Crime Beat: Recent felony arrests

Ashley Hunter
ECB Publishing, Inc.

Wilbur Kirkland, Jr. – February 1
Wilbur Royce Kirkland, Jr., 42, of Monticello and Tallahassee, was arrested on Saturday, Feb. 1 by Jefferson County Sheriff's Deputy Johnson for unarmed burglary to a structure.
According to the report issued by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office (JCSO), Deputy Johnson was dispatched to a local residence in reference to a burglary that had taken place.
When Deputy Johnson made contact with the complainant and victim, Deputy Johnson was told that in the early morning hours of February 1, someone had entered the victim's property and broken into a shed. The perpetrator had then stolen several tools, two saws and a black toolbox.
When observing the area, Deputy Johnson noticed that there was a small set of tire tracks traveling to and from the victim's shed. The tire tracks were small, and Deputy Johnson believed they were made by a hand truck (dolly). Due to the tire and foot tracks, Deputy Johnson believed that only one suspect had been involved in the crime and the tracks led from the shed to a nearby road, and then back again. It appeared that the dolly had also dragged a large item behind it during one trip.
Deputy Johnson broadened his search to a nearby property, and found a red hand truck laying in the yard; he also saw similar tire impressions in the nearby property's driveway, including signs that a heavy object had been dragged behind the dolly.
Deputy Johnson approached the house and knocked on the door, and made contact with one of the residents, who stated that another resident, Wilbur Kirkland, had used the hand truck to bring home a black toolbox.
The resident brought Kirkland to speak with Deputy Johnson, and Kirkland informed the deputy that the toolbox belonged to his uncle. The victim later identified the toolbox, confirming it belonged to him.
Deputy Johnson, after speaking with the victim, returned to Kirkland's residence and informed him of his Miranda Rights, but Kirkland chose to waive those rights and speak with law enforcement officers regarding the case.
According to Kirkland, he had gone onto his uncle's property (his uncle being the victim) at 11:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 31. Kirkland had gone to take the toolbox, as he believed it was a toolbox he had lent another family member a year ago. Kirkland said that the toolbox had never been returned to him, but the report from the JCSO states that this theft had never been reported with law enforcement.
Kirkland admitted that he should not have taken the matter into his own hands and taken back the toolbox and agreed to allow law enforcement to search his residence; during the search, deputies were not able to find any of the other tools that the victim had reported. Kirkland denied taking any saws from the victim's shed.
The victim advised law enforcement that he wanted to press charges, so Kirkland was arrested for burglary of a structure (unarmed) and transported to the Jefferson County Jail on Saturday, Feb. 1, at 11:22 a.m.

Kimberly Gray – February 8
Kimberly Hope Gray, 35, of Monticello, was arrested on Saturday, Feb. 8 for violating the terms of her probation.
In early 2019, Gray was sentenced to one year of probation after being found guilty of grand theft of a motor vehicle.
As part of her probational requirements, Gray was ordered to make court cost payments, but in January of 2020, Gray's probation officer noted that Gray was over $600 in arrears.
Due to failing to make court cost payments, a warrant for Gray's arrest was written and sealed by Judge Caloca-Johnson on Monday, Jan. 27.
On Saturday, Feb. 8, at 9:37 a.m., Gray was taken into custody by Jefferson County Sheriff's Deputy Harrison and transported to the Jefferson County Jail.
Gray was granted release from jail on her own recognition, meaning that the judge permitted Gray to sign a written promise to appear in court and that Gray did not need to post bail.

George Pinkney – February 11
George L. Pinkney V, 18, of Lamont, was arrested on Tuesday, Feb. 11 by Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) Trooper Boatwright on drug-related charges.
According to Pinkney's arrest report, Trooper Boatwright was monitoring the eastbound traffic of Interstate 10, near mile marker 228, on the above date.
Trooper Boatwright observed a black SUV traveling eastbound in the left lane passing other vehicles with an accelerated rate of speed; Trooper Boatwright activated his radar and registered the vehicle at traveling 85 mph.
After initiating a traffic stop on the speeding vehicle, Trooper Boatwright made contact with the driver who was identified as George Pinkney.
While speaking to Pinkney from the driver side window, Trooper Boatwright was able to smell the strong odor of both raw and burnt marijuana. He could also see a bag of marijuana sitting on the front passenger seat.
Pinkney, when asked, said that the marijuana belonged to him and handed over the marijuana as well as a marijuana cigarette that he had been smoking.
Troopers Brian and Sleigher arrived at the scene in order to assist with a search of the vehicle.
While conducting a search of Pinkney's SUV, troopers found a bottle of stimulant amphetamine.
Pinkney was placed under arrest and transported to the Jefferson County Jail, where his arrest report states that he was booked on the charge of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription.

Ashamel Feacher – February 11
Ashamel Feacher, 26, of Monticello, was arrested on Tuesday, Feb. 11 on the authority of a warrant for violating the terms of his probation.
According to Feacher's warrant, he had been previously charged for two counts of simple battery and sentenced to two years of probational supervision.
As part of that supervision, Feacher was required to make restitution payments to the court as well as pay his court cost fees.
On Friday, Jan. 17, Feacher's probation officer reported that Feacher was $60 in arrears for his restitution payments and over $600 in arrears for his court cost payments.
Due to failing to make his mandatory payments, a warrant for Feacher's arrest was written and sealed by Judge Caloca-Johnson on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
On Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 3:26 p.m, Feacher was taken into custody by Deputy Carey and booked into the Jefferson County Jail.
Feacher was granted release from jail on his own recognition, meaning that the judge permitted Feacher to sign a written promise to appear in court and that Feacher did not need to post bail.

Dylan Kozlowski – February 13
Dylan Kozlowski, 22, of Tallahassee, was arrested on Thursday, Feb. 13 by JCSO Investigator Matthews on marijuana charges.
The report issued by the JCSO states that on the above date, at around 9:08 a.m., Inv. Matthews was paroling the area of East Capps Highway when he observed a vehicle repeatedly failing to maintain a single lane.
After conducting the traffic stop, Inv. Matthews made contact with the driver, who was identified as Dylan Kozlowski, and advised him of the reason for the traffic stop.
Kozlowski told Inv. Matthews that his failure to maintain a lane was caused by the fact that he had been on his phone while driving.
When asked for his driver's license, Kozlowski reached for his wallet on the vehicle's center console, and Inv. Matthews could see that Kozlowski's hands were profusely shaking.
When handing his license to Inv. Matthews, Kozlowski continued to demonstrate signs of nervousness, and so Inv. Matthews asked him to step out of the vehicle.
Kozlowski and Inv. Matthews stepped over to the patrol vehicle, where they continued to speak while Kozlowski's warning ticket was being written.
Kozlowski was asked if he had anything illegal within his vehicle, and he admitted to Inv. Matthews that he had a vape pen containing THC in the center console of his vehicle.
After retrieving the vape pen, Inv. Matthews conducted a further search of the vehicle, finding three jars of marijuana butter inside a cooler. There was also a bag in the vehicle that contained clothing and a jar of marijuana wax.
As a result of the items founds, Kozlowski was placed under arrest for possession of marijuana over 20 grams.
Once at the jail, the items were weighed and amounted to 162 grams of marijuana.

Cedrick Huggins – February 15
Cedrick Maurice Huggins, 40, of Monticello, was arrested on Saturday, Feb. 15 for fleeing and eluding law enforcement.
In late December 2019, at around 7:26 p.m., JCSO Investigator Peacock attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle in Monticello.
Inv. Peacock had witnessed the vehicle failing to stop at an intersection on North Railroad and East Earl Streets, so Inv. Peacock had followed the vehicle to a nearby gas station before activating his patrol vehicle's emergency lights.
Though the vehicle had briefly stopped at a gas pump, Inv. Peacock's report states that the blue Toyota vehicle continued to move forward.
Cpl. Freeman arrived on scene to assist and used his patrol unit to block the gas station's entrance on North Railroad Street, but the vehicle continued to drive.
Inv. Peacock was able to catch sight of the driver, the report stating that the man was a black male with a goatee, who was wearing a white shirt.
As the driver was not stopping, Inv. Peacock activated his emergency lights in an attempt to signal the driver to stop, but the vehicle quickly sped up and left the gas station by turning onto East Washington Street.
Inv. Peacock notified dispatch that the driver was fleeing the scene, and then gave chase himself; he saw the vehicle turn onto Martin Luther King Avenue, and the vehicle continued to travel at a high rate of speed while crossing several streets in the area of Martin Luther King Avenue.
By the time that law enforcement officers caught up with the vehicle, the driver had left the car on 2nd Street, at the corner of a trailer park neighborhood. As the deputies had not observed the driver flee from his vehicle, they attempted to canvas the area and discovered that the vehicle's owner lived in the neighborhood.
Deputies made contact with the owner, who stated that she did not know who had been driving the vehicle, but the last person she knew to be in possession of it was Cedrick Huggins, who she said was currently at work.
Inv. Peacock searched the vehicle for evidence of who might have been driving the vehicle, and located a identification card for Huggins within the vehicle.
Due to the photograph on the card, Inv. Peacock was able to identify Huggins as the man he had seen driving the car.
Deputies were unable to locate Huggins at the neighborhood at that time, but later received anonymous reports that provided information as to where Huggins frequently hung out, as well as his living address.
Inv. Peacock conducted an investigation and was able to undeniably verify that Huggins had been driving the vehicle, as he was able to obtain more photos of Huggins on social media accounts as well as Huggins' Florida's driver license.
With the positive identification, a warrant for Huggins' arrest was issued on Friday, Jan. 3.
On Saturday, Feb. 15, at 6:24 p.m., Huggins was taken into custody by JCSO Deputy Godwin on the charge of fleeing and eluding a law enforcement officer who's lights and siren had been activated.