Category: Public Safety

St Augustine pilot Hoke Smith and his two passengers, a heart surgeon and a transplant technician from Mayo Clinic, were killed early this morning when the helicopter they were flying crashed into the woods in southern Clay County.

Historic City News has received word that the two Palm Coast teenagers, who said they were kidnapped from The Hammock yesterday evening, have been located in the Orange Park area by Clay County sheriff’s deputies shortly after 1:00 a.m. this morning.

County Commissioners approved a request from Sheriff David B. Shoar yesterday to transfer $18,000 to the Law Enforcement Trust Fund – Aid to Private Organizations account from Reserves for the support of the St. Augustine Society.

Earlier today, a man convicted of making sexually explicit interstate telephone calls that threatened to injure minor children, was sentenced by Judge Marcia Morales Howard to serve 20 years in federal prison for his crimes, according to US Attorney Robert E. O’Neill.

United States Attorney Robert E. O’Neill announced to local Historic City News reporters that 64 year-old Andrew J. Hitas, Jr., a resident of Palm Coast, pled guilty to a federal charge of receiving child pornography over the Internet.

The Sheriff’s Office reported to Historic City News that they are attempting to locate two sexual offenders whose last reported address was within St Johns County; however when officers attempted to contact them during a recent multi-agency operation, they could not be found.

Two St Augustine men are being held without bond today; each facing felony drug charges after police say they were manufacturing methamphetamine in their home; which lies within 1,000 feet of R. B. Hunt Elementary School on Anastasia Island.

A 19-year old St. Johns County man was arrested on a host of charges, including grand theft auto, Sunday afternoon.