Sheriff’s office releases more details on deadly encounter

St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick revealed new details about the death of Sergeant Michael Kunovich. Kunovich had interacted with Vergilio Aguilar Mendez, who has been charged with capital homicide and resisting arrest. Mendez is reportedly homeless and living in the country illegally. The new information explains why Kunovich and Aguila Mendez interacted. According to the Sheriff, Kunovich was interacting with Mendez after a report of trespassing. Kunovich attempted to conduct a patdown of Mendez, who refused to comply and tried to remove a knife from his pocket. A struggle followed, during which Mendez grabbed Kunovich’s taser. After handcuffing Mendez,…

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Memorial Day Weekend Festivities in Palatka: Don’t Miss the Blue Crab Festival on May 26-28

The Palatka Blue Crab Festival, which has been held for almost thirty years, has announced its entertainment line-up and other details for the event, which will take place from Friday, May 26 to Sunday, May 28 in downtown Palatka. The festival will feature multiple venues with free entertainment including live performances, a craft beer tent, vendors, food trucks, fireworks, pony rides, a reptile encounter, a waterslide and the Gatorland Water Ski Team show on the St. Johns River. The VIP rooftop experience is ticketed, and the event is sponsored by a number of companies including The Law Offices of Ron…

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Altered Waste Collection Schedule in St. Augustine after Memorial Day Weekend

The City of St. Augustine in Florida has announced that its Solid Waste Division will be closed on Memorial Day, but limited services, such as litter pick up and commercial solid waste and recycling collections, will still be carried out. However, all yard debris and residential solid waste collections will be postponed by one day. City-owned parking lots and on-street parking will be free, though the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument and the Historic Downtown Parking Facility are exceptions. Drivers are warned to check if a lot is owned by the City of St. Augustine, as many are under…

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