Clay County Sheriff's Office, FL

“𝐌𝐲 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭.” Thank you to @JesseWeberLive / @NewsNation for speaking with Deputy Maertz about going above and beyond for a 71-year-old woman who was in need of help. When she told us she was sleeping in her car for days, waiting for a paycheck to get home up north, Deputies Maertz and Mahlke stepped up and bought her a meal, filled her gas tank and gave her cash for whatever she needed on her travels back. This is what Proudly Serving looks like. #CCSOFL #ProudlyServing

𝐂𝐂𝐒𝐎 𝐃𝐄𝐏𝐔𝐓𝐘 𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐃 On 11/1/26 around 9:15p.m., the Clay County Sheriff’s Office responded to a complaint concerning a disturbance in progress. The call was at a home where Clay County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Claude Hurley III lives with several family members. Hurley, who was not home at that time of our arrival, was said to have been drinking alcohol and caused a disturbance with several family members that became physical. An investigation into a possible domestic violence incident was immediately initiated. After examining the scene, interviewing witnesses and observing recorded video footage, deputies determined the following. Deputy Hurley grabbed food a family member was eating, threw it across the room and shoved that family member. He continued to yell in an angered state and shoved the family member multiple times as they tried to remove themselves from the situation. When another family member arrived and tried to intervene, Hurley continued to yell and pushed away that family member too. No injuries were reported from the incident, but investigators determined that there was clear evidence that Hurley had met the statutory threshold of committing simple battery on two family members. Deputy Hurley was met by detectives at another location for an interview. After speaking with detectives, he was ultimately arrested for two counts of simple battery (domestic) and has since been placed on administrative leave. Acts of domestic violence are unacceptable and will not be tolerated - especially when committed by an individual entrusted to wear our badge. The badge we wear demands the highest level of responsibility and integrity. These actions fall short of that standard, and we will not shy away from transparency and accountability. We strongly encourage anyone experiencing domestic violence to seek help and support by contacting the Clay County Sheriff’s Office using 9-1-1 or our non-emergency line at (904)264-6512, or you can submit a tip for our deputies to follow up using our SaferWatch app. You can also call Quigley House at (904) 284-0061.

𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐘 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇 𝐒𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐋 𝐒𝐓𝐔𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐃 On October 30, 2026, a Clay High School Student came to school wearing an outfit that consisted of camouflage and commando-style gear, including a tactical vest with pouches, a ballistic helmet and a radio. A school employee saw the individual, didn't recognize them or know if they were a student at the time and saw them turn and immediately leave school property; this prompted extreme concern about his behavior and disruption to the school environment. The school was placed on a SECURE status as we conducted our investigation. After locating the student off-campus and being interviewed, the student was arrested on a misdemeanor for disrupting a school function. The student is also being disciplined in accordance with the Clay County District Schools Student Code of Conduct. The Clay County Sheriff’s Office takes all threats involving our schools extremely seriously and we appreciate the coordination with Clay County District Schools to ensure the safety of our students, faculty and staff. Protecting our students and providing a safe, secure environment for learning will always be our top priority.

𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑, 𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐅𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐃! What an incredible three days of fundraising for our Clay County Special Olympics athletes! During our three-day fall Tip-A-Cop fundraising campaign hosted by LongHorn Steakhouse, members of the Clay County Sheriff’s Office raised an outstanding $𝟏𝟗,𝟓𝟎𝟐 bringing our 2026 fundraising total to $𝟑𝟓,𝟕𝟖𝟑.𝟔𝟒! But that’s not all… WE BROKE A RECORD! 🏆 On Wednesday, October 28, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., our team raised an incredible $8,683.45 in a single day, setting a new one-day fundraising record for our Tip-A-Cop fundraiser! Every dollar raised directly supports our local Clay County Special Olympics athletes by helping cover travel and lodging expenses for the Special Olympics State Games, uniforms, practice equipment, and other essential resources that allow our athletes to train, compete, and succeed in the sports they love. A huge THANK YOU to LongHorn Steakhouse for hosting this incredible event once again and every community member who stopped by, donated, and helped make this record-breaking fundraising campaign possible. We couldn’t do it without you! As 2026 comes to a close, we are incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together. Now, we’re setting our sights on an even bigger and better 2027! Clay County, thank you for continuing to show up for our athletes! 💙🏅 #CCSOFL #ProudlyServing

𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐃𝐀𝐘 Today, we celebrate the heroes who show up when our community needs them most. The Clay County Sheriff’s Office is proud of our first responders and everyone who answers the call to protect, serve and make a lasting difference in the lives of others. Your dedication, bravery and commitment to our community do not go unnoticed. Thank you for all you do. #CCSOFL #ProudlyServing #NationalFirstRespondersDay

𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐏 𝐁𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐅𝐈𝐓 𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐘 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐘 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐎𝐋𝐘𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐂𝐒! Tip-A-Cop is underway at the LongHorn Steakhouse in Fleming Island! CCSO deputies and staff members are volunteering as your wait staff. We’ll be running some food, refilling beverages for you and 100% of their tips will go towards Clay County Special Olympics! This is all to help our Special Olympics Athletes and their travel to and from the Special Olympics State Games, as well as the purchasing of uniforms, practice equipment etc. for the various sports they participate in. Join us for lunch or dinner, today through Thursday, October 29th, from 11am-9pm! #CCSOFL #ProudlyServing #ClayCountySpecialOlympics

𝐂𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐋 𝐁𝐎𝐗 𝐒𝐂𝐀𝐌: It may seem funny but this is serious stuff. Scammers have come up with something new….and recently, we’ve had at least 4 Clay County residents fall victim to this losing over $60k in total. They’re calling or FaceTiming victims, pretending to be from a local bank saying your account has fraud activity. They’ll ask you to withdraw money so they can put it into a new account and “protect” it; from there they’ll ask you drive to a grocery store, buy a box of cereal and place to the money into the cereal box… then meet up with someone for the transaction. Scammers have been urging victims to stay on the phone during the entire process and to not tell anybody. DO NOT FALL FOR THIS! If you get a suspicious call, feel like you’ve been a victim of fraud or have any questions about scams - please call us immediately at 904-264-6512. #CCSOFL #ProudlyServing #ScamAlert

𝐈𝐍 𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐓: Here’s what went down in Clay County… 🎃Our Fugitive and Sexual Offender Apprehension Unit is going door-to-door, talking to every sex offender and predator in the county, letting them know they can’t participate in Halloween and must follow the county ordinance. We’re making sure your family is safe when you’re out trick or treating - if you’re curious to know if any offenders or predators live near you – FDLE has a database you can check out on their website. 🐾K9 Ikarus and his handler, K9 Deputy Taliaferro helped find a missing elderly woman. Ikarus has dozens of successful finds in the roughly two years he’s been with us, specializing in finding missing people and detecting narcotics. Goobers does great work – and he’s a good boy. ⛳️10,000 dollars raised is going towards Clay County Special Olympics! We held our first-ever golf tournament at Top-Of-The-Tee in Fleming Island and it was an incredible turnout. Every dollar goes towards our Athletes and makes a difference, helping them participate in the State Games and supporting year-round sports training, competition expenses, uniforms, equipment, transportation, and athlete wellness programs. Thank you to everyone who helped make this possible! 💊National Drug Take Back Day is tomorrow (10/24/26) - if you have any old medications you no longer need or use, get rid of them safely. Join us and Clay County Fire Rescue from 10am-2pm at 400 College Drive, Suite 106 in Middleburg to safely dispose of expired or unused medications. 𝘽𝙔 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙉𝙐𝙈𝘽𝙀𝙍𝙎: In the last week: 📞1,500+ 911 calls came into our dispatch center and over 7,600 calls for services in total 🚔59 arrests were made 🚨22 warrants served And no, this isn't AI. 😁 You’re all caught up – we’ll see you next time! #CCSOFL #ProudlyServing #ICYMI

🐾“𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓’𝐒 𝐀 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐎 𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄!”🐾 When a vulnerable elderly woman went missing in early October, K9 Ikarus and K9 Deputy Taliaferro went to work. After an extensive search, this incredible team was able to find her safely in a wooded area near her home. In the roughly two years he’s been with us, K9 Ikarus has racked up dozens of successful finds, specializing in locating missing people and detecting narcotics. He’s got an incredible nose, a big job and heart of gold. Goobers is, without a doubt, a very good boy. #CCSOFL #ProudlyServing #K9

🎉 $𝟏𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐒𝐄𝐃 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐘 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐘 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐎𝐋𝐘𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐂𝐒! 🎉 What an incredible night at Top of the Tee! Our first-ever golf tournament benefiting Clay County Special Olympics raised an amazing $10,000 for our Athletes! Every dollar makes a difference, helping our Athletes participate in the State Games and supporting year-round sports training, competition expenses, uniforms, equipment, transportation, and athlete wellness programs. We’re so grateful to everyone who played, sponsored, donated, and helped make this event such a success. Your generosity makes a lasting impact, creating opportunities for our Athletes to compete, grow, build confidence, and shine both on and off the field. Missed out on the tournament? We’ll see you at our Tip-A-Cop fundraiser next week, October 27 through the 29th at Longhorn Steakhouse in Fleming Island! CCSO members will serve as wait staff for “tips” - where every dollar raised goes towards our Athletes. There will also be another chance to bid on silent auction items and to donate to Clay County Special Olympics! See you there! #CCSOFL #ProudlyServing #SpecialOlympicsFlorida

We’re aware of the incident involving an Orange Park High School staff member and student. This is currently an active and ongoing investigation, we have our detectives looking into the circumstances surrounding it. More information will be released as it becomes available.

𝐍𝐎 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐊𝐒, 𝐍𝐎 𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐒! 🎃 Halloween is around the corner, and your family’s safety is our top priority. There are 268 sexual offenders and 87 sexual predators in our county; they’re not allowed to participate at all - the only door knocks they get are from our Fugitive/Sexual Offender Apprehension Unit. We’ve been busy verifying addresses and conducting compliance checks, making sure they’re in full compliance with state statutes and county ordinances. Before planning your child’s trick-or-treat route, you can always check the sexual offender registry at offender.fdle.state.fl.us/of… to see if any sexual offenders or predators live in your neighborhood. This resource allows you to view maps that pinpoint registered offenders’ addresses in your area. As always, see something say something! Call 904-264-6512, 911, or report it on the SaferWatch app. #CCSOFL #ProudlyServing #Halloween

𝐅𝐔𝐆𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐀𝐘: We are searching for Archie Donovan Damon. He’s wanted for violation of probation for domestic battery by strangulation. Damon is 38-years-old - he's bald with hazel eyes, and has a last known address on Lovett Road in Orange Park, Florida. It should be noted he also has a history of violence. If you know where he is, or have any information, call us at (904) 264-6512. You can also submit an anonymous tip on our website, claysheriff.com, or through our SaferWatch app, or by calling First Coast Crime Stoppers by dialing **TIPS. Help us bring Archie Donovan Damon to justice! #CCSOFL #ProudlyServing #FugitiveFriday

𝐒𝐈𝐋𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐊 𝐂𝐀𝐑 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊-𝐈𝐍𝐒 Several teenagers have been arrested after a series of car burglaries took place in the Silver Creek area of Lake Asbury. As of right now, at least 18 cars have been broken into and it all took place Sunday evening into Monday morning (October 11-October 12.) While arrests have been made and all suspects have been identified, our investigation is still ongoing and we believe there’s more victims who have been impacted. Most, if not all of the cars burglarized were left unlocked. This serves as an important reminder to follow the 9PM routine; remove all valuables from your car and lock your doors! If you notice that your car has been rummaged through and/or have any security footage that could assist in our investigation, please contact us at 904-264-6512 and ask to speak with Detective Gelsomino. You can also email him at [email protected] – tips can also be submitted through the SaferWatch App or by contacting First Coast Crime Stoppers at **TIPS.