Deputy gets paid administrative leave

A Highlands County sheriff's deputy was placed on paid administrative leave Wednesday after he reportedly failed to obey a direct order from his immediate supervisor to pull over while driving to his wife's daycare center in Sebring the day of her arrest.

According to the sheriff's office, the arrest warrant for Linda Louise Payne, 39, of Sebring, was received from the state at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday.

A deputy headed to her place of business to serve the warrant.

At about 7 p.m., deputy Daniel Payne, 41, was placed on "emergency relief of duty," according to a memo dated June 25 from Capt. Paul Blackman to Maj. Mark Schrader, both from the sheriff's office.

Deputy Payne was on the 3 p.m. to 3 a.m. shift Wednesday into Thursday as a roving unit and had just cleared a call in the northwest end of the county, Blackman said Friday.

It was then he began heading toward Sebring, according to the memo.

"This direct order was given over Highlands County Sheriff's Office radio communications, directly to deputy Payne," the memo stated. "This order was for deputy Payne to pull his Highlands County Sheriff's Office vehicle over to the side of the roadway."

He reportedly acknowledged this order, but continued to drive from Avon Park to 449 Park St., in Sebring, the address of A Better Choice Children's Academy, LLC, where his wife was being served with the warrant for her arrest.

"Once at this location deputy Payne used both verbal and non-verbal communications toward Sgt. Darin Hood and Det. Tyrone Tyson, which was unprofessional and caused them to be concerned for their safety," the memo stated.

Payne was wearing his sheriff's uniform at the time, the memo stated.

As a result, Payne's firearm, vehicle, badge, uniforms and other Highlands County Sheriff's Office equipment was taken and secured, pending the outcome of an internal investigation.

Taking the badge, gun and vehicle of a deputy being placed on administrative leave is standard operating procedure, said Sheriff Susan Benton Thursday.

Payne will remain on administrative leave until Sheriff's Lt. Kenny Johnson conducts his investigation, which will start on Monday, Benton said.

At 7:01 p.m. Wednesday, Linda Payne was booked into the Highlands County Jail on a charge of failure to report child abuse or neglect - in connection with the death investigation of 22-month-old Kaedyn Short.

Linda Payne and a daycare worker Sara Vasquez, 25, of Zolfo Springs, were each charged with misdemeanor charges of failure to report child abuse or neglect, which a prior report stated allegedly took place between Dec. 1, 2007 and Oct. 31, 2008.

Kaedyn died on May 27 at a hospice home, where she was being cared for several weeks after the alleged abuse took place.

The baby's mother Jenifer Sue Short, 28, of Sebring, was charged with felony failure to report child abuse and neglect causing great bodily harm, which a prior report stated had allegedly taken place between March 1, 2008 and March 28, 2009.

All three women were free Friday on bond; Payne, $500; Vasquez, $500, and Short, $6,000.

Short's former boyfriend James Parker, an Avon Park police officer, was indicted and arrested on a charge of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse. Parker remained in Highlands County Jail without bond.

Deputy Payne had been with the Sheriff's Office since 1998, but on Dec. 17, 2003, he requested to be taken off of full-time status as a juvenile division field officer and placed on part-time status due to professional and personal obligations.

He went back on full-time status on Jan. 28, 2009.

He has had no prior disciplinary actions and has received several commendations, character recognition awards, letters of recognition and appreciation letters from citizens, according to the sheriff's personnel department.

No direct or official connection has been established between the arrest of Linda Payne and deputy Daniel Payne's placement on administrative leave. Further details will remain sealed until the outcome of Johnson's review.

Highlands Today reporter Brad Dickerson contributed to this report.