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Police Briefs 3/22/18

Clay County Sheriff's Office
Posted 3/21/18

Arrest made in 2016 sexual assaultORANGE PARK – Authorities have charged an Orange Park area man with a probation violation in connection with a sexual battery charge dating back to 2016.The …

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Police Briefs 3/22/18


Posted

Arrest made in 2016 sexual assault
ORANGE PARK – Authorities have charged an Orange Park area man with a probation violation in connection with a sexual battery charge dating back to 2016.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office charged Hillman David Patten II, 24, of a Legacy Drive address, on March 20 using a warrant.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office picked up Patten at an Argyle Forest Boulevard address and transported him to the Clay County Jail through the Cops Without Borders agreement with the JSO.
Patten was arrested for breaking terms of his probation, which is what he was given for the July 2016 assault involving a 13-year-old girl.
At press time, Patten remained in jail awaiting a bond hearing.

Orlando man drives here, gets arrested for fraud
ORANGE PARK – An Orlando man is in the Clay County Jail awaiting a bond hearing on charges of fraud and forgery.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrested Tramaine Derell Brunson, 27, on March 20 at 12:19 p.m. after positively identifying him using a photographic database.
According to the police report, Brunson called OneMain Financial at 868 Blanding Blvd. and told them he would be there by noon March 20 to complete his online application for a $15,000 loan.
Police said that during the correspondence with OneMain staffers, Brunson identified himself as Robert William Ickes III, who is a real person with a St. Johns, Florida address, police said.
According to the police report, while waiting for the CCSO to arrive, a OneMain loan specialist spoke to Brunson who went on to sign loan papers under the name Robert Ickes.
After being taken into custody and read his Miranda Warning rights, police said, Brunson refused to speak to law enforcement.
He faces one count each of unauthorized use or possession of a blank stolen or forged driver’s license, forgery, use or possession of another person’s ID without consent and attempting to defraud a financial institution.
At press time, he remained in the Clay County Jail where his bond is set at $100,012.

3 ejected in two-car crash
CLAY COUNTY – Two men are in critical condition after a two-vehicle accident just north of Green Cove Springs early the morning of March 17.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a vehicle being driven by Fleming Island resident Kevin Phillips, 25, was travelling across U.S. Highway 17 near Heath Road at about 1:50 a.m. Saturday when it was struck broadside by another vehicle travelling south on 17. That vehicle’s driver has yet to be identified by FHP as all three occupants were ejected on impact.
At the time of the report, Phillips was in serious condition while two of the three occupants of the other vehicle have been listed as critical and the third also in serious condition at Orange Park Medical Center.

Lewd battery charge for Oakleaf man
OAKLEAF – An Oakleaf man was arrested on a warrant March 19 at 9:32 a.m. for allegedly coercing an underage girl to have intercourse with him in his car.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrested Joelmy Martinez, 22, after a warrant was issued for his arrest on March 14.
According to the warrant, the victim, a 15-year-old girl, said that Martinez picked her up from her residence and was supposed to drop her off at a friend’s house. Martinez took the girl to a Taco Bell near Orange Park Mall and he provided vodka for the girl to drink. According to the victim, Martinez then forced the girl to have sexual intercourse with him in the front seat of his car.
Martinez was transported to the Clay County Jail where he faces a felony for lewd and lascivious battery. He was set to appear in court March 20 and is being held on about $25,000 bond.

New charge for Keystone Heights man
GREEN COVE SPRINGS – A Keystone Heights man who was already incarcerated at the Clay County Jail has been charged with an additional felony for selling narcotics to a police informant in November.
On March 19, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office charged Gary Edward Boyd II, 37, with an additional felony charge for selling methamphetamine to a CCSO confidential informant. On Jan. 24, Boyd allegedly sold drugs to an informant at 235 SW Flamingo St., which is approximately 380 feet from The Church Courageous. It’s for that reason Boyd is charged with sale and delivery of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a church.
Boyd’s second charge came March 19 after police reviewed more documents relating to Boyd’s case.
Boyd was set to appear in court March 20 and faces two felonies for delivery of methamphetamine. He is being held on just over $185,000 bond.

Underage house party ends in arrest
MIDDLEBURG – A Middleburg man was arrested Saturday after hosting a house party that allowed underage drinking.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrested Jonathan Robert Sheldon, 20, on March 17 after breaking up a house party at his residence on Range Line Road.
According to the police report, deputies responded to a call about underage drinking and found about 50 people varying in ages from 16-25 at Sheldon’s residence. Once police arrived, party guests began running from the house, and officers were able to locate Sheldon. When police tried to put Sheldon in handcuffs, he fled to the back of the house where police put him in restraints. Sheldon was transported to the Clay County Jail following his arrest, but has since been released. He faces two misdemeanors for allowing minors at an open alcohol house party and resisting arrest.

Gun threat results in assault charge
MIDDLEBURG – A Middleburg man was threatened with a gun by his mother’s boyfriend’s son at the home where they both live.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrested Jared Russell Wells, 20, on March 17 after receiving a call from a man who said Wells threatened him earlier in the day.
According to the police report, the victim said Wells had been drinking and doing drugs throughout the day Saturday and was putting out dog food in the yard to lure the neighborhood dogs so that he could shoot them.
The victim told Wells not to shoot his dog because he knew that the dog did not like Wells. Later in the day, the victim heard a gunshot and went outside to find Wells standing over the victim’s dog, which had been shot in the neck. The victim confronted Wells who then turned and pointed the gun at him. The victim then left the house, fearing for his life, and, after returning to find Wells sitting on the front porch holding the gun, left again.
Wells was arrested and transported to the Clay County Jail and, according to the report, began kicking the deputy’s seat and screaming in the patrol car before being taken into the jail. He faces a felony charge for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and has since been released from jail.

Middleburg roofing company cited after fatal heat-related hazard
JACKSONVILLE – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Middleburg-based Southeastern Subcontractors Inc. for failing to protect employees from the dangerous hazards of working outdoors in extreme heat.
OSHA investigated the roofing company after an employee died from hyperthermia while working at a residential site in Jacksonville. Hyperthermia occurs when the body’s temperature is abnormally high because it cannot regulate the heat from the environment. The agency issued one serious citation for exposing employees to heat-related injuries, and one other-than-serious violation for failing to report a workplace fatality to OSHA within 8 hours of its occurrence. The company faces proposed penalties of $22,173.
“Employees exposed to heat on the job - whether indoors or outdoors - are at an increased risk of suffering heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke,” said Brian Sturtecky, OSHA Jacksonville area office director, in a March 16 news release. “Tragedies such as these can be prevented if employers develop and implement a heat illness prevention program, and provide employees with water, rest, and shade.”
The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

National Guard sergeant charged in child molestation case
CAMP BLANDING – A 28-year-old military police officer at Camp Blanding faces three counts of sexual battery on victims under age 12 following an investigation by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Children and Families.
Police arrested Sgt. Edward James Bowman, of Middleburg, on March 14 at 5 p.m. at the base. According to the warrant for Bowman’s arrest, police began the investigation on March 5 when they interviewed three boys – one 8-year-old and two 11-year-olds – who said Bowman sexually molested them against their will.
In the warrant, the investigation found one incident occurred Feb. 19, on President’s Day, when the children were on a camping trip on base at Camp Blanding. The second 11-year-old corroborated the two other boys’ stories, according to investigators.
In one incident, the boys reported that Bowman would watch them from within the bathroom when they went to shower.
DCF investigators and CCSO investigators interviewed the victims at different times and, each time, they had consistent stories.
At press time, Bowman remained in the Clay County Jail on $750,009 bond.