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Police Briefs 11/23/17

Clay County Sheriff's Office
Posted 11/21/17

Child abuse charge sticks second timeORANGE PARK – An Orange Park woman was arrested on an active warrant for child abuse on Friday, November 17. The Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrested …

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Police Briefs 11/23/17


Posted

Child abuse charge sticks second time
ORANGE PARK – An Orange Park woman was arrested on an active warrant for child abuse on Friday, November 17.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrested Florence Elizabeth Apple, 69, at her home after officers were sent to serve the arrest warrant.
Two small children had been staying with Apple earlier in 2017 and an investigation took place back in January after there had been a report that the woman had struck one of the children, a 12-year-old girl, in the face, causing the girl to bleed. The detective determined that the incident had been “bad parenting” and “did not rise to a criminal offense due to no visible injuries,” according to the warrant.
However, on Sept. 22, the children were visiting Apple for the weekend when she again hit the 12-year-old girl following a verbal argument between the two. The girl claimed that the rings on Apple’s hand had caused multiple cuts as Apple backhanded the girl about five times during the argument. The girl and the other child left Apple’s home and walked down the street until they saw a car arriving at one of the homes.
The children approached the driver of the vehicle as he walked toward his home and asked him for help, reporting that Apple had abused them and showed the man the cuts on the 12-year-old’s face. The man took the victims to Orange Park Medical Center and the police investigated the situation and a warrant was issued about a month later, resulting in Apple’s arrest.
Apple faces a felony for child abuse without great bodily harm, and was released from the Clay County Jail after posting a $25,000 bond.

Cough syrup fraud ends in arrest
GREEN COVE SPRINGS – A Pompano Beach woman has been booked in to the Clay County Jail on a warrant after falsifying a prescription for a schedule II narcotic earlier this month.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office charged Sandy Denise Rutledge, 23, on Nov. 15, after she was transported to Green Cove Springs to face her charges.
According to the warrant, on Nov. 7, Rutledge attempted to fill a prescription for a cough syrup that contained the schedule II narcotic codeine at the Walgreens on Blanding Boulevard in Orange Park.
The pharmacist flagged the transaction and contacted the doctor’s office listed on the forged prescription and found out that the doctor and patient did not have any connection to their offices. Rutledge was arrested later that day in Duval County while attempting to fill the prescription at a different pharmacy there.
Rutledge faces a felony charge for attempting to obtain a controlled substance by fraud and is being held on $25,000 bond. She is set to appear in court on Dec. 13.

Meth trafficking charge for Middleburg man
STARKE – A Middleburg man was arrested on Nov. 15 near the Bradford County line for allegedly trafficking methamphetamine after being stopped for speeding.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrested Arthur Alvin Letchworth, 65, after he was discovered to be driving with a large bag of methamphetamine in his vehicle.
According to the police report, a CCSO deputy observed Letchworth’s car travelling at about 15 miles per hour in excess of the speed limit on State Road 230 and contacted another officer who was in the vehicle’s direction of travel and that officer stopped the vehicle. After the stop, the officer was talking with Letchworth as a drug-sniffing dog arrived on the scene, resulting in the dog alerting deputies to the presence of narcotics in Letchworth’s vehicle. A search revealed a box containing baggies of methamphetamine and a scale. The total weight of the meth was around 37 grams. The standard for trafficking is 14 grams.
Letchworth was transported to Clay County Jail following his arrest and faces a felony for trafficking amphetamine. He is being held on $150,000 bond and will appear in court on Dec. 13.

Man goes after couple with axe and machete
KEYSTONE HEIGHTS – A Keystone Heights man was arrested on a warrant after being treated for a gunshot wound he received while allegedly threatening two people at their home.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrested Grant Cole Harris, 28, on Nov. 15 on an outstanding warrant.
According to the warrant, Harris walked toward the home in Keystone Heights on Nov. 1 carrying an axe and a machete, according to one of the victims. After seeing Harris, the victim went inside with his wife to retrieve a pistol and a shotgun for protection from Harris.
The victim and his wife then watched as Harris destroyed part of their privacy fence and continued to the house, eventually breaking down the front door and entering the home. At this point the man told Harris he would shoot, and Harris continued to move toward the couple.
The man shot Harris with the pistol in Harris’ stomach and held him at gunpoint until deputies arrived. Harris has had an active warrant for his arrest since breaking his probation agreement in mid-October, but as of Nov. 1 had not been arrested.
Following the incident Harris was treated for his wounds at Shands Hospital in Gainesville and then cleared through Orange Park Medical Center prior to his transport to the Clay County Jail. Harris faces two additional felonies for the incident including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and armed burglary. Due to the probation violation Harris will not be able to post bond before his sentencing hearing which has not yet been scheduled.

ORANGE PARK – An Orange Park man was arrested on a warrant for ten counts of possession of child pornography last Friday.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrested Dennis John Langevin, 67, on November 17 on a warrant after investigating him for possession of child pornography.

CCSO began an investigation into Langevin in mid-October after obtaining a warrant to search his Orange Park home. After acquiring computer equipment from the home the department approved forensic testing of the equipment and discovered numerous files featuring photos or video of children in sexual situations. Following the arrest he was transported to the Clay County Jail where he remains.

Langevin faces ten felony charges for possession of photographs/video of sexual performance by a child, and has a bond set at about $500,000. He is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 20.

 Midddleburg man arrested after sexual relations with minor

MIDDLEBURG – A Middleburg man was arrested on a warrant after having sexual relations with a 13-year-old girl.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrested Johnny Joseph Shepherd Jr., 19, at his home on November 17. Shepherd was served a warrant after it was reported to CCSO that he had engaged in sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl several times at her home between February and April of this year. Shepherd was 18 at the time of the incidents.

Following his arrest Shepherd was transported to the Clay County Jail and has since been released. He faces a felony for lewd and lascivious battery of a victim aged 12 to 16.

Middleburg man threatens to kill elderly mom

MIDDLEBURG – A Middleburg man was arrested on a warrant after threatening to kill his elderly mother.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrested Howard Wayne Haddock, 54, on November 17 after a fight that he instigated with his mother one month prior.

Haddock became angry with his mother when she told him that a female friend of Haddock’s could no longer stay with them at her home. Haddock grabbed his mother’s hair and slammed her into the bed, then climbed onto the bed and straddled the woman before grabbing at her face and choking her while yelling that he was going to kill her. His mother was able to escape from the bedroom by sliding off the bed through his legs.

Haddock was transported to the Clay County Jail following his arrest where he is being held on $50,000. He faces a felony for abuse of a disabled or elderly person without great harm and will appear in court on Dec. 20.