Donut and meth mix-up results in sweet settlement for Florida man

by | Oct 20, 2017 | Drug Charges, Firm News

Florida residents may be interested to learn about a case where a 64-year old man received a monetary settlement after police officers in Orlando mistakenly identified Krispy Kreme donut glaze for methamphetamine. The situation unfolded in late 2015 during a routine traffic stop that has put Florida taxpayers on the hook for $37,500, excluding court costs.

Although this is a civil law settlement, the case started in criminal court after the plaintiff was stopped for an alleged traffic violation. Police officers searched his vehicle and noticed a mysterious glaze covering parts of the dashboard. The officers then subjected the plaintiff to roadside drug testing, which ostensibly came up positive; furthermore, the sugary glaze also came up positive for methamphetamine.

The plaintiff was charged with drug crimes at a time when he was trying to establish a security business. The arrest became a significant roadblock in this regard. This case presents a strong example of the serious consequences of drug charges in Florida, a jurisdiction where an arrest for drugs can become a scarlet letter in the lives of average citizens.

Now that the plaintiff has received the settlement and the Orlando Police Department has recognized its mistake, the next step would be to clear the plaintiff’s criminal record so that it does not get in the way of his professional development. The legal documents indicating the settlement will help in this regard, but there is still a bureaucratic process that needs to be undertaken by a criminal defense attorney so that the man’s record is finally cleared.

Source: FOX News, “Florida man arrested after police mistook Krispy Kreme glaze for meth, receives $37,500 settlement“, 10/16/2017

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