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Probation Officer Charges Dropped
01/07/09 - 09:50 AM

By KATE McCARDELL Floridan Staff Writer

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All charges have been dropped in the case against a former Jackson County state probation officer who was arrested under suspicion of drug possession and driving under the influence Sept. 24.

According to Bay County court records, all four charges against Ryder Anthony Laramore of Marianna were dropped Dec. 19.

Laramore, 44, was charged with DUI, possession of methamphetamine, possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

At the time of his arrest Laramore was dressed in women’s apparel, according to police reports.

The day after his arrest, Laramore’s 17-year employment with the state was terminated by way of an “extraordinary dismissal.”

“The circumstances of the arrest and the evidence introduced early on in the case contributed to grounds for an extraordinary dismissal,” Florida Department of Corrections spokesperson Gretl Plessinger said in an earlier interview. 

Although Asst. State Attorney Maria Dykes is listed as prosecutor in the case, Bay County court records show that former 14th Judicial State Attorney Steve Meadows called in a “no information” on the case Sept. 30, and a deferred prosecution agreement with Laramore was executed.

The agreement is similar to a pre-trial intervention, which typically spans six to 12 months, according to a Bay County Clerk of Courts representative.

Laramore’s case was dropped in December, when it was determined that he met the agreement’s conditions, according to court records. He was not charged any court fees.

The son of Public Defender Herman Laramore, Ryder Laramore was represented through the case by Chief Assistant Public Defender Doug White, according to Bay County court records.

In a September interview with the Floridan, White said he expected Laramore would be using a private attorney through the rest of the case.

The case was handled in Bay County because that’s where Laramore was apprehended on the night of the incident.

The arresting deputy found 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.

According to Bay County law enforcement, Jackson County sheriff’s deputies were first to respond to the incident, which began along U.S. Highway 231.

Emergency dispatch had received several calls in reference to a possible drunk driver running cars off the road.

“These calls are recorded and will be preserved as evidence in this case,” the BSCO incident report said.

Upon arriving at the scene, a Bay County deputy was informed by a Jackson County deputy who was already present that Laramore had swerved off the road several times and almost hit several other cars.

Laramore also swerved off the road onto a sidewalk, the report said.

When the Bay County deputy made contact with Laramore, he 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 three-quarters of it’s length,” read the narrative of the incident report.

Laramore told the deputy he had not been drinking, the report said.

“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,” the deputy stated in his report. “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 swearing 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 searching 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 stated 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 (driver’s) license. The defendant still refused to take the urine test,” the report narrative said.

Laramore also refused the collection of his saliva for DNA testing, according to the report. The mouthpiece used in the breath test was kept as evidence and was held to be used to collect DNA evidence, the report said.