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Police Briefs 3/21/19

Clay County Sheriff's Office
Posted 3/20/19

Jacksonville woman killed in Fleming Islandhit-and-run involving tractor-trailerFLEMING ISLAND – A Baldwin truck driver was charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in a fatality …

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Police Briefs 3/21/19


Posted

Jacksonville woman killed in Fleming Island
hit-and-run involving tractor-trailer


FLEMING ISLAND – A Baldwin truck driver was charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in a fatality after the Florida Highway Patrol say he ran a Jacksonville woman off the road on U.S. 17 south of Westover Road last Friday.
Johnny Milton Gratta, 68, was taken to the Clay County Jail after he was stopped shortly after Maria C. Ocasio, 50, was forced off the road. Her car veered off the highway and struck a utility pole under a pedestrian bridge. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Ocasio was driving southbound on U.S. 17 in the right lane when Gratta apparently tried to move from the center lane to the right lane, the FHP said. The right-front truck tire clipped the left side of Ocasio’s Toyota Avalon, sending her off the road.
Gratta turned into Walmart off County Road 220 to check for damage, a Clay County Sheriff Officer said after witnessing the accident. Gratta then continued southbound but was stopped by deputies four miles later.
Bond was set at $75,003. His next court appearance is April 17.

Charges pile up for Middleburg man
already jailed for carjacking, police chase


GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Police added two charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon to a Middleburg man who already was in jail after being charged with armed carjacking and a high-speed chase on Blanding Boulevard that ended in a crash.
Derrick Jerome Dunham originally was arrested on Feb. 23 after he carjacked Johnnie Beveritt at a convenience story. The Clay County Sheriff’s Office continued its investigation and found the gun reportedly used in the carjacking near the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and Blanding Boulevard in Orange Park. Police also found four used shell casings.
The newest charges suggest Dunham threatened Beveritt while firing the gun during the high-speed chase, according to the arrest report.
Dunham’s original bond was set at $665,020, but with the additional charges, he now is being held in the country jail without bond.

Enraged man gets additional charges
following fight with girlfriend, police


MIDDLEBURG – An upset 26-year-old man was arrested March 16 after he pulled his girlfriend to the ground and leave her house, Clay County Sheriff’s Office reported.
Emory Lawrence Daniels of Middleburg was charged with simple battery, violation of a pre-trail release condition, adult false imprisonment and resisting, obstructing or opposing a police officer.
Daniels, who already was out on bond for domestic violence and ordered to stay away from his girlfriend, went to her house to collect his belongings, the arrest report said. He locked himself in her house before he pulled her to the ground, cutting her left hand.
Daniels then struggled with deputies, barricading himself in the house for two hours. Deputies made a forced entry, but Daniels continued to struggle until he was restrained inside the patrol car with hobble straps and a spit mask.
Bond was set at $130,011. His next court appearance is April 4.

Man with 19 license suspensions
crashes while running from deputies


ORANGE PARK – An Orange Park man with a long history of traffic citations was arrested Sunday after he ran a red light, drove the wrong way on Meadow Drive and crashed while he attempted to elude police, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office said.
Matthew Lee Wilson, 33, also was charged with driving with a suspended/revoked license, reckless driving with property damage and driving as a habitual traffic offender.
According to the arrest report, Wilson was driving northbound on Blanding Boulevard when he tried to out-run a yellow light at Camp Francis Johnson. The light turned red before he got to the intersection, but Wilson continued through the light.
A deputy was behind Wilson and immediately tried to pull him over. Wilson tried to out-run the deputy, but he eventually ran off the road and struck a tree at the corners of Meadows Drive and Beaumont Court, the report said.
According to the National Crime Information Center, Wilson has had his license suspended 19 times.

Jacksonville woman surrenders
after cash missing from doctor’s office


ORANGE PARK – A Jacksonville woman surrendered to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office on March 15 after she was charged with skimming cash from a local psychiatrist.
Bibi A. Mohamed, 27, was charged with grand theft valued at more than $10,000, but less than $20,000.
According to the arrest warrant, Mohamed worked as the office manager for Dr. Emanuel Martinez, M.D. and Associates in Orange Park. She was responsible for making deposits, and investigators found $10,778.20 missing during a seven-month period, ending in January.
Bond was set at $15,003.

Man arrested for slapping
crying child inside Walmart


FLEMING ISLAND – A man was arrested after witnesses said he bloodied the nose and upper lip of a crying child while shopping at Walmart.
Brian Roy Lozito, 50, was charged with intentionally inflicting physical or mental injury upon a child.
According to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, a store employee said Lozito struck the child across the face with his right hand after the child refused to stop crying.