CCSO: Camp employee arrested for having ‘inappropriate’ relationship with 16-year-old girl

CAMP BLANDING – A 27-year-old Florida Youth ChalleNGe Academy supervisor was arrested on Oct. 2 after the Clay County Sheriff’s Office said she had an inappropriate relationship with a 16-year-old student at the camp.
Libby Louise Alexander Chrome, of Macclenny, was charged with being an authority figure soliciting lewd conduct with a student following an investigation that started seven months ago.
According to the affidavit for an arrest warrant, the girl’s mother provided sheriff's deputies with her daughter’s cellphone that was being used to communicate with Chrome. The girl graduated from the academy at Camp Blanding last May.
According to the affidavit, the relationship started on March 30. Deputies were called on April 11. Chrome met with detectives on July 28.
CCSO said cellphone messages, love notes and emails about a “relationship of a romantic nature” led to Chrome’s arrest.
Chrome’s bond was set at $200,003.

Jailed woman hit with new delivering, selling fentanyl, methamphetamine charges

MIDDLEBURG – An alert Clay County Sheriff’s Office deputy stopped a woman on County Road 218 for driving with a suspended license and she wound up being arrested for possessing methamphetamine and fentanyl, which eventually led to a bevy of additional drug-related charges.
Linda June Padgett, 41, of Middleburg, originally was charged with possession of methamphetamine and fentanyl, resisting law enforcement and driving with a suspended license on Sept. 1. Following an investigation, CCSO then added delivering or distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl charges on Oct. 1.
According to the Sept. 1 arrest report, Padgett refused to get out of her SUV after she was stopped. She grabbed the steering wheel to resist the deputy’s attempts to remove her from the vehicle. Deputies found two pieces of aluminum foil containing what later tested positive for fentanyl in the center console, and they found a packet of methamphetamine in her left front pants pocket.
While she sat in the Clay County Jail, detectives charged her with selling and delivering fentanyl and methamphetamine following a year-long investigation when a confidential source said Padgett sold them the drugs on March 25, 2021.
Padgett’s bond was set at $86,510.

Man on life support after being pulled from St. Johns River

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – A 67-year-old man remained on life support at a Jacksonville hospital after he was pulled from the St. Johns River during the storm associated with Hurricane Ian.
The man, who wasn’t identified, jumped into the river from his boat to rescue his granddaughter who fell into the river.
Officers from the Green Cove Springs Police Department and deputies from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrived to the scene less than two minutes after he fell. He was unconscious when they arrived.
Cmdr. Shawn Hines, Sgt. Erin Vineyard, Det. Douglas Patterson with Green Cove Springs and Sgt. Chris Glenn from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office began assisting in the recovery efforts. A bystander, along with Glenn, jumped into the water to assist.
The man was immediately brought to shore where life-saving measures were performed by GCSPD officer Neal Newton and Vineyard until Clay County Fire Rescue continued medical attention.

CCSO deputy uninjured in crash involving DUI suspect

CLAY COUNTY – A Clay County Sheriff’s Office deputy wasn’t injured in a hard crash involving a drunk driver on Sept. 25.
Deputy Tanner Foerman was on patrol when he was struck by an impaired driver who ran a red light and slammed into his cruiser.
“Today was supposed to be just another day on the job but little did I know, someone somewhere had other plans for me,” Foerman posted on social media. “After many years working on patrol (thankfully) without any incidents, that all changed this morning when a drunk driver ran a red light and crossed into my lane of travel.
“Words cannot express the gratitude I have for my beat partners and the Florida Highway Patrol for taking care of me when I needed it … The outcome could have been much worse. Although I am banged up and quite sore, I will overcome and this too shall come to pass.
“If you know better, do better. Don’t drink and drive.
“Stay vigilant, brothers and sisters.”