MAN ARRESTED IN LARGE ILLEGAL-DUMPING CASE

A42-year-old Key Largo man was arrested on May 30 following an investigation into an illegal-dumping case involving thousands of pounds of trash and debris just north of Samson Road.

According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Steven John Walters was charged with illegal dumping on private property.

The sheriff’s office began investigating the case in March after it was learned Walters was illegally camping in the area. Walters reportedly collected a large amount of trash, bicycles, tools and miscellaneous garbage at the site.

The property owner was notified and they stated they had not given Walters permission to live on or leave trash at the site. The sheriff’s office told Walters he was illegally camping and he was given time to clean up the mess and vacate the area. He made no attempts to clean or vacate the property. An arrest warrant for Walters was obtained and he was booked into jail on May 30.

Members of the sheriff’s office subsequently organized a community cleanup and removed nearly 5,000 pounds of garbage.