Man jailed following second drug raid in three months

MIDDLEBURG – A man was back in jail following a second raid in three months for selling drugs from his home at 2043 Blue Knoll Road.
Dale Arthur Holland, 38, was in jail after another drug raid by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office SWAT and Street Crimes units. Deputies found fentanyl and heroin. He also was charged with using his home to conduct illegal drug sales.
Holland’s house also was raided on Sept. 26 and he was charged with using the same house to sell methamphetamine and child abuse.
Agents were back at the house on Dec. 23. The home still had at least one window still covered with plywood from the September raid.
According to a social media post by CCSO, “Our Organized Crime Unit, Targeted Narcotics Team and SWAT served search and arrest warrants at a home on Blue Knoll Road for the second time this year, because apparently, they didn’t get the message the first time around that they had options.
“Information from the community tipped us off that the folks there were maintaining a drug dwelling, in addition to the sale and delivery of narcotics. We found fentanyl and methamphetamine, and items that substantiated the home was used as a dwelling for drug use. This is the second time this year we served a search warrant and made arrests at this home for the same activity. The ‘You Had Options’ plywood we put up the last time we visited was still there, so they got more installed.”
According to court records, Holland has been arrested at least 20 times in Clay County since 2000.
His current bond was set at $325,006.

Trio caught after trail of vacuum machine break-ins

FLEMING ISLAND – Three local residents were arrested after they were caught breaking into coin-operated machines at least nine businesses, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office said.
Joyce Lajuan White Johnson, 31, of Orange Park, Mark Andrew Johnson, 55, of Orange Park, and Peter Said Qaoud, 47, of Jacksonville, all were charged with molesting coin-operated machines in Orange Park, Middleburg and Fleming Island.
Deputies originally were called following a break-in of the vacuum and air pump machine at Circle K at 1091 Blanding Blvd., in Orange Park. The trio, along with a passenger who was released, eventually were stopped at the Circle K at 4305 U.S. Highway 17 on Fleming Island.

Lake City tracked down by K-9s while attempting escape

ORANGE PARK – A man’s time on the lam didn’t last long on Christmas morning.
William Lee Newham III, 40, of Lake City, briefly escaped at the Orange Park Medical Center after being arrested for retail theft at the Orange Park Mall and providing false identification.
Newham escaped while a CCSO deputy tried to place him in his squad car after he was examined at the medical center. Despite being in handcuffs, Newham was able to evade capture by running into a wooded construction area near a parking lot.
Sheriff’s deputies used K-9s Ory and McRea to find Newham. He was bitten by one of the dogs during the apprehension.
Bradford County officials said Newham also was wanted for domestic battery by strangulation.

GCS man arrested for assaulting woman in Jacksonville

ORANGE PARK – A Green Cove Springs man was arrested by Clay County Sheriff’s Office deputies who were reacting to an arrest warrant issued by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Ivan Jacob Zecher, 26, was charged with felony battery, aggravated assault and domestic battery by strangulation.

CCSO: Woman choked while keeping guns from man

MIDDLEBURG – A 53-year-old man was arrested for reportedly choking a woman who was trying to keep him from opening a gun safe during an argument.
Elbert Emmette Fletcher, of Middleburg, was charged with felony battery and domestic battery by strangulation after the victim said Fletcher appeared to be intoxicated and she feared he would hurt himself or others in the house.
Deputies saw red marks around the victim’s neck, according to the arrest report.

Man wanted for beating woman found in Gainesville

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – A man wanted on two counts of domestic battery was arrested in Alachua County and brought back to Clay to face charges.
Manuel A. Moreno, 35, was arrested on Dec. 26 in Gainesville after the Clay County Sheriff’s Office got an arrest warrant after a woman in Keystone Heights said she was dragged by her hair as they walked along Wofford Drive last June. A week later, she said he punched her in the face and urinated on her.
His bond was set at $20,004.

Three hurt in head-on collision in Lake Asbury

LAKE ASBURY – Three people were injured, two critically, in a head-on collision Saturday afternoon on State Road 21.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a Chevrolet Silverado driven by Regan Spinks, 19, of Fleming Island, crossed over the double-yellow line and slammed into an Acura driven by Deloras Ohyon, 69, of Keystone Heights.
Both were listed in serious condition.
A passenger in the pickup, Ross Ledger, 20, of Green Cove Springs, sustained minor injuries, FHP said.
Spinks was driving southbound and crossed into traffic directly ahead of Ohyon, witnesses told FHP. Spinks, who wasn’t wearing his seatbelt, was thrown from the truck. Ohyon had to be cut from her car by Clay County Fire and Rescue.
Charges are pending.