Florida cop accused of using stolen tags to avoid tolls

Author: Associated Press
Published: Updated:

SWEETWATER, Fla. (AP) – A Sweetwater police detective faces felony charges for using stolen license plates to avoid tolls on Florida’s Turnpike.

Det. Octavio Oliu surrendered Thursday, more than a year after he was suspended from the tiny, scandal-ridden department in Miami-Dade County.

Oliu’s attorney C. Michael Cornerly told the Miami Herald (http://hrld.us/1EU04Ed ) his client will fight the allegations.

Sweetwater Mayor Jose Diaz said 42-year-old Oliu had been on unpaid leave. He says he won’t tolerate police officers who betray the badge.

The investigation began in August 2013 stopped Oliu’s SUV. The trooper ran a computer check of the Michigan license plate and found it had been reported stolen.

Oliu is accused of racking up over 500 SunPass toll violations and red-light camera citations.

He’s charged with official misconduct and organized scheme to defraud.

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