Miami-Dade police officer Joshua Zacarias was arrested on Tuesday, February 3 and charged with official misconduct. The charge stems for a hit-and-run accident that took place at the Miami Lakes district station. Zacarias originally reported that the damage was caused when someone vandalized his car with a key.
Immediately, investigators noticed that Zacarias’s story didn’t add up. The arrest warrant noted that there was damage along the entire right side of the car and that there was also yellow paint. After further investigation, it was determined that the cause of the damage was likely that Zacarias hit a chain-link fence as the damage was consistent with the height of the gate latch.
Prior to the incident that caused damage to the incident, Zacarias had worked a night shift and apprehended four people involved in a robbery.
The attorney for Zacarias, Douglas Hartman, said of his client, “He’s very upset by the arrest warrant. We’re prepared to take this case to trial.”
“He went from being a hero to a defendant,” Hartman added.
Defendants in criminal law cases of any type, are entitled to the right to a fair trial. An experience criminal defense attorney can help you navigate the legal process and ensure that your rights are protected.
Sources:
MiamiHerald.com, “Miami-Dade cop charged with lying about traffic accident,” Ovalle, David, 3 February 2015
Nbcmiami.com, “Miami-Dade Police Officer Arrested for Misconduct,” 3 February 2015