John Braman thought he had a pretty good gig going: taking cash from drunks.
John Braman was a night-shift deputy for the Volusia County ( Fla ) Sheriff's Office and, as such, would often come in contact with inebriated individuals during the course of his shift. Now, persons under the influence of alcoholic beverages are often so to such a degree that they can't understand exactly what is happening, even when being arrested.
Enter Braman's extra-income scheme.
"He's a thieving idiot" said Sheriff Mike Chitwood, upon learning that State of Florida investigators uncovered enough evidence, including additional victims, to charge the 33-year-old road patrol deputy.
How was he caught? By his own body camera footage.
Apparently Deputy Braman, during one arrest, forgot to turn off the camera before going through the wallet of a man he'd just arrested for driving while intoxicated. In the video, Braman was filmed taking at least one $100 bill from the handucuffed offender's wallet, placing it in an evidence bag and then hiding the money in the trunk of his cruiser. During investigation of the incident, it was found that Braman had not turned the cash in as evidence. In at least four other instances in which arrested intoxicated persons complained of missing money, investigators allege that Braman is heard on his body cam video telling the suspects that he was turning the camera off for 'police tactics', a policy enacted by the previous Volusia County Sheriff. Chitwood has since changed that policy. "It appears that the police tactics were to steal money from the motorists", he said in a statement to media.
Braman, who was placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation, eventually resigned his position with the department. Records show he had been paid in excess of $60,000 in wages the previous year.
"Thieviing idiot" John Braman
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