Federal Prohibition Agent John Van Waters

John Van Waters

Federal Prohibition Agent John Waters and Constable Arthur Crenshaw, of the Pasco County Sheriff's Office, were shot and killed in Pasco County, Florida while investigating illegal stills. They were shot from ambush as they sat in their car.

Six men, five of them brothers, were arrested and charged with both murders. All were tried, but none were convicted. One was shot and killed on February 24, 1925, by officers who were raiding a liquor still near the same place where Agent Waters and Constable Crenshaw were killed.

Agent Waters had served with the United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Prohibition Unit for one month and as a U.S. Marshal for eight years. He was survived by his wife and five children.

He is buried in Williams Cemetery, Dade City, Pasco County, Florida.