The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) arrested recently-terminated city of Archer employee Justin Southard, 34, on Tuesday for grand theft.  

According to ACSO, an Archer employee discovered more than $14,000 in missing cash deposits over a three-month period. Southard was found responsible and arrested after an investigation, the sheriff’s office said.  

In a September 2025 report, interim City Manager Deanna Alltop notified staff that Southard was no longer with the city and an accounting position had been listed as open. 

The city of Archer has faced a financial crisis in the last year, firing its former city manager and informing the governor’s office of the dire straits. The city hired a consultant and has slowly worked to improve its footing and repay debtors. In May, the city asked Alachua County for a loan.