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Highlands Today

Second AP Police Officer Arrested

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By BRAD DICKERSON

Highlands Today

Published: December 4, 2008

AVON PARK - An Avon Park police officer was out of jail Wednesday on a $5,000 bond following his Tuesday arrest.

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. This was the second time in two weeks an APPD officer was arrested by agents from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's Sebring field office.

An 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 Hispanic 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 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 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.

Patricia Austin, president of the Avon Park chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), said she has taken six complaints from Hispanic residents over the past two months alleging similar misconduct.

Two of those phone calls, according to Austin, were anonymous and the callers did not want to give a name or number.

"They said they were worried if they came forth, there might be problems," Austin said.

There is another person she is hoping will come forward with his allegations as well, although that has not yet happened.

Austin also recalled witnessing one of her Hispanic neighbors, who had "broken English," being pulled over by either Willis or Perez for allegedly running a stop sign.

She said she went to see if she could be of assistance to the officers, but felt they did not want her intruding in police affairs.

"I respected that at the time," Austin said, adding that her neighbor did not run the stop sign and no money was extorted from him.

Austin said the allegations of misconduct were taken to Avon Park Police Chief Matt Doughney, who was "very concerned."

"It's a bad situation, but I hope that people don't look down upon our city," she said. "I have the (utmost) confidence it will get taken care of."

Tuesday's arrest is the second resulting from the FDLE's investigation 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 pending the outcome of an internal investigation.

Willis' charges stemmed from allegations that he stole a wallet containing money and a pack of cigarette rolling papers from an unlocked car parked on North Central Avenue in Avon Park.

The car was being used by the FDLE and the APPD for an undercover operation. It was equipped with electronic surveillance devices and allegedly caught Willis removing the items while wearing a pair of gloves.

At a Nov. 19 press conference announcing Willis' arrest, Doughney commended those who came forward and "had the courage to bring this to our attention and not hide it in the dark."

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

Perez's arraignment had not been set as of Wednesday afternoon, while Willis is scheduled for arraignment on Dec. 15 at 9 a.m.

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

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