I-TEAM: Local outdoor kitchen company is under investigation
Customers are contacting the News4JAX I-TEAM with concerns about a local outdoor kitchen company. The Office of Attorney General has confirmed itโs received 19 complaints involving Premier Outdoor USA. We also learned thereโs an active consumer protection investigation.
Were you one of the thousands of Jacksonville Beach residents affected by a Russian cyber gang hack?
A global threat analyst said people living in Jacksonville Beach should assume their information is now in the hands of cybercriminals. The city of Jacksonville Beach was hacked at the end of January, and a Russian-based cyber gang called LOCKBIT was believed to be responsible.
I-TEAM: Russian cybergang responsible for the cybertheft in Jacksonville Beach
A Global Threat Analyst has a blunt message for people living in Jacksonville Beach. He said, "assume your information is in the hands of cybercriminals." The city of Jacksonville Beach was hacked at the end of January, and we've since learned a Russian-based Cybergang called LOCKBIT is responsible.
Cybercriminals are holding data from Jacksonville Beach for ransom
A cyber attack in Jacksonville Beach has affected the city's information system. Cyber criminals are holding personal data like social security numbers and banking information for ransom. If you're affected, you will be notified by mail.
JSO failed to follow up on multiple complaints of child sex abuse against man years before he was charged
The News4JAX I-TEAM has obtained records showing for years, police didnโt thoroughly investigate allegations against a Jacksonville man now charged with operating a child sex trafficking ring. Records uncovered by the News4JAX I-TEAM show multiple people told police Duane Sikes was abusing boys starting in 2010โฆbut JSOโs own records show some allegations were never followed up on.
I-TEAM: Jacksonville pool contractor accused of abandoning jobs
Customers who contracted with Waterpools Jacksonville are contacting the News4JAX I-TEAM because of jobs left behind and poor workmanship. The owner says it's all because of a recent hospitalization -- the same story he gave us 10 years ago.
I-TEAM: Middleburg man shocked as scammer sells his waterfront property to a developer
Imagine owning a piece of waterfront property near Black Creek for decades and learning it's been sold to a developer without you even knowing it. It's a Middleburg man's reality. His nearly 3-acre plot of land was sold to a Jacksonville developer by a scammer.
I-TEAM: Former drawbridge employees say long shifts put public at risk
Three whistleblowers are warning of potential danger on Northeast Floridaโs iconic drawbridges: downtown Jacksonvilleโs Main Street Bridge, St. Augustineโs Bridge of Lions, the Crescent Beach Bridge, and the Ortega River Bridge.
Fresh start: Formerly homeless and jailed, 8 Jacksonvillians now have jobs, housing, and hope
Itโs all about breaking the cycle and keeping people out of jail and cutting down on homelessness in Jacksonville โ and saving taxpayers money at the same time. And a team of mental health and legal professionals believe theyโre on the right track with a program that identifies and treats repeat offenders with severe mental illness and substance abuse problems.
Residents โunhappyโ with JEAโs installation of dead grass during septic tank phase-out program
The News4JAX I-TEAM looked into concerns over the city of Jacksonville and JEAโs septic tank phase-out program in several neighborhoods. As the project nears completion, one family is unhappy about the way their yard looks after the construction.
Towing company receives several complaints for making people โwait an entire monthโ to retrieve their items
A manager of a Jacksonville towing company said safety concerns and numerous repossessions are the reasons behind it taking weeks for people to retrieve their items from repossessed vehicles following several complaints about the matter.
Residents grateful to see progress in Jacksonvilleโs septic tank phaseout program
Jacksonville Mayor Donna Degan is trying to make good on a promise made to River City residents back in the late 1960s during consolidation. Funds for the septic tank phaseout program are part of the cityโs newly released final transition report.
Amazon customer credited $750 after exposing sales tax overcharges, says Amazon looking to refund others affected
A local woman who discovered Amazon had been overcharging her sales tax for years has now received a $750 credit from the company, and other local customers affected could also be receiving refunds soon.
Would you use an app to talk to police after you get pulled over?
Traffic stops are the most common police interactions in the United States, but they can also be among the most dangerous, with risks for both law enforcement officers and civilians. A recent incident in Camden County, where a traffic stop escalated into a deadly shooting, has raised questions about the need for a safer approach to traffic stops. Civil rights activists are now pondering whether a different approach at the beginning of such stops could prevent such tragic outcomes.
โItโs long overdueโ: Colonial Forest Apartments repairs begin after judge ordered owner to take action
Crews from the city were out at Colonial Forest Apartments Monday โ cleaning things up and repairing staircases that were recently condemned because of rotting wood and other stability issues. The repairs are starting just days after a judge granted the City of Jacksonville an emergency temporary injunction requiring the Colonial Forest owner to correct issues at the property.
Saving The Swamp: Environmentalists, mining company at odds over dig near Okefenokee
Environmental activists are warning there will be contamination and devastating damage to the ecosystem in both Florida and Georgia if a company is allowed to come in and mine for minerals near the Okefenokee swamp. The company contends it won't do any harm and will bring money and jobs to the area.
โThis is terrible:โ Residents call Westside apartment complex unsafe, parts of the building are condemned
Residents at Colonial Forest Apartments on the Westside say they feel unsafe living there. Multiple stairways and patios have been condemned at the property on Firestone Road. One woman told News4JAX she nearly fell off her front porch because the patio floor caved in.
I-TEAM: Management company change at Serenata Beach Club means some workers wonโt come back
Some employees at the Serenata Beach Club in Ponte Vedra Beach say they wonโt be returning because of poor communication from the owners on financial issues. The managing company issued a notice of termination to beach club employees Monday because of โirrecoverable business lossesโ and directed employees to pursue other opportunities in the area.
City leaders look into unusually high water bills after multiple complaints at Westside mobile home park
The City of Jacksonville is looking into complaints of unusually high water bills at the Three Seasons Mobile Home Village โ a mobile home community on the Westside โ after the News4JAX I-TEAM received several messages from affected residents and discovered the owners were at the center of an investigation for the same issue at a mobile home park near Columbus Ohio.
โSomething is not rightโ: Mobile park home tenants demand answers after unusually high water bills
Nearly a dozen tenants of a local mobile home park are sharing their concerns over unusually high water bills after the News4JAX I-TEAM reported the case of a disabled veteran who was being threatened with eviction if she didnโt pay a $2,200 water bill.
I-TEAM: Disabled veteran gets $2,200 water bill, landlord threatens to evict her if not paid
A local disabled veteran is turning to the News4JAX I-TEAM after her landlord threatened to evict her if she didnโt pay a $2,200 water bill for her mobile home. Kelly OโNeil who lives at the Three Seasons Mobile Home Park off Collins Road, says her bill normally averages $30 a month.
I-TEAM: Troubled Eastside apartment complexes under new ownership, renovations to come in next 60 days
A Jacksonville nonprofit and a developer have purchased a pair of troubled apartment complexes on the cityโs eastside, paving the way for renovations and property improvements. Nonprofit LIFT JAX and real estate company Joined Development announced on Tuesday that they official purchased Eastside Terrace and Eastside Gardens for $6.2 million. The agreement was years in the making. They expect to begin renovations within 60 days.
Failing Jacksonville apartments to get new ownership, renovations after I-TEAM exposes years of problems
A Jacksonville nonprofit and a developer plan to buy and renovate two troubled apartment complexes on the Eastside the I-TEAM first exposed back in 2021 for unsanitary and unsafe conditions. Itโs a deal thatโs years in the making.
Mayor, city leaders descend on Jacksonville apartments after I-TEAM highlights despicable living conditions
Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan joined other city officials and HUD representatives at the Cascade Apartments on Kings Road Tuesday afternoon. This comes after the News4JAX I-TEAM reported on the mold, pest and structural problems there.
Federal complaint: Church planting organization masterminded conspiracy to frame pastors
The former lead pastors and founders of Celebration Church filed a new federal complaint accusing a church planting organization and three other pastors of masterminding a conspiracy to take over the church and oust the founders from their roles.
State opens investigation following death of man who went days without medication in Duval County jail
Records show the city signed a $98 million contract for healthcare at the jail with a corporation that had been convicted just weeks earlier of letting an inmate die by dehydration at a Wisconsin jail and falsifying records to conceal it.
Why giant investment company rentals are being blamed for affordable housing issues in Jacksonville
A News4JAX I-TEAM analysis of Jacksonville property records found more than 9,600 homes across Duval County are owned by large, institutional investors, which are companies that have more than 1,000 homes nationwide in their portfolio.
JSO is searching for man charged with organized fraud. The SEC says he ran a $5.9M Ponzi scheme.
JSO is searching for a man accused of organized fraud. The Securities of Exchange Commission has also filed a civil lawsuit against the suspect, claiming Cedric Griffin scammed more than 100 victims into contributing nearly $6 million to a real estate Ponzi scheme.
I-TEAM: Questions raised if womanโs civil rights were violated in case of mistaken identity
A News4JAX I-TEAM investigation uncovered a mistaken identity of a Northside woman. The woman, Khristi Jackson, feels her civil rights may have been violated by Jacksonville police officers who forced their way into her home without a warrant.
Letter from Douglas Anderson alumni asks that investigation look into possible financial links to teacher misconduct
The Duval County Public Schoolโs special meeting was abruptly canceled Friday, leaving some former Douglas Anderson School of the Arts students disappointed that they didnโt have a chance to discuss their ideas as the investigation into longtime music teacher Jeffrey Clayton, who is now charged with lewd behavior involving a student, continues.
Police photos show note written by prominent political donor before he was found dead in Atlantic Beach
Late last year, a prominent Northeast Florida businessman and well-known political donor Kent Stermon was found dead in his truck at the Mayport Post Office in Atlantic Beach. No foul play is suspected.
I-TEAM: Workplaces top target for mass shooters, attackers usually have connection
While school and church shootings often dominate the conversation, data shows that most active shooter situations are actually at workplaces and carried out by former or current employees. Thatโs the case in Louisville, where Monday an employee at Old National Bank opened fire, killing 5 people, and wounding 8 more.
Door opened for more talks with DCPS, security contractor says, following I-TEAM report
School campus safety is once again in the spotlight following the deadly shooting at a Nashville Christian school, and on Tuesday, the News4JAX I-TEAM reported that a $36,000 contract for active shooter training and campus evaluations in Duval County hasnโt been used 10 months after leaders announced it.
I-TEAM: Arrest of former DEA task force officer has possible ties to the arrest of FHP trooper
The I-TEAM has been digging into the allegations against a former Nassau County Sergeant, who was also a DEA task force officer, and found possible ties to another drug investigation resulting in the arrest of a longtime Florida Highway Patrol trooper.
How law enforcement agencies are recruiting future officers in a difficult climate
Small towns and big cities alike are struggling to recruit and retain law enforcement officers amid national controversy over the police profession. Many veteran officers are retiring, leaving agencies in a bidding war for qualified candidates โ as they try to hire the next generation to protect and serve.
I-TEAM: Local contractor accused of taking money and not finishing the job
Local contractor and owner of North Florida Leisure, James Couturier, owes tens of thousands of dollars to several Jacksonville homeowners who said they either paid him for screened patios that were not finished, or he didnโt start the work.
How a Jacksonville mental health program is keeping people arrested dozens of times out of jail & hospitals
Itโs all about breaking the cycle and keeping people out of jail and cutting down on homelessness in Jacksonville โ and saving taxpayers money at the same time. And a team of mental health and legal professionals believe theyโre on the right track with a program that identifies and treats repeat offenders with severe mental illness and substance abuse problems.
I-TEAM: State voting records show 22 people convicted of felony sex offenses voted in 2020 general election in Duval County
The News4JAX I-TEAM has found more than 20 people convicted of felony sex offenses who, according to state law, were ineligible to vote, cast ballots in the 2020 general election and were not purged from the voter rolls until nearly two years later.
Conspiracy that led to Jaren Brideganโs murder began just over a month before targeted ambush shooting in Jax Beach: court records
The state attorneyโs office filed the formal charges against the man arrested in connection with the shooting death last year of a father of four in Jacksonville Beach, Duval County court records show.
I-TEAM: Body cameras to be deployed in Baker County Detention Facility
After obtaining the latest inspection report and a letter addressed to President Joe Biden, the News4JAX I-TEAM has learned some major changes are in the works for the Baker County Detention Center, where there have been complaints of inhumane conditions and the mistreatment of immigrants.
I-TEAM: Baker County Sheriffโs Office found hospital staff reported crimes late, altered evidence
In a harsh email sent this past May, the Baker County Sheriffโs Office found the staff at the Northeast Florida State Hospital, or NEFSH, reported crimes late and destroyed or altered evidence in criminal investigations.
Aiden Fucciโs mental health likely to be a focus during sentencing hearing, attorney says
In a St. Johns County courtroom on Monday, when Aiden Fucci pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the death of his 13-year-old schoolmate Tristyn Bailey, the 16-year-old disclosed the medications he is currently taking.
Guns, Drugs & Gangs: An inside look at how Jacksonville police address violent crime
Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters believes high-tech, targeted crime fighting will help decrease violence as the city struggles with a high number of shootings and homicides. In January, JSO allowed the I-TEAM to spend several days and nights with special units attached to the project.
Family adamant others involved in โmass conspiracyโ to murder Jared Bridegan in Jacksonville Beach
The widow and brother of a father of four killed last year in what police believe was a targeted ambush shooting in Jacksonville Beach opened up Thursday to the News4JAX I-TEAM about the arrest in the case and the questions still left in the investigation.
Man charged in ambush murder of Jared Bridegan to be arraigned exactly 1 year after shooting
The 61-year-old man arrested in connection with the targeted ambush shooting of a father of four in Jacksonville Beach last year will be arraigned on the charges Feb. 16 -- a year to the day that Jared Bridegan was gunned down with his toddler daughter in the back seat of his SUV.
Suspect arrested in ambush murder of Jared Bridegan in Jacksonville Beach โdid not act alone,โ state attorney says
Nearly a year after a father of four was gunned down in what police believe was a targeted ambush shooting in Jacksonville Beach, police and the state attorneyโs office announced an arrest in the case Wednesday.