Sheriff Mike Chitwood's PIOs exclude Headline Surfer in email media alert regarding press conference on child sex sting operation arrests

By HENRY FREDERICK
Headline Surfer

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood yet again took center stage with his trademark name calling and bravado in a press conference announcing the arrests of 14 men who were arrested in a sting operation in which children were the intended targets of sex. 

And yet again, Chitwood's civilian PIO team gave a head's up to every mdia outlet that covers daily news in Voluisia County wih one notable exception in advance of the 1:30 p.m. Monday press conference at the Volusia County Emergency Operations Center, 3825 Tiger Bay Road, Daytona Beach. Headline Surfer was not given advance notice of Chitwood's press conference, a policy of exclusion that has been in place since Jan. 3, when Headline Surfer was not allowed to attend his initial press conference following his swearing-in ceremony which the internet news outlet attended.

Since then, Headline Surfer has been bypassed on major news events, from violent murders to law enforcement-involved use of deadly force incidents and dozens of other incidents running the gamut. 

The email alert on Chitwood's latest press conference was sent out at 8:36 a.m. Monday and read: 

Attention reporters and assignment editors
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with various local, state and federal law enforcement partners recently concluded an undercover predator sting operation targeting adults who seek to meet children through the Internet and social media for the purpose of sexual exploitation. The five-day operation wrapped up over the weekend and resulted in multiple arrests. The results of the operation will be announced at a news conference this afternoon. The details for the news conference are as follows:
Time:              1:30 p.m.
Date:               Monday, May 15, 2017
Location:        Media Room
                        Volusia County Emergency Operations Center
                        3825 Tiger Bay Road
                        Daytona Beach, FL 32124
The arrest affidavits and video footage of the arrests will be available today.
Thanks and see you there,
Thanks and see you there,
Andrew Gant
Volusia County Sheriff’s Office

Public records request by internet news outlet for arrest affidavits ignored

Headline Surfer received a copy of the email alert earlier today through a public records request. Headline Surfer made a similar request for the arrest affidavits mid-day, but the follow-up request for copies of the arrest affidavits has not been fulfilled.