Attorney defends Sunrise police sergeant who was arrested following criminal investigation – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports

SUNRISE, FLA. (WSVN) – Sergeant Daniel Rodriguez of the Sunrise Police Department voluntarily surrendered to the Broward County Main Jail following an arrest warrant issued as part of an extensive criminal investigation by the department.

SPD said probable cause was established for the charges, including written/electronic threats to kill and/or cause bodily harm, threats of extortion and tampering with evidence.

Rodriguez was placed on administrative leave early in the investigation, during which his firearm, badge, police-issued identification and patrol vehicle were confiscated.

Chief Ransone said he informed Rodriguez of his intention to place him on unpaid administrative leave.

The Sunrise Police Department holds our members to the highest standards of conduct, and any action that violates the public trust is taken extremely seriously,” the Sunrise Police Department said in a press release. “The actions demonstrated by Rodriguez do not reflect the mission, vision and core values ​​of the men and women of the Sunrise Police Department.

Sunrise Police Department

Michael Gottlieb, Rodriguez's attorney, said it was retaliation against his client for reporting alleged misconduct within the department.

“My client saw a wrong being done in his police department and tried to right it,” Gottlieb said.

Rodriguez claims a lieutenant in the department's internal affairs office removed evidence from a suspected marijuana grow house years ago. The evidence is an old fire alarm bell.

Instead of recording it and returning it, he said the lieutenant hung it up inside the police department.

“My client became aware of this. My client reported it to the State Attorney's Office and my client reported it to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Since then, my client was truly doing the right thing as a law enforcement officer by reporting a theft. My client was the victim of retaliation, the victim of allegations that he committed a crime,” Gottlieb said.

On January 22, February 16 and March 2, 2024, the former sergeant made threats of death and bodily harm to the victim.

The victim would be the internal affairs lieutenant he tried to denounce and another person.

“There are texts with him and a friend of his where he indicated words like 'I should kill them' because they had him suspended, they had him punished. It’s just venting,” Gottlieb said.

This alleged taking of the fire bell, according to the warrant, was an attempt to extort Rodriguez.

Investigators say Rodriguez's complaint “was filed maliciously.”

“The fire bell was taken – you’ve seen pictures of it. Both at the crime scene and on the walls of the police station. And I think the matter should have been handled internally by reprimanding the lieutenant who seized the property,” Gottlieb said.

Rodriguez plans to fight the charges, according to his attorney.

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