A 45-year-old Key Largo resident is behind bars this weekend following a two-month-long standoff with local authorities over a massive pile of refuse found in the woods. Steven John Walters was taken into custody on Saturday, March 14, 2026, and officially charged with illegal dumping after failing to clear a makeshift campsite he had allegedly established.
The investigation began in January 2026, when deputies from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office discovered a heavily littered site located near Calusa Street. According to investigators, the area was cluttered with more than 500 pounds of debris, including discarded camping supplies, glass bottles, and beer cans.
The site also contained several abandoned or unusable bicycles and a wide variety of general household trash.
Upon the initial discovery in January, authorities identified Walters as the individual responsible for the site and issued a clear directive: he had seven days to remove the waste and restore the area.
When the deadline passed, and the 500 pounds of litter remained on the ground, the Sheriff’s Office moved forward with a warrant for his arrest. Walters was booked into jail on Saturday without further incident.
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