Following the arrest of Ricky Lee Schieferstein on animal cruelty charges after a social media video showed alleged dog abuse, the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office issued a reminder about how to report crimes. The sheriff's office said that while it appreciates the public's assistance in bringing incidents to its attention, social media platforms are not monitored continuously and should never be relied upon to report emergencies or crimes requiring an immediate law enforcement response.
The fastest and most effective way to report a crime in progress or suspicious activity is by calling 911, according to the sheriff's office. The case began after numerous members of the community shared a video and tagged the sheriff's office across its social media platforms before the information was turned over to the criminal investigations division.