he burglarized the Big Cash Pawn at 276 Blanding Boulevard on October 8.
Deputies were busy assisting in shelters during the hurricane during the time so the amount of deputies available for response was limited.
According to the report, deputies responded to an alarm call from the pawnshop. He is charged with armed burglary during a state of emergency.
Davis remains in jail on a $150,003 bond.

No bond for fugitive accused of molesting 10-year old
ORANGE PARK – Deputies with the United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force delivered a fugitive to Clay County Deputies accused of the molestation of a young girl.
The Clay County Sheriff’s office arrested Tommy Ronald Rhoden Jr., 33, on May 9 after U.S. Marshals found him in Washington state using an active warrant for his arrest.
According to the warrant, between September 1, 2016 and November 6, 2016, Rhoden sexually molested a young victim while the victim lay asleep in their bed.
Rhoden remained in the Clay County Jail without a bond at press time.

Student arrested after fight
GREEN COVE SPRINGS – A Clay County student was arrested for aggravated battery on a school official, a deputy, and resisting arrest after a fight at Bannerman Learning Center, the Clay County School District’s alternative school.
Deputies with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrested Garrett McKenzie Branscome, 18, on May 10 following “a sudden fit of rage” that ended in his arrest, the report said.
According to the report, Branscome had what appeared to be a cell phone in his back pocket. When his teacher told him that all cell phones must be turned into staff upon arrival, the student became defensive.
The report said Branscome fled the room, where deputies allegedly discovered him pulling on a metal railing attempting to tear it off.
He then allegedly plucked an object from the ground and hurled it at the back of his teacher’s head.
Deputies advised him to place his hand behind his back, but according to the report he did not and an officer wrestled Branscome to the ground. Branscome then allegedly attempted to bite the officer, the report said.
Deputies transported Branscome to the Clay County Jail and was later released.

3 face armed robbery charge
ORANGE PARK – Three Orange Park area residents are in the Clay County Jail charged with armed robbery after a police investigation into in a home invasion robbery.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrested Jake Harley Davison, 19, Alexia Rae Eure, 18, and Tayler Arrington Harber, 19, on May 11 after conducting an investigation. Police said the incident took place
According to the police report, the victim said three unknown males and two females entered his apartment at 1710 Wells Rd., hit him in the head with a pistol and stole $200 in cash from him.
Police said the victim was bleeding in the back of his head when they went to his apartment to conduct the investigation. A search of the apartment uncovered a Ruger that was believed to have been used in the assault.
Davison, Eure and Harber are charged with one count each of armed robbery with a firearm or other deadly weapon. At press time, all three remained held in the Clay County Jail where their bond is set at $250,003 each.

Fraud charges for Jax man
ORANGE PARK – A Jacksonville man faces various fraud charges after an investigation by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.
Police transferred Otis Michael Thompson, 48, from the Duval County Jail to the Clay County Jail on May 15 after obtaining a warrant for his arrest.
According to the warrant, Thompson stole business checks from one victim and a debit card from a second victim to rack up the charges between May 8 and May 11.
Police said Thompson used the stolen business checks to deposit funds into an ATM machine and then subsequently withdraw the funds from the very same ATMs in the Orange Park and Youngerman Circle area of Argyle.
“Two of the checks had been clearly altered with multiple names overwritten on the pate line of the check,” the warrant states. “One check even had the word “VOID” written across the check.”
Police said the total thefts amounted to $1,259.62 in ATM withdrawals and forged checks.
At press time, Thompson remained in jail where his bond is set at $102,012.

Landline dispute ends in arrest
MELROSE – An ongoing dispute over property lines ended May 13 in an assault and an arrest for a Melrose man.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrested Charles Jeffrey McPherson, 60, on May 13 at 9:43 p.m. after responding to a home in the 8000 block of Easement Road in Melrose.
According to the police report, the victim told police that he was outside using a weedeater with his 9-year-old son in the roadway with him when McPherson came along wielding a lead pipe.
The victim said he asked McPherson what his problem was and McPherson continued toward the victim yelling and eventually struck the victim on the shoulder with the lead pipe.
The two men then began fighting as the victim tried to grab the pipe. After he grabbed the pipe, the victim said, McPherson jumped on top of him and began hitting him in the head and on the face.
At press time, McPherson remained in the Clay County Jail where he is being held without bond.

Shots fired after melee
OAKLEAF – Although one arrest has been made, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office says a fight that ended last week with a shooting is an ongoing investigation.
According to CCSO Public Information Officer Angela Spears, deputies went to Millstone Apartments at 573 Oakleaf Plantation Parkway at 4:40 p.m. on May 11 after reports of a gun being fired.
“There was a fight between a large group of adults and juveniles Thursday. A firearm was discharged. One male was shot and has non-life threatening injuries. Another male was injured,” Spears posted on social media.
On May 12, deputies arrested Edward Javon Stewart, 17, and charged him with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and aggravated assault.
The unidentified male who was shot received non-life threatening injuries.

Fire described as total loss
MIDDLEBURG – A Clay County family is without a home after a debris fire got out of hand and burned down the home at 2377 Broom Court.
It took Fire and Rescue seven minutes to get to the home fire that occurred May 10 at approximately 2:18 pm.
Multiple units with more than 20 firefighters responded to gain control of the fire. The initial report to the Clay County Fire Department from the caller stated the “Entire house is on fire.” The fire resulted in a total loss of the home and nearly a total loss of the contents. The family dog was also killed in the fire.
The fire left the family without a home and officials were told they had no insurance. The Red Cross will be assisting the homeowner.
No firefighters were injured and one civilian was transported with minor burns. The fire was under control at 2:44 pm
The State Fire Marshall determined the fire was caused by flames from a yard trash fire that burned within feet of the home.
Fire department officials said this terrible loss should bring awareness about the importance of current dry conditions and adhering to the county’s burn ban that was put in place May 9.