As authorities in Florida warn many of those in the potential path of Hurricane Irma to leave their homes, a county sheriff is offering a warm bed to anyone wanted by law enforcement: in the county jail.
Sheriff Grady Judd also stirred up controversy by saying sex offenders would not be allowed into hurricane shelters.
‘If you go to a shelter for #Irma and you have a warrant, we’ll gladly escort you to the safe and secure shelter called the Polk County Jail,’ the Polk County Sheriff’s Office wrote on Twitter on Wednesday.
Florida Governor Rick Scott has warned that Irma could be more devastating than Hurricane Andrew, which hit the state in 1992. Thousands of National Guard troops will be deployed ahead of Irma’s expected arrival at the weekend.
Sheriff Grady Judd tweeted that people with a warrant out for their arrest were welcome to stay in the jail during Irma. He also mentioned that sex offenders would not be allowed in the shelters
In a series of tweets, the office of Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd urged people to prepare for the storm, and said that if they did go to a shelter they would find deputies there checking IDs.
Grady Judd received criticism for saying pedophiles and predators were banned from using the shelters
‘Sex offenders/predators will not be allowed,’ the office tweeted. ‘We cannot and we will not have innocent children in a shelter with sexual offenders & predators. Period.’
Some Twitter users responded with shock, saying it was inhumane to deny anyone shelter during dangerous conditions.
The sheriff’s office did not immediately respond to a message seeking more details, but a spokeswoman told the Orlando Sentinel newspaper the ID checks will allow residents to feel the shelters are safe and encourage higher turnout.
‘We hope it actually leads to more people turning themselves in,’ the spokeswoman, Carrie Horstman, told the paper.
Polk County, between Orlando and Tampa, is home to about 600,000 people. Being landlocked is no protection against hurricanes, the sheriff’s office noted, tweeting the hashtag: #goawayIrma.
According to Business Insider, Judd is popular in Polk County and has made a name for himself by combating pedophilia. He has also been criticized for not dismissing minor cases.
Florida Governor Rick Scott has warned that Irma could be more devastating than Hurricane Andrew. Polk County Jail will be open as a shelter for those wanted by police
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