Latest news with #AlachuaCountySheriff'sOffice
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Yahoo
Residents urged to shelter in place as deputies search for armed suspect in NW Gainesville
(This story has been updated with additional information.) The Alachua County Sheriff's Office is warning those in the area of the Hills of Santa Fe neighborhood in northwest Gainesville to shelter in place and lock their doors while law enforcement searches for an armed suspect. According to an ACSO social media post, the suspect is described as a 14-year-old Black male, standing about 5-feet tall. He was last seen wearing a gray shirt and orange or red basketball shorts. "If you live in the area, please shelter in place and keep your doors locked as deputies attempt to locate the suspect. The suspect is wanted for a violent felony crime," the post says. Residents are urged to call 911 if they see the suspect, or dial 352-955-1818, option 5, if they see anything suspicious. ACSO vehicles could be seen around 6 p.m. stationed outside several neighborhoods in the area, including the Hills of Santa Fe and Meadowbrook on Northwest 98th Street and Countryside and Wellington Place on Northwest 39th Avenue. A helicopter also could be seen circling the area. A concert scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at nearby Meadowbrook Elementary School has been canceled due to the search. In a 7:20 p.m. update on Facebook, the sheriff's office posted that the "scene is still very active and the suspect is still outstanding." K-9 units and SWAT team members are on the scene, according to the post, and the ACSO Aviation Unit and the Alachua County Fire Rescue Drone Team are assisting in the search. "We thank all of the residents in the immediate area for their patience as we attempt to peacefully resolve this incident." (This story will be updated as more information becomes available.) This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: ACSO searches for armed suspect in NW Gainesville
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Yahoo
Alachua County Sheriff's Office files appeal in $15 million racial discrimination lawsuit
The Alachua County Sheriff's Office has filed an appeal in an effort to decrease a $15 million verdict for racial discrimination awarded in early February to a former employee. On Feb 7, an Alachua County jury unanimously awarded more than $15 million in damages and lost wages to Kevin Davis, a former sergeant who was found to have suffered racial discrimination under the administration of former Sheriff Clovis Watson Jr. The six-person jury agreed that Davis, who is white, was passed over by Watson, who is Black, for promotions and transfers in favor of less-qualified Black officers. "Today, the justice system worked. Justice is slow, but it works," Davis' attorney, Bobi Frank, told The Sun after the verdict was read. Local news: Alachua County Commission approves raises for law enforcement, detention officers Attorney Wayne Evans, who represented the sheriff's office, said the actions of Watson, who was not present when the verdict was announced, were not racial discrimination. "This shows that this case is all about assumptions and people want to say and believe what they want to hear," Evans said. The Feb. 24 filing by the sheriff's office includes transcripts of Davis' testimony, closing arguments and the verdict form. This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: ACSO files appeal following $15 million racial discrimination verdict
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Yahoo
Florida woman mock's sheriff's department that's trying to arrest her: 'I aint hard to find'
"I ain't hard to find." A Florida woman apparently wanted by authorities on an outstanding warrant has engaged in some cat-and-mouse-style banter with the sheriff's office on social media. The backstory On Tuesday, Feb. 11, the Alachua County Sheriff's Office posted a wanted poster on Facebook for someone named Kwanteria Alizeyh Richardson, who also goes by the names "Panky" and "Alizaeyh Richardson." The 27-year-old, who celebrated her birthday a month ago, has an outstanding warrant related to a charge of aggravated battery with a deadline weapon. Anyone with information on her whereabouts was asked to contact an investigator with the Alachua County Sheriff's Office. Well, Richardson, or someone with her name, decided to see how serious the sheriff's office was by sharing the wanted poster on Facebookwith the following jab: "shidddd I ain't hard to find. do ya job." She included an awkward emoji and a dancer emoji. The Alachua County Sheriff's Office took notice – and decided to respond with a love message of its own. "Real talk, be our Valentine. Slide into our DM's and we will pick you up in a custom green and white whip. We have jewelry that will fit your wrists perfectly and we have already reserved the best bed and breakfast in town." "See ya soon." That post has since been shared more than 3,000 times on Facebook. It appears that the Alachua County Sheriff's Office did adjust its post at some point on Wednesday. Before, it had tagged a Facebook profile that matched the name of the woman it was looking for. That reference was removed, though the post itself was shared on that Facebook profile's timeline. What we don't know We don't yet know if the account belongs to "Panky," and it appears she hasn't responded to the sheriff's office's latest social media post. It's also unclear if the sheriff's office has figured out where she is or has arrested her. If anything, it served as some brief entertainment for the sheriff's office's Facebook fans. What you can do Anyone who knows where Richardson is at should reach out to investigator L. Mata at 352-538-7295 or call Crime Stoppers at 352-372-STOP (7867). STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source The information in this article comes from the Alachua County Sheriff's Office's Facebook page.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Yahoo
‘Do ya job': Florida woman taunts sheriff's office to arrest her
Related video: What is the Miranda warning? GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WFLA) — The Alachua County Sheriff's Office clapped back at a wanted woman on social media after she shared the agency's Facebook post, taunting deputies to arrest her. ACSO posted to Facebook on Tuesday asking for information on the whereabouts of Kwanteria 'Panky' Alizeyh Richardson, 27. Audio from Titan submersible implosion released by NOAA Richardson shared the photo with the caption, 'Sh*dddd I ain't hard to find. Do ya job.' On Wednesday, ACSO shared a screenshot of Richardson's post with some commentary of their own. 'Eyyyy Alizeyh Richardson low key, you ate that! Lucky for you, we are used to those who play 'hard to get',' ACSO wrote. 'Real talk, be our Valentine.' ACSO offered to pick Richardson up 'in a custom green and white whip' and take her to 'the best bed and breakfast in town.' In another Facebook post, Richardson insisted she 'high key ate' and once again challenged deputies to arrest her. 'That's why y'all mad, now come get me pigs!!' Richardson wrote. Anyone with information on Richardson's whereabouts is asked to contact Investigator L. Mata at (352) 538-7295 or call Crime Stoppers at (352) 372-STOP (7867). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Yahoo
Former Alachua County Sheriff's Office sergeant wins $15M racial discrimination verdict
Following a week of testimony, a jury on Friday awarded more than $15 million in damages and loss of wages to a former Alachua County Sheriff's Office employee who was found to have suffered racial discrimination under the administration of former Sheriff Clovis Watson Jr. The unanimous six-person jury agreed that Kevin Davis, who is white, was passed over by Watson, who is Black, for promotions and transfers in favor of less-qualified Black officers. The verdict mandates that the sheriff's office pay Davis $15 million in damages and an additional $115,724 for loss of wages and benefits. The sheriff's office will pay damages from a risk management fund. "Today, the justice system worked. Justice is slow, but it works," Davis' attorney, Bobi Frank, told The Sun after the verdict was read. Frank said she was not surprised by the verdict but more relieved. At the end of closing arguments, Frank asked the jury to award Davis $3 million to $8 million in damages and $115,724 for loss of wages. "I think the verdict speaks for itself," Frank said. "The jury wanted to send a message that we got more than what we asked for." Attorney Wayne Evans, who represented the sheriff's office, said the actions of Watson, who was not present when the verdict was announced, were not racial discrimination. "This shows that this case is all about assumptions and people want to say and believe what they want to hear," Evans said. In his closing argument, Evans said multiple times that Watson never discriminated against his employees based on race. He said Watson did not promote Davis due to Davis having a consistent "antagonistic attitude" toward leadership. "Former Sheriff Watson gave 150 promotions to his employees: 120 were white and 30 were Black," Evans said. Both Watson and Davis testified on Thursday. Former Sheriff Emory Gainey and current Sheriff Chad Scott also testified during the trial. Local news: University of Florida vet college takes lead on task force aimed at combating animal cruelty According to the lawsuit, filed in February 2023, Davis — a sergeant in the patrol division — had received "many promotions" during his time with the sheriff's office before Watson was sworn in as sheriff in January 2021. The lawsuit states that Davis scored well on a lieutenant promotional exam taken in September 2021 and was among the top three candidates from the 2019 "promotional assessment process." After he was passed over for a promotion, Davis made internal complaints regarding what he considered Watson's discriminatory practices. The lawsuit goes on to detail seven other instances when a "minority candidate was promoted, reassigned, or otherwise selected over a Caucasian candidate, with the deciding factor being race." "Since (Watson) took office, Davis, and other Caucasian employees, have continuously been passed over for promotion and transfer because of their race by the Sheriff and Undersheriff," the lawsuit says. According to the lawsuit, Watson also required that a photograph be included with all "paperwork for promotions, transfers and special assignments." "This request serves no other purpose than to confirm the race of the employee," the lawsuit says. The lawsuit later contends that Davis was passed over for a promotion again in favor of two Black employees in August 2022. That prompted Davis to file a complaint with human resource; however, he was told by the HR director that the promotion decision "was not grieve-able" And in January 2023, according to the lawsuit, in an "act of retaliation," two white employees were promoted to lieutenant, despite Davis having better test scores and more experience as a supervisor. The lawsuit lists several command positions previously held by white employees that Watson filled with Black employees, including undersheriff, the director of operations, director of human resources, chief inspector for the Office of Professional Standards, director of the jail, and the technical services division manager. "Upon information and belief, 100% of the Black employees who have been eligible for promotion since Watson became Sheriff have been promoted, based at least in part on their race," the lawsuit says. This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Sergeant wins lawsuit against Alachua County Sheriff's Office
