Dozens of DUI cases in the Tampa area have been dropped recently due to the involvement of a Tampa police sergeant who was fired from his job last month. The sergeant, R. F., was a 19-year veteran and a supervisor of the department's DUI unit. He was fired because an investigation showed that he was part of a calculated set-up leading to the drunk driving arrest of a Tampa attorney. That arrest has become a scandal in the Tampa area. R. F. tried to hide his part in the scandal by lying about it as well as destroying evidence by deleting text messages related to his actions in the set-up. According to local prosecutors, he cannot be trusted as a witness in any DUI cases because of his suspicious behavior.
The Hillsborough County State Attorney's Office is reviewing approximately 40 DUI cases in which the fired sergeant was involved to decide whether or not they will be able to proceed with them. In situations where R. F. had little involvement, such as merely signing a police report concerning the DUI, the case would proceed. In cases where his involvement was direct, such as pulling a motorist over in a traffic stop which led to an arrest, the case would likely be dropped. The Tampa Police Department is also conducting its own review of approximately 60 previous DUI arrests made by the fired officer to determine if they were done improperly or any kind of misconduct occurred in connection with them.
When prosecuting DUI cases the state relies on the credibility of law enforcement officers as well as on forensic evidence in the form of chemical testing and other legal factors. All of these various aspects of a DUI case can and should be investigated and reviewed by your defense attorney if you have been arrested and charged with any type of DUI in Florida. Any number of errors, flaws, and inconsistencies may be identified and used on your behalf in a defense strategy created by a skilled DUI defense lawyer.
The Law Office of Timothy Hessinger is a criminal defense firm serving the greater Tampa area. Attorney Hessinger has 23 years of legal experience overall which can be used to help you fight DUI charges as well as other types of state misdemeanors and felonies. To get the highly-qualified legal help that you need following any arrest, contact the firm today!