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Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement

Sebring Man Arrested for Igniting 300-Acre Wildfire

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Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam today announced that investigators with his Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement arrested Douglas Glenn Smith, 58, of Sebring for igniting a fire that escaped and burned more than 300 acres, damaged a residence’s vinyl siding and caused thousands of dollars’ worth of damages to fence posts.

The Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, responded to the wildfire in Highlands County. Smith admitted to intentionally igniting a tree stump with a blow torch, which caused the wildfire. Smith had previously submitted a request for a burn authorization from the Florida Forest Service, which had been denied.

Smith is in the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office Jail on one count of Intentional or Reckless Burning of Lands, a third-degree felony.

The Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement protects Florida’s agriculture and consumers through law enforcement in support of all the regulatory aspects of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. For more information, visit FreshFromFlorida.com.

Florida Forest Service and Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement Begin Urban Search and Rescue Missions

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Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam today announced that the Florida Forest Service and the Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement, along with other agencies, have begun urban search and rescue efforts. They will also be conducting infrastructure assessments.
“Urban search and rescue efforts are among the highest priorities immediately following a hurricane, and the Florida Forest Service and Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement, along with other agencies, have begun these life-saving efforts.”

Florida Forest Service Personnel, Aircraft, Off-Road Vehicles Staging to Respond to Hurricane Irma

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Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam announced today that more than 100 Florida Forest Service personnel, as well as aircraft, off-road vehicles and mobile command posts, are preparing to respond to Hurricane Irma and assist in search and rescue missions, debris clearing, distributing supplies and more.
“More than 100 members of the Florida Forest Service, as well as aircraft and off-road vehicles, are preparing to immediately respond to the impacts of Hurricane Irma,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam. “While Florida’s emergency managers continue to prepare and plan for potential landfall of Hurricane Irma, I encourage all Floridians to complete their preparations and finalize their plans before it’s too late.”
During an emergency, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services helps provide necessary food and water to affected areas and helps protect animals and pets. The department’s Florida Forest Service is responsible for incident management and assists emergency responders in clearing debris and distributing supplies. Additionally, the department’s Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement provides law enforcement services to police departments and county sheriff’s offices as necessary.
For more information and tips on hurricane preparedness, visit FloridaDisaster.org.

Tampa Man Arrested for Stealing Fuel With Counterfeit Credit Cards

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Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam today announced that investigators with his Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement arrested Yaders Hernandez Angel, 33, of Tampa for filling an unlawful “bladder truck” with fuel illegally purchased with counterfeit credit cards.  A “bladder truck” is a vehicle that has been retrofitted with hidden tanks that hold high volumes of fuel.
Law enforcement officers were preforming surveillance at gas stations in Hillsborough County and observed Hernandez Angel pumping fuel into a vehicle equipped with an unlawful tank in plain view. Investigators recovered 10 counterfeit credit cards from Hernandez Angel’s possession, two of which were used to illegally purchase 95 gallons of fuel.
Hernandez Angel was charged with unlawful conveyance of fuel, which is a third degree felony; two counts of fraudulently obtaining fuel, which is a second degree felony; and possession of 10 counterfeit credit cards, which is a second degree felony. Hernandez Angel was booked into the Hillsborough County Jail.
The Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement protects Florida’s agriculture and consumers through law enforcement in support of all the regulatory aspects of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. For more information, visit FreshFromFlorida.com.