According to the complaint filed in federal court, Rachel Stockwell, then a student at the University of Tampa, had to leave school due to facial paralysis and cognitive defects. The complaint states that in video of the incident, a pool of blood can be seen surrounding Stockwell’s head.

The officer, Antwan S. Nelson, had his employment terminated, according to Laura McElroy, a police spokeswoman.

The incident took place on Valentine’s Day, 2014, outside Club 912 on Franklin Street in downtown Tampa. According to a police internal affairs report, Nelson used a “takedown” maneuver on Stockwell. Nelson told investigators that he had attempted to issue a trespass warning to Stockwell, but she refused to identify herself and resisted arrest. Nelson said he took the woman to the ground in order to gain better control. The investigation stopped short of calling the amount of force used excessive.

According to the internal affairs investigation, Stockwell, then 18, had been admitted to the club but was not legally permitted to drink. The report said she had previously been escorted from the premises, but had returned.

She was booked on charges of opposing an officer and criminal mischief, but the State Attorney’s Office did not prosecute.

If you need to speak with a personal injury lawyer, Call Joyce & Reyes at 1.888.771.1529 or visit more of http://www.joyceandreyespa.com/.

When an individual is arrested, the majority of the time the arrest is by the police who have probable cause to make the arrest.  The police then forward their police reports to the prosecutor (State Attorney) who decides what, if any, charges should be filed against the suspect.  If you are wise enough to hire an aggressive attorney, the defense attorney can call the prosecutor and present evidence and facts to the prosecutor explaining why the prosecutor should drop all criminal charges.  A lawyer can also research and give the prosecutor case law that shows the police conducted an illegal search or violated the person’s constitutional rights that would result in the case getting dismissed in court.  Even if the prosecutor does not drop the charges, he may file lesser charges such as a misdemeanor charge instead of a felony.  Many attorneys do not take this step, but  I DO!  Even though I may be unsuccessful many times, I have gotten many cases dismissed.  You cannot get the charge dismissed unless you try!

In the sexual battery/rape case the the Miami-Dade County State Attorney’s office decided there was insufficient evidence that any crime was committed.  I am sure Kaepernick’s attorneys gave the prosecutor ample evidence the police did not recover, such as text and voicemails from the woman.  The woman alleged she did not know how she ended up in a hospital after having drinks with Kaepernick and 49ers wide receiver Quinton Patton and Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Ricardo Lockette at an apartment they shared in Miami.  She also alleged that she may have been the victim of a sexual assault, but the sheriff said  there was no evidence of a sexual assault.

If you have been arrested or think you are the subject of a criminal investigation, CALL AN EXPERIENCED AND AGGRESSIVE CRIMINAL LAWYER IMMEDIATELY!!!

CALL AND SET YOUR FREE OFFICE CONSULTATION NOW! 

Thomas C. Grajek  863-688-4606

NCDD

The arrests were made because law enforcement described the bar’s activities as a “violent public nuisance.” Under those circumstances, the police began an investigation of the business and arrested the bar owner, the event promoter and the head of security. The Winter Haven Police Department, the Florida Department of Financial Services and the State Attorney’s Office led the investigation. Three men were charged with a variety of crimes, including, but not limited to “live obscene shows.”
When the police inspected the nightclub they discovered nude women picking up money thrown on the floor in response to dancing routines on stage. The arresting team of officers indicated the bar was noted for incidents that disturbed the peace, fighting, unruly and loud crowds, and shootings. It appears, according to the police blotter, that in the past year, there have been more than 200 calls dealing with fights, property destruction, traffic complaints and shootings – mischief to serious injuries.

As a result of the lively activity at the bar, a neighboring store was forced to shut down on certain evenings when the nightclub patrons left for home. The police indicated they had tried to work out some kind of solution to reduce the nuisance and safety hazards posed by the bar, and allow store owners in the same vicinity the freedom to conduct business. The compromise did not seem to work, as the club owner allegedly did not live up to his promises and appeared to be using his establishment as a den for further illegal activities.

Ultimately, the police moved in and made arrests, stating their goal was keeping businesses that promoted illegal obscenity out of their community.
This is an interesting case in that, while the promotion of obscenity may be illegal, there may not be enough evidence to substantiate anything else. On the surface of this case, it appears local law enforcement possibly wanted to get even with the club’s owners and thus decided on a number of charges that would meet that end. The other interesting issue here involves freedom of speech in the promotion of live nude dancers. Although “other crimes,” which may refer to drugs or prostitution, are certainly grounds for arrest, it is questionable if the reason for the arrest – promotion of obscenity – is a legal means to an end.

This case may well be fraught with a variety of loopholes in terms of the investigation, the arrests and the charges. Those arrested would be best advised to consult with an experienced criminal defense attorney.

Thomas C .Grajek is a criminal defense lawyer in Tampa, Lakeland, and Polk County Florida. To contact a Lakeland criminal defense lawyer or to learn more, visit http://www.flcrimedefense.com/ or call 863-688-4606.

Ms. Rupp pled to falsifying her time sheets and filing a false police report.  Ms. Rupp was also accused of filing a false police report.  Ms. Rupp accused a bailiff of threatening her with a stun gun for refusing to have sex with him, and she alleged the bailiff attempted to extort $4,000 from her.  Later, the JA allegedly admitted that this was not true.  The court house has extensive cameras and there are ways to prove where a bailiff is at most times so there was probably some other independent evidence that the allegations were not true.  Many times when a suspect is confronted with irrefutable evidence that their story is not true that will confess.  

Remember to always call and speak to a criminal lawyer first before speaking to the police!

The sentencing is set for Wednesday on the 3rd degree grand theft felony (up to 5 years prison) and the filing a false police report is a 1st degree misdemeanor (up to 1 year in the Polk county jail).  These charges will not score a mandatory prison sentence so it will be interesting to see what the sentence will be next week.  In addition, the JA will be sentenced to pay “restitution” which means she will have to pay back any money stolen.  There will probably be a separate hearing to determine the exact amount she will have to pay back to the State of Florida.

Unfortunately, this does not mean an end to the case.  Ms. Rupp only pled to the “old” charges and not the 13 additional counts of ”forgery by making a false public record” that the prosecutor recently added.  Those cases may stil go to trial, be pled to, or as the defense hopes, dropped by the prosecutor.

If you have been arrested for a serious felony offense,

call an experienced criminal defense attorney that will stand up and fight for you in court!

Call Thomas C. Grajek – 863-688-4606

The investigation stemming from a discovery by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office of missing prescription pain pills from the evidence room.  The missing drugs had been replaced with over-the-counter medications.  In all of the cases in which the drug evidence was missing, the drugs had been analyzed by the same chemist, who overall had processed 2,600 cases for 80 law-enforcement agencies since 2006. Whether the analyst handled any criminal cases in Polk County is unknown at this time.

The ramifications of this investigation will be huge.  Already, one State Attorney’s Office had to ask for a continuance in a trial of a man charged with trafficking in hydrocodone because of the chemist’s involvement in the case.  This could possibly lead to the trafficking charges being dropped.  Criminal charges could be brought against the lab analyst.  Recently, a lab analyst in Massachusetts was sentenced to to 5 years in prison for similar allegations after pleading guilty to 27 counts of misleading investigators, filing false reports, and tampering with evidence.

This strikes another blow to the integrity of the criminal justice system.  One of the jobs of a criminal defense lawyer is to fight this type of injustice and see that you are treated fairly in court.  If you have been arrested for a drug crime, call an attorney that will fight for justice for you!

CALL AND SET YOUR FREE OFFICE CONSULTATION NOW! 

Thomas C. Grajek  863-688-4606

Handling all felony and misdemeanor criminal and drug cases in Polk County, Florida.

http://www.wfla.com/story/22856459/lakeland-police-scandals-could-place

News Channel 8 also has copies of the letters the State Attorney sen Chief Womack regarding some of the LPD officers.  In the letters the prosecutor states he does not feel he can trust the officers’ testimony in criminal cases.  Without that testimony, the prosecutor may not be able to prove the DUI charges pending against suspected drivers.  This may result in up to 40 DUI cases being dismissed.  Other alleged criminal prosecutions may also be affected and dropped including felony criminal charges.

It also appears the investigation by the State Attorney’s office into the Lakeland Police Department are not finished.  It was also reported that the Lakeland Police Department is reviewing all of LPD’s DUI arrests since last year.  I will keep an eye on these events and how it may benefit my clients to insure they are treated fairly.

If you have been arrested by the Lakeland Police, call the attorney who worked to discover some of these allegations.

Lakeland Criminal Defense Lawyer

Thomas C. Grajek – 863-688-4606

Handling all felony, misdemeanor, and DUI cases in Polk County.

http://www.theledger.com/article/20130716/NEWS/130719456?tc=cr

That means that the prosecutor’s office will no longer accept testimony from Sgt. Raymond Lloyd and Officer David Edds.  These were the officers on my LPD case a few weeks ago where I brought out the problems with the DUI reports and how the police reports were sworn to under oath.  Usually, that means that the State Attorney’s office will not go forward with any cases in which these officers are the sole officer giving testimony.  For some individuals, that may mean criminal charges are dropped against them if the testimony is critical to the case.

The investigation is still ongoing.  Hopefully, the thorough job the State Attorney’s office is doing will result in restoring the public’s confidence in the Lakeland Police Department.

In addition, two deputies with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office were also fired today based upon their misconduct.

If you have been arrested and are looking for an attorney to stand up and fight for you in court call me!

THOMAS C. GRAJEK, POLK COUNTY CRIMINAL ATTORNEY

 CALL NOW   863-688-4606