Men facing child abuse, drug charges
By Eric Kopp, Okeechobee News
Two men were arrested earlier this week at the Cornwell boat ramp on a variety of charges, including possession of methamphetamine and child abuse.
Arrested were Frank J. Rio, 34, of Palmetto, and Erik M. Walker, 26, of North Port. Both men were booked into the Okeechobee County Jail shortly after their arrest at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 20.
The two men face charges filed by the Florida Wildlife and Freshwater Fish Commission (FWC) and the Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office (OCSO).
Rio was arrested by FWC Officer Joe Allen on felony charges of carrying a concealed firearm, possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony and child abuse. He was also arrested on a misdemeanor charge of failure to transfer vessel title. His bond on these charges has been set at $61,000.
FWC Officer Joe Brooks charged Walker with the felony of child abuse, and the misdemeanors of resisting arrest without violence and display of a suspended driver's license. His bond on these charges was set at $22,000.
The two men were also arrested by the Okeechobee Narcotics Task Force.
Rio and Walker were both charged with the felonies of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and the misdemeanor of possession of drug paraphernalia. Bond was set at $201,000 each.
When the men were arrested at the boat ramp there was a 10-year-old boy with them, who apparently was the son of a woman who is dating one of the men. The boy was taken to the OCSO where he was picked up by his mother.
According to a report by Officer Allen, he saw a red Ford Expedition with a black airboat attached parked at the Cornwell boat ramp. When he pulled next to the airboat there was water running from the boat, indicating it had just been removed from the water. And since it is currently hunting season for deer, turkey and wild hogs he decided to investigate.
"There was water coming from the airboat and one thing led to another," he said in a telephone interview Tuesday afternoon.
In his report he states that the men said they weren't hunting, but he chose to perform a hunting inspection on the truck. Officer Allen went on to state in his report that he found a .40-caliber Glock handgun in a compartment on the passenger door of the SUV.
According to an OCSO arrest report, a K-9 officer was summoned to the scene to perform an "air sniff" of the vehicle. During the sniff, the K-9 alerted to the passenger side rear door seam.
Along with FHP Trooper Brian Timmons, the detective began to search the 1994 Expedition. The trooper then found a suspicious substance in a camouflage hunting pouch. The substance was field tested and indicated a positive result for the presence of methamphetamine. The suspected methamphetamine weighed 7.7 grams.
The OCSO report states they also found a set of digital scales, two glass smoking pipes, a pack of rolling papers and a plastic bag with a white residue.
Officer Allen said although the truck and airboat were towed from the scene, they were not confiscated. He said a check revealed that neither Rio or Walker was the registered owner of the Expedition, and since the vehicle and airboat had been searched there was no legal justification to confiscate them.
Post your opinions in the Public Issues Forum at http://www.newszap.com. Eric Kopp may be reached at okeditor@okeechobee.com
By Eric Kopp, Okeechobee News
Two men were arrested earlier this week at the Cornwell boat ramp on a variety of charges, including possession of methamphetamine and child abuse.
Arrested were Frank J. Rio, 34, of Palmetto, and Erik M. Walker, 26, of North Port. Both men were booked into the Okeechobee County Jail shortly after their arrest at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 20.
The two men face charges filed by the Florida Wildlife and Freshwater Fish Commission (FWC) and the Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office (OCSO).
Rio was arrested by FWC Officer Joe Allen on felony charges of carrying a concealed firearm, possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony and child abuse. He was also arrested on a misdemeanor charge of failure to transfer vessel title. His bond on these charges has been set at $61,000.
FWC Officer Joe Brooks charged Walker with the felony of child abuse, and the misdemeanors of resisting arrest without violence and display of a suspended driver's license. His bond on these charges was set at $22,000.
The two men were also arrested by the Okeechobee Narcotics Task Force.
Rio and Walker were both charged with the felonies of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and the misdemeanor of possession of drug paraphernalia. Bond was set at $201,000 each.
When the men were arrested at the boat ramp there was a 10-year-old boy with them, who apparently was the son of a woman who is dating one of the men. The boy was taken to the OCSO where he was picked up by his mother.
According to a report by Officer Allen, he saw a red Ford Expedition with a black airboat attached parked at the Cornwell boat ramp. When he pulled next to the airboat there was water running from the boat, indicating it had just been removed from the water. And since it is currently hunting season for deer, turkey and wild hogs he decided to investigate.
"There was water coming from the airboat and one thing led to another," he said in a telephone interview Tuesday afternoon.
In his report he states that the men said they weren't hunting, but he chose to perform a hunting inspection on the truck. Officer Allen went on to state in his report that he found a .40-caliber Glock handgun in a compartment on the passenger door of the SUV.
According to an OCSO arrest report, a K-9 officer was summoned to the scene to perform an "air sniff" of the vehicle. During the sniff, the K-9 alerted to the passenger side rear door seam.
Along with FHP Trooper Brian Timmons, the detective began to search the 1994 Expedition. The trooper then found a suspicious substance in a camouflage hunting pouch. The substance was field tested and indicated a positive result for the presence of methamphetamine. The suspected methamphetamine weighed 7.7 grams.
The OCSO report states they also found a set of digital scales, two glass smoking pipes, a pack of rolling papers and a plastic bag with a white residue.
Officer Allen said although the truck and airboat were towed from the scene, they were not confiscated. He said a check revealed that neither Rio or Walker was the registered owner of the Expedition, and since the vehicle and airboat had been searched there was no legal justification to confiscate them.
Post your opinions in the Public Issues Forum at http://www.newszap.com. Eric Kopp may be reached at okeditor@okeechobee.com
