HCSO deputy arrested for battery on PCPD officer
A Plant City Police Department officer’s Monday morning search for a missing juvenile did not go quite as expected, according to a press release from Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
The officer, who has not been named, was using his flashlight shortly before 1 a.m. to search for a girl who had run away from home. Ivan Moreno, 33, a deputy with HCSO who was off duty, saw the light from where he was sitting in the back yard of a home at the 2000 block of Walden Woods Drive and yelled at the PCPD officer to turn it off. The PCPD officer continued his search while Moreno continued yelling at him, even after the officer shined his light on his badge and PCPD uniform and identified himself.
Per the news release, Moreno moved toward the officer, bumped shoulders with him and tried to fight him. The PCPD officer said Moreno appeared to be intoxicated.
Moreno was arrested and charged with felony battery on a law enforcement officer and misdemeanor resisting an officer without violence.
“No one is above the law. Battery on an officer, even if it’s coming from another law enforcement officer, is completely unacceptable,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said. “This is an incident that should never have escalated to the level of physical violence. We do not condone the actions of this deputy, and he has been placed on administrative leave as we work through the details of this investigation.”
HCSO said Moreno has been a deputy since 2016 and has no prior internal affairs investigations.
Supervisor of Elections shares 2020 plans
Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer announced Monday his plans for the upcoming 2020 elections.
Latimer said the county will have 24 early voting locations available — one more than in the 2020 Presidential Preference Primary and eight more than in the 2016 Presidential Election — as well as curbside tents at each site for voters who wish to drop off their Vote By Mail ballots. On Election Day, however, there will be 239 locations open (21 fewer than before, thanks to COVID-19).
All poll workers will wear masks and have their temperatures screened before starting work. All voting equipment will be continuously cleaned and sanitized and there will be a reduction in the number of touch points for voters and poll workers, who will also be separated in areas by plexiglass.
“As always, we will offer no-excuse Vote By Mail, postage-paid return envelopes for Vote By Mail, and the maximum number of Early Voting days for Hillsborough County voters,” Latimer said. “And while some of our Election Day polling places are unavailable to us, the large majority have been confirmed and will be open.”
The deadline to register to vote or change your party affiliation is July 20. The deadline to request a Vote By Mail ballot is August 10. Early voting will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 3-16.
Plant City man arrested for Lewd and Lascivious Molestation of a child
Plant City Police arrested a 73-year-old man for Lewd and Lascivious Molestation of a child on June 16.
Dean Charles Amaden was arrested after an investigation that took place between December 2019 and June 2020, PCPD said. He was arrested for the charges of Lewd and Lascivious Molestation on a child victim under 11 years old and Lewd and Lascivious Molestation on a child victim under 12 years old.
Anyone with additional information is asked to contact the Plant City Police Department at 813-757-9200.