Pinellas judge finds St. Petersburg officer's testimony 'incredible' — and not in a good
ST. PETERSBURG — Last fall, members of the Police Department's street crimes unit converged on a green sport utility vehicle spotted making a rolling right-hand turn at a red light. The driver, Emanuel Bell, had just left a suspected drug dealer's house. Bell pulled into a McDonald's at Fourth Street and 38th Avenue N and held out his driver's license for the officer, who approached his window. The officer made Bell get out, then searched a center console after seeing Bell mo
Pinellas deputy Christopher Taylor resigns rather than face Internal Affairs investigation
LARGO, Fla. - For the second time this week, a deputy from the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office has resigned rather than go before an Internal Affairs review board. Sgt. Christopher Taylor resigned Wednesday after reviewing thousands of pages of documents over several days, according to authorities. As the subject of an Internal Affairs investigation, Sgt. Taylor, a 14-year veteran, was supposed to testify under oath and answer questions. Instead, he chose not to. On Monday,
Third Pinellas County narcotics deputy resigns in grow house investigation
LARGO — The three narcotics deputies who pursued marijuana growers by monitoring a Largo hydroponics store have now all left the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, snared by allegations of trespassing and other misconduct. Paul Giovannoni, 31, resigned Friday after reading evidence against him collected by the Internal Affairs Division, Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said. Detective Michael Sciarrino and Sgt. Christopher Taylor, the other members of the grow house team, resigned earlie
Pinellas narcotics detective resigns after seeing sheriff's evidence against him
LARGO — One narcotics detective has resigned and three others will begin disciplinary hearings this week amid allegations of trespassing, lying and brutality that have plagued the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office for months, Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said Monday. Michael Sciarrino, 36, was scheduled to be interviewed under oath today in an administrative hearing. Instead, said Gualtieri, Sciarrino quit on Monday after reading thousands of pages of interviews and documents collect
Pinellas narcotics detectives are under fire again over allegations of beating a man
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- There are more problems in the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office narcotics unit, and several attorneys are calling for an investigation by the U.S. Justice Department. The newest incident involves a man who says he changed his mind about being a confidential informant and says he was beaten by detectives. Attorney Jordon Tawil says, "It appears they are out of control and the law is not being followed." Tawil is talking about what happened between his clien
WingHouse arrest now part of Sheriff's Office investigations
LARGO — The WingHouse was hopping Sept. 2 when Carissa Michelle Weaver watched her boyfriend go out to the parking lot to make a phone call. When she checked on him a few minutes later, she saw two men grab him and push him to the ground. Weaver screamed. The commotion that followed is now part of an internal affairs investigation by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office and a civil rights complaint to the U.S. Justice Department. Weaver's boyfriend, Sergio "Junior'' Valdivies
