OPPD: Georgia man arrested for scamming 83-year-old Navy veteran 

ORANGE PARK – A man was transported from the DeKalb County, Georgia, Jail to Clay County after an Orange Park Police Department investigation accused him of swindling at least $14,000 out of an 83-year-old Navy veteran. 

Olajuwon Devon Thompson, 38, of Snellville, Georgia, was charged with communications fraud, two counts of criminal use of personal information of victims older than 65, use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony and theft of a credit card after an investigator with the OPPD determined Thompson posed as fraud security with T-Mobile and got the veteran and his 81-year-old wife to “port” his cellphone number. 

During the 25-minute call, the process of “porting” their number, the couple allowed “fraud security” access to their information and apps stored on their phone on Aug. 25, 2025. Later that day, they noticed several fraudulent charges and adjustments to the USAA and Navy Federal Credit Union accounts totaling $14,000. 

During a two-week period, charges were found on apps like Uber, Uber Eats, Lyft and new credit card applications, and all were delivered to an address in Zephyrhills. 

The veteran asked for new replacement bank cards, and FedEx presented a snapshot of the delivery at their front door on Aug. 27. However, the couple said the new cards weren’t there. While investigating the theft of the stolen bank cards, the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office said Thompson was associated with a pattern of similar thefts in the area. A search for his Florida license tag led investigators to Clay County. 

A license tag reader tracked his car near Montclair Elementary on Aug. 27. A subpoena proved his phone was used to “port” information from the couple’s phone, and their stolen USAA bank card was used to make an ATM withdrawal from a credit union. 

Thompson’s bond was set at $265,040. His next court appearance was scheduled for Feb. 17. 

Man charged with impersonating security officer at Thrasher-Horne Center

ORANGE PARK – A Jacksonville man was arrested on Jan. 22 on an outstanding warrant for ignoring orders to stop acting as an armed security officer because he was a convicted felon and he lacked a license. 

Eric Lamar Thomas, 55, was charged with impersonating a security official, ignoring an order to stop acting as an armed security officer, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, engaging in an activity where a license is required and possessing a firearm at a school-sponsored event. 

According to the affidavit for an arrest report, an investigation by the Office of Agriculture Law Enforcement revealed that despite being convicted in 1992 in California of second-degree robbery and of assault with a deadly weapon in 1993, he only admitted to being arrested for battery in Nevada and ordered to take classes while applying for his Florida Security Officer License on June 6, 2024. 

When he failed to provide additional information on his criminal background, the Florida Department of Agriculture of Consumer Service’s Division of Licensing notified Thomas his job as armed security was to be terminated or he was to be reassigned to duties that do not require a Security Officer License. 

On Dec. 19, 2024, he was contracted by St. Johns River State College to provide security for graduation at the Thrasher-Horne Center as a supervisor. 

Another security guard was wearing a body-worn camera, which captured video of Thomas, who was wearing a safety vest, with the word “Commander” on each sleeve, a gold colonel’s eagle on both collars, a seven-pointed star, a duty belt with a firearm, a double magazine pouch and a baton. 

Thomas was arrested at his home in Jacksonville and transported to the Clay County Jail, where his bond was set at $110,013. 

CCSO deputy shoots dog after suffering serious dog bite injuries 

MIDDLEBURG – A Clay County Sheriff’s Office Deputy was hospitalized with serious bite wounds after he was forced to shoot and kill a “large breed dog,” during an attack while answering a call on Thursday, Jan. 22, for a disturbance and a report of shots fired. 

According to the agency, Ryan Riley was attacked by one of three dogs when he approached a recreational vehicle in the 300-block of Foxtail Avenue. A woman, Vichelle Rigney, was yelling and charged at Riley and deputies Cole Megowan and John Engelthaler. After sustaining serious injuries and fearing his life, Riley shot the dog. 

According to a CCSO press release, Rigney kept Megowan and Engelthaler from giving Riley medical treatment. As they arrested her, Engelthaler and Rigney were both bitten by one of the remaining two dogs, and Engelthaler responded by using his stun gun to stop the attack. 

Engelthaler and Rigney sustained minor injuries and were treated and released at a local hospital. 

Rigney was charged with resisting, obstructing and opposing law enforcement. Her bond was set at $50,502. 

Clay County Animal Services took the remains of the dead dog for further testing, while family members have sheltered the other two dogs.