Police release more details in Byerly arrest

This morning, Historic City News interviewed Public Information Officer Mark Samson at the St. Augustine Police Department for additional details concerning our report last week on the arrest of 22 year-old Thomas Jordan Byerly.

On May 1, 2011, police received a report that two sisters, living at Las Palmas Condominiums in North City, met Byerly at the community pool. According to the report, Byerly “made out” with the sisters; ages 12 and 13 years-old, and had oral sex with one of them.

Samson said that later that same night, the girls snuck out of their condominium and met Byerly at a condominium he shares with a roommate.

Once the girls were inside, they say Byerly coerced them into his bedroom and had sexual intercourse with them.

On Friday, May 6th, Byerly’s roommate called police to report that Byerly was knocking on his door.

Police officer Michael Linsky and police investigator Johnson arrived on the scene and interviewed Byerly concerning the events that occurred on May 1st. After collecting evidence at the scene, officers took Byerly into custody and transported him to the St. Johns County Detention Facility.

Byerly remains in custody this morning in lieu of $100,000 appearance bond. He is charged with two counts of lewd or lascivious battery with a person 12 years of age or older, but less than 16 years of age.