SWAT callout: 1 suspect at large, 1 suspect in custody

Friday, January 25th, 2013, 10:05am

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- One suspect is in custody and one suspect is at large after the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office SWAT team was called to a home early Friday morning.

Shawn Curtis Robinson, 23, was arrested on a county warrant for felony suspended
license, according to JSO Public Information Officer Shannon Hartley.

Deshawn Lamar Brown, 27, is still at large and wanted on a charge of aggravated domestic battery.

The situation began around 7:30 p.m. Thursday when JSO was trying to serve a warrant to Brown in the 2600 block of Gilmore Street, Hartley said.

The SWAT team was called to the home around 2 a.m., Hartley said. Robinson was also in the home and gave himself up early.

Three pops were heard by media at the scene and this was most likely the sound of tear gas canisters, which were fired into the residence at 5 a.m., Hartley said.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Apartment under renovation leaves mess and complaints

Submitted by Ken Amaro, Ken Amaro, Community Reporter

Wednesday, January 23rd, 2013, 7:28pm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Heather Boivin and Christina Acosta were surprised when the plumbers showed up to their Riverside apartment.

"No one told us in advance," said Boivin, "we had no prior notice."

They were there under the landlord's orders to re-plumb the entire building. They are replacing the water and sewer lines.

But the residents are complaining because it is noisy, and there's a lot of dust from the drywall being removed.

In Boivin's bedroom there's an exposed hole to where she can see the neighbor's bathroom on the first floor.

"This is crazy," she said," they have refused to put us up in a hotel."

Alex Rose is with the property management company, Locklear Realty.

"They have not asked for a hotel," said Rose.

Rose apologized for the inconvenience and said the property owner intends to reimburse half if not a full months rent to the tenants.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Jacksonville man wants 'sidewalk to nowhere' removed

Submitted by FirstCoastNews Web Staff

Friday, January 18th, 2013, 8:23pm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla- It's broken up and it needs to go. A Jacksonville man is pushing to have a sidewalk near his home removed because he says it's in disrepair and no one uses it.

"It's literally where the sidewalk ends," said homeowner, Neil Bridgers "Nobody's really using this sidewalk."

The sidewalk in front of his home is frustrating.

"You see where it's all cracked up because of the Oak trees?" he asked.

The uneven sidewalk is cracked and then it abruptly ends. Bridgers said it's been this way since he moved in about a year ago.

"I would rather have it removed," he said. "I don't want to sound like a mean person. If they want to fix it, then fix it, and that's fine."

Bridgers said it's even been painful.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Some hospitals fire workers who refuse flu shots

Submitted by Jeff Marcu, Anchor/Investigative Reporter

Monday, January 14th, 2013, 8:19pm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- What if your boss fired you because you didn't get a flu shot? That's the new policy for some hospitals across the nation. We did not find any hospitals in Jacksonville with that strict of policy.

Baptist South ER Nurse Kelley Costlow knows the importance of getting a flu shot. "We see anywhere from 10 to 30 cases of flu-like systems every day," she said.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Backpack causes bomb squad incident and road closure

Submitted by FirstCoastNews Web Staff

Wednesday, January 2nd, 2013, 12:16pm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A section of Riverside Avenue was closed mid-morning Wednesday due to a suspicious package in the 600 block of Riverside Avenue.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Bomb Squad responded to the incident, which turned out to be a backpack found in parking garage.

The JSO bomb squad X-rayed the backpack and determined it was not a threat.

Area roads were reopened around 11:05 a.m. following the incident.

View Comments | Post a Comment

A New Year means new laws for Florida drivers

Submitted by FirstCoastNews Web Staff

Tuesday, January 1st, 2013, 7:13pm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.- It is a new year in the Sunshine State and on Florida's roadways there are some new laws in effect.

To start, say you want to flash your headlights to warn other drivers about nearby police.

"Just to alert," said Kim Rolfe, of Jacksonville. "It's just a courtesy to let other driver's know 'Hey, you're about to pass a cop.'"

Before the new year, that was illegal in Florida.

"I did not know that that was illegal!" Rolfe shouted with a laugh. "I thought I was just doing something nice for my fellow drivers!"

As of January 1, 2013, it's now legal, after the state legislature cleared up the law.

"So, it could be a good law to aide in safety," William Lee, of St. Augustine, said Tuesday morning. "So, I think it's good."

If you're ever in an accident, there's another law you should know about. It's about the personal injury protection (PIP) portion of your Florida policy.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Police: Man arrested after tampering with cars, leading them on chase

Submitted by FirstCoastNews Web Staff

Saturday, December 29th, 2012, 12:00am

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A man suspected of tampering with cars who led police on a 10-minute chase on Friday night has been arrested.

Around 8:10 p.m., the suspect was observed to be tampering with cars at a used car lot in the 1200 block of Cassat Avenue, according to Lt. James Pendley with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.

An officer approached the man, who then physically assaulted the officer, Pendley said, but the officer was not seriously hurt. The man then fled in an awaiting black truck with a Louisiana tag.

Multiple officers responded, finally cornering the suspect at a dead end in the 1600 block of Euclid Street. At that point, the suspect gave up with out resisting.

Pendley said during the chase, the suspect went in circles in the area of Blanding Boulevard, San Juan Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard.

View Comments | Post a Comment