The Osceola County Sheriff's Office reports that a police officer in Florida was taken into custody while wearing handcuffs and accused of using a dead man's credit card number to make a fast-food purchase.
Dianne Ferreira, a 25-year-old St. Cloud police officer, is charged with stealing credit card data with the intent to use it, using a credit card fraudulently to make purchases exceeding $200, and using the personal identification of a dead person.
OCSO and SCPD jointly held a press conference on Tuesday to announce her arrest.
"She was an officer, but she doesn't deserve that title now," St. Cloud Police Chief Doug Goerke said on Wednesday.
The OCSO claims that an investigation revealed Ferreira was one of the officers that responded to a 911 call on Apr. 3 regarding a man having trouble breathing, but they arrived too late and discovered the man dead.
However, on Apr. 14, the man's wife discovered that his credit card was still in use, with the erroneous purchases having started the day after his passing. She then got in touch with SCPD, Law And Crime reported.
Seven fuel purchases, one Wendy's order, and one hotel stay were among the false charges.
After the card was canceled, two attempted transactions on it were declined: one for yet another fuel purchase and the other for an eyelash extension facility, according to law enforcement.
According to Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez, all of the allegations took place during periods when the defendant wasn't working and at establishments close to her home.
"You know, as a member of law enforcement, this makes me sick and nauseous whenever we have to do something like this," Lopez said during the press conference. "But you know what? We treat them – like no other person. Everyone is held accountable for their actions."
According to the Orlando Sentinel, Ferreira resigned after being interviewed as part of the investigation.
She apparently had no prior disciplinary history when she joined the force in February 2022.
"I want to offer my sincerest apologies to the victim of this horrible incident," the police chief said during the press conference. "To take advantage of a person in a time of need is absolutely reprehensible. We engage the public on a daily basis to build trust and legitimacy for our agency. That being said, I have no tolerance for officers who harm the community or violate its trust."
Investigators claim that they first acquired information about the brand and model of the suspect's car as well as a description of the driver who was making the fraudulent purchases. They later discovered Ferreira was the owner of the car and fit the fraudster's profile.
"The badge she wore has been tarnished and will never be worn again; in fact, it will be destroyed," Goerke added. "I'm asking the State Attorney to prosecute this to the fullest extent of the law."
The officer allegedly confessed to photographing the dead man's credit card details and entering them into mobile apps to make a series of $450 purchases during an interview.
On a $4,000 bond, Ferreira was being held in the Osceola County Jail. According to a study of the jail's records, she swiftly posted a bond.
© 2024 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
