Former Zolfo Police Chief's Trial Set For February

WAUCHULA - Jury selection for the trial of former Zolfo Springs Police Chief David Scheid will begin on Feb. 11, 2008 at the Hardee County Courthouse.

Scheid is facing charges of grand theft, tampering with a witness, fabricating physical evidence and petty theft.

Scheid had a trial scheduled in October that was delayed because of medical issues with defense attorney Gil Colon Jr.

Colon failed to appear at the courthouse, and an associate with his firm said that the attorney suffered a "medical injury" to his back while rollerblading.

On Tuesday afternoon Scheid appeared in court and Colon, who was walking with a cane, said that he would need a delay until February to recover from his injuries.

Colon said he is doing better and he starts therapy at the beginning of the New Year, so he should be able to target his health and ability to sit through a trial by the time Scheid's new date comes around.

According to Assistant State Attorney Steve Houchin, two Zolfo Springs police officers told the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) in 2005 that Scheid gave them credit for two training courses they did not take.

Houchin said Scheid used a password on the FDLE Web site to register officers Joe Arce and Michael Brandon Lambert for their supposed completion of weapons of mass destruction and incident command system training.

According to Houchin, when Scheid told the officers that he had taken care of the training requirement the officers notified the FDLE.

Scheid also allegedly sold evidence seized in department crime scenes such as handguns that were obtained from a burglary scene.

Scheid was found not guilty in May to a charge of official misconduct and a jury failed to reach a decision on an additional count of official count of misconduct, resulting in a mistrial.

Colon had all the charges against Scheid broken into separate counts for trials. Scheid has been out of jail on bond.