Rebekah Jones, A former Florida COVID-19 data scientist, was handed over to police after an arrest warrant was issued for illegal use of the state’s computer system, CBS Miami reports. The Florida police department announced the arrest of Jones, 31, Monday morning. The agency said it is charged with a crime against users of computers, computer systems, computer networks and electronic devices.
Judicial records show Jones released a $ 2,500 bail after an initial hearing in Tallahassee on Monday morning. Before surrendering, she published on Twitter: “Censored by the State of Florida until further notice.”
Earlier, he wrote, “Insurgents are planning attacks across the country this week and Florida is imprisoning scientists for the crimes of knowing and talking.”
In a statement to CBS News, Jones’ attorney said she tested positive for COVID-19 after surrendering. The lawyer said Florida officials had previously threatened to arrest her in DC and extradite her to Florida, which meant her decision to surrender voluntarily “has saved the entire East Coast from exposure to the infection. ”
Jones he tweeted she was giving herself up to “protect” her family.
“To protect my family from continued police violence and to show that I am willing to fight whatever they throw at me, I become a police officer on Sunday night in Florida,” he tweeted. “The governor will not win his war against science and freedom of speech. He will not silence those who speak,” he added.
Florida Law Department officials said Jones had been under investigation since early November after someone illegally entered the state’s emergency alert health system, warning employees to “speak before that another 17,000 people died. You know this is wrong. You don’t have to be a part of that. Be a hero. “
Federal authorities stormed his home in December, grabbing their computers and other data equipment.
“Evidence recovered from a search warrant on Dec. 7 shows that Jones illegally entered the system by sending a message to approximately 1,750 people and downloaded confidential FDOH data and saved it to their devices,” according to the Department of Florida Police.
Just after the raid, he tweeted a video of agents entering his home and accused DeSantis of sending him the Gestapo. She said they aimed weapons at her and her children.
He has since filed a lawsuit for the search of his home.
The DeSantis administration fired Jones in May after accusing state health officials of manipulating data to suppress the number of reported COVID-19 cases and deaths. After his dismissal, Jones created a competing COVID-19 board to display data about the virus.