Former Jacksonville Jaguars player taken into custody following death of mother in Illinois: report
Former Jacksonville Jaguars player Sergio Brown has been taken into custody as authorities investigate the death of his mother who was found dead last month near her suburban Chicago home, CNN reported on Wednesday.
โWe are gratefulโ: Family of Iyana Sawyer expresses gratitude after โpredatorโ found guilty of her 2018 murder
A jury found Johnathan Quiles guilty of first-degree murder in the death of his pregnant 16-year-old niece Iyana Sawyer following about an hour after deliberations on Thursday evening.
Charges dropped for Jacksonville activist after arrest at city council meeting
Four months after the President of the Northside Coalition of Jacksonville was arrested and charged with trespassing and resisting arrest after a city council meeting in December, it was announced Monday that the charges were dropped.
Mayor Lenny Curry and Attorney John Phillips respond to tweets about Kent Stermon, days before his death
A social media disagreement about Kent Stermon between Mayor Lenny Curry and local attorney John Phillips happened two days before Stermon's death. Now the News4JAX I-TEAM is hearing from both sides.
I-TEAM: High-profile political donor, who was found dead Thursday, had access card to JSO headquarters
Kent Stermon, who was not employed by the Sheriffโs Office, was given an access card to JSO headquarters for the past five years -- at the same time, he was donating thousands to GOP candidates, including former Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams.
Attorney: Driver shot 10 times shielding children from gunfire in drive-by that killed 13-year-old
A 21-year-old driver who was critically injured in a drive-by shooting Saturday that left a 13-year-old dead was shot 10 times while trying to shield the four children in his SUV from gunfire, according to his attorney.
Legally blind Lake City man sues for wrongful arrest by Columbia County deputy and sergeant
A Lake City man who is legally blind, is suing the Columbia County Sheriff's Office, the City of Lake City and Columbia County. The lawsuit stems from the man's arrest on October 31 while he was walking home from jury duty.
Attorney & community activist call for upgraded & hate crime charges in Arlington gas station attack
A local attorney and a community activist are calling for State Attorney Melissa Nelson to upgrade a misdemeanor battery charge to a felony and file a hate crime charge against a man accused of attacking a woman inside an Arlington gas station.
Josh Lambo sues Jaguars over hostile work environment created by Urban Meyer: report
Former Jaguars kicker Josh Lambo is suing the team and seeking his full salary for last season, plus damages for emotional distress following his accusation of being kicked by former coach Urban Meyer, according to a report from the Tampa Bay Times.
John Phillips is representing โTiger Kingโ star Joe Exotic
John M. Phillips, Amy Hanna and the Law Offices of Phillips & Hunt will lead criminal and civil litigation matters related to a new trial for Maldonado-Passage. Our goal is to set the record straight and get a new criminal trial for Mr. Maldonado-Passage. JOSEPH MALDONADO-PASSAGE RETAINS ATTORNEY JOHN PHILLIPS AND THE LAW OFFICES OF PHILLIPS & HUNT Jacksonville, Fla. โ Joseph Maldonado-Passage, better known as โJoe Exotic,โ has retained John M. Phillips, Amy Hanna and the Law Offices of Phillips & Hunt to lead criminal and civil litigation matters related to a new trial. He takes exception to his portrayal in the show and has significant issues with how the filming hindered his criminal trial. Our goal is to set the record straight and get a new criminal trial for Mr. Maldonado-Passage.
Man bitten by K-9 during traffic stop plans to sue Columbia County Sheriffโs Office
COLUMBIA COUNTY, Fla. โ A man who was bitten by a K-9 during a traffic stop is planning to sue the Columbia County Sheriffโs Office, alleging excessive force. According to the notice of intent, a deputy of the Sheriffโs Office deployed the K-9, which bit 23-year-old Martinezz Bowman. The video shows that Bowman first drives past a Columbia County deputy on U.S. 441 in a white Dodge Charger. Deputy: โLast warning!โBowman: โStep out?โDeputy: โSheriffโs Office K-9!โBowman: โYou want me to get out?โDeputy: โSheriffโs Office K-9! News4Jax requested comment from the Sheriffโs Office.
Family of Carole Baskinโs missing husband runs commercial before her appearance on โDancing with the Starsโ
The family of her former husband -- millionaire Don Lewis, who disappeared 23 years ago, appeared in the commercial. Baskin told Entertainment Tonight that she has nothing to say to the family about the ad. โIt was,โ Phillips told News4Jax. โIt was a publicity stunt for Don Lewis. โMillions of people are talking about Don Lewis, and not, not how she (Baskin) did dancing with the stars,โ Phillips said.
Mother of man beaten by St. Johns County deputy says there is a pattern of abuse at agency
ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. โ The day after State Attorneyโs announced they are pressing charges against a former St. Johns County deputy for beating an unarmed man last year during an arrest, the victimโs attorney and his mother are speaking out about what they are calling a pattern of police brutality in St. Johns County. Attorney John Phillips points to mug shots of white men in their 20s who he said were each badly beaten during their arrest by St. Johns County deputies. Cell phone video recorded by a bystander showed St. Johns County Deputy Anthony Deleo beating and tasing Christopher Butler last December during an arrest along County Road 210. Not only is Butlerโs mother and lawyer asking people to come forward with more information about this case, Phillips said the beating is part of a dangerous pattern. St. Johns County Sheriffโs Office spokesperson Chuck Mulligan said once a lawsuit is filed, the agency will respond appropriately.
Ex-St. Johns County deputy charged after man beaten during traffic stop
ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. โ An ex-deputy with the St. Johns County Sheriffโs Office, who was seen on video beating a man during a December traffic stop, has been charged with aggravated battery, according to the State Attorneyโs Office. DeLeo was fired from the Sheriffโs Office. In the video, Butler can be heard screaming and moaning when he was shocked with a Taser several times. Later in the video, DeLeo comes at him with a baton. In the report from the Sheriffโs Office, investigators said Butler was being uncooperative and was not responding to commands.
Prominent Jacksonville attorney buys Folio Weekly
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. A little over a month ago, Folio Weekly announced it was shutting down due to an economic freefall. A week ago, that changed when it announced it was making a comeback as Folio Weekly 2.0. On Monday, News4Jax learned that its Attorney John Phillips whos giving the magazine a second life. As first reported by News4Jaxs news partner the Jacksonville Daily Record, Phillips is hiring writers and staff, and he hopes to have a print issue out in July. Were hiring, looking for people to give the rich diversity of Folio Weekly and bring it back such that people can tell stories and celebrate the positive in Jacksonville, he told the Daily Record. pic.twitter.com/mzA61lYibM Folio Weekly (@folioweekly) June 9, 2020Phillips told the Record he hopes to create an archive of Folio stories that will be available online.
Athletes sign petition asking Congress to end qualified immunity for police
Several Jacksonville Jaguars players are among the list of athletes who signed the petition, which asks Congress to pass a bill ending qualified immunity. Phillips said qualified immunity was originally intended to give police the benefit of the doubt. The problem is qualified immunity has become absolute immunity, meaning police officers cant get in trouble if the victim is dead and theres no other evidence," Phillips said. When you have body cameras that are turned on and available, cellphone camera with footage like weve seen on Mr. (George) Floyd, those are the ones that bust qualified immunity. Qualified immunity prevents offices from being sued in civil court unless they are fired from the police department.
Family believes race played a part in shooting death of West Nassau High football player
Three and a half months after a West Nassau High School football player was shot and killed, his family is still desperately seeking answers. John Phillips, the familyโs attorney, said the Sheriffโs Office told him itโs waiting to get it right. The Sheriffโs Office never identified them, but the family and Phillips said the suspected shooter also went to West Nassau High. The family believes race played a part in the death of their son, who was biracial. One of the other teens called 911 as they drove Fort to West Nassau High -- about 8 minutes away -- to meet a rescue unit.
Jacksonville demonstrators bond out, share concerns about how they were treated by police
MORE | I-TEAM: Bail doubling for some protesters arrested over the weekendTuesday afternoon, Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams responded to the questions and concerns from the public, in a conversation with City Council members and reporters. However, as soon as the first block is thrown fire is lit it is no longer a peaceful protest. You cant go from breaking the law, back to peaceful protests breaking the law back up. We just sat down in peaceful protest, had our hands raised, had our bags open so they could see we werent carrying weapons, she told News4Jax. News4Jax has received similar complaints from some of the other protesters arrested in Jacksonville over the weekend, many just bonding out Tuesday morning.
St. Johns County deputy fired, accused of battery after beating motorist during traffic stop
ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. โ A St. Johns County Sheriffโs Office deputy was fired and accused with aggravated battery Thursday after he was seen on video beating an unarmed man during a December traffic stop. St. Johns County Sheriff David Shoar on Thursday withdrew the commission of Deputy Anthony DeLeo, ending his employment with the Sheriffโs Office. Two other St. Johns County deputies who were involved in the incident โ Joseph McGinnis and Patrick Ponticello โ were placed on paid administrative leave after the video surfaced. Butler remains in St. Johns County jail accused of multiple charges including two out-of-county warrants, resisting arrest and driving under the influence. And thatโs the problem, particularly with St. Johns County Sheriffโs Office that refuses body cams.
Lawyer: Traffic stop beating one of the worst cases of brutality Iโve ever seen
ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. โ A Jacksonville attorney who is representing a man who was shocked and repeatedly beaten by St. Johns County Sheriffโs Office deputies said itโs one of the worse cases of police brutality he has seen locally. โItโs just so abusive and it just goes on for so long,โ attorney John Phillips, who specializes in police brutality cases, told News4Jax on Wednesday. According to the arrest report written by deputies, Butler was not cooperating which led to him being shocked by an FHP trooper and then beaten and kicked by deputies. Christopher Butler, 30 (St. Johns County Sheriff's Office)โHe was not high on PCP and any statement to that effect is going to result in defamation,โ Phillips said. According to the arrest report, Deleo along with Joseph McGinnis and Patrick Ponticello, were the deputies involved in the Butler traffic stop.
Curfew lifted & alcohol sales resume at Jacksonville beaches
Mark, a beaches resident who's ridden out several hurricanes, pointed out around 9 a.m. that the storm's worst had yet to hit the area. We have noodles and beer," Jacksonville Beach resident Melissa Kennedy said. We're having a good time," Jacksonville Beach resident Jack Mackanac said. After warning three swimmers who came out of the ocean at Jacksonville Beach not to try a similar stunt again because the beaches are closed, Jacksonville Beach Ocean Capt. Another concern besides people being on the closed beaches had been the sand dunes.
Cleaning up before Dorian: The items you might not know could cost you
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - As Hurricane Dorian zeroes in on Florida, you want to prepare your house, including making sure you secure anything that could cause damage outside. It could be something as small as a loose brick on a driveway or something as big as a basketball net. "Heavy winds could easily pick that up and throw it through a window or even on top of a roof if we have a Category 2 or higher winds," Carlucci said. We have a shovel over here, the wind could easily pick that up along with the table, even the grill or the propane tank." So why is it important for people to take storm preps seriously and go around their house before a storm hits?
Texting behind the wheel could get you a $164 fine in Duval County
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Florida's amended distracted driving law went into place Monday, and texting behind the wheel of a moving vehicle in Duval County could get you a ticket of more than $100 for the first offense. Officers statewide have the option to write tickets with fines or give warnings to people caught texting and driving until January 2020. After that, Duval County violators will be ticketed $114 for the first offense and up to $164 for any following offenses. Its why theyre happy texting and driving is now a primary offense. "This one will be for texting," said Officer Robert Ashmore, a Neptune Beach police officer, as he pulled over a woman in a white sedan on Atlantic Boulevard.
Man accused of running over Fernandina beach sunbather jailed
FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. โ Hours after a woman sunbathing on a Nassau County beach was run over Tuesday afternoon, police arrested the man they believe was driving the Jeep that hit her and kept going. According to the Fernandina Beach Police Department, a 53-year-old Akron, Ohio, woman was run over by a silver Jeep Cherokee. Police said the driver of the Jeep took off despite being told by a witness that he had run over a sunbather. It was the second time a sunbather was run over by a vehicle in Nassau County. As proven by the attached warning, the City of Fernandina and Nassau County has done nothing despite repeated notice of a dangerous condition."