Police Officer Arrested for DUI
A South Florida police officer has been arrested and has been suspended with pay after he allegedly left the scene of an accident over the weekend.
The accident occurred along Southwest 12th Avenue and Miller Drive at approximately 2:30 a.m. Sunday when 35-year-old Larry Laverde, off duty and driving his police cruiser when he crashed into another vehicle.
According to reports, Officer Laverde fled the scene and failed to render aid after the crash to the victims. Laverde then called a friend from his home. The friend told him about what had happened. The friend immediately reported the incident to police indicating that Laverde had confessed to the accident.
Laverde was issued a sobriety test at his home by police. He was then arrested after failing the test.
According to eyewitness accounts, the victim of the crash was driving a Mazda that spun out of control when Laverde’s police cruiser hit it. The police car was going at an excessive rate of speed at the time of the accident.
Laverde is a 7-year veteran of the Miami-Dade Police Department. He has been charged with DUI and fleeing the scene of a traffic crash.
The investigation into the incident is currently ongoing.
When you are on the road, it is expected that sometimes you will have to make way for emergency vehicles. Because of the nature of emergency services, police cruisers, ambulances, fire trucks and other types of emergency vehicles often travel at high rates of speed. Each of these vehicles has the potential to be in or even cause accidents. Police officers and emergency crews and responders are sworn to protect and to serve the public. These officers are held to very high standards both while on duty and off. It is shocking when a police officer or other emergency responder engages in behavior that is clearly against the law, such as driving while intoxicated or a hit and run accident.
If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident involving a drunk or hit and run driver, give our offices a call. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Expenses such as medical costs, loss of income for being off of work, ongoing long-term rehabilitation, pain and suffering are all things that you could be entitled to in a legal settlement. Having an experienced lawyer on your side is important. When you call our offices, you will be teamed up with an attorney who will listen to the details of your case and can get legal action started on your behalf. We can also help you in dealing with insurance companies and other involved parties in relation to your accident. Our attorneys have been successfully representing clients and their interests in the Miami Dade courts for many years. We are here to help you. Your initial consultation is confidential, free, and without any obligation to you.