While conducting speed enforcement in Nocatee on Sunday evening (September 27), SJSO patrol deputies initiated a traffic stop, and contacted Cipriano Mendoza-Alcon (49). Cipriano did not have a driver's license, was in the US illegally, and had multiple active felony warrants out of Brevard County.

He was arrested for Driving without a Driver's License and the following warrants: Sexual Battery on a Minor Over 12 and Under 18, False Imprisonment, and Kidnapping.

Cipriano is in custody at the St. Johns County Jail, held on no bond. ICE also placed a detainer on this subject.

"𝘈 𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘣𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺. 𝘊𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐’𝘮 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯. 𝘊𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘐𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘺," 𝘚𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘧 𝘙𝘰𝘣 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘸𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥.

Congratulations to three local maritime first responder leaders: SJSO Commander Joshua Underwood, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville Captain Jason Aleksak, and St. Augustine Fire Department Deputy Chief Chris Pacetti, who were honored with the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators [NASBLA] award in Knoxville, Tennessee.

The prestigious NASBLA award recognizes their efforts to strengthen maritime training, preparedness, response efforts, and collaboration between law enforcement, the Coast Guard, and fire service.

Commander Underwood has served as a NASBLA Boat Operations and Training [BOAT] Program instructor and advocate for more than a decade. He’s integrated BOAT Program courses into SJSOs annual training requirements while bringing partnering agencies together to train on the water. His leadership has helped promote consistent training standards and strengthen coordination among maritime agencies throughout Florida.

Together, Underwood, Aleksak, and Pacetti have made a lasting impact on maritime preparedness in Northeast Florida and beyond.

Congratulations to all three on this well-deserved recognition!

𝐒𝐉𝐒𝐎 𝐃𝐄𝐏𝐔𝐓𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐔𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐃𝐀𝐋 𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐕𝐈𝐃𝐔𝐀𝐋 𝐓𝐎 𝐒𝐀𝐅𝐄𝐓𝐘

On Thursday, September 24, 2026, SJSO deputies responded to the Vilano Bridge in reference to an individual at the top of the bridge in distress.

Upon arrival, deputies quickly recognized the man was experiencing a mental health crisis and expressing thoughts of self-harm. As he threatened to jump, deputies showed compassion, pleading for him to come down.

Within ten minutes, deputies convinced the individual to step down and brought him to safety. He was transported to a healthcare facility for care.

𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙚. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙩. 𝙅𝙤𝙝𝙣𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙮 𝙎𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙛𝙛’𝙨 𝙊𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪.

Protecting our community isn’t always about making arrests or responding to crime. Every day, deputies answer calls involving mental health crises and provide support and compassion to those in need.

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲.

In an emergency, call 911.

𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 & 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀:

• UF Health St. Johns Behavioral Health Resource Center - open 24/7 with clinicians on staff and available to assist during a crisis. No appointment is needed.

• EPIC Behavioral Health Rapid Response Team – 24/7 service, call 904-495-7001, or dial 988 and a response will occur within 60 minutes of the request.

• St. Augustine Youth Services Mobile Response Team – 24/7 service for individuals 5-25 years old. Dial 988 or 911 and a response will occur within 60 minutes of the request.

• Call 211 - Local experts are available 24/7 to help. Calls to 211 are confidential and can be anonymous.

• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline - Call or text 98

𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗖 𝗦𝗖𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞!

That’s a wrap on National Forensic Science Week.

The SJSO Forensic Unit works around the clock to support personnel at crime scenes. Their expertise is essential to the SJSO mission to solve crimes, and their professionalism, skill, and dedication to accuracy play a vital role in every investigation. #TeamSJSO

𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐂𝐇 𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐓 𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐒𝐔𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐃𝐑𝐔𝐆 𝐋𝐀𝐁, 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐒, 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐒𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐇

A St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit (SIU) investigation led detectives to a St. Augustine home, and resulted in the recovery of suspected narcotics, firearms, drug-manufacturing equipment, and thousands of dollars in cash.

During the investigation, SIU detectives conducted multiple undercover purchases of fentanyl from Tyler Marrs (30). Detectives also identified a private website operated by Marrs for the purchase and delivery of narcotics.

On September 3, 2026, detectives executed a search warrant at Marrs’ home on Timberwood Drive in St. Augustine and recovered:

🔴 11 firearms
🔴 Two drones
🔴 5.5g of Fentanyl
🔴 78.2 grams of a suspected synthetic opioid, a schedule 1 Controlled Substance
🔴 3.7g of Methamphetamine
🔴 18g of an unidentified white powdery substance
🔴 122.5g of various pills
🔴 22 Suboxone Films
🔴 Precursor Chemicals
🔴 $22,477 in cash

Detectives also located a pill press, 3D printer, laboratory manual, packaging and labels, a money counter, glassware, vials, and other equipment consistent with the manufacturing and distribution of narcotics.

Marrs was arrested and charged with Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Sell, Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Sell, Possession of a Legend Drug with Intent to Sell, Use or Display of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Manufacture or Delivery of Drug Paraphernalia, and Use or Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

This investigation highlights the ongoing efforts to identify and disrupt individuals involved in the illegal distribution of dangerous drugs in St. Johns County.

The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office has arrested and charged Jake Matthew (34) with multiple felony offenses, including: Aggravated Animal Cruelty, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, False Report to Law Enforcement, Unlawful Disposal of a Dead Animal, and Using an Animal to Fight or Bait. 

On August 25, 2026, deputies responded to the 3000 block of Ninth Street in Elkton after receiving multiple calls reporting gunshots near Matthew’s home. Deputies did not locate anything suspicious at the time. The next day, deputies returned to the area after the remains of a decapitated adult female dog were discovered at a vacant lot on Tenth Street. 

SJSO Property Crimes Detectives executed a search warrant at Matthew’s home, locating additional mutilated dog remains, a gun cleaning kit with gun oil, a box used to store pistols, several other items and accessories. No firearm was recovered. Matthew is a convicted felon and is not allowed to possess any firearms.

On September 2, 2026, detectives executed a second search warrant, locating several 9MM shell casings in the backyard near the area where the dog’s remains had been found, along with a fired bullet from a tree truck. Detectives also located two dead cats on the property and seized two adult male dogs, eight puppies, and two piglets. 

A necropsy conducted by the UF College of Veterinary Medicine determined the dog, identified as Matthew’s adult female dog, ‘Daisy’, was shot several times at close range.

Based on the investigation, detectives believe Matthew killed Daisy in the backyard using a 9MM handgun.

Matthew was arrested on September 17, 2026, and is currently in custody at the St. Johns County Jail on $45,750 bond.

𝗜𝗧'𝗦 𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗖 𝗦𝗖𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞!

The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office Forensics Unit identifies, documents, collects, and examines evidence that supports SJSO personnel at crime scenes.

Our forensics unit consists of: Crime Scene, Latent Prints, NIBIN (National Integrated Ballistic Information Network), and Evidence.

From processing scenes and lifting fingerprints to examining evidence with specialized technology, their work requires patience, precision, and a commitment to following the facts.

The forensics unit is essential to the SJSO mission to solve crimes, and we are proud of the work they deliver everyday. #TeamSJSO

𝗟𝗣𝗥 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝘁. 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆
 
On September 17, 2026, just before 3pm, deputies from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office responded to a License Plate Reader (LPR) alert. The license plate was assigned to a vehicle registered to David Kegley, and it was traveling near County Road 210 and Beach Walk. The notification identified David Kegley, a convicted felon with four active felony warrants from Duval County, Florida. Using the LPR system, deputies quickly located Kegley’s vehicle and attempted a traffic stop, which escalated into a vehicle pursuit. Kegley abandoned his vehicle near International Golf Parkway (IGP) and Bannon Lakes Blvd, and was subsequently found near a 7-Eleven, where he was confronted by deputies.
 
Kegley placed a knife to his throat and refused commands to surrender. He attempted to take his own life by inflicting multiple wounds to his neck. Deputies deployed Tasers several times before successfully securing Kegley. Immediate medical aid was rendered by deputies on scene until the arrival of St John’s County Fire Rescue. Kegley was airlifted to HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital in critical condition however he is expected to survive. 
 
Kegley was arrested for the following additional charges:
 
Burglary Traveling Across County Lines Unoccupied Conveyance Unarmed (3 counts), Possessing Stolen Credit/Debit Card (5 counts), Larceny of a Credit Card (5 counts), Fraudulent Use of Credit Cards, Fleeing and Eluding, Petit Theft and Reckless Driving. Kegley is currently under arrest at the hospital and will be booked into jail upon release. Kegley is also a suspect in several other burglaries within St. Johns County.
 
The investigation remains active at this time.

Surprise! SJSO deputies stopped by to wish Copeland a happy 7th birthday. We’re so glad we could celebrate with you - and be part of the party.

Good morning from #TeamSJSO at Osceola Elementary School. Wishing everyone a great Friday!