Running for State Senate: dysfunctional ex-Sheriff DAVID SHOAR f/k/a "HOAR"

UPDATE, August 9, 2024: Disgraced ex-Sheriff HOAR, who legally changed his name to "SHOAR" in 1994, is now endorsed by convicted felon disgraced ex-President DONALD JOHN TRUMP: Ethically-challenged retired Sheriff DAVID SHOAR, who legally changed his name from "HOAR" in 1994, has filed to run for the State Senate seat. That seat is currently encumbered by bundler-bungler-builder-developer-Senator TRAVIS JAMES HUTSON.  The SHOAR campaign was anticipated by anonymous PAC ads from an ERIKA ALBA front group attacking State Rep. THOMAS LEEK, an insurance company advocate, as "liberal."  DAVID SHOAR is chief investigator for WOOLSEY MARCUM, a plaintiff personal injury law firm, which employs St. Johns County Commissioner Isaac Henry Dean and St. Augustine lawyer Richard Rumrell, father of St. Augustine Beach Mayor Dylan Rumrell.   SHOAR is most noted for delaying body-worn cameras and dashboard cameras, stating in 2016 that he rejects the "false narrative" that "cops need to be watched."  Watch SHOAR.  In one of America's best political novels, Facing the Lions, the late New York Times Associate Editor Tom Wicker's character, reporter Richmond P. Morgan says about a political animal, "Nine lives. A mean tough bastard like that is bound to have nine lives."

Ex-Sheriff DAVID SHOAR (right) with State's Attorney RALPH JOSEPH LARIZZA

(Photo credit: Jeffrey Marcus Gray & The New York Times)

Ex-Sheriff DAVID SHOAR (The New York Times)

Celebrating Christmas and New Years a little early? The chief investigator for the WOOLSEY MORCOM law firm, St. Johns County's disgraced former Sheriff 2005-2021, ran a red light, not stopping before turning at Pope Road and A1A Beach Blvd, on the evening of Friday, December 15, 2023 at 8:49:53.  

Ex-Sheriff DAVID SHOAR was pulled over by St. Augustine Beach Police on December 15, 2023 at Pope Road and A1A Beach Blvd., he had a Beretta on his hip and a snubnose hammerless Smith & Wesson on his hip.  There was 1/4 ounce of marijuana on the console of in his red Ford Explorer SUV, sitting next to the notorious former High Sheriff (Retired), including loose pieces of marijuana and three (3) joints.  The police report referred to him by his first name ("David") and does not quote their conversation.  Waiting on any photos of SHOAR and his two (2) guns.

Both of SHOAR's guns were seized and later returned after an NCIC check.  His antics wasted an hour of SABPD time.  Although he brandished his State of Florida medical marijuana card, SHOAR, it was not a license for SHOAR to drive around in his red SUV, smoking pot.  Nor was it a license for SHOAR to carry marijuana outside pharmacy packaging.  Nor was it an invitation for SHOAR to leave loose pieces of marijuana open in his red SUV, along with three (3) marijuana joints.

Does dangerous negligent driver DAVID SHOAR give new meaning to the ancient British term, "High Sheriff?" Riding around wearing two guns, smoking marijuana?  What kind of man is he?  See the series of hostile comments posted by SHOAR or his entourage below this article. 

In 2005, SHOAR was driving near his home without a seatbelt, coming home from a party In a car crash, SHOAR's leg broke in seven places.  He developed an addiction to opioids.  His bad driving resulted in both parking spaces adjoining SHOAR's reserved space being left empty; then he was provided with a driver. 

The angry, authoritarian, misanthropic misguided author of the 2010 Michelle O'Connell homicide coverup, SHOAR "retired" by popular demand.  (SHOAR said at the time that he decided to "exit, stage left" in January 2021 after international exposure of his works and pomps in The New York Times, PBS Frontline, Folio Weekly, NBC News Dateline, ABC 20/20, the Guardian and other news media. The mean lawless lawman is a sloppy, sleazy Republican politician  who covered up the September 2, 2010, Michelle O'Connell homicide can't evade karma.

SHOAR legally changed his surname from HOAR in 1994.

The WOOLSEY MORCOM law firm employs SHOAR as its chief investigator.  WOOLSELY MORCOM also employs County Commissioner ISAAC HENRY DEAN as "Of Counsel," and lobbyist ERIKA ALBA ("I'm not a lobbyist") a former Republican County Commission primary candidate as a partner; its former managing partner is Judge CASEY WOOLSEY, County Court Judge, facing for discipline for alleged unethical activities.   What do they think of SHOAR's driving?  Could it subject them to liability for negligence if SHOAR/HOAR gets into another car wreck?

Details from St. Augustine Beach Police and SABPD Offense Report SABP23OFF000610.

By Drew Dixon, from Florida Politics (December 21, 2023):

Cops find marijuana in former St. Johns Sheriff’s SUV, let him go with warning

The former Sheriff of St. Johns County was found in possession of cannabis in his sport utility vehicle on a St. Augustine Beach road, but police let him go with a simple warning.

The former Sheriff of St. Johns County was found in possession of cannabis in his sport utility vehicle on a St. Augustine Beach road this month, but police let him go with a simple warning.

David Shoar, Sheriff of St. Johns County from 2004 to 2021, was busted with possession of marijuana in his Ford Explorer. According to a St. Augustine Beach Police Department (SABPD) report, Officer Brett Adams said he sensed what smelled like burning marijuana coming from Shoar’s SUV even before he pulled the vehicle over when he observed Shoar did not stop at a red traffic light on State Road A1A before turning onto Pope Road in the coastal community.

Shoar immediately brandished his Florida state-issued medical marijuana card, which permits legal use of prescribed cannabis. but the weed must be stored in prescribed containers and packages from a dispensary. There was no prescribed container or package. Even though marijuana is legal for medicinal and prescribed use in Florida, it is still illegal to drive under the influence of the drug.

The incident took place at about 9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 15.

After the traffic stop was made, Adams said in the report, “I observed pieces of marijuana on the center console (of the SUV). Additionally, there was a very strong odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle.”

Adams stated he asked the former Sheriff to exit from his vehicle. A search of the vehicle was conducted and an additional three marijuana cigarettes were located inside the Explorer.

Adams wrote in his report, “I collected the marijuana and submitted it into evidence for destruction.”

Coincidentally, Shoar was an outspoken critic of some proposed measures in Florida that would have legalized medicinal marijuana before the drug got state approval for prescriptions. In 2015, a Florida Politics report noted Shoar, who was President of the Florida Sheriff’s Association, was opposed to elements of state legislative proposals to legalize medicinal cannabis.

Adams said he gave Shoar a “verbal warning for both the traffic violation and having marijuana in the vehicle.” The former Sheriff was allowed to drive away from the traffic stop.

No field sobriety test was given.

SABPD Police Chief Daniel Carswell issued a statement this week addressing the officer’s actions and said the incident was handled appropriately.

“A roadside investigation and interview were conducted by officers. No driver impairment was detected during the interview/investigation,” Carswell said in a brief type-written statement which largely recounted the incident report drafted by Adams.

“SABPD officers conducted a thorough investigation adhering to agency policy and standard operating procedures,” Carswell concluded in his prepared statement.