Gov. Ron DeSantis reiterates tough-on-crime message in aftermath of storms

Gov. Ron DeSantis at a Hillsborough County press conference on Oct. 15, 2024, via DeSantis Facebook

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis asserted on Tuesday that state and local authorities were cracking down on criminals trying to take advantage of people in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton.

DeSantis also announced that authorities had made an arrest in the case of a dog abandoned ahead of the storm and tied to a pole near Interstate 75. The dog was rescued by a state trooper and subsequently given the name “Trooper” by the Leon County Humane Society.

“Trooper” via Leon County Humane Society Facebook.

Giovanny Aldama Garcia was arrested and charged with aggravated animal cruelty after he admitted to leaving his dog alongside Interstate 75 as he evacuated to safety during Hurricane Milton.

“We said at the time, ‘You don’t just tie up a dog and have them out there for a storm. It’s totally unacceptable and we’re going to hold you accountable,” DeSantis said.  “We said you’d be held accountable, and you will be held accountable.”

DeSantis made the arrest announcement during an event held at the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office that included an appearance by State Attorney Suzy Lopez. Lopez was appointed to the job by DeSantis after he removed prosecutor Andrew Warren from office. Warren is challenging her in next month’s election.

Lopez said Florida law allows for penalties to be increased for a number of crimes if committed during a declared disaster, including burglary, robbery, theft, and contracting without a license but not for animal cruelty — something she said should be rectified.

‘Protect your pet’

“No one should ever commit an act of animal cruelty; you should definitely not do so; one, in Hillsborough County, and, two, during a state of emergency. This defendant will be charged with aggravated animal cruelty. That is a third-degree felony, punishable for up to five years in the Florida state prison, for what he did to Trooper,” she said.

“If you’re a pet owner, like me, you know you will be doing anything to protect your pet. And we should be protecting our pets during a storm, not leaving them for dead,” she said.

In addition to announcing the arrest of the dog owner, DeSantis said there have been arrests across the state for crimes including alleged theft of a generator for traffic lights in Hillsborough County, looting in Daytona Beach, an apartment break-in in Sarasota, and illegal dumping of debris on private property in Port Richey.

“There’s just all kinds of things that can happen after these storms and I’m proud to say that the state of Florida has had a zero tolerance,” DeSantis said.