CrimeU.S. NewspoliceFlorida

Florida Cop Accused Of Stealing Money From DUI Suspects

The officer allegedly turned off his body camera before taking money from the suspects' wallets.
Open Image Modal
By 

Senior Reporter, HuffPost

A Florida sheriff’s deputy has been placed on administrative leave following accusations that he stole money from DUI suspects.

John Braman was suspended from the Volusia County Sheriff’s Department on Wednesday after four people arrested for DUI complained that money was stolen from their wallets, according to the Dayton Beach News-Journal.

Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said the Florida Department of Law Enforcement has been investigating the allegations against Braman for the past two months, the paper wrote. Once they obtained a key piece of evidence from one complainant, authorities felt ready to suspend Braman without pay.

Chitwood released a video statement on Friday explaining the suspension. 

“Over the past several months this organization has received several complaints that deputy John Braman, during car stops in which he arrested the operator of the vehicle for DUI charges, was stealing money from their wallets while processing those prisoners.”

Braman, 33, would allegedly turn off his body camera before taking money from the DUI suspects, according to WESH TV.

Chitwood said it was important to get the deputy off the streets while the matter was being investigated.

“Integrity is the cornerstone of any law enforcement officer’s career,” he said in the video. “Once you lose your integrity, you’ve lost your ability to be an effective law enforcement officer.”

Braman has been with the department since 2007. He was one of four individuals chosen as employee of the year in 2011 after he was shot in his left arm while following up on a domestic violence incident.  

Our 2024 Coverage Needs You

As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.

Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.

to keep our news free for all.

Support HuffPost

Before You Go

LOL Cops
Chief Shoots Wife(01 of10)
Open Image Modal
Chief William McCollom of the Peachtree City Police Department, seen here in an undated file photo, said he accidentally shot his ex-wife while they slept. The Georgia police chief was indicted on April 15, 2015, on a misdemeanor reckless-conduct charge, a prosecutor said. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Thomas Foye(02 of10)
Open Image Modal
Ludlow, Massachusetts, Police Officer Thomas Foye was arrested on Aug. 15, 2013, for allegedly stealing from a police evidence locker a substance that field-tested positive for cocaine. Foye was booked on charges of theft of drugs from a depository and possession of a class B substance. At his arraignment, Foye entered a not-guilty plea. He was released without bail, under the conditions that he undergo a substance abuse evaluation and submit to random drug screens. (credit:wggb.com)
Jim Deeghan(03 of10)
Open Image Modal
Jim Deeghan, a former sergeant with the Vermont State Police, was arraigned in Vermont Superior Court in Burlington on July 13, 2012. Deeghan pleaded not guilty to two counts of false swearing. Prosecutor T.J. Donovan called it a "crime of opportunity," saying Deeghan reported responding to two car crashes and a false alarm but none of the incidents happened. Last year, Deeghan was paid about $136,000, some $56,000 more than his base pay, although the typical trooper can expect to make only about $30,000 in overtime a year. (credit:AP)
(04 of10)
Open Image Modal
In July 2012, 18 cops in China's Shandong province labored to save this sex doll that they thought was a drowning woman.Read more.
(05 of10)
Open Image Modal
In July 2012, police officer Jake Chustz resigned after he allegedly stole an iPhone from the scene of a drunk-driving crash in Baton Rouge. Read more.
(06 of10)
Open Image Modal
In October 2011, local outlets reported that a New Mexico man nabbed on surveillance footage having sex on the hood of a car was a cop.Read more.
(07 of10)
Open Image Modal
In April 2012, Mike Eiskant, a former cop in Santa Fe, was allegedly caught on the dash cam in his own squad car having a graphic sexual conversation with himself and masturbating.Read more.
(08 of10)
Open Image Modal
Dion Anthony, Memphis cop, was allegedly caught getting it on in Memphis in March 2012 ... over the police radio.
(09 of10)
Open Image Modal
In October 2011, Miami cop Fausto Lopez allegedly got into a high-speed car chase with other officers after driving on a highway at 120 mph. Lopez reportedly had a need for speed because he was late to his off-duty job working security at a school. Read more.
(10 of10)
Open Image Modal
He may not be a police officer, but Indiana correctional facility employee (read: jailer) Travis Wilbur allegedly trafficked drugs to inmates by hiding them in black electrical tape surrounded by fast-food wrappers. He was arrested in June 2012. Read more.
Suggest a correction
|
Submit a tip