Ashley Hunter
ECB Publishing, Inc.
Under Florida Statute 985.04, the name, photograph and arrest report of a juvenile offender who commits an felony offense, is charged with a felony violation, or is transferred to an adult court of law is not considered confidential and exempt solely because of the child's age. All information has been obtained by ECB Publishing, Inc. reporters from local law enforcement agencies and was released
legally and fairly.
Two teenagers were arrested on Sunday, Feb. 23, by an officer of the Monticello Police Department (MPD) after being found in the middle of breaking into school-owned property on Tiger Lane.
According to the report from the MPD, on the above date at around 12:45 a.m., Officer John Smith was patrolling the area near the former Jefferson County High School on South Water Street.
Officer Smith had turned onto Tiger Lane – the road on which the Jefferson Tiger sports complex is located – when he saw a gray vehicle parked near the football stadium.
Due to the fact that there had been a high crime level in the area, Officer Smith approached the vehicle to investigate. The report notes that there was no one around or inside the vehicle and so, while on foot, Officer Smith continued to search the area surrounding the stadium.
During his search, Officer Smith heard noises coming from one of the rooms behind the stadium and so he opened the door and spotted two young, white males inside the room as they were attempting to leave the room.
Both teenagers, Jarrett Daniels (age 18) and Jackson Wood (a minor) were detained while Officer Smith requested additional aid from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office (JCSO).
After investigators from the JCSO arrived, both teenagers were Mirandized and given the opportunity to speak to the law enforcement officers.
According to the report, Daniels declined the chance to speak, but Wood informed Officer Smith that he and Daniels had driven from Georgia to break into the old school structure.
Wood stated that the building “was cool” and that they had wanted to break in so that they could explore the building.
In a recorded audio interview, Jackson provided further information by showing investigators how he and Daniels had broken into the school building through a broken window.
Daniels interjected, at that point, that neither of the boys had done any damage to the building, but that they had just entered and walked around the property.
During a following investigation that evening, law enforcement officers further found that Daniels was in possession of keys to a school-owned vehicle that had been parked on the property. The suspects stated that they had found the keys inside the vehicle and had taken them.
Inside the gray car that the suspects had arrived in, investigators found a gun and ammunition as well.
All evidence was collected and the vehicle was towed from the scene.
Both Jarrett Daniels and Jackson Wood were arrested under the felony charges of burglary to an unoccupied structure, burglary of an unoccupied conveyance and criminal mischief (property damage over $200 but under $1,000).