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Second Suspended AP Officer Pleads Not Guilty
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Published: January 6, 2009
SEBRING - A written plea of not guilty was entered Monday for a second Avon Park police officer charged with police misconduct.
Alberto Perez, 33, is charged with one count of extortion or threats. He was not present for Monday's arraignment. A pretrial conference is scheduled for Feb. 18 at 8:30 a.m.
Perez, an officer with the APPD since July 2007, was arrested Dec. 2 following an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's Sebring field office into allegations from Hispanic Avon Park residents that officers were taking money from illegal aliens during traffic stops.
One victim reportedly met with the FDLE on Oct. 28 and discussed an April 19, 2008, traffic stop, where Perez allegedly told him that he'd have to pay $200 or get a ticket.
The victim was traveling with his brother and a cousin, according to the arrest affidavit. 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 allegedly initiated the stop.
All were reportedly able to identify Perez as the officer.
Patricia Austin, president of the Avon Park chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), said she has been trying to help Hispanic citizens understand that if they have been a victim of this type of misconduct, there are resources and people out there to assist them.
Many of them, according to Austin, are scared to come forward because they may be living in the United States illegally.
"I want them to know, legal or illegal, they will be helped," Austin said.
Highlands Today reporter Brad Dickerson can be reached at (863) 386-5838 or bdickerson@highlandstoday.com
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