FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - Multiple Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies faced a judge Monday and defended the actions of a pair of deputies who stand accused of going too far during the arrest of a teen in Tamarac in 2019.
In a hearing of the two deputies who were charged with battery in the arrest of Delucca Rolle, their attorneys asked the judge to dismiss their case using the Stand Your Ground law.
In April 2019, then 15-year-old Rolle was roughed up and even pepper-sprayed during his arrest outside of a McDonald’s in a Tamarac shopping plaza, all of which of which was captured on a viral cellphone video.
Deputy Christopher Krickovich was fired, and Sgt. Gregory LeCerra was placed on restricted duty.
The charges against Rolle were dropped.
Defense attorneys argued that the plaza where the incident occurred is notorious for trouble, and law enforcement officers routinely need to defend themselves.
“We had a lot of fights and juvenile disturbances within that plaza,” BSO deputy Eric Blake said.
“Is this the same plaza that’s in question here from April 18, 2019?” an attorney asked, to which Blake responded yes.
“That detail is not good for a one-person detail, because you’re clearly outnumbered, and when something like that breaks out, you kinda get lost in the midst of the chaos,” said another deputy.
Prosecutors pointed out that other deputies have made arrests in the same plaza in similar situations without incident.
“When you put handcuffs, you arrested both of them, correct?” a prosecutor asked.
“Correct,” a deputy responded.
“You didn’t slam either one into the ground, correct?” a prosecutor asked.
“No, sir,” a deputy said.
“You didn’t actually even take either one into the ground,” a prosecutor said. “You put their handcuffs — and I wish I was in court for this — you handcuffed them as they were standing up, correct?”
“Yes, sir,” a deputy said.
The hearing is expected to last for the next few days, and both deputies are expected to testify on Tuesday or Wednesday.
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