Fort Myers racing fans have for years made the nearly 5-hour trek northeast to visit the Daytona International Speedway in Volusia County. A former county sheriff’s deputy there is hoping to pull away from allegations that his own body camera shows him stealing money from men he arrested.
The former Volusia County sheriff’s deputy has been charged with multiple felonies, including grand theft and official misconduct. Each of the 5 felonies he faces is punishable by up to 5 years in a Florida prison. John Braman, 34, is also charged with two counts of petty theft.
According to law enforcement officials, the former deputy’s body camera showed him taking two $100 bills from the wallet of a man Braman arrested for DUI last August.
Braman is also accused of stealing $600 from a 20-year-old man involved in a disturbance early this year. In that case, the body cam shows the former deputy taking money from the man’s back pocket and then putting it back.
Later, he is seen counting out $500. However, the man claims that he had $1,200 in the pocket.
In a third incident, the former Volusia County officer apparently seen on body camera footage taking two $20 bills from a 72-year-old man who was being arrested.
The county sheriff called Braman a “thieving idiot” and “common thief” after the allegations and videos surfaced. Sheriff Mike Chitwood recently wrote in a tweet that a cop who steals “deserves to go to jail just like any other criminal.”
Just as no one should suggest that this case proves that all cops are sinners, no one should believe that all allegations of criminal wrongdoing made by police against citizens are accurate or true.
When a person in uniform lies, it puts us all at risk. An experienced criminal defense attorney can help you fight for truth and freedom.