Police: Ex-Florida cop stole cows, twice
OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. -- A former Florida police officer has been arrested three times since August, twice for allegedly stealing cows, and once for drug possession, reports CBS affiliate WKMG.
An Osceola County rancher, Kevin Whaley, discovered that at least one of his calves was missing from his cow pen and found tall grass that was pushed over to cover a hole cut in a nearby fence, according to police.
Investigators said they used surveillance video, canceled checks and DNA testing before concluding that Keith Collins, 53, was involved in the theft.
Collins, who lives in Kenansville, Fla., worked for the Osceola County Sheriff's Office for eight years before resigning in 1998.
Two officers drove to Kenansville and found video that allegedly showed Collins selling two calves at an auction. The calves matched the description of Whaley's calves, but officers have not verified that they both belonged to Whaley. Police also obtained a copy of a check signed by Collins, who sold the animals for $300.
He was arrested on Aug. 11, charged with grand theft of a commercially farmed animal, and released from jail after posting bail.
Later in August, the Florida Agricultural Crimes Intelligence Unit sent out a bulletin about six stolen calves, including a young bull taken from a Volusia County ranch in June. The owners told authorities they suspected Collins was behind the thefts.
Collins had recently claimed that his own calf had wandered from his home to another ranch in Kenansville, according to police. When officers asked Collins where he got the calf, he allegedly said an "old man" gave him cows in exchange for working on his ranch.
Collins was arrested on Oct. 7 and charged with grand theft of livestock. He was put in the Osceola County Jail and later released.
Less than a month later, on Nov. 3, Collins was charged with possession of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and destroying evidence after a traffic stop.
He was put in the back seat of a police car and allegedly seen on camera crushing a glass pipe. He is again being held in the Osceola County Jail, without bail.