EXCLUSIVE: Florida law enforcement officials' desperate attempts to be social media stars are BACKFIRING as public slams the cops for making racist, sexist and humiliating posts mocking suspects - and deeming them guilty before their day in court
Florida law enforcement officials are being slammed for making demeaning social media posts mocking crime suspects and members of the public in an effort to build their social media following.
Sheriff's offices have become prolific social media content creators lately, but the posts, critics say, are now digital pillories for suspects who may never be found guilty.
A DailyMail.com investigation found that these desperate attempts to garner hundreds of thousands of followers - and potential voters - have exposed racist, sexist and humiliating content where suspects are made to look guilty even before the first court hearing, and some even display evidence not yet brought to court.
Just last month in Palm Beach County, a man charged with aggravated assault and improper display of a firearm in July 2020, sued Sheriff Ric Bradshaw after he posted tweets mocking him and refused to delete them when the charges were dismissed.
The man claimed the posts caused 'mental anguish and hurt feelings' and is seeking punitive damages.
And while many of the posts began as public service announcements, the lure of huge social media exposure is backfiring and has resulted in legally tenuous posts.
Florida law enforcement officials are being slammed for making crude social media posts mocking crime suspects. One notorious posting featured a photo of the arms of two white deputies holding, by his dreads, a black suspect who allegedly tried to flee a traffic stop
As far back as 2016, Pasco County Sheriff's Office's Facebook page featured the 'Sad Criminal of the Day'. The post was met with backlash from the community
Footage of Vincent Scavetta, who was pushing his father's wheelchair through a store, pointing his gun at fellow shopper Christopher Estrada went viral at a time when Covid masks were becoming a political issue throughout the country.
Scavetta left the store and was arrested a few days later.
Just last month in Palm Beach County, a man charged with aggravated assault and improper display of a firearm in July 2020 sued Sheriff Ric Bradshaw (pictured) after he posted tweets mocking him and refused to delete them when the charges were dismissed
The charges against the 30-year-old, however, were dropped by prosecutors when it became apparent Estrada, who was accompanied by his young daughter, hit Scavetta with an umbrella.
What's more, Scavetta has a valid permit to carry a concealed weapon and may have been covered by Florida's broad stand-your-ground laws.
Yet, the sheriff's office refused to delete its social media postings, including one from July 23, 2020 that read: 'Welcome to PBC jail, son. Let this be a lesson.'
In that tweet, the sheriff's office appears to be playing judge and jury and made Scavetta look guilty with the words: 'The man who pulled a gun during a verbal altercation.'
An earlier tweet dated July 14, 2020 featured Walmart surveillance photos of Scavetta with the phrase: 'You think you're big and bad because you pull out a gun?'
Scavetta now claims in court the posts and hundreds of comments from the public that the sheriff's office allowed on its Facebook and Twitter accounts were 'malicious and made with the intention to publicly humiliate, embarrass, and shame the plaintiff.'
PBSO declined to comment on the pending litigation. But Public Information Officer Teri Barbera, whose office handles social media, explained the postings were simply to 'help detectives find Scavetta' after he left the scene.
Meanwhile a review by DailyMail.com of the social media of other Florida law enforcement agencies shows the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office isn't the only agency publicizing arrests in legally tenuous ways.
Sheriff's offices throughout the state have become prolific social media content providers with their posts demeaning and humiliating their targets.
For example, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office in New Port Richey.
Sheriff Chris Nocco's media office is putting six to ten Facebook postings a day on an account with more than 286,000 followers in a county with a population of half a million.
Footage of Vincent Scavetta, who was pushing his father's wheelchair through the store, pointing his gun at fellow shopper Christopher Estrada went viral at a time when Covid masks were becoming a political issue throughout the country. A tweet dated July 14, 2020 featured Walmart surveillance photos of Scavetta with the phrase: 'You think you're big and bad because you pull out a gun?'
In Brevard County, Sheriff Wayne Ivey has taken to posting the photo of every DUI suspect in the county, some of whom have yet to have a preliminary hearing let alone a trial. The August suspects, all 42 of them, appeared on Ivey's page on September 1 under the headline 'If you don't want to see your picture on this poster, then don't drink and drive'
As far back as 2016, PCSO's Facebook page featured the 'Sad Criminal of the Day.'
One notorious post featured a photo of the arms of two white deputies holding a black suspect by his hair who allegedly tried to flee a traffic stop.
The man, identified as Marquis Porter, is seen sitting on the ground and weeping.
In time, Porter was found guilty of nine charges, including possession of several types of drugs, fleeing police and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.
The Facebook post received 6,100 comments, not all of them good for the sheriff.
'Whoever posted this is sick,' commented Kristl Bryant. 'He's a man, a human, someone's child … To shame him is disgusting.'
Many commenters took shots at the crying suspects, with Brian Reilly writing: 'Glad to see some people still have a sense of humor that hasn't been curbed by today's politically correct/weak society.'
The agency, meanwhile, didn't just limit itself in writing about suspects. Unsuspecting members of the public were fair game, too.
In May 2017, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office posted the story of a local woman undergoing fertility treatment who called 911 when she mishandled two vials of sperm while placing them in a thermos full of dry ice, and reported a risk of explosion.
Soon, the sheriff's office posted a photo of a non-descript woman grimacing with the palm of her left hand open with this explanation: 'Pasco deputies responded to an Assist Other Agency call for service yesterday, May 17, at about 6 p.m. A 26-year-old Port Richey woman contacted emergency personnel, including Pasco Fire Rescue, about a possible dangerous situation.
'The woman advised she is trying to get pregnant by artificial insemination ... and was trying to store the sperm as per the directions. She stated she placed two small vials of sperm inside a 2-quart stainless steel thermos, added dry ice, and closed the lid without removing the rubber O-ring as the directions required.'
'The deputy advised Fire-Rescue personnel...of the potential for an explosion due to increasing pressure inside the device.'
'Fire-Rescue personnel carried the container outside to a safe location and used a pair of channel lock pliers to remove the thermos lid, releasing the pressure and removing the danger. The container was given back to the woman without incident.'
The woman's name was not in the post, but the details about her age, location and time of the incident led reporters to Felicia Nevins, 30, and stories about her inability to get pregnant ran in worldwide media.
Nevins, a behavioral technician who works mostly with children, told DailyMail.com her lawyer asked the sheriff's office remove the post, and Nocco refused.
She opted against suing because she said she 'just wanted for it to go away.'
Up to 467 comments ended up on the post. And while many criticized the sheriff's office, many supported Nocco's use of Nevins' story.
One comment from user Rob Bedard read: 'I can't believe this woman wants the post removed. It's too funny, lmao. Don't let these sensitive (SIC) people ruin some law enforcement fun, PCSO. It's nice to see the different types of calls you receive. Keep up the good work.'
Nocco explained to the Tampa Bay Times at the time: 'We attempt to show every day what our officers see in calls and we are very open agency,' he said. '…Make no mistake, this was a potentially dangerous situation.'
He then blamed the media for finding Nevins' name.
In May 2017, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office posted the story of a local woman undergoing fertility treatment who called 911 when she mishandled two vials of sperm while placing them in a thermos full of dry ice, and reported a risk of explosion
One disgruntled Facebook user slammed the Sheriff's Office for reporting the woman's personal business
In Polk County, in Orlando's suburbs, the Facebook feed of Sheriff Grady Judd uses the mug shots of juvenile suspects
Nevins, meanwhile, told DailyMail.com that the sheriff's publicizing of her plight in 2017 piled up more stress on a stressful time.
Four years later, she says, she still hasn't been able to get pregnant, and her husband recently passed away.
'For months, I was bombarded with messages and emails and comments on my Facebook page from all over the world,' she said. 'I got some from the Middle East and Asia about how I needed to get raped since my husband couldn't impregnate me.
'I don't think the sheriff's office realizes what this did to me.'
Four years later, the sheriff's office changed its ways.
The agency now follows an 83-page Strategic Communications Guide that bans photos of arrest and mocking anyone.
'The Public Information Office, which oversees the social media team, is now under different leadership,' wrote Amanda Hunter, a Pasco sheriff's spokeswoman. 'As such, we have implemented social media and strategic communications policies to include robust guidelines of what should and should not be posted on behalf of the agency.'
Pasco's Sheriff's Office now uses social media for safety tips, to publicize the photos of teenage runaways and find suspects caught on surveillance cameras.
For Brian Andrews, a crisis management expert who works for government entities in Florida and elsewhere, Pasco's guide is a good start that should be emulated throughout the state.
Still, he says, some bureaucrats who dabble in social media 'obviously haven't thought it through.'
'I tell my clients that social media have become such dangerous weapons that only responsible individuals should be allowed behind the keyboards,' said Andrews, founder of The News Directors.
'Social media use by government is an open invitation for lawsuits, and of course, the taxpayers are on the hook. This is really the last thing we, the public, needs at a time of mistrust and polarization.
'I tell my clients always to take the high road, use decorum. Instead, these guys are trying to use emotional triggers as a means to an end. It's bound to leave a bad taste in many people's mouths.'
Indian River County Sheriff's Office posted a photo of passenger Vann Mangum with a white powder in his nostrils – potential evidence that could be used in a trial
The post garnered hundreds of comments, many of them mocking the man and others questioning if this photo was necessary to post
In Polk County, in Orlando's suburbs, the Facebook feed of Sheriff Grady Judd is a chock full of strange and wacky posts, some using the mug shots of juvenile suspects.
An October 10 post on Facebook, for example, garnered more than 1,300 comments.
It involved a man walking on a street of Mulberry stark naked.
In Polk County, in Orlando's suburbs, the Facebook feed of Sheriff Grady Judd is a chock full of strange and wacky posts
Here is the sheriff's office rendition of the arrest: 'Early one evening in Mulberry, Jason decided to go for a walk. For whatever reason, Jason decided that his clothing was not going to be a part of that walk.
'A deputy responded (nobody likes getting the naked guy calls), and sure enough, there was Jason…completely naked…and carrying a jug of water and a small glass ball.
'The deputy ordered Jason to stop. 'No!' Jason responded.
'The deputy put a handcuff on Jason. We'll assume it was on his wrist, since that's where handcuffs go.
'Jason tried to resist the deputy, and the deputy no doubt tried to resist getting too close to Jason.
'The deputy repeatedly asked Jason what his name was and why he was naked.
'Jason was arrested for exposing his naughty bits and resisting, and had to be booked-in as John Doe, until he could be identified.
'In Jason's defense, he didn't really have a good place to keep his ID.'
On October 5, another post featured three brothers under 18, calling them Criminals of The Day.
In this post, too, the sheriff's office appears sure they'll be convicted and calls them 'prolific offenders.'
'They stole three guns,' the post reads, 'ammo, credit cards, personal IDs and anything else they could grab from mostly unlocked cars.'
Judd, who was reelected last year to a four-year term, didn't reply to a request for comments and neither did his spokesman.
Along Florida's Atlantic Coast, meanwhile rookie sheriff Eric Flowers, who took office in Indian River County in January, brought a new social media team. The effects were immediate with snarkier social media, and the posting of photographic evidence.
By February, the official Facebook account of the Indian River County Sheriff's Office reported the arrests of the driver and passenger of a car pulled over for running a red light in Vero Beach.
An October 10 post on Facebook, for example, garnered more than 1,300 comments. Here is the sheriff's office rendition of the arrest: 'Early one evening in Mulberry, Jason decided to go for a walk. For whatever reason, Jason decided that his clothing was not going to be a part of that walk'
The post included a photo of passenger Vann Mangum with a white powder in his nostrils – potential evidence that could be used in a trial.
'Yes, the drugs in your nose count against you,' the post reads.
Flowers didn't reply to a request for comment.
And just north in Brevard County, Sheriff Wayne Ivey has taken to posting the photo of every DUI suspect in the county, some of whom have yet to have a preliminary hearing let alone a trial.
The August suspects, all 42 of them, appeared on Ivey's page on September 1 under the headline 'If you don't want to see your picture on this poster, then don't drink and drive.'
There were 315 mostly insulting comment.
State legislator and long-time defense attorney Michael Gottlieb said he's been hearing about law enforcement's social media from constituents in the Fort Lauderdale area as well his law clients.
'Shaming people into submission on social media is being used as a tool by law enforcement,' he said. 'That's a problem. The kind of intense scrutiny caused by these posts compromise the constitutional rights of the accused. It has to stop.'
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