A bizarre probation arrest is getting plenty of attention on Facebook after the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office shared body camera footage showing a suspect allegedly trying to explain away a fake drug-testing device that deputies say they watched him pull from his pants.
The video is unusual enough on its own, but what really sets it apart is the sheriff’s office’s storytelling. Rather than posting a standard press release, the agency leaned into the absurdity of the encounter with a steady stream of puns and one-liners that make it clear deputies had heard just about every excuse before this one.
If you’ve spent any time following Florida sheriff’s offices online, that probably won’t come as much of a surprise. Agencies across the state have become known for turning bizarre arrests into entertaining reads, and Flagler County has earned a reputation as one of the best at it.
Before anyone writes this off as “only in Florida,” it’s worth remembering that strange arrests happen in every corner of the country. Florida’s deputies just happen to be especially good at telling the story, and the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office delivers another memorable example here.
Deputies Say Fake Drug Test Device Became New Evidence
Before the body camera footage begins, Shepard had already been arrested after a deputy stopped him as he pulled into his court-ordered drug treatment class on July 14. Deputies say he had driven there on a suspended license, which also violated the felony probation he was already serving for multiple burglary and theft convictions.
During the ride, Shepard tells the deputy that his shoulder is bothering him. Trying to make him more comfortable, the deputy moves his handcuffs from behind his back to the front so he can adjust his position.
The courtesy quickly backfired. Instead, the deputy notices Shepard pulling what appears to be a concealed device from inside his pants before tossing it onto the patrol car’s floorboard.
“I have you on video pulling out a pee bag and a dildo out of your pants, okay?” the deputy says. “I’m not stupid. I clean this car every day. I’m responsible for what’s in this car. I would know if there’s a pee bag and a (beep) dildo in my car.”
Shepard responds by claiming he doesn’t know what the device is. The deputy reminds Shepard that he had already asked whether he had anything on his person before the trip to jail.
“I asked you if you had anything on your person,” the deputy says. “You did. And you’re lying to me. So if you want to go down the rabbit hole of lying and see where this ends up, I’m more than happy to do it.”
New Charges While on Probation
Sheriff Rick Staly criticized Shepard’s earlier sentence, saying he had received probation despite a sentencing scoresheet that made him eligible for a significantly longer prison term.
“This pee-brain dirtbag had already been given the deal of a lifetime,” Staly wrote. “Now he has a stream of new charges after flushing away a second chance to turn his life around. Instead, he tried to trick the system. Now he needs to go to prison!”
According to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office inmate roster, Shepard was booked into the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Jail on the evening of July 14.
He is currently facing charges of operating a motor vehicle without a valid license (second conviction), violating probation, attempting to defraud a urine drug test, and tampering with evidence.
Jail records show Shepard is being held on a total bond of $3,500, including $500 for operating a motor vehicle without a valid license, $500 for attempting to defraud a urine drug test, and $2,500 for the felony tampering with evidence charge.
As with all criminal cases, the charges are allegations, and Shepard is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Facebook Loved the Sheriff’s Office’s Humor
As unusual as the arrest itself was, many of the comments focused on the deputy’s blunt response and the sheriff’s office’s humorous writing style.
“The author of these posts needs a huge raise, IMMEDIATELY!” one commenter wrote.
Another viewer joked, “Seems like he was in a pissy mood.”
“The video is hilarious,” another person commented, while another added, “You cannot make this stuff up and you can’t fix stupid.”
Several readers also praised the sheriff’s office’s steady stream of puns throughout the Facebook post, with one writing, “If you like jokes, urine good company with the author of this post.”
While the humor dominated the discussion, the allegations themselves are serious. Deputies say what began with Shepard driving to a court-ordered drug treatment class on a suspended license ended with several additional criminal charges after investigators allege he attempted to cheat a required drug test.
Criminal charges are allegations, and everyone is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.