Last Updated: 11:36 a.m.
Nathaniel Juratovac, a 40-year-old former Flagler Beach police officer, is at the St. Johns County jail today following his arrest on an attempted murder charge after he allegedly shot Flagler County Fire Rescue firefighter Jared Parkey Friday night on U.S. 1.
Parkey’s 17-month-old daughter and his wife Ashley were in the family car when the alleged road rage incident took place. One of the .45-caliber bullets was reportedly embedded in a car seat. Juratovac’s own child was in his car.
Parkey, a six-year employee with Flagler County Fire Rescue, was back at his St. Augustine home this morning after suffering three wounds from two shots–one that injured his arm and abdomen, another that grazed his neck.
Juratovac gained notoriety in 2005 when he arrested Lisa Tanner–the daughter of then-State Attorney John tanner–on charges of disorderly intoxication and resisting arrest, triggering a scandal that would lead to charges of perjury, falsifying records and false imprisonment against Juratovac, embroil the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office in a police-brutality case, and contribute to Tanner’s defeat in the following election. Juratovac at the time was also facing two civil lawsuits, the result of traffic stops he’d conducted in 2004. He was cleared of the three charges against him in a 2008 trial in DeLand.
Orlando’s Channel 13 News reports that “according to investigators, Nathaniel Juratovac and Jared Parkey became angry with one another after some type of traffic incident.” The incident took place just north of Watson Road, several miles north of the St. John-Flagler County line.
Parkey had been on vacation for a week with his family and was driving back to St. Augustine from South Florida Friday evening. The incident took place about two miles from his home. Joratovac was reportedly riding with a member of the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, who would be a witness to the incident.
Several Flagler County firefighters, including Fire Chief Don Petito, rushed to Shands Jacksonville hospital Friday night, as did a battalion chief with St. Johns Fire Rescue and that county’s victim advocate, who tended to Parkey’s family.
Juratovac’s entanglement with Flagler County dates back a decade.
After Lisa Tanner’s first arrest by Juratovac in March 2005, she was strapped to a restraining chair at the Flagler County jail after corrections officers deemed her uncooperative, and brutalized in an incident a grand jury later termed “grim and shocking.” The incident was recorded on a jail video, and later widely disseminated. Her father, as the state attorney, leveled charges against two Flagler County Sheriff deputies involved in the incident. That case was settled in 2010 when both deputies wrote letters of apology to Tanner, long after John Tanner’s close involvement in the case had triggered serious conflicts of interest issues, and another state attorney’s investigation of Tanner’s involvement. The case was eventually moved out of the 7th Judicial District (which includes Flagler) to the 4th, then to the 10th.
Juratovac had faced the trio of charges when he claimed that Lisa Tanner’s roommate had tried to run him over with an SUV when he arrested Tanner the second time in November 2005. Juratovac also arrested the roommate, Michael McGuirk. Charges against Lisa Tanner in both cases were eventually dismissed.
Roy says
We’re all here for you, Parkey. We knew your were tough but did those bullets really bounce off of you?
Sherry Epley says
Here again, if guns, guns, guns were not so handy in so many homes and cars, this incident would probably have concluded with no more than a few words back and forth. This happened with children and wives in terrble harm’s way. . . just Imagine the psychological scars. The level of violence in our country is outrageous. . . all in the name of lining the pockets of gun manufacturers. Sure, keep an unloaded hunting rifle (with the bullets safely put away). . . but driving around with a loaded gun serves nothing but trouble.
Please call and write you federal and state legislators and insist on better gun control. We have a right to live in a peaceful, non-violent society. . . one where we can even speak our minds without fear of being gunned down.
justthe5ofus says
It was a cop……they will always have guns and not always be good guys. Get well soon Parkey
Nancy N. says
FORMER cop, unless someone was stupid enough to hire him in another jurisdiction after the disaster of his employment in Flagler.
Too many of these incidents are happening on our roads. It really is to the point that I’m afraid to honk at someone who nearly kills me driving like an idiot for fear their response will be a bullet.
Mr. Smith says
Read the article “Ex-Flagler beach Cop” means he is no longer a cop. He is a liar and a criminal and hasnt been a cop for awhile. Instead of jumping into the cop bashing, maybe you should think before you speak. Dont associate this criminal with the people who protect us and the people I’m sure you dont hesitate to call when you need something. I wish Parkey a quick recovery.
the truth monitor says
Being a criminal means he was convicted of a crime. What was his crime. Was he ever convicted of a crime. The Judge in the case threw out all allegations because the case was based on an addict who admitted the he lied! Calling someone “a liar and criminal” without benefit of the whole truth is really sad.
Tim Jennetten says
Sherry, I read the article and I dont remember anywhere it said that the gun shot him. And could you show me where in the United States Constitution where you have a right to live in a non-violent society. I can’t seem to find it, but I do see the right to bear arms.
Nancy N. says
ARE YOU FREAKING SERIOUS? You’re questioning Sherry’s right to live in a safe society BECAUSE IT DOESN’T SAY SO EXPLICITLY IN THE CONSTITUTION? I suggest you try living in Somalia, or Syria, or any of a zillion other countries in the 3rd world where there are plenty of guns to go around – and plenty of violence. We’ll see how you feel then about a person’s inherent human right to a sense of safety and security that comes not from some document but from simple humanity.
B says
The right to bear arms does not mean you have the right to shoot someone just because they piss you off! Yes, we live in a violent society……the sad result of everything our elected officials do to line their own pockets and the pockets of all the special interest groups (Banks, Big Oil, Gun Manufacturers, Foreign Interests, etc.) while forgetting they were elected to SERVE OUR NEEDS! In a perfect world, we could just eliminate all firearms around the world and be done with it! We could go back to fighting wars with swords, spears, and shields just like the Romans!
David R Campbell says
@ Sherry
I believe that you are not actually in tune with how this wonderful country of ours was established. WHY are we allowed to possess *arms*?
We (the citizens of the United States Of America) are endowed with the right to protect ourselves! That means that no matter how nasty the person that we elected performs…WE ARE STILL IN CHARGE! Do you actually understand that?
Please stop trying to blame the possession of (firearms) on our world’s problems when the PROBLEM actually is the fact that the judicial system is in a *fail* mode!
Every TIME I turn on the news, I am assaulted by the ‘anti-gun’ lobby!
Every TIME I connect with on-line news I am assaulted by the ‘anti-gun’ people screaming that we should *BAN GUNS*! If *WE* didn’t have guns your *&@#*& ass wouldn’t even have been POSTED!
FB Insider says
Sherry Epley,
Your statement is so far out there it is mind boggling. You think “better gun control” will stop people, both good and bad, from driving around with guns? It is a SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHT to bear arms. If the individual in question had a CCW, then there was nothing wrong with him having it on his person. THOUSANDS of people every day walk right past you, legally AND illegally carrying firearms. Funny though, you never hear of the times when a person saves the life or someone else, or even their own.
The Texas Department of Public Safety released a study in May of 1999 (now outdated) that showed that permit holders in Texas accounted for 0.246 percent of all aggravated assault crimes that involved a deadly weapon, four out of 1,629 convictions. It also shows that there were 3,303 convictions for people unlawfully carrying a weapon: One percent of these were permit holders. In the year 1999 the rate of murder convictions for permit holders in Texas was zero percent. There were none.
Take a moment and read: http://www.collegiatetimes.com/stories/14664/statistics-show-concealed-carry-saves-many-lives-takes-few
It isn’t about being able to “live in a peaceful, non-violent society”. Those days are gone. It is a right to be able to defend yourself and your family. It is also a right to defend others’. I wonder how your view would be if your life, or the life of a loved one, was saved by a concealed carry weapon holder. It happens EVERY DAY but mainstream media prevents you from hearing about it. It doesn’t sell.
Get well soon Parkey . . . Juratovac, lock him up and lose the key.
Matt B says
I agree with you Sherry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When we write our elected officials we need to also ask them to outlaw rape, drugs, stealing, battery/assault, drinking and driving, cussing, spitting on the sidewalk, child abuse, elder abuse. I think that the current laws(over 100) are not enough we need a few more.
Just the other day my pesky spoon snuck into the freezer and shoveled ice cream into my mouth that’s why I’m getting fat. We need to outlaw them. Hoplophobia (n.): The irrational fear of weapons, correctly described by
Freud as “a sign of emotional and sexual immaturity”
confidential says
I have always thought that Jurotavac acted against Lisa Tanner out of his rejected infatuation and jealuosy and he abused his authority backed up by then Sheriff Fleming in the Flagler County jail as Fleming was definitely against her father State Attorney Mr. Tanner, favoring his replacement. Nice electoral lynching took place then, against Mr. Tanner. Glad that finally we can see Jurotavac true colors with one more abuse of authority! God knows how many more were unreported helped by the fact that we still reside…. in a red state.
the truth monitor says
@confidential
“rejected infactuation and jealously and he abused his authority” Where are the facts! I never read in any newspaper or saw in any television news story that this was ever mentioned. In what publiction did you read this? I just want to know the truth.
Really? says
Sherry, do u really think gun laws are going to stop criminals? Criminals don’t follow the laws already put in place so what’s the point? People do what they want, police arrest them, and out justice system sets them free. It’s a waste of time and money to change things that aren’t going to change.
Ol' sarge says
Not a gun control issue at all…again. a mental health issue. This is a guy who, as a law enforcement officer, had charges against him, including perjury and false imprisonment, several times in a career long spotted with blemishes, and felony charges. Makes me sick, sick, sick…
Get well soon, Jared Parkey…hug that wife and daughter of yours extra tight from now on and know that we are all behind you 100%…God has given you a second chance at life!!
idon'townagun says
Sherry, you are absolutely correct! Gun manufacturers have been conspiring since 1787 to increase the violence in this country so that they could get filthy rich. Probably even since the cave man days! I bet if someone did enough research, they would find that gun manufacturers have orchestrated every war since then. There are probably some secret stores that they fund in a back alley in every city just for criminals to purchase these instruments of death. I bet the CEOs of Browning and Glock are on the board of trustees for the Illuminati! This country needs to enact a law requiring that all guns be kept in the home. If a person is in mortal danger, they should just ask for parlay, or suggest that the assailant follow them how to continue the crime. I say we encourage everyone to force the government to ban all guns; even shotguns and rifles. Who needs to hunt? There is a grocery store on every corner. For that matter, let’s ask the Fed to ban any item that can be used as a weapon! Then we will all be safe! Just think, we could all line up at the local hospital to have our hands and feet amputated and then go to the dentist; cause I have been bitten before and that hurts! In fact, we should also have our tongues cut out. Insults can eventually kill ones spirit ya know. Get real! Better gun control would not have stopped this former police officer from obtaining a hand gun.
Now, on a serious note, I am all for background checks and I wouldn’t have a problem if I was unable to buy a 100 round magazine or a bazooka. I would even be willing to wait a couple weeks to pick up a new hand gun. However, no matter what restrictions are put into place or how many hoops people have to jump through, THEY WILL NOT STOP CRIMINALS FROM OBTAINING GUNS. I wish that we did live in a peaceful, nonviolent society, where everyone could speak their mind without the fear of being gunned down; or beaten up or judged or made fun of. Oops, guilty as charged. But we don’t. Humans are a violent species. We started being violent with our fists thousands of years ago. Better gun control or banning all weapons will not change a persons nature. Violent people will be violent and nonviolent people will continue to try and talk some sense into them.
Karma says
@ Sherry
My daughter was dragged out of her car window and beaten badly in a South Florida intersection two years ago because of road rage and people just sat there and watched. I believe a gun in her hand would have saved her a trip to the hospital .Stand your Ground “The person against whom the defensive force was used was in the process of unlawfully and forcefully entering, or had unlawfully and forcibly entered, a dwelling, residence, or occupied vehicle, or if that person had removed or was attempting to remove another against that person’s will from the dwelling, residence, or occupied vehicle;” But according to you, only a gun would traumatize her or a child. Has any of your children ever been a victim of a violent crime? You may think differently.
I hope more gun owners and people who understand and want to preserve the Constitution will support Florida house bill HM-545 – Right to Keep & Bear Arms.
Anonymous says
@ Karma Similar incident happened to my adult child who was run off the road, dragged out of the car he was in at knifepoint. God willing, this will never happen again, we’re better prepared.
Alfred E. Newman says
Road rage is on the rise.
Alfred E. Newman says
Juratovac should never have been a police officer.
I expect (want) him to go to jail for a long time.
Ain’t that special how he got to block his mugshot from going public?
Of all the people who SHOULD be humiliated like this, it should be a dirty cop.
If a civilian shoplifts a candy bar in Walmart – he will surely have his mugshot
shared with the world. Tell me, does that sound OK to you?
GET WELL SOON JARED.
Samuel Smith says
His mugshot was blocked because once a cop, always a cop.
FLbeachresident says
I remember him when he was here and he was the the so mean. It was him and another guy short heavy set guy who were such jerks to everyone. He was so arrogant and the other guy had some sort of napolean complex. i was so happy to see them both leave. i see one has ended up in jail i wonder where the short one ended up
Steve says
Pena — he’s working in Bunnell last I knew. Complex still hadn’t gone away..
Mugshot says
http://mugshots.com/US-Counties/Florida/St-Johns-County-FL/Nathaniel-David-Juratovac.815424.html
Um... says
The argument to take guns away from citizens that pass background checks and wait their allotted time, many of whom have no intention of ever using the weapon (like myself) that have them for protection is not the point. Not that I need to justify my legal purchase, however, at one time, in another state, someone came after me and it was a hate crime. I refuse to be a victim again. With that said, cops can act inappropriately just like current or former military members can as well. It doesn’t matter what someone does or used to do for employment, there are bad people in all walks of life, people that you think you can trust that turn out to be the worst of all. It is not the gun, the gun makes it easy, it is the person and their mentality. A person can kill another using any object – including a lollipop stick, held the right way and jabbed into the body in the correct location (watched a special on Krav Maga and the art of self-defense when there are no knives or guns…very interesting and shows that yes Virginia, anything and everything can be a deadly weapon).
Jack Howell says
Juratovac is a bad seed and this act of attempted murder highlights the need to send him state prison. Regardless of what happen on the highway, gives no cause to use deadly force! He is an embarasement to all of us in law enforcement. Hopefully, the investigation will be handled with the maximum of professionalism and an air tight case made against him. This anal opening needs to go away for a long time after this stunt! My best to the Parkey family and a speedy recovery is wished.
Rick says
Jack…. I am aware that you are retired from the Marine Corp, I was unaware that you are “law enforcement”?
Jack Howell says
Yep. I was a Provost Marshal (Chief of Police) for several years in my Marine Corps career.
Jack Howell says
Should also state that I have been a certified FDLE Law Enforcement Instructor for the past 20 years as well as a life time member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
Dave says
Being as only part of the story has been told I sure would like to hear the complete story , I am quiet sure there is alot more to it than just a little fender bender and Juratovac being so upset that he just pulled his gun and started shooting . Time will tell.
Alfred E. Newman says
THERE IS NEVER A REASON TO SHOOT INTO A CAR.
Especially one with innocents aboard, such as children.
He’s a sociopath. He needs to be locked up.
Two sides says
@ Dave
I agree, there are always two sides to every story & normally I would not be quick to judge. But given several factors: (1) Juratovac’s history, (2) the use of a .45 caliber handgun–a high caliber with lots of stopping power, (3) 3 (or possibly more) shots to Parkey’s upper body (including his neck), (4) no 911 call from Juratovac reporting Parkey as the aggressor before shots were fired, (5) Juratovac’s ability to drive away at any time & (5) no weapon reportedly found on Parkey…seems pretty clear that Juratovac acted irrationally & shot an unarmed man. Not sure what “the other side” really has to say. People get mad at each other every day, it’s not an excuse to shoot someone. I agree that the issue isn’t guns, gun control or gun ownership. It’s an issue of mentally unstable individuals in possession of guns.
Whodat says
Flagler Live States:
“Joratovac was reportedly riding with a member of the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, who would be a witness to the incident.”
I’m assuming based on the SJCS Deputy he was riding with and who witnessed the incident found Mr. Juratovac actions to be illegal. Why was he riding with this Deputy? We don’t know all the facts to this incident. Did Mr.Juratovac fear for his life like George Zimmerman?
Nancy N. says
According to other media reports, the deputy in question was Juratovac’s wife, who is an SJCSO deputy.
Lonewolf says
2-3 times a week I get to put this same request. We need more gun restrictions
confidential says
Plenty of mug shot and or pic here: http://staugustine.com/news/local-news/2013-03-30/former-police-officer-arrested-alleged-road-rage-shooting
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/rss/article/306414/3/Former-police-officer-arrested-for-attempted-murder
Anonymous says
If so much was dropped that this man is accused of, what makes him such a bad seed??? Hmmmm.
Palmcoastconcernedcitizen says
No Mugshot, but here is his booking info;
http://www2.sjso.org/smartweb/Jail.aspx
Nancy N. says
They faked the address…the listed address is the address of the jail.
Sherry Epley says
Our constitution was written for a specific purpose, the first paragraph says:
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Flagler Native says
Guns don’t kill people…People kill people even if guns ARE out of the equation.
Nancy N. says
Yeah but guns sure as heck make it a lot easier to kill people.
Deep South says
This fellow Juratovac should of have had his gun license revoked once he was terminated from the Flagler County Sheriff Office. At the time of his involvement in the Lisa Tanner situation I thought he was showing signs of inability and unstable mentality. I am really surprised that he was still allow to carry a weapon due to his unstable background. This is where government needs to tighten the laws not on the law abiding gun owners like myself, but the unstable characteristics and psychological conditions of those who should not be capable of owning a gun.
Rick says
Juratovac never worked for the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, he was a Police Officer with the Flagler Beach Police Department. Wasn’t he found Not Guilty by a Jury for the politically motivated crimes he was accused of?
Capt Black Jack says
Looks like Mr. Juratovac will try to use “Stand Your Ground” as his defense, Juratovac could have killed Parkey with one shot but elected to shoot him in areas that were non life threatening, with his accurate marksmanship until Parkey stopped charging in Juratovac’s direction. This is most likely the defense his lawyers will use. Do you think this defense will work?
FB Insider says
The neck isn’t life threatening? The torso isn’t either? Wow . . . wake up. Just because he WAS a police officer doesn’t mean he is an accurate shot. I know plenty that should spend more time at the arcade with a pocket full or quarters . . .
Jack Howell says
I bet the slime ball Juratovac will try to use the “Stand Your Ground” law as his defense. However, the fact that he was once a law enforcement officer will hurt his case should he try to use the SYG defense. He was trained in the use of deadly force and is well familiar with all the parameters in the matrix. It is a matter of record both in his recruit training and as part of his continious training while on the Flagler Beach Police Department. I also think that if his wife is in fact a deputy in St.John County she exercised poor judgement in not preventing this incident. Rage is not an excuse to do something this horrific. If Juratovac had been my recruit student at the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Academy, I pretty sure he would have never graduated. I had a great success in weeding out those whom I could see had anger management issues .Generally, they showed this trait during the Defensive Tactics module and in problem solving scenarios.
Amanda says
He was released on 3/30/13 with no bond? Are you kidding me? What stops this guy from going after Parkey and his family? Ridiculous!!!
Amanda says
Okay, the newstory said he was transferred for his safety…
Samuel Smith says
Juratovac’s ability to make his way through the academy and pass whatever mental checks they have really makes me question the requirements set out by the profession.
question says
Hows the stand your ground law pertain? He had ways out of shooting him, I.E. not pulling over, getting out of his car and so on…. And Captin black jack, since when is shooting someone in the neck not a “lethal” shot?
the truth monitor says
Are you a cop? Have you ever graduated from the Police Academy? What do you know about mental checks? When did Juratovac last work as a cop? There is a wealth of TRUE information everywhere. I invite you to start reading more and get unbiased information through the WEB. Know more about an individual that has been blasted by ignorance. YOU haven’t lived his life.
Sherry Epley says
And from our Declaration of Independence:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
The founders of our country and our democracy recognized our unalienable rights to “domestic tranquility”, as stated in the fundamental purpose of our constitution. Our Declaration of Independence from the tyrrany of English rule also addresses our rights to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”, in addition to “safety”.
Can any intelligent person truly say that we are currently living in a country of “domestic tranquility” and “safety”, where our citizens can live peacefully and securely in “liberty” for “the pursuit of happiness”?
Or, are we now living under the tyrrany of the powerful, greedy, fear mongers who count on our prejudices to divide us against ourselves, for their own gratification, glory and financial enrichment. I, and many others, personally feel that we live under the tyrrany of the “Second Amendment” drum beaters who are massively manipulated by the NRA and other organizations who systematically “buy” public opinion and political position with mass media propaganda. That is precisely why you have the majority of the people in our country in favor of more control over guns.
Yes, we absolutely need more assistance for those who are mentally impaired. The only mental hospital in the state of Florida was closed in the 1940’s. Can you ever imagine that our governor or legislature would ever fund the opening of a mental institution?
Yes, we need to have stronger law enforcement and police force (better trained and armed than criminals), with rehabilitation before people are released back onto the streets. Hardened criminals and multiple offenders need to be continuously incarcerated. . . . perhaps in the place of those who smoked a little “weed”. Do you really see that happening in our state?
We have arrived at a terrible place when any one of us can say, in public forum, that we do not deserve, and are not entitled to live in peace and tranquility. Those rights are so fundamental to all human endeavor that there was no need to place great emphasis on spelling them out when composing our founding documents. Those aspirations are the roots of our evolution beyond the cave and savage toward a civilized world . . . one in which all citizens are secure, and basic human rights and justice are respected and upheld by everyone. We share this planet with one another. Everything we do has ripple effects. We have a responsibility to our neighbors, our communities, our country and our world to not only care for ourselves and our families but for those impacted by us. . . which to some degree is “everyone”.
We are all brothers and sisters . . .all glorious humans. We can become better educated, more independent in our thinking and opinions. . . all move away from greed, fear and hostility, and join together to create a better future for our country and our planet. Shouldn’t we be chosing “heaven” over “hell”?
Nancy N. says
“Yes, we need to have stronger law enforcement and police force (better trained and armed than criminals), with rehabilitation before people are released back onto the streets. Hardened criminals and multiple offenders need to be continuously incarcerated. . . . perhaps in the place of those who smoked a little “weed”. Do you really see that happening in our state?”
Rehabilitation costs money that the people of the state of Florida have repeatedly proved they are unwilling to pay for, both due to the cost and due to the perception that rehabilitation programs are “coddling criminals”. This despite the fact that those programs are proven to both improve public safety and reduce long-term costs of criminal justice by reducing recidivism.
And we do actually lock up repeat offenders for long terms…you can get sentenced to life for a simple burglary if you are a repeat offender and are sentenced as “habitualized”.
edward reese says
This will bring all the anti-gun nuts out of their respective closets with a blizzard of emotional arguments that are based in nothing scientific, reliable, or valid. These kinds of people delight in citing isolated incidents as common behavior when every bit of reliable and valid data supports widespread gun ownership and possession.
Flagler Native says
@Sherry… Doesn’t it seem a little bit hypocritcal to cite literary examples from U.S. history for which if there hadn’t been guns in the first place, you would have nothing to cite from???
Guns made Americas Independence possible. “We have the right to bear arms” I guess in your opinion that means we just have the right to own them….not use them.
anon says
Here is the kind of dumb statement we should expect from Wayne LaPerre and his cohorts.
The shooter was standing his ground because he feared the car was going to hurt him.
Or something like.
It wouldn’t have happened if the city/county put more police on the roads.