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Police Briefs 11/29/18

Clay County Sheriff's Office
Posted 11/28/18

Melrose man facing 2 auto theft chargesKEYSTONE HEIGHTS – A Melrose man faces two counts of grand theft auto after one case revealed his involvement in a second case.The Clay County …

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Police Briefs 11/29/18


Posted

Melrose man facing 2 auto theft charges
KEYSTONE HEIGHTS – A Melrose man faces two counts of grand theft auto after one case revealed his involvement in a second case.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrested Kennith Austin Baldinelli, 19, on Nov. 26 for one count of grand theft auto but it was later found that he was involved in another case.
According to the arrest report, the victim contacted the CCSO to report his 2012 white Ford fusion stolen from a Circle K gas station from the 200 block of North Lawrence Boulevard in Keystone Heights.
The victim told the responding officers that his vehicle has a GPS installed but due to the time of night the officers were unable to contact the GPS company.
The following day, the victim contacted the GPS company and the company told him that his vehicle was located on the 6000 block of Reed Drive.
Officers went to the location and found the vehicle and made contact with Baldinelli and another man. The victim also arrived and confirmed the vehicle was his and Baldinelli was transported to the Clay County Jail.
While in custody, it was discovered that Baldinelli was involved in another case of grand theft auto this time involving a 2002 white and blue Yamaha dirt bike.
The victim in this case said that she allowed her son to borrow the bike to go to a friend’s house. When the son returned, he told the victim that the bike was stolen by someone he knew as “Austin Noble,” a known alias of Baldinelli.
At press time, Baldinelli is being held in Clay County Jail on $102,508 bond.

Jax woman facing meth trafficking charge
MIDDLEBURG – What started as an officer simply checking to see if the driver of a car was alright, ended in drug charges last week for a Jacksonville woman.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrested Destinie Nichole Smith, 28, on Nov. 25 at the Shell gas station at 5105 County Rd. 218 around 11:30 p.m. after conducting a brief investigation.
According to the police report, the officer found Smith “slumped over in her car” so he walked over to determine whether she needed medical attention.
When Smith opened her car, the officer said a strong odor of marijuana was coming from the vehicle.
“When I shined my light in the vehicle I observed in plain sight, a plastic bag which contained a green leafy substance located in the center console of the vehicle, I believed from my training and experience, that this substance was marijuana,” according to the report.
The officer also said he saw a large amount of methamphetamine and a scale inside Smith’s purse. While the heavily redacted report did not state the amount of methamphetamine, Smith faces one count of trafficking meth, which under Florida law, is the charge given when more than 14 grams of meth are seized from an individual.
Smith also faces misdemeanor charges of marijuana possession charge and drug equipment possession.
At press time, Smith remained in the Clay County Jail with bond set at $110,007.

Swift action leads to end of carjacking spree

OAKLEAF – What started as a call to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office about three men allegedly walking through the area “checking door handles” ended in arrests last weekend.
Police arrested Jacksonville residents Xavier Zyrrell Deon Matthews and Jonathan Sumpter, both 18, on Nov. 24 in the Oakleaf community.
According to the police report, a CCSO officer spotted Matthews as a passenger in a Chevrolet Impala leaving 785 Oakleaf Plantation Parkway just minutes after the call to the CCSO communications department.
The officer said the Impala was being followed by a Chevrolet Equinox that had just been reported stolen from 573 Oakleaf Plantation Parkway. Police later identified Sumpter as the driver of the Equinox. Both vehicles were then spotted pulling into the Speedway gas station at 9651 Argyle Forest Blvd. Police also identified the driver of the Impala as Raequan Grier, whom police described as a co-defendant.
According to the police report, all three men came to Oakleaf in the Impala “for the purpose of committing crimes and would indicate all of their involvement in the theft of the listed vehicle.”
Both Sumpter and Matthews are charged with grand theft auto. At press time, Sumpter is free on bond and Matthews remains in jail with bond set at $25,003.

House party ends in arrest

MIDDLEBURG – A Middleburg woman faces a misdemeanor charge of hosting an open house party where alcohol was available to teenagers.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrested Alena Bond Farmer, 39, on Nov. 24 at 2:27 a.m. at her home in the 4000 block of Honeysuckle Circle.
According to the police report, about 20 vehicles were at the home when officers arrived after receiving a complaint about a party with loud music.
“I walked into the residence and I observed alcohol throughout the residence,” according to the police report. “I observed juveniles running out the back door when they observed me. I advised them to stop and some stopped as other[sic] continued to flee the residence.”
According to the report, party attendees ranged in age from 16-20, while the legal drinking age is 21.
Farmer was transported to the Clay County Jail for booking but has since been released on bond.

Suspicious vehicle report ends in drug arrests
ORANGE PARK – A couple faces drug charges after a brief investigation by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.
Police arrested Heather Ann Kaminsky, 36, of Orange Park, and Chad Edward Knox, 38, on Nov. 23 after what began as a call about a suspicious vehicle at the Circle K at Old Jennings Road and College Drive around 2:30 p.m.
When the CCSO officer arrived at the scene, he ran a check of the license plate of the vehicle Kaminsky was driving and it came back as having been reported stolen.
During the investigation, officers seized undisclosed amounts of heroin and methamphetamine, as well as syringes and other drug paraphernalia from the vehicle, which was returned to its owner the same day as the couple’s arrest.
Both Kaminsky and Knox face identical charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of heroin with intent to distribute and drug equipment possession.
At press time, Kaminsky remains in the Clay County Jail with bond set at $55,008, while Knox’s bond is set at $105,008.

Biker dies in accident
KEYSTONE HEIGTS – A 23-year-old Keystone Heights man is dead after a motorcycle accident on State Road 21, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
FHP said Matthew McKean was traveling southbound on SR 21 south of Chataqua Way on Nov. 22 at 12:37 a.m. when his 1992 Honda motorcycle traveled off the roadway onto the east shoulder of the road.
Police said McKean was thrown from the motorcycle and came to rest on the shoulder, but his bike continued for a short distance and came to rest the south of the driver on the east shoulder.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Woman charged with jewelry theft
MIDDLEBURG – A St. Augustine woman faces charges of stealing more than $20,000 worth of jewelry from a Middleburg woman.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrested Edit Horvath, 40, on Nov. 21 and charged her with grand theft valued between $20,000 and $99,999.
According to the heavily redacted police report, Horvath took the jewelry from the victim’s home in the 4100 block of Dowling Road on Nov. 14. The victim told police it had to be Horvath because she was the only person who had been in her home other than her family. Police, however, did not indicate the relationship between Horvath and the victim.
According to the CCSO, Horvath “suddenly had money” after the victim’s jewelry was found missing.
After detectives interviewed Horvath at the CCSO Orange Park sub-station, they took steps to arrest and charge her. She is now out of jail on bond.