PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. -- Gov. Charlie Crist ordered on Tuesday that a prosecutor in Ocala take over the case of a beer keg shooting that took place last year by someone in the Putnam County Sheriff's Office.

The beer keg shooting has had Putnam County Sheriff Dean Kelly under state investigation for longer than a month. The shooting allegedly happened after officers raided an underage drinking party being held in some woods.

The investigation into the incident began during Kelly's primary campaign for re-election, which was unsuccessful. Kelly admitted that someone from his department opened fire on the keg after breaking up the party. However, he would not say whether he or someone else did the shooting, claiming executive privilege.

The sheriff defended the act as a dramatic way to impact underage drinkers.

Kelly lost his primary bid to former Putnam County sheriff's deputy Jeff Hardy and will give up his duties in January.

Nonetheless, whether the shooting was criminal remains under investigation.

"There have been allegations that one or more shots were fired into or at the beer keg by law enforcement officers," said State Attorney John Tanner.

Tanner is in the same district as Kelly and was looking into the allegations until Monday. That's when Gov. Charlie Crist stepped in at the state attorney's request to appoint a special prosecutor.

Stepping into Tanner's place is Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Brad King.

Crist's executive order states, "allegations have been made against Putnam County Sheriff Dean Kelly and/or his deputies for purported criminal conduct … the Honorable John Tanner to any appearance of conflict of interest or impropriety, has voluntarily disqualified himself…"