A four day, multi agency sweep across Columbia County wrapped up Wednesday with 17 registered sex offenders and predators booked into the Columbia County Jail, authorities said. The operation focused on Lake City and surrounding areas and was designed to confirm that people on the state registry were living at their listed addresses and keeping all other required information current. Officials said the group included 13 men classified as sex offenders and four listed as sexual predators. Investigators also flagged eight registrants as having absconded from their registered addresses and reported that one person was arrested on an out of state warrant.
The enforcement push was led by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, working with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, the Lake City Police Department, the Florida Department of Corrections and the State Attorney’s Office for the Third Judicial Circuit, according to FDLE. FDLE said its Missing Persons and Offender Enforcement Division and staff from its Live Oak Field Office handled face to face verification interviews as part of the effort, which the agency dubbed "Operation Running Wild."
What Investigators Found
Over four days, investigators contacted 264 registered individuals and conducted in person verification interviews to check whether they were following the rules. That work ultimately produced the 17 arrests, local reporting shows. Authorities said those arrested face charges tied to failing to report changes in residence, vehicles, e mail addresses, employment and internet identifiers, as reported by WCJB.
Names and Arrests
FDLE released a full list of those taken into custody, which includes Burley Kirkland, Kenneth Brian Curry, Geoffrey Paul Olin and Jason Gregory Oliver, among others. The agency said all of the suspects were booked into the Columbia County Jail and that one man, David Alan Schwab, was arrested on an Outagamie County, Wisconsin warrant and is expected to be extradited, according to FDLE.
Legal Next Steps
The State Attorney’s Office for the Third Judicial Circuit will prosecute the cases and decide on formal charges after reviewing the evidence collected during the sweep, local reporting notes. Penalties for failing to comply with Florida sex offender registration laws can vary based on the type of violation and the person’s criminal history, as reported by Action News Jax.
How Residents Can Follow Up
Residents who want to review the statewide registry can use the FDLE mobile app or the agency’s online search tool. Authorities say tips or concerns about specific registrants should be directed to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office. Regional coverage of "Operation Running Wild" and the list of arrestees was carried by several outlets, including the Tampa Free Press, which published the names released by officials.
