Sheriff’s Office: Homeowner shoots fleeing man in leg

ORANGE PARK – A homeowner shot a fleeing suspect who broke into his garage, ending a brief chase that started Monday when deputies spotted a man driving a stolen car on Blanding Boulevard.

William Tracy White Jr., 34, of Orange Park, was charged with grand theft auto, grand theft, two counts of resist/obstruct/oppose law enforcement, aggravated fleeing with property damage, burglary, three counts of leaving the scene of an accident with property damage and driving without a valid driver's license after the Clay County Sheriff’s Office said he rammed a patrol car and citizen’s car while trying to elude capture.

According to an arrest report, the car was reported stolen on Aug. 20. Shortly after a sheriff’s office deputy turned his emergency lights on, White pulled into a parking lot east of Londonderry Drive. After the deputy boxed him in, the couple tried to run.

Sheriff Michelle Cook said nobody was injured in the collisions. She also said White and his passenger, Amanda Jean Strickland, 32, ran in opposite directions after White parked the stolen Volkswagen sedan.

“After being involved in the hit and run crash, they exited the vehicle, both the driver, who was the male, and the passenger, who was the female, fled on foot. The passenger, who was a female, was apprehended almost immediately, running down Blanding Boulevard,” Cook said in a press conference less than three hours after the ordeal started. “The male suspect fled into a nearby neighborhood. Once in the neighborhood, the suspect made his way into a detached garage. The homeowner of the house intervened and actually shot the suspect who had entered his detached garage. The suspect was shot in the leg by the homeowner.”

Cook said White’s injury didn’t appear to be life-threatening.

The homeowner and his wife were cooperating with the investigation, Cook said.

“This is this is Second Amendment country, you know, stand on your ground,” the sheriff said. “I don't want to go too much into it. I just met with the homeowner and his wife, who were both at home when this happened. It's not something that you want to do, but they were prepared.”

Cook said White had two outstanding warrants – one locally for grand theft, the other was an out-of-state warrant for armed robbery.

White's bond was set at $610,024. He is scheduled to return to court on Sept. 29.

Woman charged with trafficking fentanyl after wellness stop

ORANGE PARK – Believing the driver may be experiencing a medical emergency, a traffic stop on Saturday, Aug. 22, led to the arrest of a 57-year-old woman for trafficking fentanyl.

Shirley Ann Howard, of Orange Park, was also charged with possessing crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia after deputies saw her leave an area known for drug sales. After she failed to maintain her lane on Blanding Boulevard, she was stopped. CCSO reported she struggled after she got out of her car.

K-9 Loki then alerted deputies of the likely presence of illegal narcotics inside the car. Deputies found a silver spoon with crack cocaine residue on it under the passenger seat. When Howard was searched, deputies also found a crack cocaine rock inside her bra.

When Howard arrived at the Clay County Jail, she admitted she had more drugs on her. Deputies found another 10.74 grams of crack cocaine and 8.9 grams of fentanyl before she was strip-searched.

In Florida, any amount greater than four grams of fentanyl is considered trafficking since an amount the size of a grain of salt can be deadly.

Her bond was set at $1,004,005.

Controlled purchase leads to fentanyl trafficking charge

ORANGE PARK – A confidential source helped the Clay County Sheriff’s Office recover 27.9 grams of fentanyl from a 28-year-old Jacksonville man, which led to drug trafficking charges.

Rae’Kwon Bernard Graham, of Jacksonville, was being held at the Clay County Jail with a $1.5 million bond after CCSO’s source purchased the fentanyl on Sept. 8, 2025.

Since even a small amount of fentanyl is considered extremely dangerous, four or more grams constitute trafficking, according to Florida Statute.

Jacksonville man returned to Clay County to face 2025 charges

JACKSONVILLE – A 22-year-old man was transferred from the Duval County Jail on Thursday, Aug. 20, to face charges related to a high-speed chase where the Clay County Sheriff’s Office he drove so recklessly that he endangered other motorists and property.

Anthony Dashawn Isaiah McCray, of Jacksonville, was charged with flee or elude law enforcement without regard for the safety to others or property, resisting law enforcement with violence and reckless driving after CCSO said he led them on a chase as he “drove at a high speed or in any manner which demonstrates a wanton disregard for the safety of others or property” on May 5, 2025.

According to the warrant, CCSO was giving chase in their regularly marked patrol cars with their flashing lights and sirens engaged.

Once caught, CCSO said McCray threatened one of the deputies.

He is at the Clay County Jail with a $476,508 bond. His next court date is scheduled for Sept. 22.