Running stop bar leads to trafficking methamphetamine charge

ORANGE PARK – A man stopped by a Clay County Sheriff’s Office deputy for not stopping at a stop bar on July 30 was eventually arrested for trafficking methamphetamine.

Jarrel Adger Requindel Price, 41, of Orange Park, was charged with trafficking, possession of cocaine, fentanyl, controlled substance and drug paraphernalia after a second deputy noticed a “crystalline” substance on the floorboard of Price’s car. A K-9 sniff around the car alerted deputies of the likely presence of illegal narcotics.

A search uncovered 55.36 grams of methamphetamine, eight grams of cocaine, .01 grams of fentanyl, 23 alprazolam pills, a handgun, plastic bags and a scale inside the car. As a convicted felon, Price is not allowed to possess a firearm or ammo.

In Florida, possessing any amount of methamphetamine greater than 14 grams leads to trafficking charges.

His bond was set at $583,017.

Convicted felon arrested for fraudulently trying to buy firearm

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – A Jacksonville man surrendered at the Clay County Jail to face a fraud charge for making false statements to purchase a firearm from the Orange Park Gun and Pawn.

Johnny Santiago, 46, was released after posting a $10,003 bond.

According to the affidavit for arrest report, Santiago is accused of trying to buy a gun on Oct. 14, 2025, although he was on the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s non-approval list because he was a convicted felon.

The report showed Santiago was arrested on Jan. 5, 2003, by the New York City Police Department for the criminal possession of a loaded firearm. He told a pawn shop employee he hadn’t been “convicted in any court, including a military court, of a felony, or any other crime for which the judge could imprison you for more than one year, even if you received a shorter sentence including probation?”

The Kings Supreme Criminal Court of Brooklyn, New York confirmed Santiago’s conviction on Oct. 24, 2025.

Couple may face charges after concocting false animal abuse story

CLAY COUNTY — Months after receiving a report alleging several juveniles had attempted to drown a puppy at the Middleburg Boat Ramp, CCSO has learned that the incident was completely made up.

Sheriff Michelle Cook took to Facebook on Monday, Aug. 3, to announce that Zachary and Amber Manning may face charges after they concocted a story about a group of children abusing "Ghost the dog" in order to gain sympathy from their landlord who had a strict no-dog policy.

Cook said the Mannings were at the ramp when they came across a person with the puppy. Amber told the owner that the two would love to have one similar for their children. The owner, who was looking to rehome Ghost, asked if the two wanted the puppy.

They agreed. And knowing that their landlord would not allow a dog in their house, they made up the story of abuse in hopes that the landlord would be sympathetic and allow them to keep the puppy.

The disturbing abuse allegation was taken seriously by CCSO, who spent hundreds of hours canvasing the neighborhood and interviewing potential witnesses. 

Ghost passed away from natural causes shortly after the incident was alleged, as determined by an autopsy. Money from a GoFundMe set up by a third party was used to help pay for Ghost's vet bills in an attempt to save him.

Cook said CCSO is currently working with the State Attorney's Office to hold the perpetrators accountable for lying to law enforcement — which is considered a serious felony crime.

Cook thanked members of the public for their help in getting answers.

"To all of the citizens who reached out with potential information, witness information, who in their heart really thought they were helping, I want to say thank you for coming forward. You gave us a lot of leads to follow up on.