The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office has rescinded a Wednesday warning about a man posing as an employee of the Property Appraiser’s Office.
A property appraiser employee was in the area of Lake Silver Road on Wednesday. The Property Appraiser’s Office now is finished working in the area, according to a news release from the Sheriff's Office.
The Sheriff's Office did check with the Property Appraiser’s Office, but the suspect’s name was mixed up with one of the complainants, sheriff‘s spokeswoman Michele Nicholson said
Numerous complaints have been made to the Sheriff's Office this week and last week about similar incidents, Nicholson said.
“There was just concern because of the suspect’s suspicious activity,” Nicholson said.
Property Appraiser Pete Smith said his employees are required by law to inspect all county parcels every 5 years.
All employees have identification around their necks and will hand out business cards, Smith said. Property appraiser vehicles also are well-marked with decals.
Employees rarely need to enter a home, but if they do, two employees are sent, Smith said.
Employees simply will appraise what they can see if a property owner refuses to allow them to inspect the property, Smith said. The lack of a proper inspection can skew a property’s value, Smith said.
“Don’t make us inspect it from the street,” Smith said.