Orange Park man arrested for punching detective at CCSO substation

ORANGE PARK – Clay County detectives apprehended 26-year-old Darius Dacosta Padmore, of Orange Park, on battery charges on a law enforcement officer. On May 15 at approximately 10:35 a.m., Padmore came into the CCSO Orange Park substation lobby, seeking to discuss a previous complaint he had filed.
A supervisor from the investigations unit conversed with Padmore, informing him that the sergeant he was requesting to see was unavailable. The detective supervisor offered to take a message and ensure follow-up. Growing increasingly agitated, Padmore wanted to speak with a civilian staff assistant, who was also unavailable then. Despite the detective supervisor’s reassurance in handling any issues personally, Padmore became confrontational, raising his voice, taking a combative stance and making threats. He approached the supervisor closely while continuing to escalate the situation. The detective supervisor repeatedly commanded him to step away and calm down, but Padmore refused and maintained his proximity and aggressive behavior.
Padmore then grabbed the supervisor’s right wrist and pulled it towards himself, leading to a brief altercation. Additional detectives intervened upon hearing the commotion, and Padmore was taken into custody
This incident is not the first involving Padmore. On April 6, deputies responded to an anonymous call at his residence. During this encounter, he displayed an AR-style rifle in his garage and was belligerent toward deputies. Since Padmore was on his property, he didn’t aim the weapon at the responding deputies, they determined he didn’t commit a crime.
An additional incident involving Padmore occurred on April 7. Padmore entered the CCSO Orange Park Substation and demanded to speak with a supervisor. While inside the substation, he became very angry at the civilian staff. Deputies escorted him out and spent the next 30-45 minutes speaking with him and calming him down. Padmore left on his own that day without further incident.
Deputies noted each of the incidents involving Padmore due to his increasingly unprovoked belligerent behavior towards law enforcement. The May 15 incident, which Padmore instigated, ultimately led to an arrest for battery on a law enforcement officer.
“We take the safety of every member of our agency very seriously. I am grateful that the detective supervisor who was on scene and able to intervene before any citizens conducting business at our substation or our civilian staff members were accosted,” Sheriff Michelle Cook said. “This is just another reminder that although we live in a very safe community, there are still those out there that do not like law enforcement and are confrontational and aggressive towards our deputies and staff.”
Padmore’s bond was set at $25,003. His next court appearance will be on June 12.

Middleburg man accused of having child sex on his cellphone
MIDDLEBURG – A tip from the public led to the arrest of a man accused of exploiting a boy by getting him to perform unlawful sexual acts on his cellphone.
Hunter Clay Deen, 19, of Middleburg, was charged with four counts of possessing child sexual conduct and using his cellphone to facilitate a felony after the Clay County Sheriff’s Office’s Crimes Against Children Unit said it received a tip about the inappropriate communication.
According to the affidavit for the arrest warrant, the boy posed for sexually explicit acts and sent the photos to Deen.
According to the warrant, Deen was already in the Clay County Jail after the Green Cove Springs Police Department arrested him after he was accused of stealing a car on July 12. Deputies took his cellphone during the booking process.
While in jail, another inmate, Curtis Courtney, spit on him because Deen refused to pay a debt owed by another inmate. Courtney was charged with battery in the jail on May 5.
Deen’s bond was set at $375,015. His next court appearance will be on June 5.

Man jailed for selling methamphetamine, fighting with deputies
KEYSTONE HEIGHTS – A confidential source working with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office helped put a 32-year-old man behind bars after being charged with selling methamphetamine, but not before he fought with deputies to avoid being arrested.
Coy Lee Franklin, of Keystone Heights, was charged with selling methamphetamine, resisting arrest with violence and punching a sheriff’s deputy with his fist after they responded to a 911 hangup call on May 11.
When they arrived to the 7100 block of Pembroke Street, two deputies were greeted by Franklin and his girlfriend. He fought with both when they attempted to arrest Franklin for the outstanding warrant. Franklin was wrestled to the ground and punched so the deputies could gain compliance.
An arrest warrant was issued after the confidential source bought $50 worth of methamphetamine on Dec. 28, 2022, according to the arrest report.
Franklin’s bond was set at $300,009.

Man busted for selling methamphetamine to undercover agent
KEYSTONE HEIGHTS – A 59-year-old man was arrested after the Clay County Sheriff’s Office said he sold methamphetamine to an undercover agent.
Randall Edward Vantassel, of Melrose, was charged with two counts of selling meth, possessing drug paraphernalia, and using his cellphone to facilitate a felony after he sold $150 of the drug to the agent on March 27 on Immokalee Road.
Vantassel’s bond was set at $130,015.

Man making YouTube video charged with fighting deputies
MIDDLEBURG – A man who was being questioned for trespassing on church property quickly became aggressive and fought with two Clay County Sheriff’s Office deputies.
Jeremie Isaac Lume, 21, of Middleburg, was charged with resisting arrest with violence and trespassing on school grounds after deputies said he was seen inside a fenced area at Pinebook Presbyterian Church on May 10. Lume said he was at the playground to make a YouTube video at the pull-up bars.
According to the arrest report, when deputies stopped him on Knight Boxx Road, he became combative. He wrestled with deputies, which led to Lume’s tooth being knocked loose. One of the deputies suffered a cut on his right arm.
Lume’s bond was set at $40,005.

Daytona Beach man charged with exposing himself during concert
ORANGE PARK – According to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, a Daytona Beach man was arrested for exposing himself during the Sara Evans concert on May 4 at the Thrasher-Horne Center.
According to the arrest report, William Donovan III, 64, was charged with indecent exposure after two witnesses told an off-duty deputy working security about Donovan exposing himself to the victims in the audience while they watched the show.
His bond was set at $50,003.

CCSO: Woman arrested after using Facebook to sell meth
ORANGE PARK – With the help of an undercover agent, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office charged a woman with trafficking methamphetamine on May 11.
Lori Ann Glass,55, of Jacksonville, also was charged with possessing marijuana and drug paraphernalia after the undercover agent bought the meth in the 1300 block of Blanding Boulevard after Glass arranged for the purchase by using Facebook messenger.
While the amount of methamphetamine Glass possessed was redacted from the arrest report, anything weighing more than 14 grams is considered trafficking.
According to court documents, Glass was arrested on Nov. 18 for trafficking methamphetamine.
Glass’ bond was set at $155,007.