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Hello, My name is Antonio Hester and I'm a Police Officer of 10 years for the City of Miramar who was wrongly convicted of a crime I didn't commit.
In 2013 I was dispatched to a local Walgreens in reference to three females who were supected of retail theft. Upon my arrival, the store manager told me that the suspects had fled the area in a northbound direction in a black Mercedes. I observed the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop approximately 7 blocks away. I walked up to the car and noticed that the front seat, backseat and trunk were full of items that looked to belong to a Walgreens. The manager showed up to my location a short time later and stated that the items in the vehicle belonged to Walgreens.
I asked him where was he when these three ladies were removing all these items from his store and he replied "they didn't steal it from my store but stores in and around the Dade and Broward county areas. The females then stated " We didn't steal the items, we got them from off the street from someone named Tee- Tee in Dade County, but if he (the manager) thinks the stuff is his, he can have them."
I gave the manager the opportunity to take the items back to his store, scan the items and see if any of the items belong to his store which is in my jurisdiction. If the items come back as stolen and to his store, an arrest could be made. The manager took the items back to his store and scanned them and nothing came back to his store. (No proof the the items were stolen)
Because some of the items did come back to a Walgreens from another city and county, and not listed as stolen nor belonging to a store in the City of Miramar, those items remained in the custody of a Walgreens representative. In the presence of all the property, there was two bottles of Johnny Walker that did not belong to Walgreens nor did it belong to me. One of the women claimed ownership of the alcohol to which it was returned to her. I took down the females information, wrote a trespass report and a (F.I.) Field Interview report and released the females from the scene. Days later, the manager who wasn't happy with my investigation, went to the police station and complained that an arrest wasn't made and an Internal Affair investigation was started against me.
According to Internal Affairs, I left the items belonging to Walgreens at the store, however there is no proof that I gave the alcohol back to the women. Internal Affairs then contacted the women; who never reported that didn't get their alcohol back, and asked them did I return their items back to them and of course they said "NO".
This complanit was then given to the State Attorney offices and charges filied agains me for
1) Petit Theft
2) False report
3) Official Misconduct
I was placed of adminstative leave without pay for 19 months and it's been financially drainning especially being a single father of three girls.
Fast forward to January 13, 2016. I'm in court enduring a three day trial. I explained to the jury that I don't drink, I'm a single father who's not going to risk his career and the welfare of my daughters for alcohol that I don't even use. I've handled a case where $405,000 cash of drug money was recoved and not a single penny was taken. I'm a honest God fearing and God loving many who simply wants to work and take care of my family. The jury came back with a verdict of guilty on all charges.
My heart dropped and my world seemed to be over. All I pictured was the joy in my little girls eyes as they seen their father come home from a long honest days work and the sad look on their face as I drove out of the driveway for work. As my sat at the defendants table with both my hands coverng my face, I could hear the haunting cry of my mother saying "my poor baby". I sat there wondering how am I going to tell my daughters that their hero is now a convicted felon based off of the lies of three suspected thieves. All the hope that I've given to the communities is now gone, All the citizens that I've promised to serve and protect is now void.
After much prayer and God's power, I've decided to fight for what I believe in and love so much. I've retained an attorney however; after being out of work for 19 months, the legal fees are more than I can afford. I'm seeking the financial assistance from all those who appreciate the brave men and women who lay it all on the line everyday for people they may not know. The donations will go toward the legal fees and filing an appeal to the Circuit Court of the seventh Judical Circuit.
My family and I greatly appreciate all that you will donate for this honest cause. It is my prayer that the Circuit Court will reverse the verdict or even grant me a new trial and I can get back out there doing what I love, serving and proctecting the public. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and God Bless each and every one who gave, and or desired to give. My family and I truly thanks you.
In 2013 I was dispatched to a local Walgreens in reference to three females who were supected of retail theft. Upon my arrival, the store manager told me that the suspects had fled the area in a northbound direction in a black Mercedes. I observed the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop approximately 7 blocks away. I walked up to the car and noticed that the front seat, backseat and trunk were full of items that looked to belong to a Walgreens. The manager showed up to my location a short time later and stated that the items in the vehicle belonged to Walgreens.
I asked him where was he when these three ladies were removing all these items from his store and he replied "they didn't steal it from my store but stores in and around the Dade and Broward county areas. The females then stated " We didn't steal the items, we got them from off the street from someone named Tee- Tee in Dade County, but if he (the manager) thinks the stuff is his, he can have them."
I gave the manager the opportunity to take the items back to his store, scan the items and see if any of the items belong to his store which is in my jurisdiction. If the items come back as stolen and to his store, an arrest could be made. The manager took the items back to his store and scanned them and nothing came back to his store. (No proof the the items were stolen)
Because some of the items did come back to a Walgreens from another city and county, and not listed as stolen nor belonging to a store in the City of Miramar, those items remained in the custody of a Walgreens representative. In the presence of all the property, there was two bottles of Johnny Walker that did not belong to Walgreens nor did it belong to me. One of the women claimed ownership of the alcohol to which it was returned to her. I took down the females information, wrote a trespass report and a (F.I.) Field Interview report and released the females from the scene. Days later, the manager who wasn't happy with my investigation, went to the police station and complained that an arrest wasn't made and an Internal Affair investigation was started against me.
According to Internal Affairs, I left the items belonging to Walgreens at the store, however there is no proof that I gave the alcohol back to the women. Internal Affairs then contacted the women; who never reported that didn't get their alcohol back, and asked them did I return their items back to them and of course they said "NO".
This complanit was then given to the State Attorney offices and charges filied agains me for
1) Petit Theft
2) False report
3) Official Misconduct
I was placed of adminstative leave without pay for 19 months and it's been financially drainning especially being a single father of three girls.
Fast forward to January 13, 2016. I'm in court enduring a three day trial. I explained to the jury that I don't drink, I'm a single father who's not going to risk his career and the welfare of my daughters for alcohol that I don't even use. I've handled a case where $405,000 cash of drug money was recoved and not a single penny was taken. I'm a honest God fearing and God loving many who simply wants to work and take care of my family. The jury came back with a verdict of guilty on all charges.
My heart dropped and my world seemed to be over. All I pictured was the joy in my little girls eyes as they seen their father come home from a long honest days work and the sad look on their face as I drove out of the driveway for work. As my sat at the defendants table with both my hands coverng my face, I could hear the haunting cry of my mother saying "my poor baby". I sat there wondering how am I going to tell my daughters that their hero is now a convicted felon based off of the lies of three suspected thieves. All the hope that I've given to the communities is now gone, All the citizens that I've promised to serve and protect is now void.
After much prayer and God's power, I've decided to fight for what I believe in and love so much. I've retained an attorney however; after being out of work for 19 months, the legal fees are more than I can afford. I'm seeking the financial assistance from all those who appreciate the brave men and women who lay it all on the line everyday for people they may not know. The donations will go toward the legal fees and filing an appeal to the Circuit Court of the seventh Judical Circuit.
My family and I greatly appreciate all that you will donate for this honest cause. It is my prayer that the Circuit Court will reverse the verdict or even grant me a new trial and I can get back out there doing what I love, serving and proctecting the public. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and God Bless each and every one who gave, and or desired to give. My family and I truly thanks you.