PUBLIC INFORMATION ANNOUNCEMENT
FEBRUARY 11, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sheriff Rick Beseler conducted a media briefing at which he read the following statement.

I have a short announcement to make and afterwards I will not be taking any questions:
Members of the media have been inquiring about police activity on Gano Ave. today involving a search of a residence there. Additionally, other residences in Callahan, FL and Lauderdale County, Mississippi and a vehicle were searched in connection with this investigation.
Earlier today a search warrant was executed at a residence at 1152 Gano Ave. Investigators from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI and FDLE conducted a search for evidence in which a suspect has been arrested for 29 counts of possession of child pornography that occurred in Clay County recently. The suspect is identified as Jarred Harrell, 24 years of age, who formerly resided at the residence on Gano Ave.
We are also naming Harrell as a person of interest in connection with the abduction and murder of Somer Thompson. Harrell was arrested today on child pornography charges by federal agents in Meridian, Mississippi without incident and is being held on a 1 million dollar bond on those charges.
I cannot comment further about how Harrell may be connected to the Thompson case as that would require I comment on evidence in an ongoing investigation. Throughout this entire investigation we have been very careful to protect the integrity of our investigation by not releasing details that could be detrimental to the successful outcome or prosecution of the person responsible for this crime. Thank you for your cooperation.