Florida Man Sept 14 2025

FLORIDA MAN

CITRUS COUNTY, FLA. (AP) — DRIVERS ALONG ROUTE 19 WITNESSED AN ODD STANDOFF TUESDAY WHEN SHERIFF BUCK “BUBBA” HARDCASTLE PULLED OVER TO CONFRONT A MAN GREETING CARS AT THE COUNTY LINE SIGN.

THE MAN, IDENTIFIED BY LOCALS AS CLETUS RAY HOGG, A 47-YEAR-OLD LOCAL RESIDENT, WAS SEEN LEANING AGAINST THE HIGHWAY MARKER IN A RATTY ORANGE SHIRT, HOISTING A PLASTIC BOTTLE CONTAINING A YELLOW LIQUID AT PASSING MOTORISTS, PROMPTING SOME DRIVERS TO PHONE THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE.

SHERIFF HARDCASTLE, A LONGTIME LAWMAN KNOWN FOR HIS BOOMING VOICE AND CIGAR STUB, APPROACHED THE SCENE. “BOY, WHAT IN THE NAME OF GRITS AND GRAVY ARE YOU DOIN’ LOITERIN’ BY MY COUNTY SIGN LIKE YOU’S THE WELCOME COMMITTEE?”

UNRUFFLED, HOGG REPLIED THAT HE WAS THE WELCOME COMMITTEE. WHEN PRESSED FOR IDENTIFICATION, HE PRODUCED A CRUMPLED LOTTERY TICKET.

THE SHERIFF LATER TOLD REPORTERS, “I’VE SEEN DRUNKS, THIEVES, AND LOOSE GATORS, BUT I AIN’T NEVER BEEN HANDED A SCRATCH-OFF AS ID.”

WITNESSES SAID HOGG STAYED BEHIND AFTER THE SHERIFF DEPARTED, SHOUTING, “WELCOME TO FLORIDA, Y’ALL!”

RESIDENTS CALLED THE SCENE TYPICAL OF HOGG. “THAT’S JUST CLETUS,” ONE NEIGHBOR SAID.