OPPD Officer Charlie Troutt loses long battle with cancer
ORANGE PARK – The Orange Park Police Department released this post on social media on Monday, Jan. 12:
“It is with extreme sadness that we announce the passing of Officer Charlie Troutt. Officer Troutt passed peacefully surrounded by family yesterday after battling cancer for two years.
“Officer Troutt began serving the citizens of Clay County in November of 2006, when he was hired as a deputy with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. He continued his service there until 2020, when he joined the Clay County District Schools Police Department and worked as a school resource officer until 2023 when the agency was dissolved. Officer Troutt applied with our agency and was quickly hired in January of 2024.
“Officer Troutt brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to our agency, and we couldn’t be more honored that he wanted to continue his law enforcement career by serving the citizens of the Town of Orange Park with us. The light he brought to this world was so bright and touched so many lives in a positive way that it will forever continue to shine through those who loved him and the countless people he helped along the way.”
Sheriff Michelle Cook added, “Officer Troutt will be missed. God Speed sir and Thank You for your service to our community.”
OPPD Lt. Joel Grant graduates from FBI National Academy
ORANGE PARK – Police Chief Randy Case was proud to announce the recent graduation of Lt. Joel Grant from the 296th session of the FBI National Academy. Graduating the FBINA is a major accomplishment for law enforcement professionals in senior leadership roles.
Lt. Grant has served the citizens of the Town of Orange Park for more than 20 years and has done so in an exemplary manner in every position he has held. Case thanked Lt. Grant for his dedication to the citizens he served, and he congratulated him on the milestone of the achievement.
Murder suspect charged with soliciting kidnapping a witness
GREEN COVE SPRINGS – A man already in the Clay County Jail now faces new charges after Clay County Sheriff’s Office Investigators determined he solicited others to kidnap family members and/or tamper with a witness as he faces first-degree murder and armed robbery charges.
Rida Farah Hicks, 22, of Jacksonville, was charged with soliciting kidnapping and tampering with a witness, after investigators said they had probable cause to believe that between Sept. 18, 2025 and Oct. 4, 2025, Hicks tried to get others to take family members of a witness related in the Oct. 14, 2023, murder and robbery of Matthew Ross in Orange Park.
On Aug. 5, 2025, he was also charged with battery on another inmate at the Clay County Jail.
According to the affidavit for an arrest report, investigators gathered information about Hicks’ attempt to influence a witness in his upcoming murder trial by monitoring his jail telephone calls and text messages.
Hicks’ final pretrial hearing is scheduled for March 9 and jury selection is scheduled to start on April 6.