• Tag Archives Florida

  • Florida Sheriff Nick Finch Acquitted Of Bogus Gun Charge, Reinstated As Liberty County Sheriff

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Remember Sheriff Nick Finch? He’s the Liberty County, Fla., sheriff whom Governor Rick Scott suspended for allegedly violating the law by freeing a man who’d been arrested for carrying a gun in his car without a permit. Finch had freed the man and effectively nullified any charges against him in March, saying he believed the 2nd Amendment superseded more restrictive local gun laws.

    That got the sheriff in hot water with State prosecutors, who said Finch had no authority to end a criminal proceeding against the suspect — Floyd Eugene Parrish — even though Parrish had never been formally booked into the Liberty County jail during his brief detention.

    Last week, a jury demonstrated that common sense and the rule of law can still prevail. After about an hour of deliberation, the eight-member jury acquitted Finch of any wrongdoing. Scott spoke with Finch within moments of the verdict and reinstated him as sheriff of Liberty County.

    via Florida Sheriff Nick Finch Acquitted Of Bogus Gun Charge, Reinstated As Liberty County Sheriff


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  • Suburban Cops In Florida Get Rich Selling Drugs

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Police in Sunrise, Florida have made millions by luring drug buyers from across the country to their small town. Once the buyers show up and attempt to buy cocaine in restaurants like TGI Fridays or Panera Bread, cops arrest them then confiscate their cash and belongings.

    Undercover detectives in Sunrise seized millions of dollars from the stings, collectively earning over $1.2 million in overtime. One officer earned $240,000 in overtime in just three-and-a-half years.

    The officers also gave cash to informants who help make the arrests. One informant alone received over $800,000 in just five years.

    The stings were exposed by the Sun Sentinel in a six month investigation. The Sentinel’s comprehensive report has caused the Sunrise police department to cease the work, even though the officers had support from Mayor Michael Ryan.

    The Sun Sentinel reported, “Undercover officers tempt these distant buyers with special discounts, even offering cocaine on consignment and the keys to cars with hidden compartments for easy transport. In some deals, they’ve provided rides and directions to these strangers to Sunrise. This being western Broward County, not South Beach, the drama doesn’t unfold against a backdrop of fast boats, thumping nightclubs or Art Deco hotels. It’s absurdly suburban.”

    Capt. Robert Voss, who oversees the Sunrise Intelligence & Narcotics Division, defended the cocaine stings. He said, “Our job is to put bad guys in jail, and we do a good job of it.”

    Defense attorney Martin Roth from Fort Lauderdale pointed out that the work done in Sunrise an be “a good or bad thing depending on your point of view.”

    He said, “Sunrise is extraordinary in the amount of cases they produce… In my view, it’s all about the money.”

    Full article: http://benswann.com/ … -rich-selling-drugs/


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  • FDLE documents reveal new details of Needelman, BlueWare relationship

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Then-Brevard County Clerk of Courts Mitch Needelman and associate Matt Dupree participated in an elaborate scheme to deliver an $8.52 million document-scanning contract to a Melbourne company that might not have been qualified to receive it, newly released documents indicate.

    The 179 pages of documents released Tuesday by the State Attorney’s Office include summaries of interviews by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement with key figures in the case, as well summaries of financial records prosecutors plan to use as evidence..

    Needelman, Dupree and BlueWare Chief Executive Officer Ross Harr face multiple felony charges in the case. A key allegation is that Needelman steered the contract to scan millions of pages of court documents to BlueWare in return for illegal campaign contributions to his unsuccessful 2012 re-election campaign.

    In interviews with FDLE, Dupree said BlueWare paid him $5,000 a month “in exchange for making introductions to local officials and help BlueWare relocate to Brevard County.” Ultimately, Dupree said he received $130,000 to $140,000, including a one-time payment of $90,000.

    Dupree said he helped introduce BlueWare to Needelman and his staff, as well as to officials of the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast.

    The economic development agency later helped BlueWare in the process of qualifying for about $1.8 million in state, county and Melbourne incentives for locating in Melbourne, and its promise to add 190 jobs. The company never received those incentives because it did not meet its job-creation and capital-investment goals.

    Full article: http://www.floridato … 001/NEWS01/310010061


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