The state is not prosecuting the Ocala Breeders sales manager in an incident with a PETA representative

The state says it will not prosecute an Ocala Breeders sales manager who was previously accused of snatching a backpack from an animal rights activist who was recording the euthanasia of a horse.

The filing was made May 1 in the case of Tod Thomas Wojciechowski, the OBS director charged with robbery, by the office of District Attorney William Gladson in the Fifth Judicial Court of Marion County.

“Based on the facts and circumstances of this case and a review of the available evidence, the state is not disclosing charging information in this case,” prosecutors said in the announcement of no information filing.

Wojciechowski was arrested on April 12, two days after the alleged incident at Ocala Breeders’ Sales (1701 SW 60th Avenue).

According to the original Ocala police arrest report, a person working on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) claimed that he was recording a horse after it collided with a race track barrier as he and Wojciechowski approached one another OBS official.

The person claimed he was yelled at by OBS staff and that his backpack was taken from them and not returned.

During an interview with an OPD officer who responded to OBS, Wojciechowski claimed that the subject was recording on “private property” and that he tried to stop the subject from recording there.

The report said the officer walked around the scene of the incident and the area was “open to the public” and “there were no signs prohibiting images or videos.”

Wojciechowski was arrested on April 12 and taken to the Marion County Jail and released on his own recognizance the same day. He was originally charged with robbery by sudden kidnapping.

According to Marion County court records, attorney Anthony Tatti filed an appearance on Wojciechowski’s behalf the same day the notice was filed by the state. Court records also show an arraignment is currently scheduled for May 14.