The Associated Press
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - A sheriff’s detective was fired after being charged with falsifying documents in police reports.
He is the third official charged in the state attorney’s 17-month probe into allegations that Broward County sheriff’s deputies closed cases by attributing them to people who could not have committed the crimes.
Joe Isabella, 34, was fired Thursday after he told investigators he had improperly cleared cases and falsified reports. He was charged with a misdemeanor count of falsifying documents and is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday.
He blamed pressure from supervisors who wanted to lower crime statistics.
When reached by phone on Friday, Isabella said, “There’s a lot I’d like to say but I’m going to refer you to my attorney.” His attorney, Hilliard Moldof, said he had no comment.
Sheriff’s office spokesman Jim Leljedal said Isabella was fired for failing to meet office standards, lack of truthfulness in official reports and not following the law.
If convicted, he faces up to a year in jail, but is not expected to serve time because he does not have a record.
The two other deputies were arrested in December and suspended with pay. They have pleaded not guilty.