Quantum
31st May 2010, 04:25 AM
"Police Officer," LOL:
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/genthumb.ashx?e=3&h=263&w=350&i=/assetpool/images/100528122556_052810_Kenyatta_Sheffield.JPG
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?storyid=156726&catid=3
Lawtey PD Officer Arrested, Charged with Bribery, Accused of Offering to Take Cash for Tickets
LAWTEY, Fla. -- The Bradford County Sheriff's Office has arrested a member of the Lawtey Police Department.
Kenyatta Sheffield, a part-time officer, is accused of offering to let speeders pay fines in cash while he had them pulled over.
Deputies with the BCSO arrested Sheffield on Thursday on charges of bribery and unlawful compensation for official behavior. He is being held in protective custody at the Bradford County jail in lieu of $60,000 bond.
While this little town has a reputation for being a speed trap, it is now getting another bad rap.
"Speed traps are one thing. Taking money, bribing is another thing altogether," said Lt. Gail Russell of the BCSO.
Lawtey Police Capt. Shane Bennett suspended Sheffield and the sheriff's office will now handle the investigation into the bribery allegations.
Police said they got the tip on the alleged scam when he pulled a woman over three weeks ago. "She was told she could pay a roadside fee of $191. In doing so it would eliminate the point on her driver's license," Russell said.
Police said the girl didn't have the cash, so she called a friend for help. That friend knew something didn't sound right and called police.
So far, police have found out that Sheffield scammed three others, including a woman he followed to get cash for her ticket.
"She went to an ATM, escorted by the officer to the ATM, and withdrew a couple hundred dollars to pay that," Russell said.
Sheffield did not turn in the actual tickets, she said. "What it appears the officer was doing was voiding tickets and obliterating all identifying information, such as tag numbers, everything."
Police said Sheffield wrote about 350 tickets over the last couple of months. Detectives are going through the stack trying to find other victims.
Since starting their investigation, Bradford detectives have located two victims in addition to the one who originally contacted the sheriff.
"We are extremely disappointed that one of our police officers...chose to abuse the powers of his position," said Lawtey Police Chief Butch Jordan. "Mr. Sheffield was vested with a great amount of authority and even a greater amount of trust. He violated both and now must answer to our justice system."
Sheffield also worked for the Department of Corrections as a correctional officer in the Union Corrections facility. The DOC said it is terminating him as well.
If you think you are a victim, call the Bradford County Sheriff's Office at 904-966-2276.
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/genthumb.ashx?e=3&h=263&w=350&i=/assetpool/images/100528122556_052810_Kenyatta_Sheffield.JPG
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?storyid=156726&catid=3
Lawtey PD Officer Arrested, Charged with Bribery, Accused of Offering to Take Cash for Tickets
LAWTEY, Fla. -- The Bradford County Sheriff's Office has arrested a member of the Lawtey Police Department.
Kenyatta Sheffield, a part-time officer, is accused of offering to let speeders pay fines in cash while he had them pulled over.
Deputies with the BCSO arrested Sheffield on Thursday on charges of bribery and unlawful compensation for official behavior. He is being held in protective custody at the Bradford County jail in lieu of $60,000 bond.
While this little town has a reputation for being a speed trap, it is now getting another bad rap.
"Speed traps are one thing. Taking money, bribing is another thing altogether," said Lt. Gail Russell of the BCSO.
Lawtey Police Capt. Shane Bennett suspended Sheffield and the sheriff's office will now handle the investigation into the bribery allegations.
Police said they got the tip on the alleged scam when he pulled a woman over three weeks ago. "She was told she could pay a roadside fee of $191. In doing so it would eliminate the point on her driver's license," Russell said.
Police said the girl didn't have the cash, so she called a friend for help. That friend knew something didn't sound right and called police.
So far, police have found out that Sheffield scammed three others, including a woman he followed to get cash for her ticket.
"She went to an ATM, escorted by the officer to the ATM, and withdrew a couple hundred dollars to pay that," Russell said.
Sheffield did not turn in the actual tickets, she said. "What it appears the officer was doing was voiding tickets and obliterating all identifying information, such as tag numbers, everything."
Police said Sheffield wrote about 350 tickets over the last couple of months. Detectives are going through the stack trying to find other victims.
Since starting their investigation, Bradford detectives have located two victims in addition to the one who originally contacted the sheriff.
"We are extremely disappointed that one of our police officers...chose to abuse the powers of his position," said Lawtey Police Chief Butch Jordan. "Mr. Sheffield was vested with a great amount of authority and even a greater amount of trust. He violated both and now must answer to our justice system."
Sheffield also worked for the Department of Corrections as a correctional officer in the Union Corrections facility. The DOC said it is terminating him as well.
If you think you are a victim, call the Bradford County Sheriff's Office at 904-966-2276.