Crime

Jax Beach Task Force Takes to the Street

Thursday, April 7th, 2011, 11:09pm

Jax Beach Task Force Takes to the Street

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. -- Have you noticed more cops in the downtown and bar areas of Jax Beach?

Police Commander Gene Paul Smith is heading up a task force that's putting eight to twelve extra officers on the street on the busiest nights of the week, during the busiest months of year: March through October.

The task force is in a two-month trial period, and has been operating since the end of February.

It's something the department has tried before, but this time Smith said their efforts are more focused.

Task force members come from the community policing, street crimes and patrol divisions. The patrol officers, Smith said, operate on overtime.

Smith said it's not cheap, but it's necessary.

"It's a substantial effort both the human cost and the monetary cost. It is, but we feel that it's definitely worth it."

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Tonight: 17th Annual Bud Light Draft Party at SUITE & Whisky River

Submitted by Rachel Leitao, First Coast News Staff

Monday, March 21st, 2011, 9:48am

Tonight: 17th Annual Bud Light Draft Party at SUITE & Whisky River

Join the Jacksonville Jaguars as they host the 17th Annual Bud Light Draft Party presented by PRI Productions at 6:30 p.m. on tonight, at The Markets at Town Center, between SUITE and Whisky River. Admission is free for an evening of football and festivities.

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Man Faces New Charges in Mike McCue's Death

Submitted by FirstCoastNews Web Staff

Saturday, March 19th, 2011, 7:45am

Man Faces New Charges in Mike McCue's Death

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. -- A man recently extradited from Arizona to the First Coast is now facing new charges in the shooting death of a former firefighter.

The state attorney added a charge of second degree homicide against Charles Pearce in the death of Michael McCue.

Pearce was formally charged earlier this month in St. Johns County court with assault with a deadly weapon and is being held on $1.3 million bail. He was arrested in Arizona, then extradited to Duval County earlier this month to face charges in the shooting death of the Jacksonville Beach man.

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6th Annual Stop Teen Underage Drinking Rally Today in Jacksonville

Submitted by FirstCoastNews Web Staff

Thursday, March 17th, 2011, 5:52pm

6th Annual Stop Teen Underage Drinking Rally Today in Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Students from all of Duval county's public high schools are participating in the Stop Teenage Underage Drinking (S.T.U.D.) Rally.

The event addresses issues relating to underage drinking and lifestyle choices that teens face on a daily basis.

The S.T.U.D. Rally begins at 7 A.M. at the Morocco Shrine Auditorium.

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Bicyclist Dies after Wreck; Father Questions Response Time

Submitted by FirstCoastNews Web Staff

Wednesday, March 16th, 2011, 1:31pm

Bicyclist Dies after Wreck; Father Questions Response Time

NEPTUNE BEACH, Fla. -- Christian Davis died early Wednesday morning after fighting for his life following a collision with a car in Neptune Beach Thursday.

Davis was thrown off his bike and into the road on impact.

His father, William Davis, said he cannot help but wonder if Christian's prognosis would have been better had help arrived more quickly.

"That extra half an hour or whatever that it took for rescue to get there may have had some impact...," said William Davis.

According to Jacksonville Fire and Rescue spokesman Tom Francis, the closest rescue unit was not able to respond to Davis' accident because it was already on another emergency call.

Instead of Rescue 55, which is based nearby, Rescue 30 took the call. Rescue 30 is based near Regency.

Francis said the average response time for JFRD in an urban area is about four minutes, but that time increases if the closest unit is not available.

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Possible 'Home Owner' Energy Audit Phone Scam

Submitted by Rachel Leitao, First Coast News Staff

Monday, March 14th, 2011, 7:30pm

For well over a week now, a call comes in from 904-525-2895, a cell phone with a recording telling me about a free energy audit appointment I can set up and get $3,700 from a government program. I pressed one, as prompted, to ask a few questions about this free energy audit that was going to put $3,700 in my pocket (if I qualify).

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Details Emerge in Fatal Jacksonville Beach Shooting

Submitted by FirstCoastNews Web Staff

Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011, 2:09pm

Details Emerge in Fatal Jacksonville Beach Shooting

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. -- Police said an ongoing dispute between two neighbors led to the fatal shooting in Jacksonville Beach Tuesday.

According to the Jacksonville Beach Police Department, at least two eyewitnesses saw 74-year-old Vannie Collier shoot 38-year-old Robert Moore in the 600 block of Third Avenue South at about 1:45 p.m.

One of those witnesses was Collier's son.

The first detective on the scene reported that Collier was still standing about 10 feet from Moore when he arrived. Moore was taken to Shands and pronounced dead.

Police booked Collier into jail on a murder charge.

HEAR THE 911 CALLS: FIRST CALL | SECOND CALL

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