Oct. 16 through Oct. 22
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
Quisha Nashayla Arthur, 22, of Hawthorne was arrested by Bradford deputies on Oct. 21 for a probation violation.
Willie Junior Belle, 55, of Starke was arrested by Bradford deputies on Oct. 17 for battery.
Broke into storage units
Jason Junior Bratcher, 38, of Gainesville was arrested by Bradford deputies on Oct. 20 for fraud, criminal mischief with property damage, burglary, larceny, dealing in stolen property and a probation violation.
According to an arrest report, the defendant burglarized eight storage units at Keystone Mini Storage on Oct. 13, 2021.
Deputies obtained a photograph of the defendant’s truck taken around the time of the burglaries. They also found items stolen from some of the storage units and pawned by the defendant at Orange Park and Starke pawn shops.
Kiyera Breyana Brown, 23, of Melrose was arrested by Bradford deputies on Oct. 22 for aggravated assault, battery, trespassing and resisting an officer.
Lauren Elizabeth Casey, 30, of Starke was arrested by Bradford deputies on Oct. 21 for probation violations.
Jenifer Annette Davenport, 30, of Starke was arrested by Starke police on Oct. 16 for an out-of-county warrant.
Norman Paul Driggers, 38, of Hampton was arrested by Starke police on Oct. 22 for driving with a suspended or revoked license.
James Edward Dyal, 59, of Starke was arrested by Starke police on Oct. 16 for disorderly intoxication.
Devon Antonio Gray, 36, of Tampa was arrested by Bradford deputies on Oct. 18 for failure to appear.
Earl Bernard Green, 49, of Starke was arrested by Starke police on Oct. 21 for driving with a suspended or revoked license.
Justin Allen Hall, 27, of Jacksonville was arrested by Bradford deputies on Oct. 19 for contempt of court.
Michael Joseph Harrah, 36, of Starke was arrested by Starke police on Oct. 21 for larceny and dealing in stolen property.
Joseph Phillip Lariscey, 40, was arrested by Bradford deputies on Oct. 19 for failure to appear.
Earl Harold McArdell, 57, of Bradenton was arrested by Bradford deputies on Oct. 22 for a probation violation.
Zachary Austin McRae, 20, of Starke was arrested by Bradford deputies on Oct. 22 for an out-of-county warrant.
Mother neglected medical care for child
Sara Anne Peebles, 37, of Starke was arrested by Bradford deputies on Oct. 21 for child neglect with great bodily harm.
According to court papers, the victim was born with a critical heart condition.
On Sept. 25 deputies responded to a tip that the victim had a significant burn on his pinky finger.
It was also reported that an adult male was attempting to remove infected tissue from the finger with a pocketknife.
The defendant claimed the injury came from a toy pinching the finger, but medical personnel said the injury was the result of a burn.
A child protection team investigation revealed that of 22 medical appointments scheduled for the child between Sept. 10, 2020 and Aug. 18, 2021, the defendant failed to show up for seven and cancelled an additional six appointments.
Bradford Detective Kimberly Mosely wrote in a sworn affidavit that because of the missed medical appointments, the child is now in heart failure.
“Had Peebles provided the proper medical care, attending medical appointments as scheduled, (the victim) would not be in heart failure at this time.” Mosely wrote.
Jesse James Lamar Ricks, 31, of Starke was arrested by Bradford deputies on Oct. 20 for possession of marijuana and failure of a sex offender to report to law enforcement.
Duane Allen Roberts, 42, was arrested by Bradford deputies on Oct. 20 for aggravated battery and improper exhibition of a firearm.
Chad Harvey Smallman, 46, of Gainesville was arrested by Bradford deputies on Oct. 22 for an out-of-county warrant.
Janet Lorena Smith, 50, of Starke was arrested by Bradford deputies on Oct. 18 for failure to appear.
Antwan Ramon Smith, 33, of Starke was arrested by Bradford deputies on Oct. 20 for a probation violation.
Bryan Datrell Tanner, 35, of Brooker was arrested by Bradford deputies on Oct. 22 for an out-of-county warrant.
Leslie Marie Thornton, 38, of Lawtey was arrested by Starke police on Oct. 19 for battery.
Brian Neal Williams, 45, of Jacksonville, was arrested by Bradford deputies on Oct. 19 for a probation violation.
Ashton Blaze Wright, 24, of Starke was arrested by Starke police on Oct. 18 for a probation violation, out-of-county warrants, selling drugs, possession of drugs, delivering or distributing opium and trafficking in drugs.
Union
Dexter Leonard George, 43, of Starke was arrested by Union deputies on Oct. 21 for an out-of-county warrant.
Lorenzo Laverne Gilmore Sr., 45, was arrested by Union deputies on Oct. 22 for an out-of-county warrant, aggravated battery and obstructing police.
Stephen Daniel Haskell, 28, of Ft. White was arrested by Union deputies on Oct. 18 for a probation violation.
Strangled ex-girlfriend
James Vernon Herndon, 28, of Lake City was arrested by Union deputies on Oct. 18 for felony battery by strangulation.
According to an arrest report, the victim arrived at the sheriff’s office and told deputies that Herndon, who is her ex-boyfriend, began to argue with her about their relationship. The victim said as she approached Herndon, he spat on her; she then pushed him away and he slapped her in the face.
“Then James grabbed (the victim) with his right hand around her throat and his left hand under her right arm,” wrote arresting officer Charles W. Townsend of the victim’s claims, “picked her up off the ground, approximately one foot and slammed her into the concrete curb.”
Townsend wrote that he later talked to Herndon, who said the incident began when his ex-girlfriend approached his new girlfriend in a threatening manner.
Herndon said he stepped in between the two women, and as he stepped forward, the victim’s elbow struck him in the mouth.
In response, he picked her up, threw her to the ground and held her down.
Amber Michelle Knagge, 35, of Lake Butler was arrested by Union deputies on April 24 for failure to appear,
Christopher Hart Tanner Jr., 18, of Lake Butler was arrested by Union deputies on Oct. 18 for a probation violation.
Stephen Michael Thornton, 49, of Lake Butler was arrested by Union deputies on Oct. 17 for driving with a suspended or revoked license, an out-of-county warrant, possession of marijuana and possession of drug equipment.
Christopher McCray Wilson, 37, of Branford was arrested by Union deputies on Oct. 17 for disorderly intoxication.
Kicked unconscious man in head
Justin Eugene Wright, 21, of Lake Butler was arrested by Union deputies on Oct. 18 for felony battery causing great bodily harm or disability.
According to an arrest report, the victim was yelling at a neighbor across the street when the defendant joined the altercation.
Arresting officer James F. Jankowski wrote in the report that a witness said the two men met in the street to fight.
“Justin punched (the victim) and (the victim) hit the ground unconscious,” wrote the officer. “Justin then kicked-stomped on the victim’s head a couple of times and retreated back to his house.”
The victim was breathing but not responsive to deputies. EMS transported him to a hospital.
Wright told deputies he acted in self-defense.
The officer said he arrested Wright for the kicks to the head.
“Justin Wright is being charged…for the actions done after (the victim) was already unconscious and no longer a threat.”
Clay
Dontay Terrell Liggins, 33, was arrested by Clay deputies in Keystone Heights on Oct. 19 for aggravated battery.
James Darrell Rice, 43, was arrested by Clay deputies in Keystone Heights on Oct. 17 for domestic battery by strangulation.
Desiree Angelina Shingler, 34, was arrested by Clay deputies in Keystone Heights on Oct. 20 for grand theft.
Jake Douglas Warren, 28, was arrested by Clay deputies in Starke on Oct. 22 for battery.
