Beach brawl expected to be discussed at council meeting

Monday, June 3rd, 2013, 10:22am

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. - It has been one week since a massive brawl at Jacksonville Beach.

Ever since it happened, there have been concerns about whether the beach is safe enough.

Now, many of those concerns are expected to come to a head at the Jacksonville Beach City Council meeting on Monday at 7 p.m.

The brawl is not specifically mentioned on the council agenda, but the city does allow public comments during the meeting.

Many people have told First Coast News that following the brawl they feel more needs to be done to prevent a similar situation.

Those wishing to speak at the meeting must submit a request at the city clerk's office beforehand.

The necessary paperwork is located at the entrance to the council chambers.

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Coast Guard urges swimmers to remain vigilant

Submitted by FirstCoastNews Web Staff

Sunday, June 2nd, 2013, 9:09pm

MIAMI, Fla. -- The Coast Guard received reports of two missing swimmers over the weekend and urges everyone to take necessary safety precautions before and while swimming.

According to the Coast Guard, drowning is the fifth leading cause of accidental death in the United States. On average, 10 people die from unintentional drowning every day. Of these, two are children aged 14 or younger.

In an effort to save lives, the Coast Guard recommends the following for all swimmers:

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Residents rally for Take Back the Beach

Submitted by FirstCoastNews Web Staff

Sunday, June 2nd, 2013, 7:53pm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Local residents gathered in Jacksonville Beach Sunday for the Take Back the Beach rally.

After last week's holiday weekend brawl, residents are rallying together to stop the violence.

Ron Davis, Jordan Davis' father, showed up to support the rally for peace.

He's hoping his message can get through to all the beach goers.

"I hear some people saying let's take back the beach, we're not taking back the beach it belongs to all of us. So nobody is taking back the beach. So what we're saying today is respect the beach. Respect Jacksonville beach and its residents. If you want to fight, take it elsewhere," Davis said.

Jacksonville Beach Chief of Police Patrick Dooley was also on hand.

Dooley said police will continue to maintain a heavy presence at the beach, with the goal of ensuring people feel safe.

He also said the police presence will be 'very heavy' during the fourth of July holiday.

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Extra officers on hand at the Beaches after brawl

Submitted by FirstCoastNews Web Staff

Friday, May 31st, 2013, 11:29pm

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. -- A Jacksonville Beach Police officer monitored the crowd at Friday night's Moonlight Movies as part of the heavy police presence that will be visible at the beach all weekend long after two Memorial Day fights.

" ... You got hundreds of people fighting."

911 calls released to First Coast News describe the chaotic scene the city of Jacksonville Beach does not want to repeat.

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Family holding out hope to find missing teen

Submitted by Mike Lyons, First Coast News Reporter/Multi-Media Journalist

Friday, May 31st, 2013, 9:10pm

FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. -- Family and friends are still holding on hope to find fisherman 17-year-old Castor Gray, who is believed to have drowned Thursday.

Twelve family members and friends made the long drive Friday over from Nashville, Ga., which is west of Waycross. Among them, Gray's mother, sister and grandmother.

They gathered by the rocks and watched the search for their loved one's body at the spot where the teenager lost his footing trying to grab a fishing pole around 4:30 Thursday afternoon.

He went under water and got caught in a strong current, and cousin Hayward Collier and friend Willie Hallback were unable to pull him up. Gray's sister Tashi Zachary says she is devastated.

"I hate it that it happened this way. It is hard. We need all the support we can get. We need everyone to keep us in their prayers. This is hard."

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Child porn found on Jacksonville Beach laptop

Submitted by FirstCoastNews Web Staff

Friday, May 31st, 2013, 5:20pm

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. -- A man was arrested Friday for child pornography charges after allegedly downloading it on his laptop.

Christopher Frank Trujillo-Vega, 28, is facing two charges of Sexual Performance by a Child-Possession of Child Pornography, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office inmate records.

According to a release from Jacksonville Beach Police Department Public Information Officer Tommy Crumley, JBPD obtained a warrant on Wednesday after the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force found that a computer in Jacksonville Beach was downloading child pornography in April.

The warrant was executed on Thursday and after searching the home, police found that Trujillo-Vega was downloading and sharing child pornography.

According to Officer Crumley, The investigation is ongoing, as police are still trying to determine if there are more suspects in the case.

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Could stolen wallet lead to identity theft?

Submitted by Ken Amaro, Ken Amaro, Community Reporter

Thursday, May 30th, 2013, 7:34pm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jeff Hirshberg, 66, is still trying to recover from Wednesday. That's when he said his wallet was stolen.

"Which means my credit cards, drivers license (are somewhere)," said Hirshberg.

Janice Hirshberg, 65, his wife and a retired attorney, said the experience has turned their lives upside down.

The Hirshbergs said it began with a trip to their Baymeadows bank where they withdrew several hundred dollars. Somewhere between the bank and home, they became the victim of a crime.

"He could have had his pocket picked," said Hirshberg, "I don't know."

They've filed a police report and notified the bank and their credit card companies, but now they're afraid.

"You don't feel safe anymore," she said.

They're afraid for not just their safety, but there's a real possibility that they could become victims of identity theft.

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