Police Chief Jeff Tyson of the Lantana Police Department is preparing for an unpleasant legal encounter of his own. After the incident on April 4, Tyson will be having his own day in court. Tyson was operating an unmarked police car on Wednesday afternoon when he rear-ended a sheriff’s deputy from the Palm Beach County’s Sheriff’s Department. After hitting the car, Tyson drove off without a word. The deputy turned on his emergency lights and followed Tyson.
Once on the side of the road, Tyson said, “What do you want? I only bumped into you.” When Boca Raton police arrived to question him about the crash, Tyson was reported to say, “I tapped him in the a**…no big deal.”
Tyson was handcuffed and charged with a DUI and leaving the scene of an accident. When his blood alcohol levels were tested, they came back at three times the legal limit. He was reported to smell strongly of alcohol, and a cup with a red liquid that smelled like liquor was found inside of his vehicle.
Though his judgment was marred by alcohol consumption, Tyson’s behavior creates the impression that he feels above the law. Though there may have been a time when someone’s in Tyson’s position could have expected some leniency in the courts, those kinds of exceptions are becoming a rarity. Tyson may be a Sheriff, but he is also a citizen. The only thing that matters in the State of Florida’s legal system is that he broke the law.
No matter who you are, make no mistake: if you find yourself on the wrong side of the law you need to seek immediate legal representation from a reputable criminal defense attorney. Law enforcement officials are not immune to arrest, trial and conviction. A case like Tyson’s will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. If you have been charged with a crime, make sure you seek expert council from a criminal attorney who can offer you a competent defense.