BY JENNIFER CABRERA

ALACHUA, Fla. – According to an Alachua business owner and his attorney, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is conducting an “open, active criminal investigation” into crimes against children at Santa Fe High School.

Colby Thompson of Thompson’s Sod, Inc., posted on Facebook yesterday that his attorney had sent a letter to the high school, demanding that his logo be removed from any banners or signs at the school, due to “an open, active criminal investigation into numerous individuals, including employees and affiliates of Santa Fe High School, for a multitude of felonious acts; concerningly, the Thompsons have discovered that most of the crimes being investigated by FDLE are crimes against children.” The letter also stated that the Thompsons have disenrolled their children from the high school.

Thompson wrote, “Hearing the initial reports and allegations were devastating. Our hearts and prayers are with all of the children and familes [sic] affected… Please join us in praying for these families and for complete justice to all involved.”

Bobi Frank, the Thompsons’ attorney, told Alachua Chronicle, “Thompson’s Sod went public with this to encourage victims and individuals with information to come forward to FDLE regarding this investigation.” Frank said that anyone with information regarding any potential criminal activities related to the high school or the City of Alachua can contact FDLE’s Gainesville Field Office at (386) 462-9975.

“FDLE needs the community’s commitment in order to bring justice to the victims,” Frank said.

Frank said the Thompson children are not victims of the alleged crimes, but after a community member who had been interviewed by FDLE regarding the ongoing investigation reached out to Thompson, he decided to make the investigation public. Frank wrote in her letter to the high school, “To be clear, the Thompsons will aid FDLE in its endeavor to expose all Santa Fe High School employees, officials, or affiliates whose actions, or inactions, have compromised the integrity of the Alachua County School System and will help to ensure that justice prevails on behalf of one of our most vulnerable populations, the children.”

When asked about the investigation, Alachua County Public Schools Public Information Officer Jackie Johnson told Alachua Chronicle, “We don’t have any information we can share.”