On December 21, 2024, Deputy Riggins of the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop for a tag light violation. The vehicle, occupied by a family traveling to Florida for the holidays, included a young driver experiencing his first traffic stop. Deputy Riggins commended the driver for safelyContinue Reading
Florida State Attorney Melissa Nelson announced that a Duval County jury found Jerry Burns guilty of First-Degree Murder for the 2018 murder-for-hire of his wife, Velvet Burns. The State is seeking the death penalty, and the jury is set to return on December 16 to begin the penalty phase. BurnsContinue Reading
On Sunday, December 15, 2024, Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office Corporal Elio Diaz was tragically murdered after a seemingly routine traffic stop turned into an ambush. Just after 3 p.m., Sgt. Diaz initiated a traffic stop on a white pickup truck at a gas station parking lot after discovering that theContinue Reading
A 57-year old man was arrested by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday, December 19, 2024, after an investigation determined that he intentionally and repeatedly touched the buttocks of a 16-year old girl at the Chick-fil-A restaurant at 4625 South Florida Avenue in Lakeland. Awny Abdel Malek Basta ofContinue Reading
On December 19, 2024, Jacksonville made history by debuting a groundbreaking holographic communication platform at Jacksonville International Airport. The lifelike, 3D hologram, featuring a welcoming message from Mayor Donna Deegan, greets travelers as they deplane, marking one of the first instances of such technology being used in a major U.S.Continue Reading
U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington has sentenced 67-year-old Paul Douglas Creighton of Ontario, Canada, to life in federal prison for producing child sexual abuse material and enticement of a minor. Creighton entered a guilty plea on August 19, 2024. According to the plea agreement and evidence presented at sentencing, betweenContinue Reading
A Florida man has been arrested and charged in connection with his actions during the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, where he allegedly assaulted law enforcement officers with deadly weapons, contributing to the violent disruption of a joint session of Congress. Joel Linn O’Donnell, 44, of Clearwater,Continue Reading
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a murder-suicide that occurred in New Tampa on Wednesday, December 18, 2024. At 6:31 p.m., HCSO’s Dispatch Center received a 911 call reporting a shooting in the 18000 block of Royal Forest Drive. Deputies responding to the scene found 67-year-old Steven Glantz withContinue Reading
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office are seeking the public’s help in solving the murder of Jaworski “JoJo” Williams, who was killed in Jasper, Florida, on December 30, 2017. The investigation into Williams’ death remains active as authorities continue to pursue leads inContinue Reading
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) arrested Jameel Demestrice Florence, 46, and Royan Boclair, 63, both of Miami, in connection with a multiagency State Assistance for Fentanyl Eradication (SAFE) investigation. Florence is charged with possession of fentanyl, while Boclair faces charges of possession of fentanyl and possession of cocaineContinue Reading