criminal justice

Former state COVID-19 data scientist Rebekah Jones turned herself into the Leon County Jail after law enforcement officials issued a warrant for her arrest on allegations that she illegally accessed a Florida Department of Health computer system.

Ex-Florida COVID-19 data curator Rebekah Jones says she'll surrender to authorities Sunday amid an investigation that she allegedly made an unauthorized log in to the state’s emergency response system.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida has announced the arrest of a Tallahassee man and former soldier for threating violence against protestors who come to the state capitol Sunday.

State and local law enforcement agencies in Tallahassee are bracing for potential protests at the Florida Capitol this weekend and early next week, although officials say there are no specific threats right now.

The Florida Legislature wants to stop scammers from taking advantage of people seeking vaccine doses. Fraudsters created fake internet pages designed to look like Pasco and Pinellas County Health Departments and charged money for fake vaccination appointments. And they aren’t the only ones.

A circuit judge said Wednesday he can’t decide whether Florida law enforcement officials should be forced to return equipment seized from former Department of Health COVID-19 data analyst Rebekah Jones until he learns whether authorities intend to charge her with a crime.

Attorneys for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement say a judge should reject a request to return property seized from the home of fired state Department of Health analyst Rebekah Jones because another judge has authority over the matter.

Gov. Ron DeSantis warned Tuesday that law enforcement “reinforcements” will be on hand if anyone plans to participate in armed protests at the Florida Capitol.

Governor Ron DeSantis is pointing to the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol as a reason for harsher penalties for protesters who damage property or harm others. The event reignited discussions surrounding the legislation that DeSantis first floated during Black Lives Matter protests this summer. But Sen. Perry Thurston (D-Ft. Lauderdale) maintains the legislature has more important priorities to address.

The Second Judicial Circuit has a new public defender. Jessica Yeary was sworn in Tuesday.