Multiple schools in Palatka are on a modified lockdown Thursday out of caution as the Palatka Police Department searches for a man possibly armed with a knife, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office said.

A Palatka mother was arrested early Tuesday morning after deputies learned that she had left her child home alone with seven dogs while she took a multi-week vacation to Las Vegas, according to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.

A woman told News4JAX that a mobile home fire that sent her, her fiancé and their roommate to the hospital Sunday night started in the laundry room.

A woman told News4JAX that a mobile home fire that sent her, her fiancé and their roommate to the hospital Sunday night started in the laundry room.

A Putnam County woman was charged with criminal mischief after stealing items from graves at Etoniah Cemetery on Wednesday.

The body of a missing kayaker was found Friday morning in the St. Johns River, southeast of the Memorial Bridge in Palatka, according the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

As the search resumes Thursday morning for a kayaker missing in Putnam County, the missing man’s father has identified him as a 43-year-old father of three.

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office said it is searching around the Memorial Bridge in the St. Johns River for a missing kayaker.

One day after a residential fire in Putnam County killed three people and consumed their home, the sheriff’s office provided an update on the condition of the other people who were inside.

Putnam County is continuing to assess the damage left behind by Hurricane Milton after the storm plowed across Florida on Thursday.

Putnam County deputies recovered a body in a creek in an unincorporated area of Palatka after a motorist stopped in the area to take wildlife photos.

An internal complaint filed against a Putnam County Sheriff’s Office jail director led to an internal investigation.

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and federal agents raided the home of a man arrested after a chemical pipe bomb exploded on a deputy during a traffic stop.

A man in Putnam County is being held without bond due to not cooperating with investigators after he was charged with possessing an explosive, aggravated battery, and illegal possession of a gun silencer.

A Putnam County deputy was rushed to a hospital Friday after he was exposed to an unknown substance during a traffic stop in Palatka, according to the sheriff’s office.

Putnam County residents were relieved after deputies raided a home at the corner of St. Johns Avenue and Halsey Street Tuesday morning following a four-month investigation on suspected drug and prostitution claims.

A 66-year-old man was arrested Wednesday in Putnam County and accused of first-degree murder after a woman was found shot and killed inside a Welaka home.

A Palatka woman was stabbed multiple times Tuesday night following an argument with her roommate, according to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.

The family of a St. Augustine man mysteriously murdered in a World Golf Village condo is desperate for answers and turned to the News4JAX I-TEAM for help. It’s a case with ties to a high-profile St. Johns County case that has received national attention over the years.

Putnam County Sheriff's Office said several of its deputies are using Axiom body cameras as part of the final stages of testing for the agency.

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office is urging drivers to remain focused while driving after two of their deputies were involved in crashes with distracted drivers.

A service Monday afternoon celebrated the life of a Putnam County corrections officer who was killed last week in a traffic crash on his way to work.

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office is mourning the loss of the agency’s first Black deputy constable and a Welaka councilman, who passed away Wednesday. “We are saddened to announce the passing of Welaka Town Councilman Willie Washington last night,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post on Thursday. Washington, a Putnam County native, broke barriers with his election in the late 1960s to the Welaka Town Council, though segregation laws kept him from being sworn in at town hall. He became the county’s first Black deputy, rising to the rank of corporal, before going on to become the Welaka police chief in 1996, a role he held for four years. In a prepared statement, sitting Putnam County Sheriff Homer “Gator” DeLoach described Washington as a “consummate gentleman,” whose loss will be felt by the entire Putnam County community.

The Florida Department of Corrections is investigating the in-custody death of a 48-year-old Palatka man serving life in prison for a pair of 2016 murders. Jerry Keene Jr. was found dead Sept. 26 at Wakulla Correctional Institution in Crawfordsville, according to the Department of Corrections. “The safe and secure operation of Florida’s correctional institutions is the Department of Corrections' top priority,” the agency said Wednesday in an emailed statement. The 48-year-old was convicted of first-degree murder in the death of 44-year-old Thomas Lombardo, who was killed during an argument in January 2016. While in custody on charges in that case, Keene beat his cellmate Austin Steybe, a 20-year-old man awaiting trial in the murder of his own grandmother.

INTERLACHEN, Fla. – The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office on Monday announced the arrest of two men in connection with the 2019 shooting death of a 21-year-old man in Interlachen. Hargrove was extradited from Ohio to Putnam County where he was charged with homicide and remains in the Putnam County Jail on a $105,000 bond. Howell was arrested on June 4 on the charge of homicide and remains in the Putnam County Jail on a $100,000 bond. The vehicle pulled from the parking area and onto State Road 20 at a high rate of speed, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Two other suspects are under investigation, the Sheriff’s Office said, but were not identified.

PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. – A Putnam County deputy who tested positive for COVID-19 said he has recovered from the sometimes deadly illness. In a public Facebook post on Sunday, deputy Kenny Roberts wrote that after 17 days of quarantine he received a second negative COVID-19 test and has fully recovered. According to the Sheriff’s Office, Roberts tested positive for the new coronavirus on April 12 after he noticed symptoms. And, at that point, it was decided that he should be tested based on his symptoms," said Col. Joe Wells, with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. As of Sunday, according to the Florida Department of Health, there were 87 COVID-19 cases in Putnam County, with one death.

PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. – Seven Putnam County sheriff’s deputies have quarantined after one of them tested positive for COVID-19, the Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the deputy who tested positive for the new coronavirus on Sunday was trained on COVID-19 symptoms and requested testing after noticing some of them. But Wells said the other deputy was tested "because of possible symptoms, and we’re still awaiting those tests.”The deputy who tested positive for COVID-19 was not hospitalized and was recovering at last check. Once a deputy tests positive for COVID-19, the Sheriff’s Office will review GPS tracking data from the deputy’s patrol cars, along with dispatch calls, to see where the deputy traveled while on duty. As of Tuesday night, according to the Florida Department of Health, there were 43 COVID-19 cases in Putnam County, with one death.

PALATKA, Fla. – Putnam County Sheriff Homer “Gator” DeLoach has fired a corrections deputy accused of splashing hot coffee in the face of an inmate and then filing a misleading report about the incident. Corrections Deputy Franklyn Batchelor was suspended last month after an Oct. 8 incident involving an inmate who was serving breakfast in the jail. Batchelor was walking past when a door on the food cart swung open and bumped into him, spilling coffee on his uniform. In retaliation, investigators found, the deputy threw a pot of hot coffee in the inmate’s face. An administrative review also found that Batchelor’s report documenting the incident did not square with witness statements and surveillance video.

According to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, Rachel Yvonne Baggs, 43, stole a 2017 Ford truck from a family member around 4 a.m. on Sunday. This time it was a former lover of Baggs, who said Baggs drove the stolen truck into their house. The chase eventually crossed into Marion County where the Marion County Sheriff's Office jumped in. Marion County deputies reported hearing gunfire as Baggs ran from the crashed vehicle, but no law enforcement officers were injured, according to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office. Putnam and Alachua County deputies are now assisting the Marion County Sheriff's Office in the ongoing search for Baggs, who is considered armed and dangerous.

PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. - A Putnam County bail bondswoman and her co-worker, who was previously a corrections deputy, are charged with armed trespassing after investigators said they busted into the wrong house in Putnam County in June. According to an offense report, Jaquith and Greaner were looking for a woman who allegedly jumped bail. Greaner is a former Putnam County Sheriffs Office corrections deputy, which is why his booking photo was not released. According to the Sheriff's Office, He resigned prior to an internal affairs investigation in April 2017. In 2006, Greaner was demoted from sergeant to corrections deputy with loss of pay following an internal affairs investigation, the Sheriff's Office said.

PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. - The wrong license plate on the wrong car led to a substantial drug bust, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office said. Wilson Rivera, 20, of Interlachen, was arrested on multiple charges, including trafficking in methamphetamine, which is a first-degree felony. Last week, according to the Sheriff's Office, deputies stopped a Chrysler PT Cruiser -- with a license plate registered to a Honda coupe out of Largo, Florida -- on Putnam Avenue in Interlachen. During a search of the vehicle, according to the Sheriff's Office, deputies found 2.2 ounces of methamphetamine. News4Jax sources said crystal meth has a value of $500 to $800 if sold by the ounce in Putnam County.

The wrong license plate on the wrong car led to a substantial drug bust, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office said. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. - A man was arrested on a charge of lewd and lascivious behavior involving a minor, according to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office. Adrian Lamar Welch, 32, was booked Thursday into the Putnam County jail, online jail records show. According to an arrest report, a girl, who is at least 12 years old but younger than 16, called 911 the morning of June 17, asking for help at her home. According to the Sheriff's Office, the girl said she was awoken by Welch committing an inappropriate act on her. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. - A Putnam County Sheriff's Office civilian employee was injured in a crash Wednesday afternoon in St. Johns County, authorities said. The single-vehicle crash happened about 12:30 p.m. on State Road 206 at Hamilton Avenue, just south of Elkton and east of Hastings, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The Highway Patrol said the employee, identified by a Sheriff's Office spokesperson as Barry Stewart, was driving a Police Athletic League vehicle when it flipped on SR 206. He was flown to Orange Park Medical Center with serious injuries, troopers said. Stewart is the executive director of the PCSO Police Athletic League, the spokesperson said.

PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. - A teenager who deputies said posted a gun threat on Snapchat in May when he was a senior at Interlachen High School is accused of making another school threat, according to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office. Baylee Crowe, 19, was booked Wednesday night into the Putnam County jail, where he's being held without bond, online jail records show. On Wednesday morning, according to deputies, those students told school administrators and the information was handed over to youth resource deputies, who contacted the Sheriffs Office. We will continue to take seriously any threat made against our school campuses and students, Sheriff H.D. Putnam County School District Superintendent Rick Surrency thanked school staff, youth resource deputies and the Sheriff's Office for taking swift action that led to Crowe's recent arrest.

Putnam County Sheriff's OfficeHAWTHORNE, Fla. - Detectives with the Putnam County Sheriff's Office are investigating after two brothers were found shot at a home in Hawthorne, and one of the brothers died from his injuries. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies were sent to a home on Thistle Trail early Saturday morning. Darius Gilmore, 20, of Hawthorne, was shot in both of his legs, the Sheriff's Office said. On Monday evening, the Sheriff's Office said Rayquan Frison, 18, surrended at the jail. According to the Sheriff's Office, he faces murder and attempted murder charges.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Putnam County Sheriff's Office needs help from the community to find a shooter who killed a man in Hawthorne. Detectives said Lanoris Gilmore was shot at a home at 125 Thistle Lane residence in Hawthorne. Gilmore was taken by ambulance to Putnam Community Medical Center where he later died from his wounds. Witnesses said the shooter may have driven away from the area in a gray Malibu, possibly a newer model like the one shown. Anyone who may have seen the vehicle leaving the area or has any information about the shooting is asked to contact Crime Stoppers of NE Florida at 1-888-247-8477.

PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. - A deputy with the Putnam County Sheriff's Office has resigned amid a domestic violence investigation between the deputy and his then-girlfriend. Deputy Michael Mohamed was placed on administrative leave on May 10, when a complaint was filed with the Sheriff's Office, according to a news release. Later that month, Mohamed was served an injunction for domestic violence and ordered to surrender his firearms. According to the Sheriff's Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement was asked to investigate criminal charges, saying violence could have occurred in more than one county. Mohameds actions could do irreparable harm to that trust, said Putnam County Sheriff Gator DeLoach.

A pilot in his 70s was hospitalized after a float plane crashed Tuesday evening in Crescent City, according to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

CRESCENT CITY, Fla. - A pilot in his 70s was hospitalized after a float plane crashed Tuesday evening in Crescent City, according to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office. The pilot of the SeaRey plane, 79-year-old James Goolsby, was the only person on board, according to the Highway Patrol. It's unclear exactly what caused the crash, but News4Jax aviation expert Ed Booth said the plane is challenging to fly. The small plane crash was the third News4Jax has reported since Sunday, when two small planes crashed miles apart in St. Johns County. Two men were injured when a plane went down in Hastings, and no one was hurt when a small plane crashed in Elkton.

PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. - A 16-year-old bicyclist was exiting a driveway when he was hit and killed by a car, according to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office. Investigators said Paul Shamblin, of Pomona Park, was attempting to cross U.S. 17 just north of East Main Street when he was hit by a car. According to the Sheriff's Office, the driver of the car stayed at the scene and Shamblin was transported to the hospital where he later died. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. - An Interlachen man was arrested after what Putnam County deputies described as a crime spree at three different locations. According to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, the first case involved the theft of a four wheeler and a dirt bike. A second case involved a stolen side-by-side all-terrain vehicle, the Sheriff's Office said. A third case occurred at the Vulcan sand plant and involved the theft of a washer and dryer. Detectives, the Sheriff's Office said, determined Justin Eugene Dunn, 28, was using the sand plant to transport some of his goods and accessed the property by cutting a barbwire fence.

PALATKA, Fla. - A 62-year-old East Palatka man was sentenced to life without parole on Thursday for a double shooting that killed a man and seriously injured another in 2018. READ MORE: 1 killed, 1 wounded in East Palatka double shootingCharles Edward Price was found guilty of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder, according to the State Attorney's Office. The Putnam County Sheriff's Office said the 2018 shooting took place after a dispute outside an East Palatka home. Deputies found Patrick James Nolan, 60, dead and his brother, Michael Francis Nolan, 59, seriously injured. Deputies said Price shot both brothers, killing one.

PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. – HaLeigh Cummings rode the bus home from kindergarten on Monday, Feb. 9, 2009, and, like many days, she was met by her dad, Ronald. When Ronald arrived home from work sometime after 3 a.m., Misty told him that she'd just discovered HaLeigh missing from bed. SPECIAL COVERAGEMonday: HaLeigh is goneTuesday: Reliving the nightmareWednesday: Misty's inconsistenciesThursday: Investigators' theoriesFriday: Who was HaLeigh Cummings? They searched on the ground, on area waterways and in the air, but there was no sign of sign of HaLeigh. "Right now, our leads are very minimal," now-retired Putnam County Sheriff's Office Detective John Merchant said in a news conference hours after Haleigh disappeared.

Palatka, Fla. – Threats made against Palatka High School are completely unfounded, according to an investigation conducted Thursday by deputies. The investigation conducted by the School Resource Unit of the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, determined the school was holding a pep rally for a mentoring program Friday that several students did not want to attend. VIDEO: Putnam County Superintendent's video message about threatPolice told News4Jax that the threat was not credible. Additionally, many parents chose not to send their students to school today based on this misinformation," Putnam County Schools Superintendent Phyllis Criswell said in a statement. "The Putnam County School District will not tolerate disruptions to our schools that threaten our students' safety and interrupt their learning.

Palatka, Fla. – Threats made against Palatka High School are completely unfounded, according to an investigation conducted Thursday by deputies. The investigation conducted by the School Resource Unit of the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, determined the school was holding a pep rally for a mentoring program Friday that several students did not want to attend. VIDEO: Putnam County Superintendent's video message about threatPolice told News4Jax that the threat was not credible. Additionally, many parents chose not to send their students to school today based on this misinformation," Putnam County Schools Superintendent Phyllis Criswell said in a statement. "The Putnam County School District will not tolerate disruptions to our schools that threaten our students' safety and interrupt their learning.

Palatka, Fla. – Threats made against Palatka High School are completely unfounded, according to an investigation conducted Thursday by deputies. The investigation conducted by the School Resource Unit of the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, determined the school was holding a pep rally for a mentoring program Friday that several students did not want to attend. VIDEO: Putnam County Superintendent's video message about threatPolice told News4Jax that the threat was not credible. Additionally, many parents chose not to send their students to school today based on this misinformation," Putnam County Schools Superintendent Phyllis Criswell said in a statement. "The Putnam County School District will not tolerate disruptions to our schools that threaten our students' safety and interrupt their learning.