Sheriff’s Fugitive Wheel Names Wrong Man, Causes Lawsuit

Titusville, Florida: A man has filed a defamation lawsuit against a Florida sheriff who posts weekly “Wheel of Fugitive” videos on social media.

David Gay lost his job and suffered emotional distress because of his sheriff’s post, according to a lawsuit seeking more than $50,000 in damages. Filed in county state court.

Gay’s prospective boss called him when he was driving on his first day of work and told him not to bother showing up because he saw Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey’s “Fugitive Ring” video. said, the lawsuit said.

A Sheriff’s Office spokesman on Monday did not respond to an emailed inquiry seeking comment on the lawsuit.

In a video posted to social media, Ivey spins the wheel with photos of the county’s 10 most wanted fugitives.

“Everybody’s watching. Even the fugitives are watching it to see who will be the ‘Fugitive of the Week,'” Ivey said, according to the Associated Press.

Gaye was involved in the court system for an undisclosed crime and was sentenced to three years of probation in November 2020 for a “restriction on sentencing.”

Gaye was taken into custody in January 2021 on probation violation charges and was arrested for misdemeanor domestic crimes a few weeks ago. He believed his father had a physical altercation with his mother, and his case was eventually dismissed.