Putnam County deputies seek ATV driver damaging farmland

Vandalism costing farmers time, money

EAST PALATKA, Fla. – Vandals tearing up farmland and yards on their four-wheelers has been a problem that's plagued Putnam County for years, but now, deputies said that they were able to get a picture of one of the vandals.

On Wednesday, deputies released the photo to the public and asked for help identifying the ATV driver in the image, who damaged the roadway and fields in the East Palatka area, according to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office.

For most people, Putnam County farmland represents an opportunity to feed families, but for others, it's an opportunity to destroy. 

"They'll get out her and they'll drive right through the center of the field," Agricultural Deputy Donny Jordan, with the Sheriff's Office, told News4Jax on Thursday. 

Jordan's position is a new one designed to catch vandals. Now is a time when farmers are getting ready to plant a lot of their crops, such as potatoes and cabbage, and the vandalism costs them precious time and money. 

Tawnya Turner said she saw the photo posted on the Sheriff's Office's Facebook page and immediately shared it and her disappointment with the vandals. 

"Y'all need to have some respect and learn that's someone else's property," Turner said. "If someone destroyed something of yours, you'd be mad. And that's someone's livelihood. That's how they feed their family."

In some cases, the damage amounts to thousands of dollars, meaning the people who tear up farmland could be charged with a felony and face prison time. 

They can also be vindictive. Farmers know from experience the threat of retaliation for speaking out is real.

"In the past, there's been where people came back and damaged their equipment and things like that," Jordan said. "So the farmers are asking me to try to get the message out."

Fear of retaliation is why News4Jax has chosen not to identify the farms affected. 

Anyone who can identify this person is asked to call Jordan at 386-546-7211 or email him at DJordan@PutnamSheriff.org.


About the Authors:

Storytelling is at the heart of what Alicia loves most about television news and she is thrilled to be a part of the News4Jax team.