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Florida sheriff says 'This isn't Toronto' following mayor's drug arrest

“We will not tolerate illegal drug activity in my jurisdiction by anyone to include our elected officials," sheriff says.

By Evan Bleier
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford. (CC/Shaun Merritt)
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford. (CC/Shaun Merritt)

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Nov. 27 (UPI) -- Following the Monday arrest of Hampton Mayor Barry Layne Moore on charges of possessing and selling Oxycodone, Bradford County Sheriff Gordon Smith made a little joke at the expense of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford.

“This isn’t Toronto,” Bradford County Sheriff Gordon Smith said in a statement. “We will not tolerate illegal drug activity in my jurisdiction by anyone to include our elected officials.”

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Moore, 51, apparently enjoys a different kind of narcotic than Ford, who recently admitted smoking crack cocaine in a "drunken stupor." The Florida mayor was booked into the Polk County jail.

According to the Bradford County Sheriff's Office:

“During an unrelated investigation Deputy Christopher Register received information alleging the Mayor was selling prescription medication. This information was presented to the Bradford County Sheriff’s drug unit which in turn began an extended investigation. The investigation revealed the Mayor obtained and then sold some Oxycodone. An arrest warrant was signed by Judge Bayer with a bond of $45,000.00.”

There was split opinion about Smith’s joke.

“The comparison made by the sheriff would only be funny to someone inept enough to require two different acronyms representing their laughter,” wrote one person.

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“All of these upset Torontians should redirect their frustrations and anger in a more productive direction, namely their spineless law enforcement officials. Sheriff Gordon Smith is calling a spade a spade. Keep up the good work Sheriff. We've got your 6 on this one,” said another.

At least one Canadian liked Smith’s comparison.

“And yet here we are stuck with a crack-smoking, drunken lunatic as our Mayor of Toronto---an embarrassment to the whole world. Kudos to the Bradford County Sheriff's dept. in Florida for doing the right thing!”

[Bradford County Sheriff's Office]

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