Restaurant undercover operation leads to meth
FLEMING ISLAND – Authorities report that an undercover operation at a Fleming Island restaurant ended this week in an arrest for charges of methamphetamine trafficking.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrested Bryan Eugene Gibson, 52, of Jacksonville on June 6 at 11:45 p.m. in the parking lot of the Sleep Inn and Suites on East West Parkway after first observing Gibson in the Dick’s Wings restaurant nearby.
Officers used a drug-sniffing police dog to search Gibson’s vehicle after the traffic stop. When the dog alerted the officers to the smell of drugs, they searched the vehicle. The search resulted in 27.6 grams of methamphetamine, two scales, a ledger, $934 in cash and three syringes. The Florida statute for trafficking is 14 grams or more of a drug.
Gibson faces one count each of trafficking methamphetamine, conspiring to traffic methamphetamine. At press time, he remained in the Clay County Jail with bond set at $251,005.

Subway armed robber collared
ORANGE PARK – Police have arrested a Jacksonville man for allegedly robbing an Orange Park area subway restaurant at gunpoint.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office charged Daniel Christian Taylor, 26, on June 6 at 2:08 a.m. after conducting an investigation.
According to the police report, Taylor went to the store at 195 Blanding Blvd. on June 5 at 8:53 p.m. and “insinuated he had a handgun in his waistband with the intent to permanently or temporarily deprive the victim of the money inside the cash register using a firearm,” states the CCSO report.
Police said the store clerk admitted he saw what appeared to be the handgrip of a handgun sticking out of Taylor’s waistband, which led him to run to the back of the store where he called CCSO. When Taylor saw the store clerk run to the back, Taylor fled the building. Taylor was captured hours later by police. A search uncovered he was in possession of 1.26 grams of marijuana and 2.06 grams of cocaine.
He was booked into the Clay County Jail on one count each of possession of not more than 20 g. cannabis, possession of a controlled substance, attempted armed robbery with a firearm. His bond is set at $155,258.

Clay pedestrian killed in St. Augustine
ST. AUGUSTINE – A 52-year-old Green Cove Springs man was killed June 4 in St. Augustine while trying to cross U.S. 1.
The man was hit by a 2004 Chevy Tahoe around 4 a.m. on June 4, according to a release from the Florida Highway Patrol. The release stated Christopher Matkowski, 56, struck the pedestrian while driving southbound on U.S. 1 near Arapaho Avenue. The victim’s name has not been released at press time due to notification of next of kin.
FHP said Matkowski could not avoid the pedestrian and stopped the vehicle immediately. Matkowski was not injured and the incident was not alcohol related, the release stated. No charges have been brought, although further investigation is pending, the release states.

Couple charged with scamming senior
MIDDLEBURG – Police transferred a Jacksonville man and woman to the Clay County Jail from the Duval County Jail June 1 to faces theft charges, according to a Clay County Sheriff’s Office report.
The transfer of Pamela Denise Hancock, 37, and Alandis Calvin Adams, 32, the report states, was based on a warrant for felony charges of grand theft in the amount of $300-$4,999 and fraudulent credit card use.
A Clay County judge issued the warrants after Teresa Irwin, Hancock’s aunt, noticed unauthorized ATM withdrawals totaling more than $1,000 that occurred between February 10 and March 15, the warrants state. According to the police report, Hancock is also charged with theft of a credit card. The warrant notes Hancock’s criminal history and states she is on active probation for trafficking in stolen property, a felony.
At press time, Hancock remained in jail with bond set at$40,008 and Adams’ bond is set at $40,006.

Felony vandalism charge for Pennsylvania man
MIDDLEBURG – Police arrested a Pennsylvania man June 1 after he was accused of damaging his wife’s car, according to a Clay County Sheriff’s Office report.
David Rodriguez, 36, faces a felony charge of vandalism causing damage of $1,000 or more. An officer was investigating reports of a disturbance in the 4000 block of Appaloosa Road, the police report states, and saw Rodriguez throwing a blunt object at cars.
Police said one of the vehicles belonged to Rodriguez’s wife, though the couple has been separated since 2013. The incident occurred around 9 a.m., the police report states.
At press time, he remained in the Clay County jail with bond set at $10,003.

Orange Park woman killed in Jax crash
JACKSONVILLE – The Florida Highway Patrol reports that a 37-year-old Orange Park woman was killed June 1 in a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 295 at Duval Road at 3:12 a.m.
FHP reports that a 2004 Nissan Maxima traveling in the left lane, for some unknown reason, entered the median and then steered to the right causing the vehicle to lose control and travel into the right shoulder.
The driver, whose named has not been released pending notification of next of kin, was pronounced dead at the scene as the vehicle crashed into a tree.
The 39-year-old male passenger, who was from Jacksonville, was taken to UF Health hospital in Jacksonville where he was listed in critical condition. He name has also been withheld.

Sheriff’s Office seeks public help
GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Detectives with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office are asking the public for information to help solve a crime.
Police say that in the early morning hours of May 28, suspects opened two, automated-water vending machines and stole money from them. The machines were in front of Winn-Dixie in Green Cove Springs at 3260 U. S. Highway 17, and near Orange Park at 248 Blanding Blvd.
Surveillance video at the Orange Park store captured what appeared to be a new model, silver or light-colored Nissan Altima and at least two suspects.
If you have any information about the suspects or vehicle, contact the Clay County Sheriff’s Office at (904) 264-6512.