May 14 through May 20
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
Hit woman with stick
Dominique Dewayne Austin, 42, of Starke was arrested by Bradford deputies on May 15 for battery and resisting an officer.
According to an arrest report, the victim and a witness told police Austin hit the victim with a stick and choked her. The victim added that the defendant was angry with her because she left him at a store, and he had to find a way home.
Deputy Paul king wrote in the report that he did not see signs of injury on the victim and that she refused transport to a hospital.
Sanya M. Bernal, 43, of Starke was arrested by Starke police on May 18 for battery.
Tiffany Anne Braddock, 30, of Newberry was arrested by Bradford deputies on May 18 for possession of drugs, possession of drug equipment, smuggling contraband into a correctional facility and driving with a suspended or revoked license.
Jason Wesley Leonard Burnette, 32, of Jacksonville was arrested by Bradford deputies on May 18 for an out-of-county warrant.
Fought over bicycle
Termaine Alvin Byrd, 37, of Starke was arrested by Starke police on May 17 for battery.
According to an arrest report, the victim and defendant were arguing over a bicycle behind Starke’s post office when the defendant punched the victim on the side of her neck, ripped her off the bicycle and later dragged her across the pavement.
Arresting officer Kaleb T. Dockery wrote in the report that Byrd denied the victim’s claims and said that at the time of the alleged battery, he was at a residence near the intersection of Oak and Florida streets.
Dockery added that the victim had injuries to her knees and lower back that were consistent with her story and that the victim and defendant have been in a domestic relationship for four years.
Michael Anthony Fernandez, 44, of Brooker was arrested by Bradford deputies on May 19 for out-of-county warrants.
Jeremiah Le’Andrew Hernandez, 19, of Hampton was arrested by Bradford deputies on May 16 for possession of marijuana and possession of drug equipment
Third arrest in two months
Cody Michael Jones, 23, of Starke was arrested by Bradford deputies and Starke police on May 14 for a probation violation, resisting an officer and disorderly intoxication.
According to an arrest report, residents in the 600 and 700 blocks of Lafayette Street called police after hearing screeching tires and reckless driving outside their residences. After police stopped the suspected vehicle, the occupants: Jones, along with co-defendant Clifton Darrell Prevatt ran into nearby woods. Police later caught the pair and noted in a report that the defendants exhibited slurred speech, bloodshot eyes and the odor of alcoholic beverages.
Arresting officer Moses C. Bellamy wrote in the report that Prevatt was combative and had to be forced to the ground and tased.
“Clifton used vulgar language towards myself and Sgt. Gillick and made threatening statements saying he would kill my family,” wrote Bellamy.
Jones was sentenced to five years of drug offender probation on April 27 after pleading no contest to an April 4 offense of aggravated assault.
On May 2 Jones was arrested again for a probation violation.
Mason Andrew Kent, 20, of Starke was arrested by Starke police on May 20 for possession or delivery of opium, possession of drugs, criminal conspiracy, and unlawful use of a two-way communications device.
Jennifer Lynatte Maschman, 31, of Starke was arrested by Bradford deputies on May 18 for an out-of-county warrant.
Shawn Allen Matthews, 34, of Lake Panasoffkee was arrested by Starke police on May 19 for an out-of-county warrant.
Austin Lee Melville, 24, of Gainesville was arrested by Bradford deputies on May 15 for failure to appear.
Norman Dewitt Newman, 45, of Hampton was arrested by Bradford deputies on May 17 for a probation violation and an out-of-county warrant.
Alexander Marco Palazzi, 31, of Pensacola was arrested by Bradford deputies on May 17 for a probation violation.
Clifton Darrell Prevatt, 35, of Starke was arrested by Starke police on May 14 for resisting an officer and disorderly intoxication.
Caressa Maire Simpson, 30, of Starke was arrested by Bradford deputies on May 18 for failure to appear.
David Harold Steinmeyer, 59, was arrested by Bradford deputies on May 19 for DUI.
Shawn Devon Steward, 43, of Jacksonville was arrested by Bradford deputies on May 20 for a probation violation.
Tried to cash worthless check
Maranda Ann Stewart, 25, of Brooker was arrested by Bradford deputies on May 19 for fraud.
According to court papers, on April 29 the defendant attempted to cash a $600 check drawn on an account that had been closed. Police Sgt. Jeffery A. Smith wrote in a sworn affidavit that the owner of the account told him he knew the defendant but did not know how she obtained the check.
Amber Gray Tharpe, 35, of Starke was arrested by Bradford deputies for probation violations and for smuggling contraband into a correctional facility.
She felt she had been scammed
Derod Dewan Young, 31, of Tampa was arrested by Bradford deputies on May 17 for larceny and for being an out-of-state fugitive.
According to court papers, on Dec. 3, 2019 the defendant purchased a flat-screen television and a Tory Burch purse and wallet totaling $2,569.96 from a Starke rental outlet.
Police Sgt. David Bukowski wrote in an arrest report that as soon as the transaction was complete and the defendant left, the employee felt she had been scammed and called police.
The business later received a chargeback from the credit card issuer and Bukowski wrote that the defendant had several warrants in other Florida counties for similar crimes.
Union
John Russell Eddy, 47, of Lake Butler was arrested by Union deputies on May 17 for dealing in stolen property.
Ryan Christopher Harris, 46, of Lake Butler was arrested by Union deputies on May 17 for an out-of-county warrant.
Tabitha Ann Johnson-Courson, 36, of Raiford was arrested by Union deputies on May 16 for possession of drugs, and possession of narcotics equipment.
Michael Brandel Kiser, 33, of Lawtey was arrested by Union deputies on May 19 for delivery or distribution of opium and unlawful use of a two-way communications device.
Jennifer Leigh Pilgrim, 35, of Starke was arrested by Union deputies on May 19 for failure to appear.
Milton Wade Platt, 47, of Steinhatchee was arrested by Union deputies on May 16 for possession of drugs and possession of narcotics equipment.
Brannon Leo Smith, 36, of Lake Butler was arrested by Union deputies on May 16 for an out-of-county warrant and probation violations.
Clay
Scott Gene Ballou, 34, of Keystone Heights was arrested by Clay deputies on May 20 for failure to appear.
