OCALA, FL (352today.com) – The Marion County Litter Task Force is claiming a victory in the ongoing battle against illegal dumping.
The group held a news conference on Monday, June 17, at the Marion County Board of County Commissioners chambers at the McPherson Government Complex, announcing the arrest of two men they say are responsible for dumping nearly 3,000 pounds of litter in the Ocala National Forest.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) arrested 41-year-old Gary Duane Cardwell on June 3 and 37-year-old Johnny Vince Reese Jr. on June 17. Both are charged with felony dumping over 500 pounds.
FWC says the two dumped household garbage and appliances. Officers say they developed probable cause after finding address information on some of the litter
Cardwell faces additional charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance, which tested positive for fentanyl and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Reese bonded out just seven hours after his arrest. He’s been booked into the Marion County jail at least eight times since 2006 on a variety of charges ranging from battery to drug possession. Cardwell remains in the Marion County jail on a $17,500 bond as of this publication..
“It’s a multimillion-dollar effort to go out and pick up someone’s litter and clean up the illegal dumping,” said Craig Curry, Marion County Commissioner. “We get about 125,000 pounds a month of illegal litter, not counting the big dumping cases.”
Since the task force was formed in 2021, they say more than 10 major cases have been prosecuted including one where more than 13,000 pounds of waste including hazardous materials was illegally dumped.
“Taking your trash and making it somebody else’s problem, by dumping it in our forest and waterways, is not only inconsiderate and selfish, its illegal,” said FWC Capt. Robert Johnston who is a sportsman and loves the outdoors. “It causes severe impacts to our state fish, wildlife and habitats.”
The task force and community partners have been working together to eradicate litter and create awareness with the “No Horsin’ Around” campaign.
“This year alone 36.6 tons of trash were removed,” said Carrie Sekerak, United States Department of Agriculture district ranger. “That’s not a way to treat the land that’s an economic driver of our local communities and is also a place that people go to relax to feel whole and to feel well. The value of public lands is tremendous and when we can hold people accountable, and bring justice, it helps bring that public trust.”