SENTENCING DUE IN LOCAL MARIJUANA CASE

A Palatka man is due for sentencing March 12 after pleading no contest
last week to a January 2001 charge of trafficking in cocaine over 200
grams. Derek E. Hall, 35, faces a 15-year minimum mandatory sentence
in state prison, according to a news release from the Palatka Police
Department, which said the plea was the result of a narcotic search
warrant executed at Hall's residence. PPD Street Crimes Unit
Detectives Matt Newcomb and Jason Shaw and Sgt. Brian Keith conducted
the investigation. The search of Hall's residence reportedly revealed
more than 430 grams of cocaine and a custom-made hydraulic device made
to compress cocaine into bricks.

Two arrests after traffic stop A traffic stop led to the arrest of two
people Monday night on drug charges, theft charges and driving
offenses, the Palatka Police Department said. Harold Garner, 37, of
Putnam County, was charged with driving with no valid license, theft
and attaching tag not assigned. His passenger, Lavella Drake, 28, of
Jacksonville, was initially charged with possession of drug
paraphernalia and then with introduction of contraband into a
correctional facility after officers said they found a small amount of
marijuana and more drug paraphernalia on her during the booking
process. Garner was booked into the Putnam County Jail on $1,512 bond,
Drake on $2,012 bond. At approximately 11 p.m. Monday, PPD Cpl. Jason
Shaw said he saw a vehicle run a stop sign in the area of North 13th
and Madison streets. After making contact with the driver and
passenger, Shaw said he found that Garner did not have a valid license
and that the tag attached to the vehicle had been reported stolen from
Marion County. They were both arrested and transported to the county
jail.

Woman arrested twice in same day A Palatka woman was arrested twice
within 12 hours on unrelated charges Monday, the Palatka Police
Department said. Susan Cuffe, 37, was first arrested in relation to a
theft of services and food at Walt's Bar-B-Que. Officer Mike Meredith
responded to a call from the restaurant at approximately 8:30 a.m.
Monday and was told that a woman had ordered food, been served and
left without paying. Meredith reported searching the surrounding area
and locating Cuffe, who matched the description given by Walt's
employees. After positive identification by employees, Cuffe was
arrested and booked into the Putnam County Jail with bond set at $504.
She was subsequently released on her own recognizance, however, and
less than 12 hours later, PPD Cpl. Jason Shaw was called to Publix
supermarket on State Road 19 in reference to a trespasser. Upon
arrival, Shaw said he was advised a woman who had been barred from the
property Feb. 2 because of a retail theft arrest was hanging around in
front of the store. Shaw made contact with the woman, identified as
Cuffe, and arrested her on a charge of trespass after warning. She was
again booked into the county jail on $504 bond and remained in custody
Tuesday afternoon. According to an officer at the jail, Cuffe lives at
Arlington House, an adult congregate living facility on Moody Road
where a majority of the residents suffer from mental disorders.