A Florida man has been arrested on multiple felony charges, including sexual contact with an animal, following an investigation that began with an online tip last month.
Frank Louis Mitchell, 41, of St. Cloud, was taken into custody without incident at his Jersey Ave. home on Friday by detectives from the St. Cloud Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division, working in collaboration with the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.
The investigation was initiated on September 12 after police received a CyberTip concerning the upload of illegal material on a social media platform. Detectives conducted a digital review and executed multiple search warrants, ultimately identifying Mitchell as the suspect.
During the investigation, police uncovered extensive evidence of Mitchell’s alleged illegal activities. This included numerous videos and images depicting sexual acts with animals, specifically his own dogs, as well as evidence of unlawful online communication and possession of obscene content.
Mitchell faces a total of eleven charges:
- One count of Animal Cruelty/Sexual Contact with an Animal
- Nine counts of Animal Cruelty/Possession of Images/Videos Depicting Sexual Acts with an Animal
- One count of Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device
He was booked into the Osceola County Jail and is currently being held on a $17,000 bond.
Community and Animal Safety
The two dogs belonging to Mitchell were safely removed from the home and have been placed in the care of Osceola County Animal Services.
St. Cloud Police Chief Douglas Goerke condemned the alleged acts in a statement, saying, “These charges are truly disturbing. Our department is committed to protecting all members of our community, including vulnerable populations and animals, and holding offenders accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
The St. Cloud Police Department confirmed that this is an active investigation, with the possibility of additional charges pending. Authorities are urging anyone with further information to contact the St. Cloud Police Department at (407) 891-6700, referencing Report #25-003809, or to submit an anonymous tip through Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS (8477).
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