Sheriff`s Corner

Hi and welcome to this week's Sheriff's Corner. I have two things to talk about this week. The first is a follow-up to the phone calls we have been receiving from Miami-Dade Correction. Inmates have been calling our citizens at random hoping someone will accept the charges. This enables the inmate to talk for free. You get the bill.

If you receive a call like this, DO NOT ACCEPT THE CHARGES. Instead call 888-241-1290. You will be calling their phone service and they can block your number from being called ever again.

Next, I'm sure most of you have heard about the recent "horse abuse" case we have been investigating. This case is significant because it gives us a wonderful opportunity to upgrade the effectiveness of our horse abuse and neglect cases.

We will now have access to professional assistance in evaluating abuse cases and horses that are shown to us as having been abused. We will also be able to collect necessary evidence to build and support criminal cases that become necessary and appropriate. This doesn't mean that we will automatically arrest and charge or automatically not arrest and charge.

It means that we have more options available to us to insure that the horse or horses are accurately evaluated and that if there is abuse, that the abuse immediately stops and the animals start to recover.

Ultimately, we hope that Levy County's incidents of animal abuse goes down. In addition, we hope that our investigation and services to the animals becomes more cost effective and productive.

Have a great week. Take care.