St. Pete Police Fire Two, Third Resigns

Two St. Petersburg Police employees have been fired and another resigned for what Chief Chuck Harmon called, "conduct unbecoming of an employee and unlawful or improper conduct."

Officer Crashes into Pedestrian

The first case involved the when officer Mehmedin Karic accidentally hit the victim with his car in the 6400 block of 38th Avenue North. 

According to police, the victim, Harold Fleming, was crossing 38th Avenue North near the intersection of 64th Street in his wheel chair when he was it.

Karic for careless driving after he was driving an estimated 61 mph in a 40 mph zone at the time of the impact.

Harmon said Officer Karic's vehicle locator data showed that 20 minutes prior to the crash, Karic was traveling at speeds of 80-90 mph along 38th Avenue North and 66th Street while enroute to a Call for Officer. The speed limit in these areas ranges from 40-45 mph. 

The Chain of Command Board determined that Officer Karic had no legal justification for speeding and was involved in a crash that resulted in a death, the report said. 

Police Laptop in Domestic Quarrel 

In May, Application Specialist Anthony Neese reported to his supervisor that he had damaged his laptop by accident and it need to be repaired. 

While speaking with PC support Services Coordinator Mary Watkins, police said, Watkins noticed how severely damaged with PC was. 

According to the report:

Watkins noted the considerable damage done to the Semi-Ruggedized laptop and inquired as to how it became damaged. Mr. Neese stated that the laptop was damaged when he threw it to the floor while standing on a flight of stairs at his residence. Mr. Neese subsequently revealed that he had been in a domestic quarrel with his wife on May 16, 2012, during which he became frustrated and angered to the point of deliberately raising the laptop above his head and throwing it to the concrete/tile floor below, a distance of approximately 10 to 12 feet. 

Police then interviewed Neese's wife to see if a crime had occurred, which it was determined that no crime was committed. During the investigation, Neese found out and, according to the report, started talking behind his supervisors' back. 

Before sending the computer off for repairs, police said they reviewed the contents of the computer to find out that Neese had been using his work computer to look at "several pornographic websites." 

According to the police report release Thursday, the St. Petersburg Police Department fired Neese. 

"The Chain of Command Board determined Application Support Specialist II Anthony Neese attempted to deflect responsibility for his actions and was less than forthright in responses to questions in his interview with Internal Affairs and during his Board. As a professional employee, Mr. Neese was expected to exhibit appropriate behavior at all times and use good judgment related to his field in technology."

Officer Chooses to Resign

Police Officer Alex Falcon-Molina, according to Harmon, has decided to resign rather than being fired after being cited for multiple "failures to appear" in the courts. 

According to the police report, Falcon-Molina failed to appear for a State Attorney Investigation. Falcon-Molina previously received an employee notice, and an employee notice with a one day suspension for three separate court failures within 18 months of this failure. 

In March, after responding to a call outside Bayfront Hospital, a man Falcon-Molina interviewed alleged that Falcon-Molina was unnecessarily aggressive and discourteous. He admitted to his supervisors that he did not hand the man's driver's license to him, but instead placed it on the ground for the man to pick up. 

Later that day, police found that Falcon-Molina was not truthful to his supervisors during another call that day. 

According to the police report:

Officer Falcon-Molina responded to a Disorderly Juvenile call as the primary officer. Officer Gabriele Ritzheimer responded as a back-up. The juveniles were spoken to and left the vacant residence. Officer Ritzheimer located a cell phone where the juveniles had been seated. She walked around the residence with Officer Falcon-Molina and disposed of the phone beneath the residence in the presence of Officer Falcon-Molina.

The juveniles then returned and inquired about the phone. Officer Ritzheimer misled the juveniles and told them she had not seen a phone. Officer Falcon-Molina and Officer Ritzheimer left, and the phone was not returned. The phone was not placed into property for safekeeping, and a report was not generated. Officer Ritzheimer later reported the incident to a supervisor and was investigated for misconduct. Officer Falcon-Molina did not report the incident.

Harmon announced Thursday Falcon-Molina, that "prior to discussion of a lengthy suspension or termination, the employee chose to resign."