VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – Volusia County Sheriff's Office is speaking out Tuesday after learning one of its deputies claims he let a fellow lawman off the hook in a traffic stop involving drugs.
Last month, VCSO said probationary Deputy Alex Taylor pulled over former DeLand police officer Hector Rios for speeding. Deputies say Rios was with a known gang member, and there was a small amount of marijuana inside of the car, but no one was charged or arrested.
VCSO said because of some deficiencies in the handling of the incident, they asked Taylor again why Rios was not arrested or charged. Taylor told deputies he "decided to give the driver a break because he was a law enforcement officer."
Sheriff Ben Johnson sent out an email Tuesday afternoon, saying, "... what I do not support is giving the driver a break simply because he was a law enforcement officer. This is totally unacceptable and something I do not and will not tolerate as long as I am Sheriff."
Taylor resigned from VCSO on Feb. 4. Johnson said had Taylor not resigned, Johnson would have rejected his probation.
Rios also resigned from DeLand Police Department.