Automated license plate reader cameras used by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office log vehicle images, plate numbers, locations, and timestamps, and their growing deployment has prompted some residents to call for clearer policies on how the data is handled. A sheriff’s office spokesperson says every database query must be tied to an active case number and is subject to internal audits, with access restricted to vehicles flagged for issues such as theft, suspended licenses, or expired registrations. The agency’s current policy deletes stored plate data after 30 days.
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Sources: WCJB TV20
A 30-year-old Bronson man died Friday morning after the pickup truck he was driving struck another vehicle from behind on State Road 24 near the Alachua-Levy county line. Florida Highway Patrol reported the crash occurred around 7 a.m. when the pickup rear-ended a truck that was slowing to turn; the other driver was uninjured. Levy County sheriff’s deputies asked motorists to avoid the area while the roadway was fully blocked.
Sources: Mainstreet Daily News · WCJB TV20
Several Alachua County Sheriff’s Office deputies are being credited with saving a man’s life after he lost consciousness inside the Alachua County Criminal Courthouse on Tuesday morning. Deputies cleared the courtroom and administered CPR, an AED, and Narcan to stabilize the man. Officials attributed the successful response to the deputies’ emergency medical training.
Sources: WCJB TV20
Gainesville police arrested 37-year-old Michael Harris on Wednesday on suspicion of sharing child sexual abuse material online, booking him on nearly a dozen charges with a $360,000 bond. Harris told detectives he had found two cell phones containing the material — one discarded in trash and one on a roadside — and denied ownership of the devices. Investigators said they are continuing to examine his electronics as the case proceeds.
Sources: WCJB TV20
