Arrests in Clay lewd behavior bust include NAS Jax employee, former law enforcement, DCF

Citizen complaints lead the Clay County Sheriff’s Office to start a month-long investigation on the Black Creek Bike trial. Now, a host of arrests for lewd behavior.

The complaints centered on the southern trail head, and deputies found the location posted on websites as somewhere people would go for sexual encounters. Additionally, they found used condoms near the trail, and a high volume of suspicious vehicle activity. This is all in public areas of the park, where deputies also found children and families playing.

Operation Safe Parks started in mid-February with surveillance. Eventually, undercover detectives were also deployed, and anyone who offered to perform or engage in lewd acts with the detectives was arrested. The suspects are charged with offering to engage in lewd acts.

The Sheriff’s Office says the suspects range from 37- to 76-years-old. Two of the suspects are also facing a battery charge. One faces an additional charge of obstruction of justice. CCSO says a man and woman are also being investigated in relation to possible synthetic drugs.

Arrest reports obtained by WOKV identify the men:

Patrick Chadwell, 48, Jacksonville

James Cox, 38, Fleming Island

Carl Dendy, 40, Middleburg, NAS Jax employee

Michael Hambrect, 62, Fleming Island

Ralph Kennedy, 66, retired Corrections Officer with Sumter Correctional Institute

Jack Leffingwell, 70, Fleming Island

Robert Love, 48, Orange Park

Michael Reardon, 54, DCF employee

Gregg Cunningham, 63, Green Cove Springs Police Department civilian employee

Leonard Wallace, 76, former Clay County Sheriff’s Office civilian employee

53-year-old Jimmy Pace, of St. Augustine, was also arrested for battery during this bust. The Sheriff’s Office says Pace touched the victim’s genitals, outside of his clothing, against his will.

The Florida Department of Children and Families tells WOKV they immediately terminated Reardon after learning about his arrest. A statement says he passed a criminal background check in 2014, but they have no tolerance for illegal activity.

“This is a deeply disturbing incident. We have high standards for our investigators as the work they do is extremely important in ensuring the safety of children,” the statement from DCF says.

CCSO says there has been an immediate drop-off in suspicious traffic in the area and the amount of illegal drug use has reduced as well.