Recently Released Convict Cuts off Ankle Monitor, HCSO Makes Arrest

Deputies from the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) arrested a sexual predator who cut off his monitoring device just after being released from prison.

Community Relations Coordinator Kasey Johnson said that shortly before 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 11, the HCSO received a call from the Florida Department of Corrections, Probation and Parole reporting that convicted sexual predator Hirum Eric Croxall, 66, had removed his court-ordered ankle monitor while inside a Hernando County Business.

According to Johnson, Croxall boarded a bus bound for Manatee County after being released from the Florida State Prison in Tallahassee. Before reaching that destination, Croxall got off the bus in Hernando County and walked into a retail store located in a shopping plaza there.

Inside, he picked up a packaged hunting knife, entered a public restroom, cut off the ankle monitor and threw it into the toilet.

He then left the knife in the restroom and walked out of the store.

Johnson said that deputies arrived at the store, recovered the ankle monitor from the restroom and caught up with Croxall in the store’s rear parking lot.

He was arrested without incident and charged with violating the terms of his conditional release and tampering with an electronic monitoring device.

Croxall was booked into the Hernando County Detention Center, where he is being held without bond.