Latest news with #PutnamCountySheriff'sOffice
Miami Herald
23-07-2025
- Miami Herald
Two shrimpers – ages 20 and 21 – drown as others jump in to help, FL cops say
Two men who went shrimping drowned in a Florida river when they wound up in the water while trying to 'retrieve an object,' authorities said. The Palatka Police Department identified them as 20-year-old Wilbert Rivera Cifuentes and 21-year-old Deyfri Roblero Morales. Law enforcement began searching for the men the evening of July 21 after getting a call that two people fell in the St. Johns River while shrimping from the dock near a gazebo area of the Palatka Riverfront, according to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office. Several others jumped in the water to help, but the two men slipped under the water and never resurfaced, law enforcement said. 'Upon arrival, officers learned that a group of five to six Hispanic males had entered the river in an attempt to retrieve an object,' police said in a news release. 'During the effort, two individuals — both reportedly unable to swim — were seen struggling in the water before going under.' When McClatchy News reached out to clarify what item had fallen in the river, police said they didn't have additional information to share. Divers and marine units with the sheriff's office and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission retrieved the men's bodies at around 10:30 a.m. July 22, according to police. Palatka is in northeast Florida, about a 60-mile drive southwest from Jacksonville. Drowning At least 4,000 people die from drowning every year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and drowning is a leading cause of death for children. Some factors can make drowning more likely, including not knowing how to swim, a lack of close supervision, not wearing a life jacket and drinking alcohol while recreating near or in water. The National Drowning Prevention Alliance said there are tips to help keep you safe in the water, including checking local weather conditions, never swimming alone and choosing the right equipment. 'Don't hesitate to get out of the water if something doesn't feel right,' the group said on its website. 'Whether it's that the current is getting rough, rain has started to fall, or your body is just not responding like you would like it to due to fatigue or muscle cramps, then just leave and return to the water another day. It's always a good thing to trust your instincts.'
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Interlachen woman arrested, caught on camera taking mementos from graves at cemetery
Family members with loved ones buried at a historic Palatka cemetery became concerned when mementos they placed on graves started disappearing. They installed cameras at the historic Etoniah Cemetery and saw a woman removing the decorations. They called the Putnam County Sheriff's Office and the woman was arrested. Katherine Taylor, 61, was charged with two counts of criminal mischief damaging property for removing mementos from the graves, according to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< 'When confronted at her home, detectives found several items that were reported stolen in her landscaping,' a sheriff's office social media post states. Investigators learned that it wasn't Taylor's first time being arrested for taking items from graves. 'A prior report shows Palatka Police Department charges were forwarded in 2020 for larceny related to a theft from an East Oak Hill cemetery grave in Palatka,' according to the sheriff's office. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Florida woman caught on camera stealing from cemetery used grave mementos to decorate her yard: PCSO
The Brief A Florida woman is accused of using stolen grave mementos to decorate her yard. The Putnam County Sheriff's Office says Katherine Taylor was caught on camera stealing items from the Etoniah Cemetery. Taylor was charged with two counts of criminal mischief damaging property. BARDIN, Fla. - A Florida woman's landscaping was decorated with items she stole from a cemetery, according to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office. The backstory Deputies say victims began reporting miscellaneous items disappearing from the graves of loved ones at the Etoniah Cemetery in April. The family members later installed cameras near the gravesites and were able to record Katherine Taylor, 61, with a windchime from a grave in her hand as she tried to take another one. READ:Florida man kidnaps ex-girlfriend after placing tracking device in her car and shoving her in trunk: HCSO According to PCSO, detectives went to her home to confront her and that's where they found several items that were reported stolen in her landscaping. Dig deeper Taylor told deputies she had been caught before taking items from graves. An earlier report shows Palatka Police Department shows charges were forwarded in 2020 for larceny related to a theft from an East Oak Hill cemetery grave in Palatka. Taylor was charged with two counts of criminal mischief damaging property. The Source This story was written with information posted by the Putnam County Sheriff's Office. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter Follow FOX 13 on YouTube
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Deputy finds drugs during Putnam County traffic stop
PUTNAM COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — A Kentucky man accused of driving recklessly past a Putnam County deputy was taken into custody earlier this month for drug charges. The Putnam County Sheriff's Office said Deputy James Hensel was helping a motorist on May 17 when he saw a Dodge Ram driving at a high rate of speed and 'making an erratic and unsafe lane change' near the Interstate 40 exit on Highway 111. According to an affidavit, right after the vehicle passed Hensel, two separate motorists spotted the law enforcement officer, pulled off the road behind his patrol car, and reported the pickup truck driving wildly, After he was cleared to pursue the Dodge, Hensel jumped in his patrol car, caught up to the truck, and performed a traffic stop, per the court document. PREVIOUS: Erratic driving leads to drug arrest in Putnam County When the deputy interacted with the driver — identified by officials as 42-year-old Ronald Allen Roper of Glasgow, Kentucky — Hensel reportedly noticed signs of possible impairment, including slow speech and the inability to concentrate or answer questions in a coherent manner. After instructing Roper to exit the truck and move to the front of the patrol car, the deputy asked the driver if he had anything illegal in his possession, but Roper said 'he did not know,' per the affidavit. According to authorities, when Hensel patted Roper down and asked him to empty his pockets, an uncapped and loaded syringe fell on the ground next to him. Body camera footage shows Roper trying to pick up the needle and the deputy ordering him to stop and leave it alone. 'When I questioned Mr. Roper he said that the clear substance in the syringe was 'speed,'' Hensel stated in the court document. Officials said a search of Roper's truck uncovered another syringe containing a clear liquid, a digital scale, and approximately 23.75 grams of a white crystal-like substance in a clear plastic bag. The Glasgow man was arrested and charged with felony manufacture, delivery, and sale of methamphetamine, along with misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, authorities reported. 'It was uncapped, so that's obviously an officer safety issue, but inside that syringe was methamphetamine, so there was more going on than just erratic driving. Clearly this guy was transporting methamphetamine and driving with a loaded syringe. Clearly you only have that syringe loaded to inject into your body, so no telling what would've happened had he injected that syringe into his person,' Putnam County Maj. Brandon Tayes said. 'Even though he was from Kentucky, he was clearly visiting our area of the state, bringing that type of criminal conduct to our area. Any time we can get somebody off the streets and put in our jail that's doing that type of behavior is a good thing for all the citizens of our community.' The sheriff's office announced on Wednesday, May 21 that Roper was being held in the Putnam County Jail on a $61,500 bond, adding that he was scheduled to appear in court that day. As of Wednesday, May 28, Roper is still behind bars, according to jail records. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Fugitive with gun, fake badges found in Putnam County home
PUTNAM COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — Authorities executed a search warrant at a Putnam County home early Friday morning and took two people into custody, including a fugitive. The Putnam County Sheriff's Office said its Warrants Division, in coordination with its Narcotics Division and the U.S. Marshals Task Force, executed the warrant on Friday, May 23 at an address along Greenland Avenue as part of an ongoing investigation to find a fugitive who's evaded law enforcement since 2018. Inside the residence, officials said they found and arrested Joshua Kane Love, who was featured in the PCSO's 'Warrant Wednesday' segment in February 2023. Cheatham County deputies arrest wanted man getting out of the shower Authorities also discovered Ashley Green, who 'had been questioned multiple times over the past few years regarding the whereabouts of Love and had denied knowing him,' according to the sheriff's office. However, evidence gathered during the search reportedly confirmed Love had been living at the home with Green. Officials said Love was taken into custody on outstanding warrants for aggravated burglary, two counts of violation of probation (original charge was possession of more than 10 pounds of marijuana), and failure to appear on a felony charge. In addition, Love allegedly had a firearm and decoy law enforcement badges in his possession, so the convicted felon was charged with unlawful carrying or possession of a weapon, as well. Authorities said Love has a bond set at $80,000, but he's being held without bond for his two counts of violation of probation. His court date is set for July 17. ⏩ Meanwhile, Green was arrested and charged with accessory after the fact for harboring a fugitive, according to law enforcement. Her bond was set at $8,000 and her court date is scheduled for June 23. 'This arrest is the result of persistent investigative work and outstanding coordination between our Deputies and our Federal partners,' Putnam County Sheriff Eddie Farris stated. 'No matter how long a bad actor tries to hide, we will continue to pursue justice for the citizens of Putnam County. Our message is clear: if you break the law and run or hide, we will find you.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
