2 Marion County Sheriff's Office majors suspended

The Marion County Sheriff's Office announced on Saturday that two majors had been suspended and placed on paid administrative leave.

• Moves follow appointment of interim sheriff by Gov. Rick Scott
• Former Marion Sheriff Blair indicted for perjury, misconduct Friday

Interim Marion County Sheriff Emery Gainey suspended Major Don Maines of the Bureau of Professional Standards and Major Tommy Bibb of the Bureau of Special Investigations, placing them on paid administrative leave. Officials stated that there is no active MCSO internal affairs investigation being conducted in relation to the suspensions.

The suspension period for the two majors is indefinite, according to MCSO officials.

The personnel moves come in the wake of Sheriff Gainey being appointed to the position of interim Sheriff by Gov. Rick Scott this week. Gainey assumed the duties of suspended Marion County Sheriff Chris Blair, who was indicted Friday on perjury and misconduct charges following an investigation into a 2014 standoff between deputies and suspect Dustin Heathman.

PREVIOUS STORIES:

• Blair suspended, Emery Gainey named interim Marion sheriff
• Marion Sheriff orders excessive force investigation (April 20, 2016)
  
• Armed man opens fire on Marion County SWAT team (June 2, 2014)
  
• Grand jury indicts ex-Marion deputy on excessive-force charge (Jan. 28, 2016)