BUNNELL, FL- One Florida sheriff is putting felons and sex offenders on notice amid the aftermath of Hurricane Milton.
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly announced that his agency didn't intend to cease operations against the local "criminal element" during a press conference last week, according to Fox News.
"Anyone that comes in will be checked to make sure they're not a fugitive and not a sex offender," Staly said of the policy.
Staly revealed that registered sex offenders would receive alternate accommodations- in the county jail. This demographic would not be welcomed at designated hurricane shelters.
"If you are a predator, you are not allowed in the [sic] shelter. If you are a designated a sex predator in a court of law, you'll need to go to... the county jail."
The policy, as it relates to sex offenders, applies to all of them- rather than individuals who are wanted on outstanding warrants.
Individuals with active warrants can also expect to face arrest at shelters, should they appear at the facilities.
Staly indicated that the sex offenders would be housed in the "lobby" of the county jail, accommodations which he described as familiar to them.
"Anybody that comes in is checked through a state national database to make sure that they are or not a sex predator or sex offender or a fugitive criminal element. We want to be able to ensure that there's a safe environment, whether it's children with their parents, senior citizens, whoever, that we're not co-mingling them with inappropriate people. When it comes to sex predators, they are not allowed in our shelters that are open to the general public so they can go to our county jail and we will put them up in the fire of the jail. And when the storm is over, we'll unlock the door and push them out the door."
Most locals affected by Hurricane Milton have since departed shelters, following the hurricane's passage last week. Recovery and relief operations are ongoing.
Staly touts his reputation as a "cop's cop" in his official biography, going so far as to label criminals "dirtbags" on the basis of their conduct.
Florida's government has pledged to maintain law enforcement amid the damages of the extreme weather, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis pledging to bring down an iron fist on criminals that resort to looting in the aftermath of the devastation, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly announced that his agency didn't intend to cease operations against the local "criminal element" during a press conference last week, according to Fox News.
"Anyone that comes in will be checked to make sure they're not a fugitive and not a sex offender," Staly said of the policy.
Staly revealed that registered sex offenders would receive alternate accommodations- in the county jail. This demographic would not be welcomed at designated hurricane shelters.
"If you are a predator, you are not allowed in the [sic] shelter. If you are a designated a sex predator in a court of law, you'll need to go to... the county jail."
The policy, as it relates to sex offenders, applies to all of them- rather than individuals who are wanted on outstanding warrants.
Individuals with active warrants can also expect to face arrest at shelters, should they appear at the facilities.
Staly indicated that the sex offenders would be housed in the "lobby" of the county jail, accommodations which he described as familiar to them.
"Anybody that comes in is checked through a state national database to make sure that they are or not a sex predator or sex offender or a fugitive criminal element. We want to be able to ensure that there's a safe environment, whether it's children with their parents, senior citizens, whoever, that we're not co-mingling them with inappropriate people. When it comes to sex predators, they are not allowed in our shelters that are open to the general public so they can go to our county jail and we will put them up in the fire of the jail. And when the storm is over, we'll unlock the door and push them out the door."
Most locals affected by Hurricane Milton have since departed shelters, following the hurricane's passage last week. Recovery and relief operations are ongoing.
Staly touts his reputation as a "cop's cop" in his official biography, going so far as to label criminals "dirtbags" on the basis of their conduct.
Florida's government has pledged to maintain law enforcement amid the damages of the extreme weather, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis pledging to bring down an iron fist on criminals that resort to looting in the aftermath of the devastation, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.
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