Post by WaTcHeR on May 20, 2006 11:22:47 GMT -5
05/20/2006 - MILWAUKEE -- Gary, Ind., police officer Delfin Flores lied to Milwaukee police at least twice before finally admitting he intentionally fired his department-issue weapon during a drunken celebration three months ago.
Hours after the Feb. 12 incident, Flores told police he tossed two quarter sticks of dynamite “as a joke” from the window of his friend’s Hummer, a criminal complaint filed in Milwaukee Wednesday states.
Three days later, Flores claimed he was trying to “render his gun safe” while riding in the back seat of the Hummer with his girlfriend when the gun accidentally discharged twice.
Flores, 36, of East Chicago was charged Wednesday in Milwaukee County Circuit Court with disorderly conduct and disorderly conduct while armed. He faces up to nine months in jail and a fine up to $1,000 if convicted.
Accompanied by his lawyer, Flores surrendered Wednesday, then pleaded not guilty and was released on a $2,500 signature bond, Assistant District Attorney Karen Loebel said.
No departmental charges have been lodged against him in Gary. Police administrators have 120 days after the incident to submit a complaint with the Gary Police Civil Service Commission.
Flores, Patrolman Gregory Wolf and their girlfriends were in Milwaukee that weekend with members of their Untouchables motorcycle club. Wolf was the designated driver and was behind the wheel of a friend’s Hummer when the group left a restaurant to go bar-hopping.
The Hummer’s owner and a Milwaukee police officer, James Oliva, were in Oliva’s car leading the Gary officers through the city when Flores fired his weapon the first time. He tried to pass it off as fireworks, then offered a story about accidentally discharging his weapon when the Hummer hit a bump.
During his third statement to Milwaukee detectives, Flores said “he had taken some bad advice from a lieutenant, who was a 40-year veteran (who) ... told him that if he told the Milwaukee Police Department that he did this 'deliberately,’ he would lose his job,” the complaint states.
Flores told police he fired “just because,” and said he did not aim at anyone.
A motorist notified police of the shooting and provided a license plate for the Hummer, which was located at a hotel. Police obtained shell casings from the Hummer that experts determined were fired from Flores’ .40 caliber Beretta, the charges allege.
Oliva was charged with disorderly conduct May 9 after Wolf’s girlfriend, Victoria Farner, said she was present when Oliva and Flores fired handguns as they walked out of a Milwaukee bar at closing time.
Oliva has been suspended from duty since the incident. Flores has been reassigned to desk work.
Hours after the Feb. 12 incident, Flores told police he tossed two quarter sticks of dynamite “as a joke” from the window of his friend’s Hummer, a criminal complaint filed in Milwaukee Wednesday states.
Three days later, Flores claimed he was trying to “render his gun safe” while riding in the back seat of the Hummer with his girlfriend when the gun accidentally discharged twice.
Flores, 36, of East Chicago was charged Wednesday in Milwaukee County Circuit Court with disorderly conduct and disorderly conduct while armed. He faces up to nine months in jail and a fine up to $1,000 if convicted.
Accompanied by his lawyer, Flores surrendered Wednesday, then pleaded not guilty and was released on a $2,500 signature bond, Assistant District Attorney Karen Loebel said.
No departmental charges have been lodged against him in Gary. Police administrators have 120 days after the incident to submit a complaint with the Gary Police Civil Service Commission.
Flores, Patrolman Gregory Wolf and their girlfriends were in Milwaukee that weekend with members of their Untouchables motorcycle club. Wolf was the designated driver and was behind the wheel of a friend’s Hummer when the group left a restaurant to go bar-hopping.
The Hummer’s owner and a Milwaukee police officer, James Oliva, were in Oliva’s car leading the Gary officers through the city when Flores fired his weapon the first time. He tried to pass it off as fireworks, then offered a story about accidentally discharging his weapon when the Hummer hit a bump.
During his third statement to Milwaukee detectives, Flores said “he had taken some bad advice from a lieutenant, who was a 40-year veteran (who) ... told him that if he told the Milwaukee Police Department that he did this 'deliberately,’ he would lose his job,” the complaint states.
Flores told police he fired “just because,” and said he did not aim at anyone.
A motorist notified police of the shooting and provided a license plate for the Hummer, which was located at a hotel. Police obtained shell casings from the Hummer that experts determined were fired from Flores’ .40 caliber Beretta, the charges allege.
Oliva was charged with disorderly conduct May 9 after Wolf’s girlfriend, Victoria Farner, said she was present when Oliva and Flores fired handguns as they walked out of a Milwaukee bar at closing time.
Oliva has been suspended from duty since the incident. Flores has been reassigned to desk work.