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PARKER, FL – Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) law
enforcement agents recently arrested Glendon Ralph Adams, 75, of Parker, for
illegally dumping more than 500 waste tires at his business.
“Committing environmental crimes for profit will not be tolerated,” said DEP
Division of Law Enforcement Director Henry Barnet. “With the help of our
regulatory district, our agents were able to quickly and efficiently solve this
environmental crime.”
The arrest follows an investigation conducted by DEP after receiving a
complaint of numerous waste tires being stored behind a privacy fence located at
the suspect’s business address. The complaint was initiated when the Parker Fire
Department responded to a fire on the property and observed waste tires spread
out in a large pile, causing a concern for fire and mosquito breeding.
Mr. Adams owns a used car lot at the property, but does not conduct any type
of tire sales and is not a permitted waste tire collector or processing
facility. Mr. Adams is charged with storing waste tires at a site without a
permit, a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to six months of
imprisonment and a $10,000 fine. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer
Services’ law enforcement division also cited him for Prohibited Burning.
DEP’s Division of Law Enforcement is responsible for statewide environmental
resource law enforcement, providing law enforcement services to Florida’s state
parks and greenways and trails. Agents investigate environmental resource crimes
and illegal dredge and fill activities, and respond to natural disasters, civil
unrest, hazardous material incidents and oil spills that can threaten the
environment.
To report environmental crime, most wireless customers can now dial #DEP.
Callers can also report environmental crimes to the State Warning Point by
calling (877) 2-SAVE-FL (1.877.272.8335). General environmental inquiries should
be directed to DEP district offices during business hours.
For more information about DEP’s Division of Law Enforcement, visit
www.dep.state.fl.us/law.
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