An off duty police officer was charged with battery after an alleged road rage incident today. Part of the incident was captured on a surveillance camera. Allegedly, there was an incident on the road where the off-duty Lakeland Police Officer felt that the other driver cut him off. As with most road rage type incidents, there were allegedly hand gestures and words exchanged as they drove down the road. The LPD officer then allegedly followed the other driver into the parking lot where the security camera captured the drivers exit the car and confront each other. One driver pushed the other and a fight ensued which was eventually broken up by eyewitnesses. This case has some similarities to the case I tried last week (see the following blog entry).
Battery is a very serious crime that carries up to 1 year in the Polk County Jail. The officer turned himself in to the jail and bonded out. Battery is considered a crime of violence and can have serious repercussions in background searches and a person’s ability to find a job or rent an apartment.
There are a number of defenses to this crime such as self-defense and defense of others. If you have been charged with this crime, you may be entitled to file a “Stand Your Ground” motion that could result in the criminal charges being dismissed. Many people have heard of these types of motions through the Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman case. Many criminal defense attorneys do not file these in battery or Domestic Violence cases, but if there are grounds supporting such a motion I do. I am not afraid to stand up for my clients and put in the work and effort to fight for my client’s freedom and reputation in court!
CALL NOW AND SPEAK TO AN AGGRESSIVE POLK COUNTY CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER.
FREE OFFICE CONSULTATION – EXPERIENCE COUNTS!
You will not have to drive to another county. Office – Lakeland, Polk County
Thomas C. Grajek 863-688-4606
