Ex-Colonel Charged
Florida Sheriff's Office Colonel Resigns, Arrested by Her Own Agency on Felony Charges
A high-ranking Florida sheriff's officer resigned and was then arrested by her own colleagues on the same day. Mindy Von Ansbach-Young, a colonel with the Escambia County Sheriff's Office (ECSO), submitted her resignation to Sheriff Chip Simmons on the morning of June 18, 2026 — hours before deputies served her an arrest warrant, according to NorthEscambia.com.
Young, a 25-year law enforcement veteran, now faces five criminal charges: one count of felony criminal mischief, two counts of aggravated stalking, one count of harassing a witness, and one count of breach of the peace. She was booked into Escambia County Jail and released the next day on a $25,500 bond, per Pembroke Pines News.
Keying "LIAR" Into a Car Hood Led to Arrest
The most striking detail in the arrest affidavit involves the felony criminal mischief charge. Investigators allege Young scratched the word "LIAR" into the hood of a vehicle belonging to her ex-husband and his current wife — damage valued above $1,000. The act paints a sharp contrast with her public image as a calm, clinical mental health professional.
The two aggravated stalking counts stem from Young allegedly following and harassing the couple repeatedly. Under Florida Statute 784.048, aggravated stalking requires willful, malicious, and repeated harassment combined with a credible threat. A separate charge — harassing a witness — suggests Young may have tried to intimidate the victims after they sought legal help, according to Palm Beach Post.
The Fall of ECSO's Mental Health Pioneer
Young was not just any colonel. She ran the ECSO's Mental Health Wellness and Co-Responder Unit, a program that pairs deputies with mental health professionals to handle crisis calls. She built the program from the ground up after Sheriff Simmons appointed her in 2022, according to WEAR News. She was also a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with oversight of court security, fleet maintenance, and civil liberties.
The irony is hard to miss. Young gave public interviews about spotting mental health crises before they turned criminal. Now she is the subject of one. "No one is above the law," Sheriff Simmons said in a public statement, calling the arrest "disappointing," per NorthEscambia.com.
Victims' Identities Protected, Investigation Continues
The identities of Young's ex-husband — reportedly a retired Florida Department of Law Enforcement agent — and his current wife are shielded under Marsy's Law, Florida's victim protection statute. They are the primary complainants in the case. The State Attorney's Office is reportedly weighing whether to appoint a special prosecutor, given Young's rank and insider knowledge of the legal system.
The ECSO is also reviewing whether Young misused agency resources — such as law enforcement databases or vehicles — to carry out the alleged stalking. Experts say high-ranking officers have access to tools like Florida's DAVID database, which tracks driver and vehicle records, making abuse of office a serious concern in cases like this, according to Herald Tribune.
Mental Health Division Faces an Uncertain Future
Young's arrest leaves a leadership vacuum in the ECSO's Mental Health Division. The co-responder program she built has shown measurable results in reducing jail populations for people with mental illness. But law enforcement analysts warn the program could lose political support and funding because of its close association with her.
There are also legal ripple effects. Defense attorneys may now review cases where Young testified or acted as a supervising officer, looking to challenge her credibility. Every felony conviction in Florida can strip a public employee of pension benefits, meaning Young's estimated $100,000-plus annual salary and retirement are both at risk depending on the outcome of her case, per Tallahassee.com.
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