TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Highlands Today

Second AP Police Officer Arrested

Courtesy photo

Alberto Perez

ADVERTISEMENT

BRAD DICKERSON

Published: December 3, 2008

AVON PARK - For the second time in less than two weeks, an Avon Park police officer was arrested by agents from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's Sebring field office.

Alberto Perez, 33, an officer with the APPD since July 2007, was arrested at 2 p.m., Tuesday and charged with one count of threats or extortion, according to Chief Matt Doughney.

The investigation started in June after the FDLE began receiving complaints from Hispanic residents in Avon Park that officers were taking money from illegal aliens during traffic stops, according to the arrest affidavit.

One victim met with FDLE agents on Oct. 28 and discussed an April 19 traffic stop, where he was allegedly told to pay $200 or receive a ticket.

The victim told authorities he had been pulled over by a white officer. Shortly thereafter, a second APPD officer arrived, who was a "Puerto Rican" male, the affidavit stated. The individual was told he had been stopped because he did not make a complete stop at a stop sign.

Then, the Puerto Rican officer allegedly told the driver to pay $200 and there would not be a ticket.
The victim reportedly was traveling with his brother and a cousin. It was the brother who eventually gave the officer $200.

"You owe him (brother) $200," the Puerto Rican officer allegedly told the victim, according to the affidavit.

The three individuals traveling in the car that night were later presented with photographic line-ups of officers Perez and Adam Wayne Willis, who was allegedly the officer who initiated the stop.

All were reportedly able to identify Perez as the Puerto Rican officer.

FDLE agents obtained audio recordings of the traffic stop, which contained radio transmissions, as well a copy of the computer aided dispatch (CAD) event number that documented the stop, according to the affidavit.

The CAD record and the radio transmissions reportedly confirmed that a traffic stop did, in fact, occur on the April 19 and involved the victims in question.

Tuesday's arrest is the continuation of an investigation conducted by the FDLE into police misconduct. On Nov. 19, Willis was arrested and charged with first-degree armed burglary and grand theft. Perez was placed on paid administrative leave at that time.

Complete copies of the officers' arrest affidavits can be found at www.avonparkpolice.com.

Brad Dickerson can be reached at (863) 386-5838 or bdickerson@highlandstoday.com

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT