A Winter Haven police officer has pleaded guilty to charges that he stole a small amount of marijuana seized from a grow house.
As part of the plea deal 36-year-old Ricardo Flores accepted on Friday, he must give up his law enforcement credentials and serve a year of probation.
Winter Haven Police Chief Gary Hester said the profession is better off without Flores, who violated a position of trust.
Flores was accused of taking the marijuana in January as it was being processed as evidence. Another officer saw Flores take the marijuana bud from a plant and hide it.
He reported what he saw, officers recovered the stolen drug, and Flores was suspended.
Hester says he’s proud of his officers for not tolerating the illegal actions of a colleague.
The Polk Trash Blog 