Florida Sheriff Grady Judd said Wednesday he would arrest people who come to shelters during Hurricane Irma if they have outstanding warrants.
The Polk County Sheriff made the threats on Twitter and also said registered sex offenders would be turned away from shelters to protect children and others, the Orlando Sentinel reported.
Judd said officers would check IDs at all shelters and encouraged any wanted suspects to turn themselves in so they could be in a secure location — the jail — during the hurricane.
“Officers are legally obligated to take a person into custody if they have a warrant,” sheriff’s office spokeswoman Carrie Horstman said, the Sentinel reported.
Judd has a reputation for making blunt and brazen comments. In June, he made a video encouraging Polk County residents to arm themselves in response to recent terrorist attacks, telling them not to be a “sitting duck.” He also stood his ground after an atheist group said he violated the First Amendment when he gave a sermon in uniform in 2015.
Twitter users said Judd would get people killed with his approach and that he should emulate Houston, which said it would not make arrests of those in shelters.
Some saw his logic, however.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.