Palatka / 12 Hour Turn / Quadiliacha / John Bender

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Palatka, Florida’s Clifford Tennant dies; Matthew Dennis arrested

Clifford Tennant of Palatka, Putnam County, Florida, United States has died. He was 47.

Palatka is the county seat of Putnam County. The city is around 28.1 miles away from Saint Augustine, St. Johns County, Florida.

Clifford Tennant

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office recently confirmed the arrest of a suspect in connection with the fatal shooting of a local resident earlier this week. Matthew Michael Dennis, 28, of St. Johns County has been charged with first-degree murder for the death of Tennant.

On the evening of February 24, 2026, Tennant was found dead. Deputies were dispatched to a rural area near Carole Road, Alabama Avenue and Roddy Road in Palatka following a 911 call.

The caller reported hearing multiple gunshots and subsequently discovered Tennant bleeding on a wooded trail. Upon arrival, law enforcement officers confirmed that the victim was deceased at the scene.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=941497305062461&set=pb.100076066008879.-2207520000&type=3

Matthew Dennis

Detectives with the PCSO immediately launched a homicide investigation, interviewing neighbors and potential witnesses while processing physical evidence from the wooded area. The detectives worked in tandem with the State Attorney’s Office for Florida’s 7th Circuit to present their findings to a judge and by the end of the week, authorities successfully obtained an arrest warrant for Dennis.

On March 1, 2026, the PCSO coordinated with the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office to locate the suspect. Given the nature of the charges, the St. Johns County Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team was utilized to execute the warrant.

Dennis was taken into custody without incident. He was transported to the St. Johns County Jail in St. Augustine.

Gator DeLoach

Homer “Gator” DeLoach III has been the sheriff of Putnam County since January 2017. He stated, “I want to commend everyone who worked on this case and the teamwork with the State Attorney’s Office and St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office in allowing us to quickly apprehend Matthew Dennis.”

According to DeLoach, there are several moving parts behind the scenes that the public may not be aware of. He said, “At the end of the day, our job is to see that the guilty party is punished and the victim’s family can have closure.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQBILKyb4w0

So far the #nonprofits I've been meeting w/ in my area, & a #Palatka City Commissioner, agree too many are doing the same & getting nothing done in the process. This week I'm meeting with all nonprofits across #PutnamCounty #Florida. We're working on better inter-organization cooperation to better collaborate on programs instead of multiple starting the same project, leading to wasted resources. So resources can be better spent, and bring additional programs and services into the county for those experiencing #homelessness.

Next on my agenda is meeting with #CrescentCity, #PomonaPark, #Welaka, and #Interlachen city councils; continue meeting with Palatka City council; and get on one of the councils with the the CoC, preferably the LEC since I've been #homeless myself.

I started a simple investigation into the closure of the only #homelessshelter in our area, and it morphed into a movement. And the more key players are positioning me to the point of contact between the nonprofits, the CoC, and city and county councils. I'm told it's because I have lived experience and I'm younger than all the other key people involved.

I just pray what we're doing actually works to get another shelter and more services in our county to help these people get back on their feet.

#fl #nonprofit #helpthehomeless #endHomelessness