An Osceola County deputy was found not guilty of negligence following a stressful week-long trial for an incident in which he used a Taser that caused a fire and caused serious injuries to a victim. According to trial documents, the contentious and fiery conclusion resulted from Deputy David Crawford’s involvement in the 2022 attempted arrest of a motorcyclist at a service station. The defense contended that Crawford never purposefully fired the Taser, according to WFTV.
Defense attorneys insisted that during the February 2022 incident, Deputy Crawford was carrying out his duties to safeguard the neighborhood. During the trial, the state presented opposing accounts, arguing that the deputy’s actions “were dangerous and inappropriate.” The defense countered that he was allegedly serving the community by carrying out his training. The defense contended that the incident was an accident and questioned whether Crawford’s Taser started the fire, according to WESH.
The series of events leading up to the fire was revealed during courtroom proceedings. The injured man, Jean Baretto, was among a gang of dirt motorcyclists that caught the attention of police authorities because of their unpredictable riding. After being Tased by Crawford, Baretto’s motorcycle exploded in flames when he was confronted by deputies, including Crawford, at a petrol station in Wawa. According to the defense’s story, the Taser was thrown aside and allegedly only fired when it struck the ground, not on purpose.
During his testimony, Crawford stated that he could not recall “turning the safety off” the Taser. Nevertheless, he was adamant that he “would not have done anything differently” due to his strong belief in protecting others. In closing arguments, a state prosecutor emphasized the state’s claim that Crawford’s actions worsened the situation and put additional lives in danger by saying, “There is no need for one man to run, like a cowboy, and tackle someone off a motorcycle filling up with gas,” according to WESH.
Following the start of the criminal investigation into its own employee, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office reaffirmed its dedication to openness and accountability while expressing respect for the jury’s verdict.
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