MARION COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – The Marion County Sheriff’s Department announced on Friday it has arrested a 59-year-old Fort McCoy man for discarding nearly 4,000 pounds of debris into a canal near his home.
On Thursday, October 22, 2026, MCSO Corporal Hunter Corne responded to 23381 NE 117th Court Road regarding a report from Marion County Code Enforcement about Kenneth Thompkins discarding “trash, appliances and miscellaneous debris” into the canal near where he lived.
“Eyewitnesses advised that Thompkins began littering and polluting the canal in February 2026, typically using the cover of night to avoid detection, and that the dump site has grown exponentially,” read the announcement, in part. “Corporal Corne observed a large pile of trash and debris in the middle of the canal near a wood berm and arranged a date to remove the litter.”
Earlier this week, on Oct. 26, the MCSO Special Operations Unit deployed two airboats to remove the waste from the canal. Marion County Solid Waste workers collected and weighted the refuse before disposal.
“In total, Thompkins had discarded approximately 3,980 lbs. of old fencing material, tree debris, household garbage, a fiberglass boat, tires, and a large amount of other miscellaneous items,” read the statement.
Thompkins reportedly approached deputies while they were undertaking the cleanup and admitted to throwing the debris into the canal “because of fines he received from Code Enforcement.”
Thompkins was located at his home and taken into custody on Thursday, Oct. 29. Amphetamines and drug paraphernalia were reportedly found in his wallet at the time of his arrest.