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PUNTA GORDA, Fla.- The Charlotte County Sheriff's Environmental Deputy arrested a man Tuesday for illegally dumping 100 tractor trailer tires on a vacant lot in the Charlotte Ranchettes area east of Punta Gorda. Robert Jackson Clawson, 57, of 6469 Gewant Boulevard, was charged with Felony Litter Law.

On Feb.3 a neighbor on Gewant Boulevard reported seeing a semi pulling a flatbed trailer loaded with the tires. He said the driver and Clawson off loaded all of the old tires onto the ground. The neighbor said the name on the semi was Kinsey Trucking Company of Fort Myers. CCSO contacted the Charlotte County Code Enforcement officer and an FWC.

The CCSO deputy and FWC investigator obtained a search warrant and Tuesday at 7:00 a.m. went to Clawson’s camper; he was not there, but was located by another deputy and placed under arrest. Clawson said he invited Richard Kinsey of the trucking company to bring the load of waste tires to his property. Clawson said he didn’t think he was in violation of any laws. Kinsey agreed to go back to the site and remove all of the tires and properly dispose of them. He was not charged since Clawson said he could offload the tires on his property.

Clawson was taken to the Charlotte County Jail, booked, and was released after posting a $2,500 bond. If anyone has information about illegal dumping, please call the CCSO at 941-639-2101, or Crime Stoppers at 800-780-TIPS (8477).