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Police briefs 8/29/19

Clay County Sheriff's Office
Posted 8/28/19

Missing Oakleaf boy found safe in JacksonvilleOAKLEAF – Two people were arrested late Thursday and early Friday after a missing boy who triggered an Amber Alert on Aug. 22 was found safe in …

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Police briefs 8/29/19


Posted

Missing Oakleaf boy found safe in Jacksonville

OAKLEAF – Two people were arrested late Thursday and early Friday after a missing boy who triggered an Amber Alert on Aug. 22 was found safe in Jacksonville, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office said.
Ondreja Olyvia Chaniece Ciprian, 23, and Vachastity Tahivy Raqkeil Christian, 24, were both charged with interference with custody and providing false information to law enforcement about a missing person after a short manhunt ended when several law enforcement agencies found Cedric Barnes, 10, at a home in Jacksonville.
According to the arrest report, Barnes was removed by the Department of Children and Families from his parents and awarded to his grandmother in February 2018.
“Cedric Barnes was found safe and sound in Jacksonville,” CCSO Chief Patrick Golemme said. “Thank you to everyone who shared tips and well-wishes for a safe recovery.”
The Clay County Schools Police Department, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Department of Children and Families, Florida Highway Patrol and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement all participated in the investigation and recovery of the boy.
Barnes was walking home from Argyle Elementary when he was approached by at least two people in a silver car, according to the Amber Alert.
Golemme said it didn’t appear the boy was forced into the car. A background check led authorities to the parents’ home in Jacksonville.
Other charges are pending.

Man locked up for sexual battery on a child

A Clay County man was arrested on Aug. 22 and charged with sexual battery on a girl younger than 12 years old.
Christopher Richard White, 31, was booked for after a five-day investigation by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and Department of Children and Families revealed he forced the child to perform illicit acts, according to the arrest report.
CCSO said there may be evidence there were other assaults.
White is being held in the Clay County Jail without bond. His next court date is Sept. 18.

Vandals cause power outage in Middleburg, Lake Asbury

CLAY COUNTY – More than 6,000 residents from Middleburg and Lake Asbury were without power early on Aug. 24 after vandals broken into two substations. The lights went out at about 4 a.m. after thieves broke into the Maxville and Lake Asbury substations to steal copper wiring.

Clay Electric restored power to most of the affected customers within two hours, and the rest had their power restored by 9 a.m.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office and Clay Electric are investigating.

Woman slashed following night of partying, skinny-dipping

MIDDLEBURG – A night of drinking and “skinny-dipping” turned violent when a woman was slashed during an argument.
Jessica Nelson, 40, of Middleburg, was charged with assault and battery during a burglary after sheriff’s office deputies said another woman suffered deep cuts to her neck and hand.
According to the arrest report, Nelson was one of five people who left a bar on County Road 220 during the early morning hours of Aug. 23 and continued to party at the victim’s house. The victim and another man got into an argument. At some point, Nelson apparently intervened. The victim appeared to be cut with a “straight-edged weapon,” CCSO said.
Nelson was being held of a $150,003 bond.

Son goes to jail for meth, stealing items from family

MIDDLEBURG – A 28-year-old man was arrested and charged last Sunday with possession of methamphetamine and for stealing items from his father’s home, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office said.
Evan Matthew Warchol was taken to the Clay County Jail after deputies found him walking away from his father’s house with a laptop that was reported stolen. The father also said a firearm and three bicycles had been taken in the last month.

Man arrested for breaking into cars at tow yard

ORANGE PARK – The owner of Clay Towing found a man on Aug. 24 sitting in a chair inside the garage after he apparently broke in and rummaged through several cars.
Bobby Lee Pruitt, 37, of Orange Park, was charged with three counts of burglary after sheriff’s office deputies found a bag of items removed from cars inside the tow yard in his car.
According to the arrest report, Pruitt removed the security cameras from the walls before taking several keys. A cellphone, credit card, clothes, tools, paper towels and toys were some of the items taken from cars, CCSO reported.

Keystone Heights man killed in head-on collision

BRADFORD COUNTY – A Keystone Heights man was one of three killed in a head-on collision Tuesday morning on State Road 100 at SE 109th St.
Kevin Booth, 53, died after he was driving westbound in the eastbound lanes of S.R. 100, the Florida Highway Patrol reported. He slammed into a car driven by Laura Wilbert, 35, of Starke. She and a passenger, Christian Okrasinski, 16, of Starke, also were killed.