May 28 through June 3
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
Codie James Benton, 25, of Middleburg was arrested by Bradford deputies on June 1 for a probation violation.
Amber Dawn Coniglio, 42, of Gainesville was arrested by Bradford deputies on May 31 for battery and aggravated battery.
Wesley Lee Fountain, 32, of Jacksonville was arrested by Starke police on June 2 for assault.
Lindsey Anne Freeman, 28, of Starke was arrested by Starke police on June 2 for destroying evidence.
Stephanie McCloud Goad, 37, of Starke was arrested by Bradford deputies on May 30 for a probation violation, driving with a suspended license and possession of drugs.
Threw chair and missed
Gary Lee Hampton, 36, of Lawtey was arrested by Bradford deputies on June 1 for battery.
According to an arrest report, the defendant threw a chair at an individual he claimed was spreading rumors about him. The chair missed the victim.
The day following his arrest, Hampton pleaded no contest to the charge and was sentenced to two days in jail, six months’ probation, and ordered to pay a $25 fine.
County Judge D. Tatum Davis also ordered the defendant to enroll in a mental health evaluation-treatment program.
Shaunte Tracy-Shakia Hyman, 34, of Starke was arrested by Bradford deputies on June 3 for a probation violation.
La’tavis Damario Jacobs, 19, of Pomona Park was arrested by Starke police on June 2 for aggravated assault and carrying a concealed weapon without a permit.
Lorraine Pearl Johnson, 57, of Lake Butler was arrested by Bradford deputies on June 3 for a probation violation and an out-of-county warrant.
Pinzon Nazario Maldonado, 22, of Jennings was arrested by Starke police on May 29 for driving with a suspended or revoked license.
Grandmother reports defendant’s vandalism
Riley Slade Miller, 20, of St. Augustine was arrested by Bradford deputies on May 28 for burglary.
According to an arrest report, the grandmother of the defendant called the sheriff’s office after viewing a video Miller posted on social media of the defendant vandalizing a vacant building. The family member told dispatch that Miller appeared to have cut his arm during the incident. The defendant’s family traced his location to U.S. 301 south of Starke.
Bradford Deputy Savannah Duncan contacted the defendant as he was walking along the highway and called EMS to transport him to a hospital. Duncan wrote in the arrest report that Miller was carrying an unopened can of Budweiser when she contacted him. A crime scene technician found empty Budweiser cans in the abandoned building that Miller broke into, in addition to a broken window, blood and shoe prints that matched the defendant’s footwear.
Defendant calls police while watching investigation
Travis Lee Nelson, 49, of Starke was arrested by Starke police on May 28 for battery.
According to an arrest report, police responded to the Bradford Campground on North Temple Avenue where the victim told police she and the defendant had been drinking throughout the night and began to argue. She claimed Nelson then struck her in the left eye, causing it to swell and close.
While emergency medical services was treating the victim, Nelson called dispatch and asked to speak to an officer.
“While speaking with Travis on the phone,” wrote arresting officer David Clancy, “I asked where his location was and Travis said (next door) at the Bradford County Health Department. Travis was watching myself and (the victim) on scene.”
Clancy added that he drove to the health department where the defendant told him he and the victim frequently argue when they drink. However, he denied striking the woman.
Danielle Perez, 35, of Lake Butler was arrested by Bradford deputies on May 29 for a probation violation.
Colby G. Rhoden, 20, of Jacksonville was arrested by Bradford deputies on June 3 for an out-of-county warrant.
Street-corner argument leads to arrest
Anthony Lamar Beard Tyson, 30, of Starke was arrested by Starke police on June 2 for battery.
According to an arrest report, the victim told police Tyson punched him in the left eye during an argument over which of the two men was stronger.
The incident occurred at the corner of Clark and Brownlee streets.
Officer Moses C. Bellamy located the defendant at a nearby Krystal’s. The defendant first told officers he did not know the victim, but later admitted the two were friends.
Moses wrote that the victim’s eye was discolored and appeared to be swollen. However, the victim refused EMS treatment and would not allow photos of his injury.
Taro Demon Ward, 22, of Starke was arrested by Bradford deputies on May 31 for an out-of-county warrant.
William James Anthony Washington, 29, of Jacksonville was arrested by Bradford deputies on May 29 for carrying a concealed weapon without a permit, possession of marijuana and possession of drug equipment.
Union
Jerry Ray Bennefield, 46, of Raiford was arrested by Union deputies on June 2 for failure to appear.
Wayne Dalton Elixson, 21, of Lake Butler was arrested by Union deputies on May 28 for driving with a suspended or revoked license and resisting an officer.
Alissa Serenity Griffis, 29, of Live Oak was arrested by Union deputies on June 3 for a probation violation.
Man attacks girlfriend, sister
Devon Alexander Smith Sr., 22, of Lake Butler was arrested by Union deputies on May 29 for aggravated assault, battery, aggravated battery and destroying evidence.
According to an arrest report, the defendant and victim got into an argument over the father of the victim’s children visiting for Memorial Day. The victim told deputies the defendant struck her in the face with a closed fist. She added that Smith hit her in the head with a pot and chased her with a knife until the victim’s sister tripped the defendant.
Smith then knocked the sister into a wall, then onto the floor where he kicked her.
The defendant also took phones away from the sisters and fled into the woods when law enforcement arrived on scene.
Westley Thomas Watts, 43, of Lake Butler was arrested by Union deputies on May 30 for possession of a weapon by a felon or delinquent.
Sandra Irene Watts, 39, of Lake Butler was arrested by Union deputies on June 2 for battery.
Joshua James Wyche, 25, of Lake Butler was arrested by Union deputies on June 3 for disorderly intoxication.
Clay
Charles Christopher Chamberlain, 49, of Keystone Heights was arrested by Clay deputies on June 2 for retail petit theft.
Kevin Matthew Craft, 35, of Keystone Heights was arrested by Clay deputies on May 30 for aggravated battery.
According to an arrest report, the defendant struck the victim in the head with a firearm during a family argument.
Allen Tereal Grimes, 31, of Keystone Heights was arrested by Clay deputies on May 29 for possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, resisting arrest, a probation violation. and giving a false name or identification to a law enforcement officer.
Summer Michelle Shepherd, 36, of Keystone Heights was arrested by Clay deputies on June 1 for battery.
According to an arrest report, as the victim was exiting the Madness at McGees bar on State Road 21 north of Keystone Heights, the defendant walked over to the victim from the defendant’s car, tackled the victim to the ground, got on top of her and struck her multiple times in the face.
