Posted on 12/07/2017 10:27:48 AM PST by Gamecock
BARTOW — Davenport Mayor Darlene Bradley was arrested Tuesday on allegations she used dead people’s handicapped placards to park in designated spaces at City Hall.
Bradley, 60, faces felony charges of using a deceased person’s identification and possessing an altered or counterfeit decal on a handicapped placard, both of which carry a prison term up to five years if she’s convicted. She also was arrested for unlawful use of a handicapped placard, which is a misdemeanor.
“The governor has the right to suspend her until she is acquitted,” he said, “but that request will have to come from the commission. That’s something they will discuss.” Bradley couldn’t be reached for comment Wednesday.
Based on a tip, Polk County sheriff’s deputies obtained surveillance video of Bradley parking in a handicapped space at Davenport City Hall on Monday night. She was seen lifting an oversized, wheeled briefcase from the trunk of her car and walking inside to attend a City Commission meeting, according to the arrest affidavit.
During a subsequent search warrant at her home, deputies found a handicapped placard issued to Evelyn Klinger Letterman, who died in August 2012, the affidavit states. The placard expired in October 2013, but had been altered to reflect a 2018 expiration date, records show.
The other placard had been issued to someone who died in 2015, though that person isn’t named in the affidavit.
Bradley, who was arrested under her legal first name of Teresa, was taken into custody when deputies served the search warrant, according to Sheriff’s officials. She was booked into the Polk County Jail on Tuesday and later released after posting $2,250 bail.
Callihan said residents had been calling City Hall on Wednesday asking about the arrest. Commissioner Tom Fellows said he anticipates the incident will have a significant impact on the community.
“I can’t imagine this happening,” he said. “I’m just really surprised that anybody would do that.”
He said he’s uncertain what will happen at the commission’s special meeting.
“The best thing to do is to wait and see, when all the facts are in, and go from there,” he said.
Bradley marks the second commissioner in an East Polk city to be arrested this year. Lake Wales Commissioner Curtis Gibson, who took office in April, was charged in July with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a third-degree felony, on allegations he held a knife to his girlfriend’s throat. He has pleaded not guilty and his charges are still pending in Circuit Court.
Commissioners in Lake Wales voted 3-1 not to seek Gibson’s suspension from office.
If she is a ‘Rat, she IS handicapped and deserves a governatorial pardon.
You would think that there would be a designated parking spot for the mayor at City Hall.
This women should be jailed. So called leadership in America is deplorable!
This mayor will be hiring Gloria Allred and holding a press conference to blame her behavior on Roy Moore in 5,4,3,2,1.....
Well, they weren’t using them......................
Yes, but the handicapped placard gives Her August Majesty parking privileges everywhere, not just at City Hall.
I wonder how many times she voted too?
Florida? South Carolina?
She can use Steve Martin’s defense: “I forgot.”
FLA
Polk County/Central Florida
Which underscores how stupid this woman is. I bet she pulled out the placard parking in her own driveway.
The “Disability” game in Florida has many players. It is a disgraceful scam. I like the ones who park huge SUV’s and late model lifted trucks in the designated spots, have all the hanging tags and licenses, smoke cigarettes, cut you off if you are riding a bicycle in the bicycle lane, break the speed limit, are mostly female, are 30 years younger than you are, and in WalMart, are the ones always buying steak and beer and potato chips . Some “disability”.
Using dead people’s handicapped parking stickers ?
Balls
Using dead people’s handicapped parking stickers and altering the expiration dates?
Serious Balls
Been through Davenport, was on Rte 27 I think. Looks like a truck stop, RaceTrac, a few chains, that kind of thing. Had no idea it even had a mayor.
Just once....................per ID..................
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