BRADENTON — A 29-year-old Palmetto man is facing multiple county ordinance violations as well as a criminal charge of animal cruelty following a joint investigation by Manatee County's Code Enforcement and Animal Welfare Divisions, the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, and the State Attorney’s Office. The suspect, a former deputy, was also terminated by the Hardee County Sheriff's Office last week.
Despite the investigation and announcement of charges filed in the case, rumors continue to swirl on social media concerning what officials knew, when they knew it, and whether appropriate actions were taken to investigate the allegations of animal abuse.
Video captured by a Ring security camera prompted public outrage last week after it was shared on social media. In the video, an individual identified as Nicholas Zotto could be seen chasing a dog around a yard before grabbing hold of the animal by its head, striking it two times while yelling, and then dragging it by its collar before striking the animal again.
The video, which is troubling to watch, is available on the “Not So Pawsome Sitters” Facebook page and on change.org.
Zotto owns a pet-sitting service, Pawsome Sitters, operated from his home in Palmetto, Florida.
At least two civil actions by pet owners who utilized Pawsome Sitters alleged harm to their animals while in Zotto’s care. In one such case filed in August, the judge ruled in the plaintiff’s favor. The other case remains open according to public records.
After the video depicting Zotto striking a dog was posted online and a petition was created, a Facebook page and blog calling itself Real Manatee County Conservatives shared a post that claimed State Attorney Ed Brodsky refused to “enforce animal cruelty laws,” despite a report submitted to his office by Manatee County.
The Real Manatee County Conservatives were the subject of reporting byTBT on October 1, following our investigation into who was behind the "group."
The blog also shares its content via unsolicited emails sent to select residents of Manatee County.
TBT was able to uncover that Jennings Lawton DePriest was publishing content on the blog and that DePriest’s business, Top Lobster, LLC, is a marketing agency that offers its services to political consultants and campaigns. On Top Lobster's website, DePriest describes his business as, “an elite team of digital assassins who do what it takes to win.”
Following our initial reporting, TBT published a follow-up story covering a podcast posted to YouTube featuring DePriest. Speaking with the hosts of STICK TALK, DePriest said of his work, “I am a professional propagandist is probably the best way to describe this.”
DePriest also described how his business utilizes polling data and cross-referenced voter and consumer data to more precisely target his intended audience. DePriest refers to “pain points” as those issues or topics that collected data appear to show will elicit a response from profiled voters.
In its October 30 Facebook post, the Real Manatee County Conservatives included a link to its blog post titled, “Where is the State Attorney When it Matters?”
The post alleged that the county received the video showing Zotto physically abusing an animal and that the county “sent the video” to the state’s attorney’s office on October 11, but, “no investigation occurred, no arrest warrant was issued, and no charges were filed.”
Based on Facebook’s ad transparency information, the Real Manatee County Conservatives page paid between $100-$200 to push the article into Facebook users’ feeds as a promoted ad from October 30 to November 2.
In addition, an October 31 email campaign launched by Manatee County Real Conservatives sent the link to the blog post to an unknown number of Manatee residents. The email's subject line read, “Urgent Action Needed: Demand Justice for Animal Cruelty - Contact Ed Brodsky's Office Today!”
Besides accusations made by the “Real Conservatives” against the state attorney, the website also falsely claimed that Zotto was a Manatee County Sheriff Deputy. However, the bulk of the website’s article focused on Brodsky, referring to him as an “Old-Guard Republican” who “hates” local “America First” conservatives. It claimed that Brodsky regularly “weaponized” his office for the sake of attacking his “political opponents”—and then referenced a petty theft case involving Manatee Commission Chair Kevin Van Ostenbridge who was caught on camera driving off in the night with one of his constituent’s potted plants.
An original version of the article also included a reference to Clerk and Comptroller Angel Colonesso and Van Ostenbridge’s purchase of constituent voter data. That paragraph was deleted, however, shortly after the “Real Conservatives” first published it.
Though Zotto was never a deputy of MCSO, he was previously employed by the Bradenton City Police Department.
Hired in October 2020, records obtained by TBT show that Zotto resigned from the BPD less than a year after being hired. Zotto’s resignation followed several reported incidents that caused “heightened concern” among Zotto’s fellow officers and supervisors.
The “information” disseminated by the “Real Conservatives” Facebook page was echoed on social media, with numerous users creating posts or commenting on existing posts repeating claims that Brodsky declined to take action over the video. Some even repeated that Zotto was an MCSO deputy.
As the claims spread, public outrage grew as more and more posters and commenters demanded justice for the animal seen victimized in the video.
Requests for Comment
After seeing the videos of Zotto shared on social media, our publication reached out to the MCSO on Tuesday, October 31 to inquire whether the department was investigating the matter.
Public Information Officer Randy Warren responded to our inquiry by email and thanked TBT for bringing the videos to the department’s attention.
“We have not found where anyone reported this to MCSO,” Warren wrote. “A detective has been assigned and is currently looking into it.”
On November 2, TBT contacted State Attorney Brodsky by email to inquire whether his office received any videos of Zotto’s actions from the county on October 11 as alleged by the Real Manatee County Conservatives, and, if so, did his office decline to investigate or bring charges.
The same day, Brodsky responded by email, writing, “Regretfully, through misinformation, a false and misleading post was shared on social media concerning a video depiction of animal cruelty that had been circulating on social media. An article inaccurately stated that our office had received a complaint concerning the animal abuse and that we had declined to initiate action against the individual.”
Brodsky continued, “The same inaccurate post was also disseminated to residents by email. It was falsely reported that our office had received the complaint on October 11th and declined to pursue charges despite video evidence. This office was only made aware of the abuse on Sunday, October 29, and immediately began an investigation. Our office began investigating the complaint alongside Manatee County Animal Services and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.
“A formal complaint was submitted to the State Attorney's Office on Wednesday, November 1, and on Thursday, November 2—after a joint investigation and recommendation by both the Manatee County Animal Services and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office—the State Attorney’s Office charged Nicholas Anthony Zotto with Animal Cruelty, a First Degree Misdemeanor.
“The State Attorney's office is committed to ensuring justice is served in cases of animal cruelty and upholding the safety and welfare of all animals,” Brodsky concluded the email.
Later the same afternoon, Brodsky’s office announced in a press release that it was charging Zotto with one count of animal cruelty stemming from video evidence.
After receiving comments from officials of both the MCSO and the state attorney’s office stating that, to their knowledge, neither agency was aware of having received any complaint regarding Zotto and allegations of animal abuse, TBT sent an email to Manatee County Government.
The email request for comment was directed to the county’s Director of Public Safety Jodie Fiske—who is over the county’s Division of Animal Welfare—and Animal Welfare Division Chief Sara Brown. TBT asked whether the county had received any complaints related to Pawsome Sitters or Zotto regarding alleged animal abuse, and if so, when, and what actions had it taken. TBT also asked if the county was provided with the video that was circulating on social media.
Roughly an hour later, Manatee County PIO Bill Logan phoned in response to our request for comment.
On the call, Logan told TBT that because the matter was still under investigation, the county was restricted in what information it could provide, but confirmed county officials had received complaints, as well as the video.
“County officials were alerted to the existence of the video in October…we are unable to release any specific details of the investigation but the collaboration between code enforcement, animal welfare, and the animal cruelty task force has been superb.”
Logan declined to provide a specific date that the county received the video citing the ongoing investigation.
When TBT asked for clarification on the “Animal Cruelty Task Force,” Logan offered that the task force included officials of the county’s animal welfare division, code enforcement, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, and officials with the state attorney’s office.
Before ending the call, Logan added, “These sorts of allegations are taken very seriously, and these sorts of investigations require specific and very detailed work. Investigations of this nature take time.”
Following the phone call, TBT followed up with MCSO's PIO to inquire whether any additional information was available that differed from what the agency provided to our publication two days prior. TBT shared with Warren the information provided by Logan concerning the Animal Cruelty Task Force and an ongoing joint investigation.
Warren confirmed that it is not uncommon for the MCSO to work with other public agencies to assist with civil and criminal matters and that he could only say that if the county stated that it had been working with MCSO officials regarding the videos from Pawsome Sitters, he was unaware specifically who at MCSO they had communicated with on the matter.
Warren then confirmed that the case involving Zotto’s actions captured on video was officially called into MCSO on November 1. Warren added that “MCSO got the case and opened it,” and, the next day, on November 2, “it was completed and given to the state attorney’s office.”
“Manatee County Animal Services was working on this in some capacity for at least two weeks,” said Warren of his understanding based on information shared with MCSO by Manatee County.
In addition to the claims of inaction by the state attorney’s office, additional rumors began to crop up on other Facebook pages and comment threads that alleged the Hardee County Sheriff’s Office had been provided videos of its deputy but also took no action. One such commenter stated that they heard the department had received copies of the videos “months ago.”
Additional commenters speculated that local media was “refusing” to report the story because “Zotto is a police officer.”
On November 2, TBT also emailed the Hardee County Sheriff's Office. Later that evening, Colonel James "Chip" Roberts, EdD, responded to our emailed request for comment by phone.
The evening prior, on November 1, the Facebook page of HCSO announced that the department had terminated Zotto.
The department’s post read in part, “Recently, a series of videos have come to our attention depicting concerning behavior from Deputy Zotto…”
“The Hardee County Sheriff's Office is committed to upholding the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and service to our community. Deputy Zotto's actions have fallen short of the ethical and moral standards we demand from all members of our law enforcement team,” the post included.
During the call, Colonel Roberts confirmed to TBT that his department was aware, and had received, copies of the videos of Zotto at his home business, Pawsome Sitters. Roberts said that the first video was emailed to him in early October—TBT later obtained record of an email that showed the first video was sent to him on October 3, confirming Robert’s account.
In total, three Ring camera videos alleged to show footage recorded at Zotto’s home business were shared on social media and YouTube. The first two videos—which can be viewed here and here—are videos capturing a sideyard view of his property. These videos depict Zotto having rage-filled outbursts, shouting obscenities, punching a fence and HVAC unit, and snatching a dog’s leash away from an unidentified woman.
Though the initial two videos showed troubling behavior by Zotto, neither showed Zotto physically striking an animal as the third video with the backyard view had captured.
Colonel Roberts told TBT that Zotto had already been under an internal investigation concerning a separate, unrelated complaint. Because of the previous complaint, Zotto was placed on paid administrative leave on July 19 while the investigation was ongoing.
On October 3, when his department received the initial video (one containing footage from the sideyard) Zotto’s administrative leave was changed to unpaid leave while the video was referred to HCSO’s Department of Internal Affairs the following Monday.
Roberts explained that according to statements made by a member of the public about the video, HCSO understood that the videos were submitted to Manatee County Public Safety Director Fiske and were under investigation by the Animal Welfare Division.
In the weeks following HCSO receiving the first video, Colonel Roberts described how the agency received additional video footage, including the third video showing Zotto striking an animal. An email reviewed by TBT confirmed that the third video was sent to Roberts on October 10.
After receiving additional videos and information from members of the public, said Roberts, the department ultimately decided to terminate Zotto as was announced on the agency's Facebook page on November 1. Roberts clarified that the two active investigations by HCSO’s IA Division into complaints against Zotto will move forward despite Zotto’s termination.
A Concerned Citizen
Searching for older posts on Nextdoor App and Facebook, TBT was able to find posts made by Josh Blanton from as early as October 2. In one such post, Blanton shared the first two videos captured from cameras positioned toward Zotto’s sideyard.
On Friday, November 3, TBT made contact with Blanton who agreed to speak with us about his posts and efforts to inform county officials of Zotto, Pawsome Sitters, and the animal abuse he believed was taking place at the pet-sitting business.
Speaking by phone, Blaton alleged to TBT that he first phoned Manatee County Animal Welfare roughly six months ago. Blanton was unable to provide an exact date or the name of the official he spoke to but insisted the person was an employee of the county’s Animal Welfare Division.
Blanton said he made the call after a former employee of Pawsome Sitters confided in him that they had witnessed Zotto abusing animals at the facility. Blanton told TBT that the former employee was upset by what they alleged to have witnessed and concerned about reporting the incident themselves because Zotto was a police officer.
Blanton alleged that the employee he spoke to at the county said they were familiar with Pawsome Sitters due to prior code enforcement complaints. However, said Blanton, the only information he was able to provide the county at that time was a hearsay account of alleged animal abuse.
Fast-forward to late September, explained Blanton, and he was able to obtain an initial video captured by Zotto’s sideyard camera. Disturbed by the behavior he saw, combined with the previous allegations he heard from the former employee, Blanton said he took to the Nextdoor App to share the video and warn the public against taking their pets to Pawsome Sitters.
Blanton alleged to TBT that he received a phone call from Public Safety Director Fiske who wanted to speak with him about the video he shared on Nextdoor. Blanton produced records of text messages between himself and Fiske toTBT to help verify his claims.
In a text message dated October 4, Blanton informs Fiske that Nextdoor deleted his post, “But just to let you know” Blanton wrote, “I have ANOTHER video that I’m gonna release if you would like to include it in your case?”
Fiske responded to Blanton’s text, writing, “If the video involves the animals can you email to me and I will send to Chief Brown for the investigation?” The text records show Fiske provided her Manatee County email address.
In texts that followed, Blanton informed Fiske he had sent the video as instructed, and Fiske confirmed having received it.
During our phone call, Blanton clarified to TBT that the two videos—the one he shared in a Nextdoor post and the one he later sent to Fiske—were the two videos showing sideyard views and that he had posted to his Facebook in early October.
Blanton alleged toTBT that he and Fiske also shared phone conversations and from those discussions, he understood that the county was working with other agencies including the MCSO. Blanton claimed this understanding was why he never reported the videos to the MCSO directly.
“Basically,” said Blanton, “I was under the impression that by having provided them to the county it was like I had also shared them with the sheriff because the county would share them with the sheriff during the investigation.”
Blanton was also one of the citizens who had shared the videos with the Hardee County Sheriff's Office beginning on October 3. Email records provided by Blanton verified this claim.
Weeks later, said Blanton, he obtained the third video with the camera angle positioned toward the backyard. This video was more troubling than the rest, so Blanton said he sent that video in an email to Colonel Roberts of HCSO and provided a copy of the email so TBT could verify the claim. The email was dated October 10.
Blanton provided additional records of text and email communications between Fiske and another citizen. Blanton agreed to share the records for TBT’s review, but only if our publication protected the citizen’s identity in our reporting.
The records did show the additional citizen communicated with Fiske and had sent Fiske a copy of the third video depicting Zotto striking the dog in his care. The citizen sent the video to Fiske on October 9.
Blanton claimed that after county authorities had received the additional videos, particularly the one showing Zotto’s physical attack on the dog named Grizzly, he and the anonymous citizen understood that the county was investigating all the evidence in collaboration with the MCSO and the State Attorney’s Office.
Records of communications appeared to confirm Blanton and the anonymous citizen’s understanding. In one such text dated October 16, the citizen asked Fiske, “When you charge (Zotto) tomorrow, will you take him into custody?”
The text contained other questions within it and while Fiske provided an answer to those questions, she did not respond directly to the question regarding the citizen’s apparent belief that charges were being brought against Zotto.
In an October 18 email sent by Fiske to the citizen, Fiske wrote in part, “...I know we are engaged with the state attorney’s office on this matter…I understand the frustration with the amount of time these things take, with multiple agencies involved there can be small delays.”
Blanton told TBT that it was largely due to the understanding that action was going to be taken on the evidence provided in the third video, including charges against Zotto, that when weeks passed and nothing happened, he decided to post the third video to social media as well.
“To my knowledge,” Blanton explained to TBT, “I was the first person to post multiple videos of Nicholas Zotto physically abusing animals and mentally abusing his wife to social media.”
“Originally, I posted videos on the Nextdoor app and after over 200 comments and shares within 2 days Nextdoor banned me and deleted the videos with no explanation. Frustrated, I then posted them on multiple Facebook groups from my personal Facebook profile,” Blanton detailed.
Blanton told TBT that by October 26, his frustration had grown over perceived inaction by authorities. He said he was increasingly concerned that nothing was being done because Zotto worked in law enforcement.
“That’s when we decided I would post the third video on social media as well, a petition was also created by others in hopes that community outcry would force the state attorney to file criminal charges and shut down Pawsome Sitters.”
Blanton said that with the help of some local animal advocates—who also preferred to remain anonymous—the Facebook page, "Not So Pawsome Sitters" was created. Blanton said that he believes the creation of the page and its petition helped the videos gain exposure and “spread awareness.”
Following up with the county
After reviewing the records of communications with Fiske provided by Blanton, TBT sent a follow-up email seeking any clarity the county could provide on its previous statements that county officials had been working in concert with the MCSO and the state attorney’s office as part of the Animal Cruelty Task Force.
TBT informed the county PIO that records we reviewed showed that on October 9, Fiske was sent the third video of Zotto striking and dragging a dog and that on October 18, Fiske wrote in an email that the county was working with the state attorney’s office or “multiple agencies” on the matter.
TBT also shared the statements provided to our publication by the state attorney and the sheriff’s PIO both of whom purported that neither agency had formerly been referred the case until November 1.
In an emailed response, Manatee County PIO Logan included, “When Manatee County Animal Welfare (MCAW) learned of the video on October 9, staff sent it to the State’s Attorney’s Office (SAO) and immediately consulted with Animal Cruelty Task Force Members.”
In addition, wrote Logan, while the county awaited a response from the state attorney, code enforcement and animal welfare continued its investigation into Pawsome Sitters.
“Given the erratic behavior of Mr. Zotto, reporting parties have been reluctant to come forward to speak with investigators. In fact,” Logan added, “the increased social media attention over the past several days has exacerbated this issue.”
Logan also wrote, “While the state attorney’s office has stated that its official action began on Thursday, November 2, it is important to know that an official action does not necessarily mean they did not have knowledge of the case or video prior to this time.”
TBT asked the county if it would produce the public record email that would confirm when the county sent the video to the state’s attorney’s office. The county responded to TBT’s request saying that due to an active criminal investigation, such a record was exempt from release.
“However,” Logan wrote in the email, “we can confirm that the email was sent to the state attorney’s office on October 11.”
October 11 is the same date that the Real Manatee County Conservatives cited in its article that the “county sent the video to Brodsky’s office but they took no action.”
It is unclear how DePriest, or anyone else who may have written the “Real Conservatives” blog post could have known that someone at the county allegedly contacted the state attorney’s office—down to the exact date.
TBT asked Logan if the county could provide the name of the SAO official the video was sent to—without providing the email itself. Logan again responded by email, writing, “Unfortunately, we have no further information at this time.”
In light of new details shared by the county—including the date the county said staff contacted the SAO and shared the video—TBT followed up with the state attorney.
Speaking by phone, Brodsky confirmed his previous comments. According to Brodsky, neither he nor the SAO investigator over animal abuse crimes received a copy of the video, nor was either aware of any investigation by the county into the video before last week.
Brodsky added that his office reached out to the county after he was informed on Sunday, October 29, of a video allegedly showing animal abuse crimes was shared on social media. The state attorney’s office requested the county deliver a report of its investigative findings in the case immediately.
An important point of clarity, explained Brodsky, is that even if county staff was in contact with someone at his office concerning the video or the county’s investigation into Pawsome Sitters—not only is he personally unaware of who it was the county may have spoken with—but no formal action can be taken by the state attorney’s office until the case is formally referred by written report to SAO.
“A probable cause affidavit was not received by my office until November 1,” Brodsky added.
5 comments on this item
Only paid subscribers can comment
Please log in to comment by clicking here.
David Daniels
Oh my God! An email from the Sheriff with the video was sent to the State Attorney on Oct 11. The citizen sent the video to MCAW on Oct 9 - and followed up with email to Jodie Fiske. Fiske confirmed that all investigative agencies had received the video and were working on the case on Oct 11. The video IS THE INVESTIGATION! He should have been arrested OCT 11! Yet Brodsky and the Sheriff still claim ignorance for 3 weeks.That is a boldface lie. What a bunch of keystone cops this County is when it comes to animals suffering. Commissioners let 120 dogs suffer every single day in a terrible, understaffed shelter - and says nothing when Jodie Fiske and Sarah Brown terminates 11 good volunteers because they speak up about it. And now the Sheriff and State Attorney sit on their ass for 3 weeks. Animal lovers are good people - the kind of people that should be elected to replace the ones we have now.
Sunday, November 5, 2023 Report this
Debann
COLOR ME SHOCKED...nevermind...It's Manatee County....SOMEONE IS LYING... ONCE AGAIN animal services in the news..now let's hope all parties involved will be dealt with..But then again I won't hold my breath, as WE ALL KNOW HOW THINGS ARE DONE IN MANATEE COUNTY....a Commissioner let to go home by wife after crashing truck into a tree..a Commissioners husband with 2 DUI's in a month's time, nothing became of that..Bougainvillea stolen from private property...YOU SEE WHERE THIS IS GOING.......IT'S MANATEE COUNTY
Sunday, November 5, 2023 Report this
bbenac
What a cluster. What is undoubtably true is the the County has a great public relations team that is working their butts off to get the Commissioners re-elected, and any concerns are immediately spun to try to make them look like they are doing something for the public. Going after State Attorney Brodsky who was doing his job (no, a video is not an investigation-and not until there is an actual complaint of criminal action filed does he start an investigation). It is clear that the “Professional Propagandist” Jason DePriest on behalf of his bosses at the “Real Manatee County Conservatives” is spinning this to go after Brodsky-who will be instrumental in prosecuting the County Commissioners for their crimes. I don’t believe Jodie Fiske and her “team” are actual able to conduct any kind of investigation-but they sure are good at spinning the story with their propaganda dept working with the BS “Real Manatee County Conservatives”, and of course not the BT. Thanks so much to Dawn K for painstakingly investigating this story and printing facts.
Sunday, November 5, 2023 Report this
bbenac
Whoops meant Jenning DePriest who calls himself “a professional propagandist” and “political assassin”.
Sunday, November 5, 2023 Report this
Dianna
It’s bad enough that we have to deal with these so called “professional propagandist” paid for by developers targeting residents- but even worse that taxpayers are footing the bill for the propaganda they are putting on the county website about wetlands, so called “homeless shelters”, and videos that look a lot like campaign ads for the worst commissioners we have ever had. Thank you for remembering the unethical purchase of personal information on 19,278 residents of District 3 by Van Ostenbridge, using public funds, and placed into public records and currently being used by every fraudster around.
Sunday, November 5, 2023 Report this