Metro | Criminal Justice

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Florida Attorney General releases a new edition of cold case playing cards

By Lee Ann Anderson | July 1, 2024

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody along with the Florida Association of Crime Stoppers, Florida’s Sheriffs Association and Florida Department of Corrections announced June 10 that over 5,000 decks will be sent across the state with the purpose of generating new cold case leads from inmates, according to an Office of the Attorney General news release.

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Gainesville man arrested on suspicion of attempting to run a man over with his car

By Lee Ann Anderson | June 28, 2024

On Wednesday, a Gainesville man allegedly attempted to run over a man with his car following a heated argument about money.

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Law enforcement respond to unfounded Oaks Mall active shooter, hostage situation

By Lee Ann Anderson | June 23, 2024

On June 21, the Gainesville Police Department and Alachua County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call made about a possible active shooter and hostage situation inside of a bathroom at The Oaks Mall, which later turned out to be unfounded.

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Newberry Education First board member arrested for soliciting sex with a minor

By Lee Ann Anderson | June 20, 2024

Searby initiated conversation with the 15-year-old boy through Snapchat June 19 and sent a detailed description of sexual encounters Searby had with older adults when he was around the same age as the boy. 

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Gainesville homeless man charged with attempted murder of girlfriend’s son

By Lee Ann Anderson and Rylan DiGiacomo-Rapp | June 19, 2024

On Monday, William Briscoe was arrested on suspicion of the attempted murder of his girlfriend’s son, who escaped the incident unscathed. 

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

UF physical therapy professor vandalizes 81-year-old man’s car with stolen steak knife

By Lee Ann Anderson | June 12, 2024

UF physical therapy professor Giana Musolino damaged an 81-year-old man’s car in a Texas Roadhouse parking lot June 2 and was later apprehended by police Monday.

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Gainesville law enforcement, researchers weigh the impact of rising online scams

By Lee Ann Anderson | May 28, 2024

When 80-year-old Richard Thomas got a call from his grandson from jail asking for $5,000, he told his son, Ernest Thomas. Thomas immediately began the drive to Gainesville from his home in Miami to grab his son. There was only one problem: the grandson, 21-year-old UF student Nathan Thomas, wasn’t in jail. He was studying in his room and never called his grandfather.

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Prison reintegration program aids formerly incarcerated amid lack of known resources

By Lee Ann Anderson | May 28, 2024

For formerly incarcerated people, transitioning back to civilian life can be difficult, whether it’s finding a job that will take them or finding housing. Released Reentry hopes to close that gap.

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Thirteen-year-old arrested for stealing loaded handgun in Gainesville

By Daniel Bednar | Apr. 15, 2024

A Gainesville middle school was placed on “secure status” Monday while officers found two people accused of stealing a handgun from a nearby home.

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

UF student held without bond after stabbing mother 70 times

By Megan Howard | Apr. 15, 2024

Emmanuel Espinoza first appeared in court April 7 for the charges. His bond for destroying or tampering with evidence is set to $5,000, and he received no bond for first degree murder.

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Eyes in the sky: A look at Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit

By Daniel Bednar | Apr. 8, 2024

From tracking fleeing burglary suspects to finding missing persons, spotting house fires and providing disaster relief, the unit’s two military surplus helicopters are equipped to both respond to crimes and prevent them from happening. 

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

UF student arrested for stabbing mother to death

By Daniel Bednar | Apr. 7, 2024

A UF pre-med student was arrested Saturday for allegedly stabbing his mother to death at their home in Polk County.

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Trenton man videos victim in UF Library West stall

By Kairi Lowery | Mar. 28, 2024

A Trenton man allegedly recorded a victim in UF Library West Wednesday while using a urinal without consent.

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Gainesville City Hall vandalized for a third time

By Kairi Lowery | Mar. 27, 2024

An unidentified individual maliciously smashed a window on Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward’s first floor office, leaving a note allegedly filled with threats and racist language, according to a city press release.

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Gainesville police K-9 attacks homeless woman

By Daniel Bednar | Mar. 26, 2024

A Gainesville Police Department K-9 unit accidentally attacked the wrong person Saturday while searching for a fleeing suspect, according to a GPD news release.

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Gainesville assistant principal arrested on suspicion of child neglect

By Aidan Bush | Mar. 15, 2024

The assistant principal of St. Patrick Interparish School was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of ignoring a teacher’s inappropriate behavior toward a student and lying about it to law enforcement.

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Gainesville Catholic school teacher arrested for molesting students

By Daniel Bednar | Mar. 8, 2024

A physical education teacher and coach at St. Patrick Interparish School in Gainesville was arrested Thursday for allegedly molesting several middle school girls.

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Gainesville man arrested for fatal hit-and-run of UF alumnus

By Daniel Bednar | Mar. 5, 2024

A Gainesville man surrendered to officers early Friday morning after allegedly killing a former UF student driving a scooter and fleeing the scene.

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

‘Teen Court’ fosters youth engagement in Alachua County

By Daniel Bednar | Mar. 4, 2024

Teen Court, an alternative sentencing program offered by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, ensures that even a 13-year-old can face judgment from a jury of their peers in the form of a teenage jury panel.

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Gainesville man arrested on suspicion of murdering homeless man

By Daniel Bednar | Mar. 1, 2024

Gainesville Police Department arrested Romanda Thompson, 33, on a charge of first-degree murder for the death of Kelly Robert Byrne. Byrne’s body was discovered about 10 hours after the incident behind a piece of machinery, where his feet were seen sticking out, according to the arrest report.