Police investigate pepper spraying of mother near toddler
A Rochester police officer has been placed on administrative duty after using pepper spray on the woman, authorities said Friday. Ad“Both incidents involved Black mothers. Both involved Black children. Both involved Black people obviously in crisis. Both involved officers using pepper spray on or around a Black child,” PAB Chair Shani Wilson said during a video news conference Friday.
Crescent City Council votes to permanently disband police department
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.
Cops fired over photos tied to Elijah McClain not reinstated
The Aurora Civil Service Commission issued a decision Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021, upholding the firings of officers Marrero, Dittrich and Jason Rosenblatt over this and similar photos. Police Chief Vanessa Wilson fired the three officers last year over two photos taken at a memorial to McClain two months after his death. AdDittrich texted the photos to two officers who stopped McClain — Rosenblatt and Nathan Woodyard — to try to cheer up Woodyard, authorities said. Besides the neckhold, McClain was injected with the sedative ketamine. Rosenblatt initially tried to put McClain in the neckhold but couldn’t because of his position, so Woodyard did, authorities said.
Bomb-sniffing dogs? Check. Times Square crowd? Not this year
A man wears a protective mask during the coronavirus pandemic in Times Square Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020, in New York. Small groups of revelers, some wearing glittery hats, filmed their distant view of Times Square on their phones and broke out in cheers at midnight. Preparing for the worst, the New York Police Department deployed its bomb-sniffing dogs and sand-filled sanitation trucks intended to guard against explosions. “It’s dead,” said Ali Jameel early Thursday, who owns a store a block from Times Square. “Coming to Times Square is a family tradition for some.
California police recover lizards stolen from reptile store
This undated photo provided by the Long Beach, Calif., Police Department shows one of two unique Australian monitor lizards that were stolen from a reptile shop in November 2019. (Long Beach Police Department via AP)LOS ANGELES – Police in California announced two arrests and the return of a pair of unique lizards that were stolen from a reptile shop last year. The Long Beach Police Department said Friday that the two Australian lace monitor lizards were stolen from JTK Reptiles in Long Beach in November, The Los Angeles Times reports. Three people entered the store, broke into the cages holding the lizards and escaped to a waiting car, authorities said. Animal control handlers were called to recover the lizards before being returned to their owner, Long Beach Police Department spokesman Brandon Fahey said.
Lake City officer shot while checking on home out of hospital
LAKE CITY, Fla. A Lake City police officer who was shot while knocking on the door of a house has returned to his home and is making a good recovery, the Police Department said Thursday. They were concerned someone inside the home had been shot, so they knocked on the door. After identifying themselves as police officers, shots were fired through the door from inside the home. Officer Remington Cody Chauncey was hit by at least one shot, police said. Chauncey has been with the Lake City Police Department since April 2020.
Glynn County Fire Rescue: 2 pedestrians hit, airlifted to hospital
Both patients were transported by helicopter to trauma centers for treatment, according to Glynn County Fire Rescue. GLYNN COUNTY, Fla. – Two people are receiving treatment at trauma centers after being hit by a vehicle, according to Glynn County Fire Rescue. Officials said the two were hit in the area of New Jessup Highway and Glyndale Drive around 1 a.m. Friday. Both people were transported by helicopter to trauma centers. Multiple units from Glynn County Fire Rescue and Police Department responded.
Sparky the Fire Dog & Officer Hopps visit Fernandina Beach neighborhoods
FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. – Fernandina Beach Fire Department and Police Department worked together Sunday to bring smiles to the community during the coronavirus pandemic. Sparky the Fire Dog and Officer Hopps rode through neighborhoods in the area to say hello to families and encourage them to stay healthy and stay safe. “Sparky the Fire Dog & Officer Hopps have been self-isolating for a few weeks now and they are ready to get out and about!” the Fernandina Beach Police Department posted on Facebook. In a video posted on the Fernandina Beach Fire Department Facebook page, Sparky the Fire Dog could be seen waving his paws as he rode in a fire engine while Officer Hopps followed behind in a Beach Ranger vehicle.
Tree, power lines down on Fourth Street in Atlantic Beach
ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. - A large tree and power lines are down on Fourth Street in Atlantic Beach, according to the Police Department. Fourth Street will remain closed until the tree can be removed and power lines can be fixed. JEA and Atlantic Beach Public Works employees are at the scene. There are no reports of injuries or what caused the tree and power lines to come down. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.
Police: Man's body found in water at Brunswick marina
BRUNSWICK, Ga. – A man's body was found Friday morning in the water at Brunswick Landing Marina, police said. Officers responded about 9:30 a.m. to the marina off Newcastle Street after witnesses spotted the body and called the Brunswick Police Deparment. Police said the body was identified as Fred Batton, 57, of Brunswick. Batton was known to frequently fish in the area, police said. The Police Department said it continues to investigate how Batton died.