The governor is starting to face criticism for his suspension of a sheriff from a rural north Florida county who allegedly destroyed documents tied to the arrest of a man charged with carrying a concealed firearm.
Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday suspended Liberty County Sheriff Nicholas Lee Finch, 50, who inspectors with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement contend destroyed or removed official documents to make it appear as though an arrest never occurred.
Since then, email has started to come in to the governor’s office from throughout the state supporting Finch as a defender of the Second Amendment.
“I will relay this story to every Republican friend and family I know by word of mouth, email, Facebook and Twitter,” emailed Dean Chamblin of Walton County. “Your re-election looks gloomy to say the least! What were you thinking?”
Palm Beach County resident Mary Labrecque demanded the situation be “rectified immediately” or she would campaign against Scott.
Roger Anderson, listing himself as an Orange County resident, called for Scott to resign.
“You have moved down to the level of Governor Moonbeam, Jerry Brown,” Anderson wrote. “It was unconscionable for you to expand Medicaid in Florida, but now to oppose the second amendment of the Constitution, you have really crossed the line. Are you planning to run for re-election as a demonrat just like Chris Christie or maybe you are considering a third party, because you are not a Republican anymore.”
As a result of the FDLE investigation, Finch was arrested on one count of official misconduct, as state law makes it illegal for a public servant to conceal, cover up, destroy, mutilate, or alter any official record or official document or cause another person to perform such an act. He was released on his own recognizance after being booked Tuesday.
According to an FDLE affidavit, a Liberty County deputy on March 8 had arrested a 59-year-old man during a traffic stop for the felony charge of carrying a concealed deadly weapon — a loaded semi-automatic pistol that was found hidden in the man’s right front pants pocket.
There is no mention if the individual had a concealed weapon or firearm license.
After the man was taken to the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office jail, Finch arrived with a member of the man’s family, took possession of the arrest file and advised a sergeant that no charges would be filed, according to the affidavit.
FDLE investigators were able to obtain copies of the arrest reports, but were unable to locate the originals. Investigators also noted that the jail log entry for the individual was covered with “white out.”
Scott didn’t address Finch’s arrest this week in announcing that Carl Causey, an assistant special agent for the FDLE in the Pensacola region, would serve as interim Liberty County sheriff.
Sparsely populated, Liberty County is west of Tallahassee.
–Jim Turner, News Service of Florida
Nancy N. says
Wow, people are so wrapped up in the second amendment that they apparently want no gun laws at all? Great, let’s just have a free for all and let everyone carry loaded weapons in their pants all the time.
This case isn’t even about the second amendment, but the zealots saw the word “gun” and stopped reading. It’s about a sheriff trying to use his power to make charges disappear for someone he had a connection with. It didn’t matter what those charges were. It could have been a DUI, a burglary, possession of drugs….anything. The crime is that the Sheriff tried to make them disappear. The law applies to everyone, not just people who aren’t friends with the Sheriff. Didn’t we just have that same scandal here in Flagler and the mere perception of influence being use cost Sheriff Fleming his job?
rickg says
Since the only Amendment relevant to the Rs is the Second, this is not surprising
John Boy says
Good for Scott, does Finch think he is above the law. Finch is a Tea Bagger getting what he deserves and now is idiot buddies are complaining. I’m glad to see the email writers saying they will not vote for Scott, neither will I. You probably won’t vote and my vote for anyone except a Republican Tea Bagger will ensure Scott’s defeat.
rthomp11 says
I think Gov. Scott did the right thing. The Sheriff should not have destroyed records for anyone.
Magnolia says
I’m with Gov. Scott on this one. You can’t have a sheriff destroying records. Can’t imagine why the sheriff thought he could get away with this.
Ken Dodge says
“…carrying a concealed deadly weapon…” What other kind of concealed weapon is there?
Sherry Epley says
Right on Nancy! This has absolutely nothing to do with 2nd admendment rights. While I am certainly NO fan of this governor. . . it would have been criminal if he did not stop the sheriff from altering or destroying records. . . regardless of the crime, or the person who committed it.
Flagler County Uniform Rebellion (FCUR) says
I can’t stand scott with a passion but an imbecile could see he did the right thing. Perhaps that explains the outrage on the far right teabagger wacpack. You folks are nuts. Thank goodness you’re here to make sure the teapublicans much less ordinary republicans never win any major office. Your affiliation with the gop scares Americans. Thank you for your service.
confidential says
About the first thing the governor does right!
I am with Scott on this one!!
No arrest documents should ever be destroyed by absolute nobody! No one should be above the law, specially when involves automatic weapons!
just a thought says
Just imagine the outcry if that happened in Flagler County.
Ray Thorne says
A Sheriff destroying official documents and people are angry with the Governor? I would expect the top man or woman in a law enforcement agency to lead by example. I don’t care for Scott either based on some past decisions he’s made but this one is right on. Shame on the Sheriff.
Diego Miller says
Why should the second amendment take a back seat to the fourth. Why was the man stopped? Why was he searched? Probable cause or he probably did it.
mikey mike says
Scott did the right thing. The law is the law and if you break the law, you should be treated like every other person. No free ride because you are the sheriffs friend.
Solo says
No outcry here. These people are expected to do the right thing and when they don’t? Out with them.
IMO says
This Sheriff is sworn to uphold the law not make his own laws. What he alleged did is a crime. If he did as it is alleged he should be sent to prison for his criminal offense.
I thought the Florida law was pretty straight forward. You can own a gun in your home or carry one in your automobile but not on your person unless you have a CCP.
Anonymous says
Also, since when did being in favor of gun control laws make someone NOT a republican? I guess that the teabagger extremists fail to realize that the Second Amendment simply allows you the right to own a weapon. It does not in any way say that weapon has to be a firearm! That being said, automatic weapons are for military and law enforcement only! Joe Blow should not be allowed to own a stock pile of AR-15s and tens of thousands of rounds of ammo for his fear of the pending zombie apocalypse! Last time I checked…..bullets have no effect on zombies, so what help are they going to be?
Furthermore, everyone is so hell-bent on gun rights and gun violence………so I have simply come up with a solution that is 100% legal and enforceable in the US…..and EVERYONE is familiar with it. Remember The USA Patriot Act of 2001???? Maybe you should actually read Sec. 802. , and the follow up with reading the definition of domestic terrorism in Title 18 USC sec 2331. Any act of violence that is intended to coerce a civilian population is by definition, DOMESTIC TERRORISM. Street gangs and armed drug dealers are by definition domestic terrorists as they threaten civilian lives on a daily basis. Drive-by shootings, armed robberies, etc. are all acts of domestic terrorism…..yet everyone is simply focused on gun laws and gun policies while these criminals run rampant on our streets. Why don’t the sheep of Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, and the rest of the looney toons on the far right cry out about that fact? Why must everything you spew from your mouths be only about the 2nd Amendment? Not everything in life revolves around your .45.
If I were Governor Scott, he may want to consider enacting this policy against the gangs and cartels here in Florida. They get no lawyers to get them off, they do not get the right to remain silent, they have no rights. They get a cell for as long as the government of the US deems them a threat. It would make them think before they actually went on a revenge shooting against a rival gang. Just being a member can get them arrested! Again, more food for thought to my republican friends out there.
Raul Troche says
Right now I am having similar problems right here in Flagler county. I pressed charges against Ramona Zavasky for not releasing to me records I needed to file an appeal in a timely manner knowing I needs them. When she finally did give the receding to me not only was it too late but the recording had been adulterated. On June 13, 2013 deputy James Dopp said he would turn the charges over to the states attorney’s office with my three page attachment. Not only has the state attorney’s not received them, but neither deputy Dopp nor corporal Lagana(who they say has the paperwork will return the numerous calls, text or Emails they have gotten. At Tuesdays city council meeting I gave the same documents to mayor Jon Netts but still to no avail. I think the FDLE should definately look into this one too. I hate lies and coverups especially when they come from people in such positions of trust. Someone please help me get justice.
AMOS says
Flash Backs of Flagler County AKA- Mayberry RFD, Come on People Dont Ya’ll Remember Sheriff D. Bennett & Sheriff B. McCarthey ??????? Shame on the Sheriff of Liberty County !!!!!! What a Disgrace to Law Enforcement, if He Did That What Else has He Covered Up ???? Should have gone to Court and Got it Removed by The Judge(With Hold Adjudication) Just Wondering if This was a Relative or Close Friend of the Sheriffs??? It Also States Paperwork at the Jail was Altered with White Out, If a CO Altered Paper Work They Need to Go Too !!!! & Yes Nancy Your Correct, The Idiot That Called Sheriff Flemming About his Wife Being involved in a hit & Run Cost him his Career Here.For Those of You Not Around Back in the Back in the Day, Our Sheriff Dan Bennett was “REMOVED” by Our Governor and in Came Sheriff Bob McCarthey, Talk About a “FIASCO”!!!!!!!! Sorry Folks Just Totally Unacceptable!!!!!!!