Probation officer arrested on multiple charges

By KATE McCARDELL / Floridan Staff Writer
Published: September 24, 2008

A Jackson County man employed as a state probation officer was arrested early Wednesday in Bay County after he was seen driving erratically, according to authorities.
The arresting deputy found 44-year-old Ryder Anthony Laramore sitting in the driver’s seat of a black Nissan, wearing a wig and dress, with a bottle of vodka below his car seat, according to a Bay County Sheriff’s Office incident report.
Laramore, whose listed residence was 4141 Laramore Rd. in Marianna,  was charged with DUI, possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), possession of marijuana less than 20 grams, and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to the Bay County Jail.
He attended first appearance Wednesday afternoon and was granted a pre-trial conditional release, according to Bay County’s Chief Assistant Public Defender Doug White.
In addition to the conditions typical to this type of release, Laramore is required to report to a Panama City supervisor instead of one in Jackson County, said White.
White represented Laramore at his first appearance. When asked whether Laramore would eventually be assigned to a conflict attorney because he is the son of Public Defender Herman Laramore, White said that he expects Ryder Laramore will be using a private attorney through the rest of the case.
BCSO Sgt. Mark Tochterman said Jackson County Sheriff Deputy Phillip Lowery was driving north on Highway 231 in Bay County when the incident involving Laramore began.

Women’s clothing and drug paraphernalia

The following is narrative of a BSCO incident report, which listed Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputies Phillip Lowery and Jeff Snell as witnesses:
“On September 23, 2008, at 11:24 p.m., I was dispatched to the area of Highway 231 and Highway 20 in reference to a possible drunk driver. The vehicle was described as a black passenger car. Dispatch had received several 911 calls in reference to this vehicle running cars off the road and swerving into traffic. These calls are recorded and will be preserved as evidence in this case.”
“At 11:37 p.m., I was dispatched to the area of Highway 231 and Harrington Road to assist Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, who stopped a black passenger car for suspicion of DUI. On Sept. 24, 2008 at 12:20 a.m. I arrived on scene. Deputy Phillip Lowery of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office had a black Nissan car, with Florida tag 083KSY, stopped on the side of the North bound lane of Highway 231just south of Harrington Road. Deputy Lowery told me that the driver (defendant) had swerved off the road several times and almost hit several other cars. The defendant also swerved off the road onto a sidewalk. He also stated that several cars tried to flag him down in reference to the black car. Deputy Lowery decided to stop the car. Because he was in Bay County, Deputy Lowery called Bay County Sheriff’s for assistance.”
“I then made contact with the defendant, who was sitting in the driver’s side of the car. I noticed that he wearing women’s clothes and a blond wig. I also noticed a bottle of vodka in plain view under the driver’s seat. The bottle was sticking out from under the seat about 3/4 it’s length.”
“I asked the defendant if he had been drinking. He stated that he had not. I then asked where he had been. The defendant stated that he was at a party. His response to my questions were very slow. He looked at me for about three seconds prior to answering. The defendant appeared to be very disoriented. Although I could not smell any alcohol coming from his person, is suspected that he may have been under the influence of a chemical substance or narcotic. I then asked the defendant to step out of the car. I immediately noticed that his balance was shaken. He was wearing black stockings and no shoes. I then asked the defendant if I could search his car and he stated no. I then asked the defendant to perform some field sobriety evaluations and he agreed.”
According to the incident narrative, Laramore did not successfully complete those evaluations and was placed under arrest for DUI.
Upon search of the vehicle, the arresting officer reported finding “a small bag that contained a plastic vial with white powder which field-tested positive for meth.” Inside the bag, the officer also found a plastic straw and a small bag of marijuana, according to his report.  During a search of the glove box, officers also reportedly found a glass pipe, a pistol, and a Probation and Parole badge.
After Laramore was booked into the Bay County Jail, he agreed to provide a breath sample and the results of the test came back negative, according to BSCO.
Laramore was also asked to provide a urine sample, which he declined to give, said BSCO.
“The defendant state he was not going to take the test until he spoke with a lawyer. I then explained his refusal would result in a suspension of his license. The defendant still refused to take the urine test,” reads a portion of the incident report narrative.
Laramore also refused the collection of his saliva for DNA testing, said the report. The mouthpiece used in the breath test was kept as evidence and will be used to collect DNA evidence, the report said.

A probation officer since 1991

According to the Florida Department of Corrections,  Laramore has been employed as a state correctional probation officer since 1991.
At this time, the status of Laramore’s employment is not affected by the incident, pending results of the criminal case, according to an FDOC spokesperson.
Mike Morrison, spokesperson for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said FDLE is not currently involved in the case.
Morrison explained what typically happens after an officer is arrested.
“Basically what happens following an officer’s arrest is that a criminal case must first come to conclusion and findings of the criminal case are sent to the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission, which is staffed by FDLE,” said Morrison.
Morrison said that if an officer is convicted of a felony by the state, he or she is no longer eligible to serve as an officer in Florida.
If that officer is found guilty of or pleads to a lesser charge, said Morrison, the commission reviews the facts of the case, and if the state standards maintaining moral character are violated, the commission can take action, ranging from no action to a written reprimand, to suspension or revocation of the officer’s certificate.
Those in a probationary status under Laramore’s supervision who have any questions about to whom they’ll report may call the state probation office to be reassigned, said a FDOC spokesperson.