FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has determined that the actions of the deputy who shot a suspect in Columbia County earlier this month were justifiable.

The cost of protecting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, his family and visiting officials has significantly risen from $6.1 million to $9.9 million as the Republican presidential hopeful embarked on an aggressive travel schedule to outflank former President Donald Trump in the GOP primary.

A 14-year-old Volusia County girl who was the subject of an Amber Alert on Monday remained missing Tuesday, although the van mentioned in the initial alert was found in Clay County, authorities said.

A retired Baker County officer and church youth leader was arrested after the Florida Department of Law Enforcement received a tip about someone uploading child porn to the internet.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is marking one year since it launched the Florida Purple Alert program. The Purple Alert is used to assist in the location of missing adults suffering from mental, cognitive, intellectual or developmental disabilities, and who do not meet the criteria for a statewide Silver Alert.

FDLE investigating an officer-involved shooting in Baker County

Thursday marks one year since Danny Palato was shot and killed by Clay County Sheriff's deputies. Now, his father, Fred, wants more information about what happened.

Small towns and big cities alike are struggling to recruit and retain law enforcement officers amid national controversy over the police profession. Many veteran officers are retiring, leaving agencies in a bidding war for qualified candidates — as they try to hire the next generation to protect and serve.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement plans to step up its presence this weekend in response to social media posts about a “National Day of Hate” against Jewish groups.

The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office is asking the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate the death of an inmate who was found unresponsive hours after being told he was fit to stand trial, according to the sheriff’s office.

An investigation into illegal narcotics has led to the arrest of a woman accused of trafficking methamphetamine, setting up drug deals and using her home as a drug house, according to a report from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced the implementation of a new tool that allows survivors to follow the path of their rape kit from evidence collection to forensic identification.

The governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands has fired the attorney general of the U.S. territory who led a lengthy legal case against disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein that resulted in a $105 million settlement.

A fired Florida health data manager who accused officials of wanting to manipulate COVID-19 statistics has reached an agreement with prosecutors on a felony charge that she illegally accessed state computers.

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office on Sunday afternoon asked for help locating a missing 9-year-old boy.

A former Columbia County Sheriff’s Office employee was arrested following an investigation conducted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, authorities said.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has issued a Missing Child Alert for a teen last seen in Bunnell.

Mike Williams is expected to be tapped by Gov. Ron DeSantis to head up the regional Florida Department of Law Enforcement office in Jacksonville, according to sources.

The Duval County School Board met Thursday morning to discuss the findings of a bombshell grand jury report that found the school’s police force underreported crimes to the state.

A blade tip found in 13-year-old Tristyn Bailey’s body originated from a knife that was discovered in a St. Johns County retention pond, according to a Florida Department of Law Enforcement report released Tuesday.

Out of five candidates, three – Ken Jefferson, Lakesha Burton and Wayne Clark – said they supported turning those investigations over to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).

Authorities say a Jacksonville teenager was found safe.

A former records supervisor for the Columbia County Clerk of Courts was arrested in a fraud scheme, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced Friday.

A business owner and former Boy Scout leader in Fernandina Beach is facing 13 counts of child porn possession after an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

The alert for the missing child was issued Sunday evening.

Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested Kimberly Ann Kilpatrick, a former Port Orange Police Department captain, on charges of grand theft and exploitation of a disabled adult, according to a news release.

Authorities say three Florida correctional officers have been charged with murder in the fatal beating of a handcuffed prisoner who threw urine at one of the officers.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office refused to answer questions Thursday after deputies shot and killed someone Wednesday night in Orange Park following a car chase.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement on Wednesday canceled a Missing Child Alert for a 2-month-old who was reported missing out of Fort Pierce, and the FDLE confirmed the child was safe.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement on Wednesday canceled a Missing Child Alert for a 2-month-old who was reported missing out of Fort Pierce, and the FDLE confirmed the child was safe.

Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams on Wednesday responded to reports that he could take over the Florida Department of Law Enforcement now that the current commissioner is resigning early.

The arrests come after an investigation by the Starke Police Department, with assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Eighth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has developed training for 911 tele-communicators to help find children with autism who are reported missing, something that can go a long way for families who have children with autism, because every second counts when trying to find a child with autism that’s reported missing.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the death of an inmate at the Columbia County Jail, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will lead the investigation into a death that occurred Wednesday in a dorm at the Clay County Jail, according to a news release from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.

Police officers in Jacksonville and Clay County are separately working on five new, unrelated cases involving violence, guns, at least one homicide, and a hostage situation that ended in an officer-involved shooting.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating a deputy-involved shooting that happened Saturday at a Green Cove Springs gas station in Clay County. The incident started with a hostage situation that shut down roads in the area for several hours, investigators said.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has issued a report for a missing adult, who was believed to be endangered.

A homicide investigation is underway in Fernandina Beach, authorities said Monday.

If you receive a text message asking to renew your driver's license to show your COVID-19 vaccination status - don't click on it. It's not what you think.

A U.S. appeals court ruling urges Congress to correct a disparity that doesn't allow members of the military convicted by a court-martial the same avenues as civilian prisoners to seek DNA testing that could exonerate them.

A Columbia County Sheriff's Office deputy has been arrested and placed on administrative leave after he was accused of stealing money during a call for service.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement on Sunday afternoon issued a Missing Child Alert for a teenage boy from Leon County.

A Jacksonville girl was found safe late Wednesday afternoon, less than an hour after the Florida Department of Law Enforcement issued a Missing Child Alert.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement on Sunday issued a Missing Child Alert for a 16-year-old boy from Lee County.

According to a new report from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, while the overall crime rate was down in Florida last year, violent crimes actually increased by more than 2%.

Property crimes dropped by 17% in Florida last year while violent crimes edged up 2.3% and Duval County continues to have the highest murder rate in the state.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement on Thursday issued an Amber Alert for a missing 6-year-old girl out of St. Augustine.

A man and woman who were still wanted as part of a police operation called “Thou Shalt Not Steal” have been taken into custody, according to a news release Thursday from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Investigators in Florida say a group of Romanian nationals stole $740,000 from hundreds of churches in the United States.

Former Jacksonville Sheriff Nathaniel “Nat” Glover was inducted on Saturday into the Florida Law Enforcement Officers’ Hall of Fame.

After a Florida Amber Alert was issued Wednesday evening for two children last seen in Lake City, authorities announced Thursday that the children had been found safe and their biological parents had been taken into custody.

PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. – The Crescent City Council voted 4-1 on Wednesday night to permanently disband the police department. Back in December, the entire department was placed on administrative leave amid an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement into training records and irregularities. The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office took over jurisdiction. AdIn the report, the FDLE recommends one of the officers be fired because he didn’t complete mandatory training. The audit also revealed that training documents were never found for another officer, meaning that officer needs to be retrained.

CRESCENT CITY, Fla. – An intensified search for a missing 20-year-old Putnam County mother turned up human remains Saturday in a heavily wooded area outside Crescent City, investigators said. The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office has called in the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s mobile crime lab to help identify the remains, which were found about 8 a.m. Saturday. [Watch the full news conference update below:]Two days after Nelson’s family reported her missing to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the agency first asked the public for help Friday. AdRELATED: Putnam County ramps up search for possibly endangered 20-year-old womanCommunity members gathered off County Road 308 in Crescent City on Saturday to continue the search for Nelson. “If anybody’s seen my baby, can you call please contact the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office or me,” Nelson’s mother, Chasity Nelson, said at a Friday afternoon news conference.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Lawmakers shifted $4.34 million on Thursday to cover a projected deficit caused by an uptick in people applying for concealed-weapons licenses. Without comment, the Joint Legislative Budget Commission, made up of House and Senate members, approved the funding request from the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Division of Licensing, which oversees permitting for concealed weapons. “This translates to an annual projected total of over 400,000 background checks to be processed through June 30, substantially above any prior fiscal year.”AdThe fiscal year began July 1 and will end June 30. The division had been authorized to spend up to $9.9 million for criminal history background checks for concealed-weapons license applicants, Poucher noted. In the two years that Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried has been in office, the number of concealed-weapons licenses issued by the state has grown from 1.95 million to 2.26 million.

SATSUMA, Fla. – The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and deputies with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office were searching Wednesday for a missing 11-year-old girl. At about midnight, investigators told News4Jax she was found. According to Col. Joseph Wells, she was located several miles from her house walking along a road. Because she is no longer missing, News4Jax has removed her name and photo from this article. Related social media posts have also been updated.

CRESCENT CITY, Fla. – The Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s investigation into the Crescent City Police Department is complete, and News4Jax has obtained a copy of the audit. Back in December, the entire department was placed on administrative leave, and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office took over. He read the FDLE report and said the results are shocking. I’m surprised they didn’t come down on them any sooner than they did.”Jefferson says this creates credibility problems for the entire department. However, that may not matter if the City Council decides to abolish the department and allow the Sheriff’s Office to take over permanently.

ORANGE PARK, Fla. – The 13-year-old girl from Clay County who went missing last month has been found safe, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said Thursday. The Florida Missing Child Alert for ALEYSHA HICKS has been cancelled. The child is safe. If you would like further information, please call the Orange Park Police Department at 904-264-5555. — FDLE (@fdlepio) January 21, 2021Police said the Aleysha Hicks has run away 14 times since November.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced the arrest of Rebekah Jones, 31, on Monday morning. The agency said she is charged with one count of offenses against users of computers, computer systems, computer networks and electronic devices. Court records show that Jones posted a $2,500 bond following an initial appearance hearing in Tallahassee on Monday morning. The message that led to the search warrant implored employees still at the Health Department “to speak up before another 17,000 people are dead. But the agency threatened to arrest her in Maryland if she did not turn herself in by Monday night, Dobson said.

Be a hero.”FDLE agents raided her home in December, seizing her computers and other data equipment. Ron DeSantis on social media and questioned the validity of the state's COVID data, said in a Twitter statement Saturday that she would surrender shortly. Jones said on Twitter that “the warrant was based on a lie” and noted a state agent told her the arrest warrant is unrelated to the December raid. Jones was fired from her post in May after she raised questions about Florida’s COVID-19 data. After the December raid, Jones filed a complaint in Leon County Circuit Court alleging state police violated her rights to free speech and due process.

Ron DeSantis on Friday evening activated the Florida National Guard to assist state and local law enforcement agencies, following FBI warnings of potentially violent protests in state capitals this weekend in advance of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration. The governor’s executive order mobilizing the guard was issued “in response to reports of potential civil unrest,” DeSantis’ office said in a press release. It also came as authorities in Washington, D.C., Tallahassee and other state capitals prepare for potential protests this weekend or early next week. Local officials on Thursday ordered Tallahassee City Hall and the Leon County Courthouse, which are each across the street from the state Capitol, to close Tuesday and Wednesday in anticipation of possible protests. Asking DeSantis to mobilize troops in Tallahassee, Dailey on Friday pointed to National Guard members who will be in Washington to help with the inauguration.

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – Court documents filed last week revealed that embattled former Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels had senior staff solicit hefty campaign donations from members of the Sheriff’s Office as he ran for reelection last year. He also asked a Sheriff’s Office chief to help him fundraise within the department, according to the documents. Daniels then told Smith “I’m not leaving your side,” and said he would help her with her JSO case, documents show. She was taken to the sheriff’s office but released when senior staff refused to put her in jail. A day after Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels surrendered to law enforcement to face criminal charges stemming from a sex scandal investigation, Gov.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which is responsible for running firearms background checks, reports that in the first 10 days of 2021, background checks are up 71 percent. They were part of the 3.7 million in sales last year,” Mills said. According to the FBI:Federal background checks surged 40% to 39.7 million in 2020Smith and Wesson, and Ruger reported double-digit increases in sales. President-elect Joe Biden’s website states that he plans to enact legislation to prohibit all online sales of firearms, ammunition, kits and gun parts. The FBI reports that more than 39.5 million firearm background checks were conducted in 2020, which is the highest since the agency started tracking numbers.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – An arrest was made in the brutal sexual assault of a child in 2015 in Arlington, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday. In August 2015, an 8-year-old girl was sexually assaulted in a wooded area off University Boulevard near Fort Caroline Road. The girl was badly beaten during the assault and was “left for dead,” Sheriff Mike Williams said at a news conference Wednesday announcing the arrest. An arrest warrant was obtained, and it turned out that Henry Williams, now 20, was already in custody. The sheriff said he thinks Henry Williams was familiar with the little girl and was believed to have lived in the Arlington area at the time.

A man in his 20s shot in a vehicle parked at an apartment complex on South Water Street just after midnight Thursday died at the scene, according to the Starke Police Department. Officers said the man was shot once outside the Whispering Oaks Apartments. The Bradford County Sheriff’s Office criminal investigators and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement also responded to assist Starke police. The victim was not identified and there was no word about any suspect information.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The former state data scientist whose home was recently searched by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is now suing the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for damages. In the lawsuit, Rebekah Jones denies sending a message from a Florida Department of Health emergency alert system and instead suggests she was targeted by state law enforcement for political reasons. FDLE executed a search warrant on Jones’ home earlier this month and took her computer, hard drives and cell phone. Johnson said his client’s IP address could have easily been spoofed and the login credentials for the alert system were available online. The lawsuit also suggests FDLE had an incentive to target Jones because of disparaging comments Gov.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement defended his agents’ actions last week when they served a search warrant at the home of a woman fired earlier this year from her job as COVID-19 data curator. FDLE said its agents waited for more than 20 minutes before Rebekah Jones, suspected of sending an unauthorized message on a state platform, opened the door for officers to serve a search warrant. “During that 23 minutes, every hard drive in that apartment could have been wiped,” said Swearingen.“They could have been arming themselves. Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, who oversees FDLE as a Cabinet member, has doubts. FDLE would not comment on the specifics of the case, saying only the investigation is ongoing.

CRESCENT CITY, Fla. – A controversial proposal by the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office to take over all law enforcement operations in Crescent City comes during a time when the entire city police department has been placed on administrative leave. During Thursday night’s City Council meeting, Crescent City Mayor Michelle Myers explained to a packed room why this was an issue of great concern. Putnam County Sheriff Gator Deloach was also at that meeting, where he proposed having the Sheriff’s Office permanently take over law enforcement operations in the city. The Sheriff’s Office and jail is a 30-minute drive from Crescent City, but the plan on the table is to use the existing police office as a Sheriff’s Office sub-station, so that deputies will always be near. Proposals by the Sheriff’s Office to take over policing in Crescent City are nothing new.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A raid at a former Florida Department of Health employee’s home is raising eyebrows after a viral video shows state investigators serving a search warrant on former COVID-19 data curator Rebekah Jones. On Tuesday, Jones responded to the warrant and criticized the way agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement entered her home. They pointed guns at my kids.. pic.twitter.com/DE2QfOmtPU — Rebekah Jones (@GeoRebekah) December 7, 2020“Police search warrant,” the agents said. She said Health Department managers urged her to manipulate information to paint a rosier picture and that she pushed back. State health officials deny any issue with the information’s accuracy.

TALLAHASSEE – Florida authorities investigating an alleged hack into the state’s emergency response system raided the home Monday of a woman fired earlier this year from her job as COVID-19 data curator. Jones was fired from her post in May after she raised questions about Florida’s COVID-19 data. She said Health Department managers urged her to manipulate information to paint a rosier picture and that she pushed back. Agents knocked and called Ms. Jones both announcing the search warrant and encouraging her to cooperate. Ms. Jones refused to come to the door for 20 minutes and hung-up on agents.

CRESCENT CITY, Fla. – The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office has taken over jurisdiction from the Crescent City Police Department while the entire department is under investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. As of 5 p.m. on Friday, all Crescent City Police Department activities were forced to cease. The police building was forced to close and the five officers that make up the police force were all placed on administrative leave with pay. According to a news release from the Crescent City administration office, FDLE will be investigating irregularities that pertain to police officer training and certifications. This action is being taken to assure integrity in the City’s law enforcement services and is not a disciplinary act against any CCPD personnel.

Because the child is no longer missing, News4Jax has removed the names and photos from this article. An Amber Alert issued Sunday morning for a 2-year-old Broward County girl was canceled in the afternoon after she was found safe, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. FDLE issued the Amber Alert shortly after 10 a.m. for the girl, who authorities said had last been seen around 2 a.m. in Wilton Manors, Florida. According to Wilton Manors police, the mother does not have custody of the child. Just before 3 p.m., FDLE announced the Amber Alert had been resolved and the child is safe.

Because the child is no longer missing, News4Jax has removed his name and photo from this article. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 10-year-old Jacksonville boy reported missing on the city’s Northside was found safe Wednesday, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said. The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department assisted JSO in the search, and dozens of crews set up at a command center. Shortly 9:45 p.m. Wednesday, the Sheriff’s Office announced the child had been found safe. She said she just wanted her happy and friendly son back home safe.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The next time you get an Amber Alert on your phone, it will look a little different. In hopes of better informing the public, FDLE is making upgrades to its Amber and Missing Child Alert systems. This year alone, there have already been 18 Florida Amber and 28 Missing Child Alerts. Since its inception in 2000, the Amber Alert system has led to the safe recovery of 77 children. And 65 have been recovered since 2003 thanks to Missing Child Alerts.

A Florida man who changed the voter registration of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and accessed those belonging to NBA icons Michael Jordan and LeBron James was arrested by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement on Tuesday. Guevara was charged with unauthorized access of a computer and altering a voter registration without consent. FDLE was notified after DeSantis noticed that his address in the voting registration system was changed to a residence in West Palm Beach. Agents said that they were able to confirm Guevara as the suspect and said that DeSantis' voter registration was changed through a web browser, presumably on Guevara’s computer.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Law enforcement officials have been asked to investigate a potential breach of the computer network of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. The agency announced Friday it has limited operations due to “malicious activity on state-owned technology assets” that occurred Wednesday. It has asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to review the security matters. A news release from department Secretary Halsey Beshears said the agency took steps to prevent the compromise of data and that the measures to protect the network will require temporary outages through Monday. “These system limitations are anticipated to continue until all systems and system functions are cleared for access by users,” the release said.

CALLAHAN, Fla. – The Nassau County Sheriff’s Office said a deputy responding to a domestic call in Callahan on Friday shot and killed a man who had threatened his brother with a knife. Family identified the man who was killed as Justin Dawley. Deputies said they had negotiated with the man for about 15 minutes when he lunged at them with the knife. The man shot wasn’t identified by authorities, but Undersheriff Roy Henderson said he was in his 30s or 40s and the Sheriff’s Office had responded to domestic violence calls at that home before and the man who was killed had made suicidal statements in the past. That’s different from what the sheriff’s office said on Friday.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Background checks conducted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement show a record number of Floridians are purchasing guns this year. Gun industry insiders say civil unrest and the election have created a perfect storm for increased demand. With two and a half months left to go in the year, it’s already smashed the previous record set in 2016. “We’ve seen a unprecedented number of people coming and buying guns,” Charlie Strickland, owner of Talon Tactical Outfitters in Midway, Florida, said. If Trump wins, there could also be a spike if civil unrest continues.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the state’s election supervisors held a training exercise Wednesday morning to prepare for a wide range of scenarios heading into Election Day. In a statement released through a spokesperson, Secretary of State Laurel Lee confirmed that elections officials and FDLE, among other law enforcement agencies, discussed potential disruptions to the November election. “Participants provided input regarding scenarios that Supervisors of Elections may experience leading up to and during Election Day, including acts of violence, mail disruptions, and polling place disturbances,” Lee said. The goal of the exercise was to anticipate and come up with solutions for those scenarios. “These meetings are important so that we and our partners are prepared and ready for any situations we may face that could affect Florida’s election process,” the secretary of state said.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – About three hours after Florida authorities issued an Amber Alert for an 11-year-old from Apopka on Saturday night, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement canceled the alert. No details of how and where the girl was located, but the FDLE tweeted just before 11 p.m.: “The child was found safe. Thank you for sharing!”

A woman’s body was found Friday morning while highway crews were mowing on NW Railroad Street and Lake City police and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement are investigating it as a suspicious death. The scene was secured and FDLE crime scene investigators helped Lake City detectives search for evidence. The medical examiner’s office in Jacksonville identified the woman as 62-year-old Mary Frances Schroeder. Lake City police ask anyone who may have information concerning the woman or details of her death to call Investigator Gretell Bates at 386-752-4343.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Law Enforcement tweeted it is in the process of issuing a Florida AMBER Alert out of Alachua County, following reports of an abduction in the North Lincoln Heights neighborhood in Gainesville on Sunday afternoon. Gainesville Police have also confirmed to News4Jax that they’re investigating a possible abduction. It is not clear yet if it is related to FDLE’s Amber Alert as well. GPD officers set up a perimeter around near the intersection of Southeast 7th Avenue and 15th Street. Details about what happened are limited at the moment, but we will bring you the latest information as soon as we learn more.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement issued an Amber Alert on Tuesday for a 10-year-old Miami girl who might be traveling with an unknown man in a white van. Authorities said Randi Canion was last seen Saturday in the area of North Bayshore Drive in Miami. She is described as a Black girl about 5 feet, 3 inches tall and weighing 140 pounds. She might be with an unknown white man traveling in a white van, authorities said. Anyone with any information on the whereabouts of this child is asked to contact the Miami Police Department at 305-603-6300 or 911.

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. In a summary of its investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement lays out how it followed a cellphone trail to suspended Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels. A 50-page document released by FDLE reveals explicit details on why Daniels is facing criminal charges. On Monday, Walsh addressed the residents of Clay County. RELATED: What happens if Sheriff Daniels wins re-election? In its report, the FDLE writes about a forensic examination for Sheriff Daniels CCSO-issued cellphone.

A woman at the center of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s investigation into Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels said she never thought she would be involved in all of this. According to FDLE, Daniels sent harassing text messages to Armeshia Johnson and illegally used a law enforcement database to track down her personal information. She said she knew of her boyfriend’s past — that his ex-wife is Smith — and she knew Daniels’ name. At one point, Johnson said, Daniels sent her a Facebook message saying, “Happy birthday sexy booty.”“It caught me by surprise,” Johnson said. I know it’s me.”Johnson said Daniels also sent text messages, asking to meet up with her in Texas.

Ron DeSantis suspended embattled Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels, arrested Thursday night on criminal charges stemming from a sex scandal investigation, the governor appointed Special Agent Matt Walsh of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement as interim sheriff. He’s now got five months to make his mark in Clay County, when whoever wins the November election takes over in January. He is prohibited from receiving any pay or allowance and from any privileges of public office during the suspension. “I started thinking (the) Clay County sheriff has to kill a female, young female in her vehicle. King noted in his letter: “I do not know Sheriff Daniels, his politics, his opponents, nor for that matter any citizen in Clay County.

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – A day after Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels surrendered to law enforcement to face criminal charges stemming from a sex scandal investigation, Gov. He is prohibited from receiving any pay or allowance and from any privileges of public office during the suspension. RELATED: Making sense of the charges against Clay County Sheriff Darryl DanielsThe Florida Department of Law Enforcement confirmed an internal investigation last year into a corrections officer, Cierra Smith, who had been Daniels’ mistress while he was her supervisor. News4Jax on Friday spoke with Rep. John Rutherford, R-Florida, a former Jacksonville sheriff who worked with Daniels during his time at the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. King noted in his letter: “I do not know Sheriff Daniels, his politics, his opponents, nor for that matter any citizen in Clay County.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A day after Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels surrendered to law enforcement to face criminal charges stemming from a sex scandal investigation, newly released court documents are shedding light on the allegations against him. Through his attorney and a video statement posted on social media Thursday, the sheriff has maintained his innocence. In the video clip, the sheriff questioned the timing of the criminal charges, calling it “very suspicious.”RELATED: Facing 4 charges, Sheriff Daniels turns himself in | Why bring charges during an election? While deputies placed Smith in handcuffs, no criminal charges were filed against her. RELATED: Sheriff Daniels accuses corrections officer of stalking him | Sheriff Daniels’ ex-lover: What I did was wrongAttorney Latoya Williams-Shelton, who represents Smith, said her client was licensed to carry a concealed firearm.

HOLIDAY, Fla. – UPDATE: 10:40 A.M. -- Authorities have canceled the Amber Alert for a 9-year-old Florida boy after the child was found safe on Monday. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------An Amber Alert was issued Monday morning for a missing 9-year-old Florida boy believed to have been abducted in Pasco County. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement said Michael Morris was last seen near the 4000 block of Sail Drive in Holiday. Michael was described as a white boy with blond hair and green eyes. He’s 4 feet, 11 inches tall and weighs 95 pounds.

An Amber Alert was issued Monday morning for a 5-year-old girl from Madison, a small town off Interstate 10 east of Tallahassee. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement said Naomi Herring was last seen on Southwest Old St. Augustine Road. Naomi was described by authorities as white, about 3 feet tall and 35 pounds. She has brown eyes and long, brown hair. Naomi was last seen wearing a black and yellow bumble-bee dress and blue shorts with a fruit print.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – State Attorney Melissa Nelson is recusing herself from the investigation into Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels, who’s been under scrutiny from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for more than a year. A Clay County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson told News4Jax Thursday afternoon that Daniels has no comment at this time. “I’m still committed to the job that we do in Clay County,” the sheriff said at the time. Daniels has been the subject of a state investigation into allegations of official misconduct since last year. At the time, an FDLE spokesperson acknowledged the state was initially provided information by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Daniels’ former employer, and had since received additional information.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – An Amber Alert issued Monday for an 8-year-old boy last seen in Tallahassee was canceled early Tuesday morning. Authorities said the child was found safe. The alert said he was believed to be with two adults. The cancellation notice did not indicate if he was found with them.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 2-year-old girl at the center of a Missing Child Alert was found safe, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said Saturday afternoon. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office first announced about 7:30 a.m. Saturday that it was looking for a 2-year-old girl, who may have been with a 31-year-old man. Late Friday evening, according to the Sheriff’s Office, police were originally called to an unrelated investigation on the Southside, where they discovered the girl was missing. The FDLE said after 2:15 p.m. Saturday that the child was safe, and the Missing Child Alert was canceled. The Florida Missing Child Alert for 2-year-old My'ionnah Freeman out of Jacksonville has been resolved.

MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. – UPDATE: The teen was found safe. The Florida AMBER Alert out of Martin County for 13-year-old Kimberly Newberry-Ohler has been resolved. #FLAMBER — FDLE (@fdlepio) June 11, 2020-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------A Florida AMBER Alert has been issued for a teenager in South Florida. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement said 13-year-old Kimberly Newberry-Ohler was last seen Wednesday around 11 p.m. in Hobe Sound, Florida. Anyone with information regarding Kimberly is asked to call the Martin County Sheriff’s Office at 772-220-7170 or 911.

Flagler County has received a three-page letter summarizing the agencys review of the complaint and allegations that Dunn -- through his business the Dunn Agency and personal associations going back to college -- benefitted personally from his job with Flagler County. OBrien said the tourism office itself was not in financial jeopardy. Dunn, 44, was hired in January 2014 to oversee the tourism office when it was a part of the Flagler County Chamber of Commerce. A year later, the tourism office was made a county office. The tourism office handles nearly $3 million in annual revenue that is generated by a 5% surtax on hotels, motels and other short-term rentals in the county.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville police announced early Tuesday morning that a missing 11-year-old boy was found safe. The Missing Child Alert was first issued about 9:10 a.m. Sunday by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. On Monday, people in the complex, where Keavon’s photo on missing posters are posted, were hopeful he’ll be found safe. “Sometimes 11-year-olds want to do what they want to do, but this is something to take very seriously because there’s a child missing,” a neighbor in the apartment complex said Monday. The FDLE canceled the Missing Child Alert about 4 a.m. Tuesday.

STARKE, Fla. – Authorities searching for a missing 2-year-old girl from Waldo said she was found safe in Starke on Monday. Christine Martin was believed to be with Robert Martin, 49, and Jennifer Goode, 26, according to a missing child alert issued by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. A Facebook post on the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office page was updated to say the child had been located. “The child appears fine and is currently with law enforcement officials in Starke,” the post read.

COLUMBIA COUNTY, Fla. – A Columbia County man was arrested Tuesday after child pornography was discovered inside his apartment, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said. Jarod Dustin Rice, 33, is charged with 10 counts of possession of child pornography. The FDLE, along with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, served a search warrant at Rice’s apartment on Sundial Place off U.S. 41, just south of Lake City. According to the FDLE, child pornography, some of which showed children as young as 7 years old, was found inside. Rice was booked about 12:30 p.m. into the Columbia County jail, online jail records show.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried on Friday requested that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement review the use of deadly force in the Jacksonville officer-involved shooting of Jamee Johnson last year. Johnson, a 22-year-old Florida A&M student, was shot and killed by a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office deputy during a traffic stop in Dec. 2019. The Sheriff’s Office said Johnson was reaching for his gun while Garriga was trying to gain control of him, while hanging onto the car. After that, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office’s Response to Resistance Board will begin an internal review. Legislators including State Rep. Ramon Alexander and Jacksonville District 14 Rep. Kimberly Daniels have also called for state review of the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

The Florida AMBER Alert for 3-year-old Madeline Mejia has been resolved. — FDLE (@fdlepio) February 10, 2020-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has issued a statewide Amber Alert for a missing Apopka child believed abducted early Monday morning. Authorities are currently searching for 3-year-old Madeline Mejia. Authorities say the vehicle was being driven by a white-Hispanic man with long brown hair and facial hair. Mejia was wearing a pink shirt, blue jeans and pink shoes.