This just in from TJ Hart - Simon
As the new charges were being handed down and the amounts increased for Ronald Cummings and Misty Croslin Wednesday, Frebruary 3, 2010, I spoke on the telephone with Putnam County Sheriff Jeff Hardy and asked him about the drug trafficking case involving Ron and Misty, the Haleigh Cummings case, some jail escapes and matters of safety pertaining to the jail.
TJ: Good afternoon, Sheriff Hardy. Thank you for taking time out of your day to speak with me.
JH: Not a problem.
TJ: First year as a Sheriff…a lot of challenges including the disapperance of Haleigh Cummings. Any light at the end of the tunnel as far as a resolution in this investigation.
JH: This is an ongoing investigation.
TJ: Are we still looking for a live child? Some have stated that the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office is looking for either a live child or possibly a dead child, but prefers to think the child is alive.
JH: Don’t you want us to find a live child?
TJ: Yes! Who wouldn’t?
JH: I believe we are looking for a live child, but we–like the families–are prepared to for a real possibility that she might not be alive.
TJ: Where is Ronald Cummings being held in the Putnam County Jail?
JH: He is in solitary confinement.
TJ: What is it like? All I know about solitary is what I’ve seen in those old prison movies from the 1940’s.
JH: He has a small cot and a toilet.
TJ: A cot and a pot?
JH: You could say that.
TJ: How has this case affected your detectives and other deputies working the case?
JH: It has been very intense. Some of our officers have had to be pulled off the case from time-to-time due to exhaustion. Losing this child has been like losing one of our own children.
TJ: I want to ask you a few things about your jail….
JH: Excellent questions…
TJ: It is common knowledge around here that the jail is overcrowded. It’s a facility built to house about 236 inmates and at last count, you have 360 behind bars there!
JH: I knew about this problem coming into office. It’s been talked about for nearly a decade and now it’s time for some meaningful action. Just this past year we’ve had a jail break where two escapees killed an innocent woman. Later, we had an inmate shot and killed trying to escape. Our inmate to officer ratio is too high–officers get hurt… We need about 29 more jail personnel.
TJ: How much worse does it need to get?
JH: We have the lowest bond schedules in the state. We are backed up on warrants served due to the over crowding at the jail.
TJ: Isn’t the jail facing the very real possibility of being shut down by the feds due to overcrowding? It has happened before in other places, correct?
JH: I think it could happen. It’s frustrating….my job is to catch bad guys and get them off the street and housed safely away from our citizens–that’s what I was elected to do!
TJ: What action steps are you taking to remedy this problem?
JH: I plan on meeting with the County Manager and the County Commission shortly. We need to take actions to expedite the judicial process. This ISN’T a catch a release program!
TJ Hart














(7 votes, average: 3.29 out of 5)


69 users commented in " Reporter’s Notes: Conversation with Putnam County Sheriff Jeff Hardy "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackThanks TJ for all your hard work.
Wow! T. J., you have been busy today! Thank you for all of the info.
Simon and Jan, a very special thank you to both of you for providing us with this info promptly.
All of you make an awesome team!
Thank you, TJ!
pretty short interview..any link to the audio? thank you
So what I read is donate monies to the jail instead of Ron’s funds or Crystales funds. Go to it!!!Keep Ron and Misty in jail. Keep them there as long as possible. They will never tell what happend to Haliegh. They are both involved. They will get more time for drugs than they will for involuntary manslaughter, if we are all right in that Haleighs’ death was an accident staged obduction. Keep the 2 of them in jail.
wow!!TJ,AND BNN YOU GUYS R GREAT.TOO BAD CAN’T SAY THE SAME ABOUT ART HARRIS N COBRA.I HAVE NO RESPECT FOR EITHER OF THEM.HERE HALEIGH IS MISSING AND COBRA TRYING TO MAKE A NAME FOR HIMSELF AND BOTTOM FEEDER ART TRYIN’ TO MAKE A BUCK AT HALEIGH’S EXPENSE.IMO..SORRY BUT I DON’T LIKE IT!!!
SEEING HANK SR. MAKES ME WONDER IF HE’S WORKING 4 LE ASKING MISTY ALL THOSE QUESTIONS,ABOUT HER DEALS W/ THE PILLS.ALSO I SAW HANK GIVE MISTY A Q/SIGN TO KEEP QUIET,WHEN HE MENTIONED HALEIGH.I’M SORRY BUT IMO RON’S GOOSE IS COOKED.THAT’S WHY MISTY’S MOM MADE A POINT TO TELL HER THAT RON HAS A G.FRIEND IN HOPES THAT SHE’D RAT HIM OUT.AGAIN MISTY HAS TRIED TO PROTECT RON AND HE HAS CONTINUED TO DEAL W/ HER OUTTA FEAR,OF BEING EXPOSED.RON’S AIR TIGHT ALIBI IS JUST 2 AIR TIGHT….
I am getting more suspicious of Ron. Who gave the alibi for him? Was it just some guys at work? They might not be that trust worthy.Pinkey could be right the mom may want Misty to get jealous so she will rat Ron out.Even if he is not guilty of anything he is still stupid to get arrrested and leave his son.
whats up with cobra? I thought he ran from this case with his tail between his legs but lo and behold hes talking with misty’d mom….imagine that. No wonder he ran from the blogtalkradio..
he had you fooled jan and simon
Cobra and Art have no vested interest in a girl they never met. They DO have a vested interest in their own interests.
There are so many threads. I do not know where to post this. This is unbelievable!
http://www.wesh.com/news/22458640/detail.html
WESH Orlando, Fl
2-3-10 Updated: 11:06 p.m. EST
“Bounty Hunter Offers to Pay Misty Croslin’s Bond”
thank you tj for getting the interview. it may be brief but information packed. and thank you to jan and simon for sharing this with all of us who read here at bnn. ms.p.
In the article I read it seems like PCSO is backing off Misty even being involved. That worries me because they for so long have pointed to Misty. Seems if she does not they are lost.
Ron Cumming may be a drug dealer but that does not mean he killed his kid. His work has a finger print time card plus a gaurd who takes plates at the gate. What do you all think he did with her anyway? Seems to me like she was his heart and he may have lots of enemies, both woman and men.
You’ll see he did not kill his kid or sell her.
Only way he is involved is if she is alive.
I agree with Dan. Hopefully LE is close to solving it, I can’t believe it’s almost been a year. Thanks TJ, for all that you do.
Thanks TJ this was a really good interview. Thank you Simon and Jan for getting all of this info out so quickly. All your hard work is much appreciated.
Thanks TJ….great job keeping up with these slimy druggies. LE has Misty right were they want her…..in a cell becoming spastic. They should move in for the kill so to speak. Grill her 24/7…..even waterboard her to make her talk. She boo hoos that they won’t let her do anything….oh my poor baby. Did she expect that it would be a garden party?
Leonard Padilla should keep his mits in his pocket and stay away from these creeps because he only makes matters worse…as we all found out in the Anthony case.
This filthy excuse of a girl will not talk to anyone…least of all LP….but if they keep her right where she is now…she may just break down and fess up to Haleigh’s abduction and her role in it which I think is HUGE.
Her mommy, daddy and bro have all been in the slammer and now maybe they should reserve cells for them since they are frequest visitors.
What trash…..and to think Haleigh & Jr were exposed this this on a daily basis!!!
I’ve tried and tried but I have absolutely nothing positive or even nice to say about the investigation into Haleigh’s disappearance or Sheriff Hardy or his self-promoting interview (Sorry, TJ. You did a good job. You can’t be blamed for Hardy’s responses - especially the smart mouth retort to your question about looking for Haleigh alive or dead).
Look where we are. Drug arrests on January 20. The taped conversations took place on January 28 and were released on Feb 3 along with a meaningless interview with the Sheriff.
We are NOWHERE near finding out what happened to Haleigh.
I think it would take an extremely good lawyer to convince any of the incarcerated to tell what they know IF they know anything and if they don’t have the proof to offer LE on a silver platter, it won’t do any good anyway.
Obviously my opinion is based on what we know so far. When and if more is learned regarding Haleigh’s disappearance, then I may change my mind. Also, this is coming from someone (me)who is still open to the possibility that R, M, or T was responsible. Even if one or all of them are, this “investigation” is such a joke I’d be looking around for Laurel if was remotely funny. But it’s not.
Meanwhile, Sheriff Hardy, if any of these people get a bruise or a broken fingernail, YOU will be held accountable as far as I’m concerned.
REAL Justice for Haleigh, please!
Dan I agree with you that Ron is drug dealer ,but that does not mean he killed his kid. On Sundays show with Simon, Jan ,TJ Hart, Denny and Levi Page. Information about the time clocks was talked about. They said the time clocks were in the process of being changed out. I did not hear anything about a guard at this point.
We all are still waiting to find out what happened to Haleigh. Noone knows who has done what. Therefore I will not convict anyone, but I am suspicious of Ron although I was not in the beginning. I have stated before now I hope it is just suspicion; not fact.
One correction to my previous post. The interview was not meaningless. Hardy’s comments were.
One thing we can all agree on is — there’s not a speck of brain matter with anyone of these druggies.
Knowing that they are all suspects in Haleigh’s disappearance….what do they do?
Go hunting for a drug dealer. Now is that smart? To them YES….because Haleigh is the furthest thing from their minds.
LE should waterboard them to get them to talk.
What a bunch of misfits and scum.
IMO
m2c
What do you expect Sheriff Hardy to say?
Hi, trishd54!
I have always respected the fact that LE can’t and should not tell the public a lot of things.
So I would not expect him to say much even now.
However I was dumbfounded by the smart-mouth retort to TJ’s question: “Are we still looking for a live child? Some have stated that the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office is looking for either a live child or possibly a dead child, but prefers to think the child is alive.”
JH response: “Don’t you want us to find a live child?”
And, yes, to answer TJ’s question, ” . . .a lot of challenges including the disapperance of Haleigh Cummings. Any light at the end of the tunnel as far as a resolution in this investigation?”
I would have expected a little more or at least different than the tired old response:
JH: “This is an ongoing investigation.”
I’m just afraid that this was not the right move to make to find out what happened to Haleigh. That it might actually prevent finding out what happened. I hope not, but that’s the way I feel right now.
I didn’t take Sheriff Hardy’s answer “Don’t you want us to find a live child?” as him being smart I think he was just stating the obvious. And, I think the Sheriff’s office would be tipping their hand to say anything further. They watched Misty and Ron for over a month and nothing was said about that ahead of time and it payed off. Now, I know this has not brought Haliegh home but I think its a step in the right direction.
Trishd54 - I hope you are right. I truly do.
It’s just that I can’t think of an incentive for these people to tell anything. They’re facing potentially more than a life-time in jail on the drug charges alone. How can that much jail time be whittled down to something that makes ‘fessing up info about Haleigh worthwhile? Maybe the state attorney general can make such deals magically happen. I don’t know.
m2c♥ said,in February 4th, 2010 at 9:38 am
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Apparently there is some sort of “youthful offenders” provision in FL law that could get her less time. Looks like there is something to bargain with. This was stated on NG last night.
m2c did you see the first coast news interview with Leonard Padilla yesterday. He says he is waiting to see if Mistys lawyer wants him to bond her out. He says that the bond of 135,000 is no problem. Man!! I hope he does not do this. Misty needs to sweat it out!!! They all need to stay right where they are!!!
Thank you, alethea, for the info!
Looks like I wasn’t the only one concerned about that!
What I am/was afraid of is that LE will put them away forever and a lot of people will be satisfied with that but no more will be known or done about Haleigh.
I’ll try to keep my hopes up, though. Thank you!
Hi, looking for justice!
What I hope is that somehow someone can impress upon M what her real situation is so that IF she knows something she will spill it!
If she has to stay in lock-up to “sober up” in order to understand that or if it takes giving her another (very temporary) taste of freedom to get her to that point, I don’t much care.
One thing that concerned me: They were arrested on January 20, I think. M talked with her mother on January 28 and was asking her what 10% of $50,000 was. Her bail had been set at close to a million during her first appearance in court on Jan 21, right?
Is anyone - a lawyer - anyone telling her what her real situation is? It didn’t seem to me that she had any idea of the mess she’s in - if she was hoping at that point to be bailed out by a family that can’t afford dish soap? I don’t understand that.
Sounds like Sheriff Jeff Hardy has his hands full - where are the resources to build a bigger jail? Is the county that depressed? Better question yet, why are these people still in jail - if the county has the ‘lowest bonds’ maybe these peeps need to be processed faster by the courts and tossed into prisions?!
m2c♥ said,in February 4th, 2010 at 10:07 am
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You’re welcome. I think most believe that she does know SOMETHING.
I also wondered why Misty has not been informed about how much her bail really is. I do remember Hank Sr. telling her not to talk unless her lawyer is present and that he is getting angry about her talking too much without him being present.
On Jan 21 her bail was set for 950,000. Ron was told that Mistys and Tommys were lowered, although they had not been.
I am thinking that Lisa was quoting what their bonds person quoted her they would do it for. I believe it was mentioned that the bondsmen would get it dropped to half the actual bond and they would have to come up with the 10%. If I am remembering this correctly.
Leonard Padilla, the good ole boy is so concerned for Haleigh, that after she has been missing for an entire year is willing to pay $135,000 to bail Misty out. Why wouldn’t he have spent $135K to search for her a year ago?? I smell a skunk.
Iheard a name mentioned by Misty and she sounded like she wanted this person to come see her. The name was Talent, has anyone got a clue who this is? And her dad says no he wont come. Hank also blames a John and Linda for getting her into this, who are they? Does anyone have a clue who these people are? imo
Thank you, looking for justice!
Then M still does not understand. Just using round numbers IF the bonds company got the bail reduced by half (HOW would they do that?) it would be about $500,000. Ten percent of that is $50,000. So M is still off-base asking what 10% of $50,000 is. I think about $50,000 is what the family would have to pay the bondsman, right?
Anyway, as I said, I am concerned about her not realizing her situation because THAT is what is going to open her mouth if anything will (IMO). But those recordings were on 1/28 so maybe she’s realized more since then.
We are watching old tapes thats why the bonds and info is weird. moo
The tapes we saw had to have been the first, when the group from Nevada were still in the picture.
Hi, Tobias! I don’t know who Talent, John or Linda are but I sure do hope LE knows or makes it their business to find out!
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One thing I don’t understand (of many) about bail is: If, for example, LP paid the bail, does he get that back when she goes back to jail? Or does the bond company keep that money?
I think that as we get more tapes to view its going to be harder to watch, Misty and Tommy are going to feel more doomed. And where are the Ronald tapes? They have to release those too under the law. imo
Tobias, yes the tapes were old and the bail has gone much higher now. However, last night Leonard Padilla made a stmt that he has a group from Nevada stilling wanting him to bail her out and that he will if her lawyer agrees. Just telling you in case you didn’t see that.
Tobias, I know the tapes were made on January 28. I am talking about M’s seeming inability to understand her situation at that time.
The 10% is non refundable and if misty skips out they have to pay the total sum. even if they later catch her. He would be stupid to risk money on her.imo
treece, I guess that means the “group from Nevada” is going to be able to pass a “Nebbia” hearing.
m2c, I agree Misty doesn’t get it. She does have a clue how much money that is. She also doesn’t seem to get it that just getting someone to bail her out doesn’t mean this is over. She seemed pretty panicked, I imagine Tobias is right it has gotten much worse after this much more time, and new charges, and higher bail.
Her lawyer better say no cause if she gets out you can bet she is gonna run. She is only 18 remember. imho
Tobias, LP will put an ankle monitor on her and a 24/7 guard. I don’t think she’ll be able to get away from him.
In ways Misty is older and missed being a child but in other ways she is frozen back in time and is very immature and childlike. I don’t know if she would run unless someone took her. How could she make it on her own??
She’s not going to get away in the first place. It’s just not an issue (to me).
She might be safer in jail, even with someone with a financial interest watching her. Just my opinion.
I cant believe some of this like her wanting to be in general population. Remember who we are hearing, a girl who grew up with criminals.
I may be wrong but I felt like I was watching KC Anthony on her video. We may be being played. I also find it hard to believe that she wasnt informed before she started talking that the videos were public. Remember she had a keen interest in the Anthony case and I am sure she knew about the tapes in that case were on TV. I dont believe she is as dumb as she pretends, except in Math perhaps. moo
alethea: Do you think someone would try to hurt her? Like a crazed blogger (not really kidding) or maybe someone who was involved/responsible for Haleigh’s disappearance?
She in my opinion could be in danger from any number of people including Haleighs family members. imo
Well you Tobias in the Casey Anthony case they had an Rv outside of the Anthony home and they put a woman inside with Casey to be with her at all times. They put a plan in place so she couldn’t run. I am sure this is what they would do with Misty. There is a chance, but I hope not.
Treece in the very beginning around the 11th or 12th of Feb 2009. LP was in Satsuma and was going to put forth a reward for a small time period for info and then retract it if noone came forward. I believe his help was refused as was George Anthonys who also went to Satsuma about the same time.
LP made an offer to Misty around the time she went to Orlando to do the ldt and voice analysis, but she refused it.
looking for justice, thank you for that info. I did not know that.
m2c♥ said,in February 4th, 2010 at 10:56 am
“alethea: Do you think someone would try to hurt her? Like a crazed blogger (not really kidding) or maybe someone who was involved/responsible for Haleigh’s disappearance?
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What do you think about people who know things about what other people have done that they could go to jail for? I’d say there’s a good chance they are in danger, wouldn’t you? (That’s presuming she knows something which I certainly could not tell you one way or the other. I of course have my OPINION.) So maybe I should have said IF she knows something. JMO
Okay, if you want to REALLY get into conspiracy thinking: What if she doesn’t know anything, and someone wanted to make it look like she did?
The wheels of the bus go round and round. I would look for horses before zebras. The simplest explanations are often the ones that are true. Just my opinion.
I’m not going to answer any more of your posts.
I hope LE has her purse because she really got on her Mom to get it from Tina. It has the phone and camera in it and who knows what else. imo
Tobias, great point! There is no telling what info they could gain from that purse, maybe even tell us who Talent is.
Tobias you could very well be correct. I listened to the Levi Page talk show this past Monday. He said that Donna Broch told him that Misty was infatuated with Cindy Anthony and wanted to meet her. Misty more than likely paid close attention to the case. She may very well know she is being taped and playing the public. Do I believe she is scared and wants out? Yes! Do I think she can manipulate a situation? Yes! That is why I think she needs to stay in there until she can’t take it no more.
Although, I know she deserves what she is getting it brought tears to my eyes watching the tapes.
Iwished I had the old my space info he may have been on that.
Does anyone here know who Tina is?
I know its all such a waste and that is the only reason I FELT LIKE CRYING.
something feels off to me about this entire situation.
m2c, I think there could be a number of people after Misty. Someone who Misty has been lying for, someone who thinks she hurt Misty and wants to inflict their own justice, someone who has an old debt to settle or just some nut who wants in the media. This is a high profile case and tends to bring out the nuts. Look at how many nuts we already know of who have had to stick their noses in this case.
tobias - could it be Misty’s aunt, Tina Overstreet?
Just in case you have not saw it yet there is new thread
protectkidz, no it wasn’t Misty’s Aunt.. It was Ronalds..
If we’re talking Tina & John O. then they are Misty’s Aunt & Uncle….Joe’s mom & Dad or Uncle Talent= Joe???
alethea @ 11:10 -
Why are you mad at me? I was sincerely asking if you thought M might be in danger because I have commented a number of times over the past few months that I thought M so and until now I don’t recall anyone agreeing. I’m glad that you think so! I’ve commented before that from the beginning LE painted a big old bull’s eye on M’s back by saying “M is/holds the key.” And that’s when she was running around free as a bird and voluntarily taking more “truth” tests.
So please don’t be angry. There is no reason to be.
Now, the situation may be even worse because the stakes are higher - M is facing such long jail time. I suppose if she’s covering for someone they might be more worried than before. And if someone is out to “avenge Haleigh” I sure hope they wait until there’s proof of who is responsible before taking the law into their own hands. That’s why I do not appreciate the build-up of hatred towards any of these people. We don’t know anything for sure yet about who is responsible.
I have two comments. I agree that Sheriff Hady was rude with his “Don’t you want us to find a live child?” response. This was plain belligerence. of course TJ would prefer that Haleigh be located alive, as would we all. But, we need to be charitable and excuse him as he must be very stressed and exhausted by this case and by the overcrowded situation at the jail. Still, he shouldn’t take it out on someone who is doing their own job.
The second comment has to do with Leonard Padilla, who doesn’t appear to learn very well. Didn’t he make this same mistake with Casey A? He thought that when she got home and got a hot bath and got her nails done, she would loosen up and tell Padilla all she knew. We all know how well this worked! Even though it’s clear that Misty is a liar, he seems to think that this case will be different. Fat chance.
Aligoo, I’m not yet prepared to excuse Sheriff Hardy for anything. Most especially that interview. I would bet a quarter (the second highest bet I ever place) that the questions about the jail overcrowding were a pre-requisite to an agreement to do the interview at all OR he had planned all along to spend more time on that subject than Haleigh.
I agree with you, m2c♥!
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