This town in Florida has you beat.
“Investigator Francis G. Monaco met with several witnesses over the past months in regards to two incidents involving Sheriff Dean Kelly and deputies from Putnam County, Florida. The date of each incident has been established to have occurred between December 2006 and January 2007.
“These incidents both involve large gatherings of young adults and juveniles.
“The brief description of the two incidents is as follows:
“The first incident involved a birthday party taking place at an area known as Long Pond in rural Putnam County. Between the hours of 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. Sheriff Dean Kelly and deputies arrived. According to the witnesses, the participants started leaving the area and witnesses reported that Sheriff Dean Kelly shot the keg of beer.
“The second incident reported was another party held and again Sheriff Kelly and deputies arrived and ordered the crowd to disperse; at which time coolers and lawn chairs were thrown into the bonfire by Sheriff Kelly.
“At this incident, a subject was told to leave the area and went to his friend’s residence on private property at which time Sheriff Kelly ordered him to leave the property. The subject would not leave as he was waiting for his friend to arrive and had permission to be on the property. An altercation occurred and the subject was handcuffed by the Sheriff. The Sheriff then decided to release the subject but had no handcuff key and another deputy had to be summoned to the scene with a key.
“Investigator Francis Monaco, at each meeting with the persons interviewed, has been told that there are many other witnesses but they are alleged too afraid to come forward allegedly fearing retaliation. At each meeting these witnesses have advised that they have friends who will come forward to give statements, but only four have done so.
“The (Palatka) Daily News ran a story several weeks ago about the keg shooting incident at which time some anonymous calls were received by this Investigator.
“Only bits and pieces of information were gathered but addition names were provided. Investigator Francis Monaco has been able to determine two other deputies were present at the keg shooting and the deputy who drove Sheriff Kelly to the pond area stated that Sheriff Kelly did not fire any firearm, but the deputy shot at the keg with two firearms.
“It is undetermined as to the actual keg which was shot due to conflicting witness statements.
“Additional witnesses need to be interviewed as names have been provided over the past three weeks through calls made to the State Attorney’s Office.
“Case investigation pending.”