The following individuals were arrested recently by local law enforcement officers in Bradford, Union, or Clay (Keystone Heights-area) counties. All defendants are considered innocent until convicted in a court or until pleading guilty or no contest. Information in this report is from law enforcement agencies and court documents, which are public records.
Bradford
Danielle Burch, 47, of Starke, was arrested by Bradford deputies on August 19 for failure to appear.
Lamp attack sends woman to hospital
Lafayette Chandler, 61, of Starke, was arrested by Bradford deputies on August 16 for battery.
Deputy K. Mozingo wrote in an August 16 arrest report that at around 12:15 a.m., he arrived at a Pine Street address where Deputy Antonio Vasquez told him the victim and witness flagged him down.
“(The victim) advised that her and her boyfriend, Lafayette Chandler, got into an argument…” Mozingo reported. “(The victim) advised that Lafayete then grabbed a lamp and struck her in the head with it.”
Bradford Fire Rescue transported the woman to UF Health Shands in Gainesville for treatment, and the witness, who shares children with the victim, confirmed her claims, “stating he saw her injuries via video call and picked her up to report the incident.”
“(The witness) noted that Lafayette becomes agitated when drinking and has a history of confrontations,” the lawman wrote.
Mozingo reported that the defendant claimed (the victim) attacked him with the lamp, and he only blocked her strikes and pushed her away, denying causing her injuries.
“He had a minor laceration on his eyebrow,” wrote the officer, “but refused medical treatment.”
Mozingo concluded by stating that Chandler and the victim have been in a relationship and living together for around 15 years.
Faith Choung, 37, of Ocala, was arrested by Bradford deputies on August 18 for vehicle theft.
Caught with 117 pills, 42 grams of marijuana
Rasheed Dipiano, 22, of Gainesville, was arrested by FHP troopers on August 22 for possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana, possession of drugs, driving with a suspended or revoked license and possession of drug equipment.
According to an arrest report, Trooper A. Palmer observed a gray Nissan Altima traveling 71 MPH in a 55 MPH zone on US-301.
The vehicle, missing its rear bumper and with dark-tinted windows, made a sudden lane change upon noticing the trooper in the median of the highway.
Palmer wrote that after stopping the vehicle, the driver, Dipiano, appeared nervous, was sweating profusely, and exhibited restless behavior. An odor of marijuana was detected, and neither Dipiano nor his passenger had a medical marijuana card. Dipiano admitted to possessing 18.6 grams of marijuana in his pocket.
A vehicle search revealed an additional 23.3 grams of marijuana, a white powder later tested as cocaine, 94 Methylphenidate Hydrochloride pills in Oxycodone-labeled bottles, 0.5 grams of methamphetamine, a scale, and 23 Gabapentin pills. Dipiano’s license was suspended, and he was a registered co-owner of the vehicle.
Drugs found during traffic stop
Kevin Eaves, 45, of Starke, was arrested by Bradford deputies on August 22 for possession of drugs, possession of drug equipment, destroying evidence, DUI, and driving with a suspended or revoked license.
According to an arrest report, detectives responded to Edwards Grocery at 4105 SE State Road 100 to assist Lt. A. Johnson with a traffic stop involving Kevin Eaves, known to lack a valid driver’s license. Eaves denied having narcotics and refused consent for a vehicle search. He was arrested for driving without a license. During a search of his person, a plastic baggie with a clear, rocky substance was found in his watch pocket. After being read his Miranda Rights, Eaves admitted the substance was methamphetamine.
A vehicle search revealed a cup in the center console containing ice, a clear liquid, and a gold pill cylinder. Eaves admitted the cylinder contained methamphetamine, Xanax, and Suboxone. Inside, detectives found a baggie with a crystal rocky substance, two wet, disintegrating, blue pills, and two and a half orange pills marked “NB.” No other contraband was found. Deputy Callaway conducted a DUI investigation, and the vehicle was towed.
The rocky substance tested presumptive positive for methamphetamine.
Drugs hidden in vaginal area
Jessica Engle, 44, of Middleburg, was arrested by Bradford deputies on August 19 for DUI, smuggling contraband into a correctional facility, possession of marijuana, and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription.
Deputy A. Escobar wrote in an arrest report that Deputy Michael Gillick conducted a traffic stop on a green Ford F-150 with no taillights near the Florida Department of Health’s Bradford County office on North Temple Avenue.
The driver, Engle, appeared hysterical and crying. She stated she was driving from Polk County to Clay County, had been driving for three days, and was lost.
Engle consented to a vehicle search, during which an orange prescription bottle with unknown white pills and powder was found. The powder tested negative for narcotics. Engle admitted to smoking marijuana earlier that day.
Sgt. Glen Ward conducted standardized field sobriety Exercises, and due to the defendant’s poor performance, she was arrested for driving under the influence.
At the Bradford County Jail, a body scan revealed a tube hidden in her vaginal area containing methamphetamine, marijuana, and the opioid tramadol, which she admitted to possessing.
A breath test showed a blood alcohol level of 0.0, and a urine sample was collected.
Mark Faulkner, 37, of Keystone Heights, was arrested by Bradford deputies on August 24 for a probation violation and failure to appear.
Sex act with inmate
Jonni Gainous, 55, of Jacksonville, was arrested by Department of Corrections inspectors on August 20 for a sex offense.
According to court papers, the Vocational Food Service Coordinator at Florida State Prison reported witnessing Gainous performing oral sex on an inmate in the defendant’s office.
In a sworn interview, the inmate confirmed the incident, stating that it lasted less than a minute before the coordinator interrupted the encounter, and noted that it was a one-time event, as Gainous was leaving for another job.
Video footage showed the inmate entering Gainous’ office, followed by the coordinator’s reaction upon entering, although the act itself was off-camera.
According to the affidavit, Gainous admitted to the consensual act of oral sex.
At the time of the incident, the defendant was employed by Aramark Food Service, a Department of Corrections contractor.
Dog as a deadly weapon
Ma-lena Griffis, 18, of Starke, was arrested by Bradford deputies on August 22 for battery and aggravated assault.
Deputy Michael Gillick wrote in an arrest report that at around 4:19 p.m., deputies responded to a disturbance in the Pleasant Grove area, where two suspects, Ma-lena Griffis and Ginger McDonald, fled north on Northwest 177th Street after a traffic stop.
At the complaint location, the victim reported that they were dating Ma-lena, who lived with them. A verbal altercation began over attending a high school football game, leading the victim to leave the home on foot. Ma-lena then argued with another resident and called her cousin for a ride.
When the cousin arrived, she exited her vehicle with a folding pocketknife, yelling racial slurs and accusing the victim and a witness of battering Ma-lena. Ma-lena picked up a hunting-style knife, approached the victim, and struck them on the right side of their face with her left hand. Malena then took the cousin’s dog from the vehicle and attempted to incite it to attack the victim and the witness. The cousin retrieved the dog, and both cousins fled.
After being read her Miranda Rights, Ma-lena admitted to striking both the victim and the witness and possessing the knife, but denied using the dog as a weapon.
Christopher Henderson, 33, of Lawtey, was arrested by Lawtey Police on August 24 for withholding support.
Kevin Herrera, 35, of Silver Spring, Maryland, was arrested by Bradford deputies on August 21 for failure to appear.
Ryan Hewett, 32, of Lawtey, was arrested by Bradford deputies on August 22 for resisting an officer and driving with a suspended or revoked license.
Carlisa Ogle, 49, of Lake Butler, was arrested by Bradford deputies on August 16 for possession of drugs and possession of drug equipment.
Israel Stallings, 39, of Jacksonville, was arrested by Bradford deputies on August 16 for out-of-county warrants.
Brothers fight in Arby’s parking lot
Michael Teston, 61, of Lake Butler, was arrested by Bradford deputies on August 19 for battery.
According to an arrest report, deputies responded to a disturbance and a traffic crash at Starke’s Arby’s around 4:19 p.m.
There they found two brothers in a vehicle. Both men said that while the victim was driving the pair on U.S. 301, they got into an argument.
“Due to the defendant’s aggressive behavior,” wrote Deputy Zachary Jones in the report, “(the victim) pulled the vehicle into
Arby’s parking lot, where the defendant…placed (his brother) in a headlock and began to strike him with a closed fist, causing injury. This resulted in his vehicle colliding with another stationary vehicle.”
Deputies observed injuries on the victim’s face, marks on the defendant’s knuckles, and vehicle damage consistent with the account given by both men.
Sabba Tortu, 60, of Naples, was arrested by Bradford deputies on August 18 for an out-of-county warrant.
Tip catches sexual predator
Timothy Tyson, 41, of Orlando, was arrested by Bradford deputies on August 22 for sex offender violations.
According to a sworn complaint, on August 14, a deputy from the Sex Offender and Predator Unit responded to an anonymous tip at Whispering Oaks Apartments regarding Tyson, a designated sexual predator, unlawfully residing there without registering with the sheriff’s office.
The tipster reported Tyson’s daily presence over several weeks, noting he frequented the apartment leased by his wife, and had caused several disturbances with residents and staff members.
“I conducted a check through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Sexual Offender/Predator Registry,” wrote Deputy Antonio Vasquez, “and confirmed that Timothy Tyson is a designated sexual predator pursuant to a 2003 conviction in Bradford County (for) sexual battery on a physically helpless person. Tyson is required to register in person and report any change in residence or location, temporary or permanent, to the sheriff’s office in the county of his residence.”
Vasquez reported that Tyson most recently registered as a resident in Orlando.
“I made contact with…the leaseholder of (the apartment) who confirmed that Tyson is her husband,” added the deputy. “She
stated that he had been staying at her residence and had left the property on August 13. “(The wife) admitted that Tyson had been visiting frequently to assist her but ceased answering questions thereafter.”
Threatened wife with chair
Warren Ware, 44, of Starke, was arrested by Bradford deputies on August 21 for assault.
According to an August 20 arrest report, the defendant’s wife told Deputy Paul King that Ware threatened to hit her with a chair.
The couple has been together for about 10 years.
“Warren has been verbally and physically abusive for the past few years,” wrote King in the report. “According to (the victim), Warren
has choked her and pinned her against the wall in the past.”
King reported that according to the wife, Ware had been yelling at her lately and had threatened to punch her in the stomach.
“This evening (the victim) told Warren she was going to a friend’s house when she got off work to remove her nails,” King reported. “Warren became upset and asked (the victim) why she couldn’t make time for him. While (she) was attempting to answer, Warren stood up and picked up the chair he was sitting in. Warren lifted the chair above his shoulders, stepped towards (the victim) like he was going to hit her with the chair. Warren called (her) a ‘bitch’ as she stepped back thinking he was going to hit her with the chair. Warren sat back down and told (the victim) this is not going to end well.”
According to the victim, Ware added that he was going to end up in jail or that she would end up dead.
King wrote that he then questioned Ware about the incident, and the defendant admitted to arguing over time spent together and suspecting infidelity, but denied threatening to hit her with the chair, claiming he threw it across the yard instead.
Eric Williams, 49, of Ocala, was arrested by Lawtey police on August 16 for a weapons offense and driving with a suspended or revoked license.
Union
James Seay, 51, of Bell, was arrested by Union deputies on August 19 for a probation violation.
Veronica Seymour, 39, of Melrose, was arrested by Union deputies on August 22 for larceny.
Clay
Andres Beniquez, 35, of Keystone Heights, was arrested by Clay deputies on August 18 for domestic battery.
Father-daughter dispute results in arrest
Rocco Mastroserio, 66, of Keystone Heights, was arrested by Clay deputies on August 18 for domestic battery.
According to an arrest report, at approximately 7:56 PM, deputies responded to a disturbance on Hallman Road. The victim reported that her father, Rocco Mastroserio, became irate after she dismissed his concerns about her son’s medication.
The victim claimed her father yelled at her to leave, chest-bumped her, and pushed her through the front door, causing her to fall and scrape her knee.
The victim denied striking Mastroserio. A minor laceration was observed on her knee, and photos were taken, though she refused medical evaluation and a written statement.
The victim’s boyfriend said he witnessed Mastroserio grab and throw the victim to the ground and intervened to stop the altercation.
Mastroserio admitted to grabbing his daughter by the shoulders and pushing her to make her leave, but claimed she swung at him, without contact, and that her fall on the porch steps was unrelated to his actions.
