I-TEAM: Baker County Sheriffโs Office found hospital staff reported crimes late, altered evidence
In a harsh email sent this past May, the Baker County Sheriffโs Office found the staff at the Northeast Florida State Hospital, or NEFSH, reported crimes late and destroyed or altered evidence in criminal investigations.
DCF opens D-SNAP to St. Johns County residents
The Florida Department of Children and Families is opening the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to St. Johns County residents as part of the stateโs response to Hurricane Ian, St. Johns County Emergency Management announced Wednesday.
6-year-old died after apparent accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound, DCF says
A 6-year-old girl died last week after โshe sustained what appeared to be an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head while she was playing with the motherโs weapon,โ according to Florida Department of Children and Families data for child fatalities in Duval County.
State to pay $17.5 million for improper reporting of SNAP benefits
The U.S. Department of Justice says the Florida Department of Children and Families agreed to the settlement over allegations that the state agency โinjected biasโ into its reporting about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Psychedelic drugs, explosives, lab found at Keystone Heights home, sheriff says
CLAY COUNTY, Fla. โ Hallucinogenic drugs and enough explosive material to make seven homemade hand grenades were found at a home in Keystone Heights, Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook announced Monday. On March 19, officers went to the home and found a โDMT extraction labโ inside a shed on the property, Cook said. They can be dangerous to those who are producing the drug, the community and for our investigating officers and detectives,โ Cook said. AdDetectives also found chemicals that can be used to create other psychedelic drugs, five guns, 2,000 rounds of ammunition and chemicals that could be used to build destructive or explosive devices. Homeland Security, the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives worked together to investigate the lab and clean up the hazardous chemicals that were located there.
3-year-old girl drowns in Clay County pool
A 3-year-old girl died two weeks ago after she was found unresponsive in her familys swimming pool, according to the Florida Department of Children and Families. Clay County deputies said the child was pulled from an above-ground pool at a home off State Road 16 west of Penny Farms. This was the third child drowning in Northeast Florida this year. A 2-year-old child drowned in an above-ground pool in Nassau County in June and a 5-year-old was found face down in a bathtub in Alachua County in January. Florida loses more children under the age of 5 to drowning than any other state in the nation.
Middleburg man accused of touching girl under 12
GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. - A 27-year-old Middleburg man is accused of sexually touching a girl under the age of 12 sexually and forcing her to sexually touch him, according to a Clay County Sheriff's Office arrest report. After the victim was interviewed by detectives and the Florida Department of Children and Families was notified, three controlled phone calls were placed with Cody Durning, with law enforcement officials listening in. While the contents of those calls were redacted from the arrest report, deputies arrested Burning the day after the third call was placed. Durning is being held without bond in the Clay County Jail. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.
3 Jacksonville day care centers cited by DCF
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Children left alone and unsafe playgrounds are just a couple problems state inspectors found at local day care centers this month. The Florida Department of Children and Families inspects day care centers each week to make sure children are safe. Of dozens of recent day care reports, News4Jax found that several received violations. Daystar was also cited after a staff member without valid CPR certification was alone in the day care with children. You can also search the inspection reports of all day care centers in Florida by visiting Cares.MyFlFamilies.com.