TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) -- For the first time, Liberty County Sheriff Nick Finch is speaking out about his arrest.
A rally is taking place in front of the Old Capitol in Tallahassee by supporters who want Finch reinstated. Governor Rick Scott appointed an interim Sheriff, Carl Causey, following Finch's June 4 arrest by Florida Department of Law Enforcement on a charge of official misconduct.
In a release to WTXL from FDLE, Finch is charged with destroying or removing official arrest documents from the Liberty County Jail, "making it appear as though an arrest never occurred. The investigation revealed that a Liberty County Sheriff's Office deputy arrested a Liberty County resident on March 8, 2013 for carrying a concealed firearm, a third degree felony. Shortly after the suspect was booked into the Liberty County Jail, Finch allegedly released the suspect and altered or destroyed documents associated with the arrest."
According to the Associated Press, an arrest report, however, shows that Finch pushed to drop charges because he believes in "2nd Amendment rights."
Finch was elected sheriff in 2012 after beating the incumbent by less than 200 votes.
Press Secretary Jackie Schutz with Governor Rick Scott's office says more than 1,300 emails have been receieved regarding Sheriff Finch's arrest; 1,323 opposing his arrest and 3 supporting the arrest.
A "Support for Liberty County Sheriff Nick Finch" Facebook page was created not long after the sheriff's arrest and already has more than 4,400 "likes".
Watch WTXL ABC27 News at Noon, 5 p.m., and 6 p.m. for continuing coverage.
