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UNF Spinnaker

UNF's #1 Student-Run News Source

UNF Spinnaker

UNF's #1 Student-Run News Source

UNF Spinnaker

Police Beat

Jordan Preaster mugshot (Photo courtesy of JSO)

Former UNF basketball player arrested for stalking student

Ethan Leckie, Enterprise Editor | Jul 15, 2024

Orlando man and former University of North Florida Men’s Basketball player Jordan Preaster was arrested for allegedly stalking a UNF student on July 6.  According to a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office...

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UNF logo.

UNF campus alert warns of phone scam

Madelyn Schneider, News Editor | Jun 17, 2024

The University of North Florida sent out an alert notification on Monday afternoon to inform the community about a phone call scam. According to the alert, an unknown individual called the family of...

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(Photo courtesy of UNF Police Department)

UPD and First Coast Crime Stoppers offering rewards for information on campus crimes

Sydney Teitelbaum, Police Reporter | Feb 22, 2024

The University of North Florida Police Department has partnered with First Coast Crime Stoppers to offer rewards of up to $3,000 for information regarding crimes on UNF’s campus. UPD Chief Frank Macksey...

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First swastika drawing in the Building 51 women's bathroom (Photo courtesy of Hailey Jacobsen)

Swastika graffiti found in UNF Social Sciences Building women’s bathroom

Jeanne Gilbert, Editor-in-Chief | Feb 16, 2024

A University of North Florida student found two swastikas in the first floor women's bathroom of the Social Sciences Building this week. Hailey Jacobsen, president of the Jewish Ospreys, found two different...

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UNF logo.

How to use the UPD Property Manager and prevent theft on campus

Sydney Teitelbaum, Police Reporter | Feb 13, 2024

Last semester, the University of North Florida Police Department introduced a new property registration website called the UPD Property Manager. Accessed through MyWings, the Safe Ospreys app or the UPD...

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Blue and silver graffiti has been found in men's bathrooms 10 times this semester. (Photos courtesy of UPD Chief Frank Mackesy)

UPD reports several graffiti incidents in men’s bathrooms on campus

Sydney Teitelbaum, Police Reporter | Feb 9, 2024

Since the beginning of the semester, the University of North Florida Police Department has been notified of several graffiti incidents in men's bathrooms around campus. All the vandalism consists of similar...

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UPD Chief Frank Mackesy (second from left) and other university officers accept the Excelsior status from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation. (Photo courtesy of UPD)

UNF Police Department awarded “highest level” of accreditation

Carter Mudgett, Editor in Chief | Oct 26, 2023

For the first time in its 24-year accreditation history, the University of North Florida Police Department was awarded the “Excelsior” status by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation...

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. (Photo courtesy of the Office of Ron DeSantis)

HB 543 leaves some confused where guns are, aren’t allowed

Tatum Harrison, Copy Editor | Oct 16, 2023

There were two incidents involving handguns at Pete’s Bar, a well-known college dive bar in Atlantic Beach in the last month alone.  Olaf Brurberg Anderson IV, 24, and Shane Adcox, 55, were arrested...

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The words "Police Beat" are written in red and white, surrounded by a white square outline. In the background, a University of North Florida Police Department cruiser is tinted blue.

One person shot near UNF campus, alert says

Jeanne Gilbert, News Editor | Oct 12, 2023

One person was shot at approximately 11:40 a.m. Thursday on Central Parkway, north of the University of North Florida, according to an emergency alert sent out by the university. There is no immediate...

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UNF logo.

UNF student died in traffic accident over weekend, university confirms

Jeanne Gilbert and Carter Mudgett | Oct 11, 2023

Updated Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023: The accident happened on Saturday, friends of Dowdy told Spinnaker, not Sunday as the university said. Spinnaker apologizes for the error.  Noah Dowdy, 23, died in...

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The suspect (shown above). Photo courtesy of the University of North Florida.

UNF police release photos of suspect in on-campus theft

Carter Mudgett, Editor in Chief | Sep 26, 2023

After an unidentified person robbed an office on the third floor of Building 51 Monday afternoon, the University of North Florida has now released two photos of the suspect. The suspect allegedly...

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The words "Police Beat" are written in red and white, surrounded by a white square outline. In the background, a University of North Florida Police Department cruiser is tinted blue.

UNF police searching for suspect in theft on-campus, alert says

Carter Mudgett, Editor in Chief | Sep 25, 2023

The University of North Florida Police Department is searching for a suspect who allegedly robbed an office on the third floor of the Social Sciences Building (Building 51) Monday afternoon, according...

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