Floral City man, who fled to Colorado, arrested there on animal cruelty charges
Photo of Munn, upon arrest, courtesy of CCSO.
Jason Munn, 48, of Floral City, Florida, who was named a Citrus County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) 'Wanted of the Week' on April 27, 2022, was arrested on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, by the Saguache County Sheriff's Office, located in Saguache, Colorado, with the assistance of the United States Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force.
An investigation into Munn's criminal acts began on April 1, 2022, after CCSO officials received information that Munn was not properly caring for a large number of dogs that he was breeding and selling on his property and business location.
After local officials contacted Mr. Munn, in regard to allegations that he'd violated Citrus County ordinances, it was discovered that Munn was not in compliance with the size and capacity of the dogs' kennels, and rather than attempting to correct the violations witnessed by Citrus County Animal Control Officers, Munn began relocating some of the animals in his possession. Munn surrendered 14 dogs to the Citrus County Animal Shelter, 3 of them in such deplorable condition from long periods of neglect, that Munn was arrested, April 18, on 3 counts of aggravated animal cruelty.
After Munn's initial arrest, officials continued to investigate the animals in his care, and they learned that Munn had relocated 65 dogs to Iowa. The Keokuk County Sheriff's Office, in Sigourney, Iowa, and the Iowa Animal Rescue League, in Des Moines, Iowa, seized all of the animals due to their poor healh conditions.
One of the dogs, now in the care of the Iowa Animal Rescue League, had a leg that was improperly amputated. Further investigation led Citrus County Community Crimes detectives and Animal Control officers to believe that Munn had performed this amputation himself, in Citrus County, without the assistance of a veterinarian or proper follow-up care.
On April 20, 2022, CCSO Community Crimes detectives and animal control officers served a search warrant for both of Munn's properties, located at 6991 and 7033 E. Shadywoods Ct. in Floral City, and they found 56 dogs on the properties, living in deplorable conditions. Some of the dogs were confined in small kennels, with multiple other dogs, and no access to food or water. The remains of two dogs were located under a tarp on the property, and one puppy was found deceased in its own feces and urine, with no access to water. Twenty-eight reptiles (snakes, skinks, geckos, and monitor lizards) were also found on the property, also being kept in terrible conditions.
Officials with the Citrus County Animal Shelter, the CCSO's Community Crimes division and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals worked together to seize the animals found on scene and to further investigate the deaths of the deceased dogs.
Citrus County officials also attempted to contact Mr. Munn, who had already bonded out of custody from his previous arrest, but they were unsuccessful at locating him. Due to the existing evidence and preliminary examinations by the Citrus County Animal Shelter veterinarian, an arrest warrant was obtained for Munn, and with the assistance of the United States Marshal's Service and the Saguache County Sheriff's Office, Munn was arrested in Colorado. Munn will be extradited back to Citrus County for his crimes. Additional charges are pending for Munn, as the CCSO continues its investigation.
"Munn's arrest could not have been made possible if it was not for the collaborative efforts of all the incredible professionals and advocates involved," said Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast. "I'd like to thank the United States Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force, Citrus County Animal Shelter Chief Veterinarian Dr. Meaghan Mielo and Director Colleen Yarbrough, the Keokuk County Sheriff's Office, Iowa Animal Rescue League, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the Saguache County Sheriff's Office for their steadfast dedication and assistance in this horrendous case."