Crime Beat: Recent felony arrests

Ashley Hunter
ECB Publishing, Inc.

Joseph Livingston, Jr. - November 1
Joseph W. Livingston, Jr., 30, of Monticello, was arrested on Friday, Nov. 1 on the charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to the report issued by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO), deputies at the agency conducted a warranted search in early October of a Jefferson County residence. During the search, deputies located an Iver Johnson PAS-12 12-gauge shotgun in a bedroom closet.
The shotgun was concealed in a guitar case, along with an ammunition bandoleer and several loose rounds of ammunition. The bedroom’s resident, Joseph (also known as “Joe,” “Redneck Joe,” “Country,” and “Jojo”) Livingston was not home at the time of the search but was later contacted. Livingston admitted that he had recently moved into the bedroom where the firearm had been found. The homeowners stated that they did not know anything about the shotgun and turned the gun over to law enforcement in order for the deputies to send the firearm to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for fingerprint testing and to ensure that the gun had not been stolen.
Several days later, on Friday, Oct. 18, JCSO Investigator Matthews made contact with the gun’s registered owner and original purchaser. The owner informed Inv. Matthews that he had sold the shotgun to a man he knew as “Joe Livingstone.” When he described the man who had bought the firearm from him, the original owner’s description fit that of Livingston’s. Later, deputies conducted a photo-line up, with the original owner circling Livingston’s photo as the man who had purchased his gun.
In an interview, the owner stated that he had known Livingston for several months, but had no idea that Livingston had a previous criminal history.
When the owner stated that he was trying to sell his shotgun, Livingston expressed interest and ended up purchasing the firearm, bandoleer and ammunition from the owner for $275.
As Livingston is a convicted felon (and not permitted to own a firearm under Florida law), a warrant for Livingston’s arrest was issued. On Friday, Nov. 1, at 1:34 a.m., Livingston was placed under arrest and transported to the Jefferson County Jail, where he was given a $5,000 bond.

Floyd Seabrooks, Jr. - November 1
Floyd Melvin Seabrooks, Jr., 39, of Monticello, was arrested on Friday, Nov. 1 by Jefferson County Deputy Peacock on charges of burglary to a conveyance (unarmed) and theft.
According to the report issued by the JCSO, Deputy Peacock was dispatched to a residence on Alabama Street on November 1, shortly after 4 a.m., following a call received by Jefferson County Dispatch regarding a suspicious black male walking in the area. Deputy Peacock obtained a physical description of the man and while canvassing the area, spotted a man who matched that description.
Deputy Peacock stopped and made contact with the man, who was identified as Floyd Seabrooks, Jr.
The report states that Seabrooks was walking around the area with several plastic containers, quart jugs and tools. Deputy Peacock asked Seabrooks what he was doing walking around the area with tools at 4 o’clock in the morning. Seabrooks stated that he had just come from his boss’ house, and that he was bringing the tools back to his own home. He further stated (when asked) that his boss lived in a trailer near the old Fred’s store. In his possession, Seabrooks had a plastic tub that contained 11 unopened Pepsi cans, a Black and Decker cordless lithium drill, a pair of pliers, a hacksaw, a hammer, two quarts of transmission oil, a Craftsman wrench and a tape measure.
JCSO Investigator Burrus arrived on scene to assist Deputy Peacock, and the two continued to inquire on Seabrooks’ intention with the tools. Seabrooks stated to the two officers that he worked for a construction company, but he was unable to provide the name of said company. Seabrooks again stated that he was leaving his boss’ home with the tools, and provided Inv. Burrus with the location of his boss’ residence.
When Inv. Burrus made contact with the home’s resident, they stated that they did not know Seabrooks. The residents checked their truck where they kept their work tools, and found several items missing from the bed of the truck as well as from the truck’s toolbox. The tools’ owner provided a description of the missing items, which matched the tools which Seabrooks had in his possession.
Seabrooks was placed under arrest and the tools confiscated. After photographing the tools, they were returned to the correct owner.
Seabrooks was charged with burglary to a conveyance and grand theft.

Nicholas Kotowski - November 2
Nicholas Tristen Kotowski, 21, of Hollywood, Fla., was arrested on Saturday, Nov. 2 by Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) Trooper White on charges of possession of methamphetamine over 14 grams, delivery of methamphetamine, possession of stolen credit or debit cards, possession of drug paraphernalia, leaving the scene of a crash and possession of methamphetamine with the intent to sell, deliver or manufacture.
According to the report written by the FHP, Trooper White was assisting a disabled motorist on Interstate 10 (I-10) near mile marker 217 at 2:52 p.m., when a second car ran off the roadway and crashed into the guardrail near Trooper White and the other vehicle. The second vehicle corrected itself, returned to the road and continued to travel westbound. Trooper White returned to his vehicle in order to make contact with the driver of the recently-crashed car, but even though he approached the scene and had his lights activated, the vehicle continued to travel away. When the vehicle, which was identified as a black Volkswagon Jetta, passed Trooper White, he was able to see that it was a white male driving the vehicle. Trooper White also made eye contact with the driver, who clearly observed White attempting to make contact with him.
Trooper White began to pursue the car and eventually overtook it near State Road 59, at Heritage Boulevard.
Upon making contact with the driver, who was identified as Nicholas Kotowski, Trooper White was informed that the driver had not asked for law enforcement assistance and had pulled over in order to check his vehicle (which was a rental) for damages.
For conducting a hit-and-run, Kotowski was placed under arrest at 3:17 p.m., which Kotowski felt was not permitted under Florida law. According to the FHP report, Kotowski argued that he had researched hit-and-run penalties in Florida, and understood that the crime was only punished through a fine, not an arrest.
Trooper White continued to conduct an arrest, and searched Kotowski’s person; during the search, he discovered that Kotowski had three different debit or credit cards in his wallet, with each card bearing a different name than Kotowski’s own.
After reading Kotowski his Miranda Rights, a search of the black Volkswagon Jetta was conducted. Law enforcement officers discovered that Kotowski was in possession of 48.9 grams of pre-packaged methamphetamine, a box with measurement tools, two packs of clear plastic bags, three lighters, a marijuana grinder and a pipe with marijuana residue and a scale.
Kotowski was transported to the Jefferson County Jail without further incident.