TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL)-- The Tallahassee Police Department responds to a New York Times article that criticizes police for being too easy on Florida State football players.
Officer David Northway with the Tallahassee Police Department says Chief Michael Deleo has begun an internal investigation into one of the cases the article describes. The Times says they examined nine cases in the past year and a half that involved Florida State football players.
One of those cases involved Jesus "Bobo" Wilson stealing a scooter back in July. TPD says Wilson was arrested, but the New York Times argues that the original charge of grand theft auto was later reduced to a misdemeanor and that the officer who responded may have tried to convince the scooter's owner not to press charges.
TPD says while they disagree with the article's portrayal of the Wilson case, Chief Michael Deleo has begun an internal investigation to examine allegations made in the article.
TPD released the following statement Sunday: "The allegation that an officer might have tried to influence a citizen not to file charges in a possible felony theft is a serious allegation. The city's new Police Chief, Michael DeLeo, has a record of investigating such allegations and taking the appropriate action. Due to the allegation in this case, that an officer acted inappropriately, the Chief has requested an internal affairs investigation and Florida Statute 112.533 (2)(a) prohibits us from commenting further while the investigation is underway. Once the investigation is complete, we can respond in detail."
