Post by WaTcHeR on Apr 29, 2006 13:28:24 GMT -5
04/29/2006 - DAYTONA BEACH -- A misdemeanor charge against a veteran deputy was dropped for lack of evidence, officials said, but the deputy resigned following an internal affairs probe when his sheriff's cruiser was found parked near a bar with empty beer cans in its trunk.
A deputy for 13 years, Eric Kemple was charged with domestic violence battery at his Daytona Beach home Feb. 21, when he was accused of shoving his wife after an argument.
Prosecutors dropped the charge last month because of insufficient evidence, Linda Pruitt, a spokeswoman for the state attorney's office said.
"The state attorney's office didn't have any evidence," Kemple said Friday. "I shouldn't have been charged in the first place."
"He was a good officer," Jeff Candage, business agent for the Teamsters Local 385, said.
But Kemple, 35, faced other troubles at the time of his arrest, when his sheriff's patrol vehicle was found in a shopping center near two Daytona Beach bars. There were thirteen empty beer cans in the trunk, according to the internal affairs report.
Candage pointed out that Kemple was not accused of drinking and driving the vehicle and was "responsible enough" to get a ride home from the lot near the corner of Beville and Nova roads. But the internal affairs investigation concluded Kemple's use of the vehicle "violated directives" of the sheriff's office.
Among other things, the report said sheriff's employees are prohibited from using vehicles to attend bars, lounges and package stores and "in such a way as to cause public criticism."
Kemple resigned in March after sheriff's officials told him they intended to fire him.
Kemple was critical of the investigation, calling the probe "not thorough." He explained that he had the beer cans in his car from a golf outing and had planned to take them to be recycled, but forgot. Kemple admitted to internal investigators that he drove the car to the parking lot, according to the report.
He told investigators he drank three beers at one of the two nearby bars. He tried to explain why the beer cans were in the car, but investigators found his statements "questionable and inconsistent," according to the report.
"Apparently, internal affairs didn't believe it and the sheriff didn't believe it," Kemple said. "Getting arrested for domestic violence, that's what led to this whole investigation."
A deputy for 13 years, Eric Kemple was charged with domestic violence battery at his Daytona Beach home Feb. 21, when he was accused of shoving his wife after an argument.
Prosecutors dropped the charge last month because of insufficient evidence, Linda Pruitt, a spokeswoman for the state attorney's office said.
"The state attorney's office didn't have any evidence," Kemple said Friday. "I shouldn't have been charged in the first place."
"He was a good officer," Jeff Candage, business agent for the Teamsters Local 385, said.
But Kemple, 35, faced other troubles at the time of his arrest, when his sheriff's patrol vehicle was found in a shopping center near two Daytona Beach bars. There were thirteen empty beer cans in the trunk, according to the internal affairs report.
Candage pointed out that Kemple was not accused of drinking and driving the vehicle and was "responsible enough" to get a ride home from the lot near the corner of Beville and Nova roads. But the internal affairs investigation concluded Kemple's use of the vehicle "violated directives" of the sheriff's office.
Among other things, the report said sheriff's employees are prohibited from using vehicles to attend bars, lounges and package stores and "in such a way as to cause public criticism."
Kemple resigned in March after sheriff's officials told him they intended to fire him.
Kemple was critical of the investigation, calling the probe "not thorough." He explained that he had the beer cans in his car from a golf outing and had planned to take them to be recycled, but forgot. Kemple admitted to internal investigators that he drove the car to the parking lot, according to the report.
He told investigators he drank three beers at one of the two nearby bars. He tried to explain why the beer cans were in the car, but investigators found his statements "questionable and inconsistent," according to the report.
"Apparently, internal affairs didn't believe it and the sheriff didn't believe it," Kemple said. "Getting arrested for domestic violence, that's what led to this whole investigation."