What's that? Hold on. Hold on. You can't go inside yet. It's a traffic stop. It's a traffic stop. You have to hang tight. If you go in the house, I will arrest you for obstruction. Obstruction. Resisting without. This is on This is a traffic stop, so you're not free to leave. You are not free to leave. You are not free to leave. If you go in the house, understand that's obstruction. I'm Eddie Coker. >> Deputy Akin, how you doing? Hey man, I work for HCSO. Relax. Would you relax? Relax. Is there any way we can you can give me a one-time professional courtesy if I show you my ID? I'll be sure to let my agency know that if we stop one of you guys, make sure you get issued a ticket. Can I finish? Can I explain? You don't have to sign. Just let me I don't want to hear it. Can you show a professional courtesy, agency to agency? Why are you Why are you guys like that? I'm extending professional courtesy. Start 26 traffic stop. 10-28 Charlie Zulu 10-4 I'm Julian with three subjects uh blue Nissan. Hello, ma'am. So, I'm actually doing a traffic stop now. Why? You ran a stop sign back there. Yes, you did. Yes, you did. Can I have your license, driver's license? Or proof of registration? I don't need your video. I saw you do it. No, I don't. I saw you do it. You're harassing my neighbors. This footage Well, we'll be going to court cuz you did not see me do it. If you say so. I do say so. Cuz I know you didn't see [ __ ] I have a perfect driving record, so good luck with that. You guys have been targeting me. You've been targeting me and targeting me because of all the [ __ ] neighbors complaining. And I'm not doing anything, so I don't know how to get it on my insurance. I don't know. Whatever. Write me a ticket for my insurance. I don't Can you log into it? I don't know. I don't know how. I know I'm allowed to have it online, but >> Yeah. Do you have Is it Geico, Progressive? I don't know that insurance company. Um do you have an app for it? I would think so. I've never had to log into it before. I don't know. I I don't know. I don't know how to do it. There's no way to put there I don't know. Never I've never been pulled over in like 20 years, so I don't know. I have no idea how to do it. But it's AAA? Yep. Okay. I just need you to do me a favor, just hang tight. Hold on, okay? [Music] What's that? Hold on. You can't go inside yet. It's a traffic stop. I understand that, but it's this it's a traffic stop. You have to hang tight. If you go in the house, I will arrest you for obstruction. Obstruction. Resisting without. This is on This is a traffic stop, so you're not free to leave. You are not free to leave. You If you go in the house, understand that If you go in the house, I'm just telling you. If you go in the house, that's obstruction. So, just hang tight for a couple minutes. That's all I'm asking. [Music] If you go in the house, understand that's obstruction. Okay. Hello, sir. Not bad yourself. Good, good. I'm Eddie Coker. Deputy Akin, how you doing? Hey man. Yeah, I work for HCSO. Okay. So, I'm trying to You ran a stop sign. Do you have something to show that you ran a stop sign or I saw it. You saw it? I saw it. So, I'm assuming since you know you're It's okay. I'm sure you know since you're a deputy. I saw it. I'm telling you I saw it. So, that's probable cause for me to conduct a traffic stop, which is what I'm doing. Relax. Relax. Would you relax? Relax. Well, as you can see, that's probable cause for me to stop. If she wants to take it to court, she can take it to court. That's up to her. There's not much I can say on that one. Yeah, she's Is there any way we can you can give me a one-time professional courtesy if I show you my ID? I have to. We've been getting complaints in Seven Oaks in general. I'm assuming you've seen a lot of us in Seven Oaks in the last couple weeks. It's been in general, so because of that, we're enforcing everything. Okay. Well, I'll be sure to let my agency know that if we stop one of you guys, make sure you get issued a ticket. That's on you. All right, go ahead and write us the ticket. I assume you have her on video running the stop sign. So, I saw it, but she can take it to court. That's fine. So, at this point, I mean, she can give her case, I'll give my case. Okay. That's fine. We'll go ahead and take the ticket then. Yeah, that's fine. All right, just give me a couple minutes. Just do me a favor, hang out over there for me. I will do that once I'm done. Please hurry. Wait until I'm done. I'm almost done. Wait until I'm done. I'm almost done. You ran the stop sign. And you saw me. Yes. [Music] Okay. Okay. He's just counting down to all these [ __ ] [ __ ] that live on this street Okay. Cuz they got nothing better to do. Okay. So, for the proof of insurance, like you told me in the site before, that one, all you have to do is just show the proof. I'm assuming you're going to take I'm assuming you're going to take it to court anyway. So, for that one, you have to call to get a court date. How do I do that? Call one of the numbers on the back. Clerk of the court, Pasco Sheriff's Office. All right, so for that one, once you prove that you have insurance, I'm sure that you do, but Yeah. I mean, I already called the number, but it's still All she has to do is show that she has it. So, so that one is literally once she cuz I'm assuming she's going to take them to court, right? She would just show She would just show the judge, you know, I had insurance at the time. For the stop sign. Then you have I've explained the three options. One, pay the ticket. Two, take the course, in which case you wouldn't get points. Or three, take it to court. You have to make the choice within 30 days for which one you choose. But you Can I finish? Can I explain? You don't have to sign. Just let me I just want to explain it to you. You don't have to. You're free. Let him Let him explain. Let him explain. I just want to That's for court. Going to take you to court, so let me let me explain it to you. Relax. Relax. Relax. Well, I'm just going to say it off. If you want to interrupt me, that's that's on you. Pay the ticket is one. Two, you can take the traffic course, in which case you won't get the points. The last one is to pick a court or take it to court. You have 30 days to pick whichever one you're going to do. If by chance you choose to do the traffic course, within 30 days as well as paying the ticket within the 30 days. You understand? You understand? So, this one, which is the insurance, which I'm assuming you're just going to show your proof, that's 114. This one's for the stop sign, that's 164. Any questions for me? Good to go? Do we have a Do you have a car? You know, I have proof that I've been targeted. I have proof. I mean, I don't like to make a big deal out of it or anything like that, but I know It's wrong. >> show a professional courtesy agency to agency It's wrong. Why are you not Just I'm doing my job. No, you know you're not. You're getting complaints from these [ __ ] [ __ ] on the street. I'm just asking you. No, I work for them. I'm going to get it taken care of. I work for them. We've gotten complaints in Seven Oaks in general. I'm sure you've seen within the last couple of weeks. We've been in here a lot. And we've been citing the majority of the people. So So that's why. But again, she can take it to court. That's fine. She She has her argument. I'll say my part and from there it's up to the judge. So that's why if it would if she would have been nice and calm and everything like that the professional courtesy probably would have been done, but since she's upset, it's a POP ticket. I did not say that. Okay. I didn't say that. Okay, but just a moment ago you just motioned to her and said, "Well, since she's like that." When did I say that? >> Just now. You just now said that. Okay, whatever. I got it. I I understand. I completely understand how the system works. Okay, that's fine. I mean, they're calling complaining. She was saying you were sitting on this um road over here. Nope, so you were sitting next to the stop sign. And we know cuz I guess we're going to try and subpoena your body camera as evidence. It'll be there, too. You'll see where I can >> Unfortunately, the body camera won't go well because of this. Cuz you just did that. I'm telling you, you just did it. I saw it. And I understand how the POP tickets Okay, whatever, sir. You can act You're You're confusing me at this point. You You got me. Whatever. That's okay. I got you. But any questions for me? Um she got your card? Yep. It's got my name. It's got All my badge numbers are actually on the ticket at the bottom. And can you write down your direct supervisor? I'll give you a card, too, then. Yeah. Because it seems like you are targeting me a little bit. If you didn't see her run the stop sign and you're going based on calls >> her. And then when I asked for professional courtesy, you waved your hand to her and go, "Well, since she's like that." That does seem like it's a little personal. >> It's Sergeant Medina. Okay, cool. I'll call him back. But do you have any questions? Yeah, can you call him? Cuz I'd like to speak to him now. Hey, you can call him. So you're you're not you're unwilling to I'm not going to call him. Okay, but you can call him. So you're unwilling to give me your supervisor or anything. All you have to do to call a supervisor on the back where it says District 2. So if I'm requesting a supervisor, you're unwilling I'm not unwilling. You can call Well, if you're unwilling, that means you're willing. You can call them. So if you're not going to call them, that means you're unwilling. You can call them. >> So you're unwilling to call a supervisor for me if I'm requesting You want a supervisor, you can request one via >> Can you please call them? via dispatch So you're not going to call them, then. I'm not. Okay, good. All right. Anything else? No, man. I hope you know the next Pasco guy I stop Okay, that's fine. makes it calls PSO to complain about Deputy Akin. He describes Akin's rude and unprofessional behavior and says that Akin doesn't know references his HCSO I'm okay. How are you? How do I help you? Okay. Um I'm sorry. I was expecting a a different sergeant, but I guess you're worth Um we just had a I guess a dealing with a deputy out in front of my house. Uh-huh. I guess I guess he's Akin. Mhm. And um this guy was being straight up ass, you know you know, I'm talking to you like that kind of putting his feet up and everything like that. Because I mean, I'm a deputy with Hillsborough and I've been there 15 years. And this guy was straight up ass. I don't know if he's been there you know, since during since yesterday or whatever like that and he's out to save the world or whatever. But I mean, I also begin to start in the beginning. Hey, you know what? Hey, can you give me just 1 second? Hold on. 1 second, sir. Yeah. Answer the phone. Let him know. Hey. Hey, we're on a we're on the other line with that guy real quick. He's calling in to complain. the deputy Yeah. No, we'll handle it real quick. Yes, basically. He's saying that he was rude or something. I'm going to I'm going to I'm we just literally just start just called him, so I'll I'll I'll fill it out. I'll let you know what it is. Yep. All right. Goodbye. How you doing, sir? Hey. Hello. All right. Bye. Hello, sir. Hello. Yes, sir. I'm sorry. I Coker alleges had a bit of an issue with my cell phone. All right, so go ahead and get started. So Deputy Akin, you had I guess you had a run-in with him. And he was um well Um I didn't actually have a run-in with him. My wife did. Oh, okay. Um she pulled Yeah, she pulled to drive way. And um I was inside cuz today's my day off and um she called me on the phone and said, "Hey, can you step outside? I'm I'm dealing with a deputy out here that is treating me like garbage." You know, I'm like, "Okay." So I stepped outside and the deputy is saying that he's star running running stop sign in the neighborhood. And she's saying it's impossible. There's no way she ran a stop sign in the neighborhood. So I was like, "Well, so I said, 'Okay.'" Trying to be peacemaker here. Can I just ask you what you saw? And he goes, "Okay, well, who are you?" And I was like, "You know, I'm a deputy with Hillsborough. I'm not trying to impede on you or I just want to ask you what happened." He's like, "Sure, I'd be happy to tell you." He goes, "Um your wife ran a stop sign." And I asked him, I was like, "So you got a dash cam that or you saw it or what happened?" And he goes, "Well, I saw it." And I was like, "Well, so you were sitting there? My wife said he was not sitting there. He was like a whole block down and he came out of a side street, followed her up into the driveway and then turned his lights And I'm like, "Hey, well, and anyway, so we go I'm like, 'We know there's a neighbor there's a neighbor down here. He He hates me because I'm a cop. Coker continues to call elaborating on the stop neighbor complaint. non-aggressive interagency saying that I follow her house on police car and flipping off her kids in uniform. Anything and everything to try and get me in trouble, you know, sat down with my supervisor at work and they're like, "It's a joke." They know it's a joke. Everybody knows it's a joke. Now they're going after my wife. My wife runs through the neighborhood speeding or 70 mph. Um And my wife has a perfect driving record or anything like that. Anyway, get to the positive. They're being a jerk. He's standing in front of me and you know how it works. With I'm sure I don't know how the professional courtesy thing works with you guys, but with us if you ask you say, "Hey, you know, I'm a deputy or I'm a police officer or I was patrolling or whatever like that." And it's for one time professional courtesy, you know, it's yes no. We don't do that. I'm doing my job. And I'm like, "Okay, cool. You know, it's fine. I'm just Can I ask why?" He goes, "When I have to deal people who are like that." He pointed right at my wife and I'm like, "Hold on a minute. Hold on a minute. What What do you mean people like that? And why are you pointing at my wife? You know? We're not We're going to traffic court. We're on the side. You know, you have no reason to point at my wife like that." We He goes, And I was like, "Listen, dude. I've been working I've been doing this job probably before you were born. And it's or I don't know if you're a teenager. I don't know if they were born or anything like that. I was like, "I know all about the POP tickets. I know about the POP arrest. Everybody does them." And he looked at me and he rolled his eyes and smiled and goes, "Oh, no, sir. I have no idea what you're talking about, sir." And I'm like, "Okay, well, we're not getting anywhere on this. Um can I get your supervisor?" He goes, "Well, I'm not giving you my stuff. I'm not giving my supervisor. You get it." I'm like, "Okay, so you're not going to give me your information. He has a card and mentions his patrol car and flipping off kids denied as a joke by his supervisor. So you're unwilling to give me your supervisor's information? He goes, "No, I'm not unwilling." I'm like, "Well, sir, you're telling me you're not giving it to me. That means you're unwilling." He goes, "Call dispatch. They'll give it to I'm like, "Why are you being like that? I've been nothing but I'm just simply asking you for a supervisor and you're refusing even to give me a phone number." I'm like, "What kind of professional standard is that?" I was like, "If you want to declare war on our agency, that's fine. The next Pasco guy I stop, I can give him a ticket just fast, but guess what? I won't do it because it's a professional courtesy. It's a professional standard. So I don't appreciate you one, rolling your eyes at me when you're talking to me and two, pointing your finger at my wife and lying and and and referring to her that. And he's like, "Well, you got a problem, call my supervisor." I was like, "I'd be happy to. What's your supervisor's number?" "Call dispatch. They'll give it to you." And he got back in his car. And I'm like, "Wow. So it's like that now, is it? Listen, dude. I'm not star I'm not expecting you to kiss my ass. I'm not expecting anything. I I'm expecting you to make the ticket go away. But to treat it that way by a fellow deputy is not right. I was referring to him as Mr. Yes, sir. No, sir. I was being as courteous as with him as I am with you right now until he pointed at my wife and said, "You know, until I have to deal with that." And I'm like, "That's not right." Sorry, I'm just I'm just letting you uh finish. Is that everything Is Is that That's it? That's the point? Oh, okay. All right. Well, um as far as the professional courtesy thing goes, uh there's If there's any >> fine. Yeah. Yeah, but you know cops ask for it. It's called answering the >> asks for it. I can't tell you how many times I've had a cop ask me if I was an off-duty officer and if I get a professional courtesy this one time. I'm like, "Yeah, whatever." You know, it's it's what we do for each other, but I don't expect it. I don't expect it. Well, if you're going to ask for a professional courtesy >> it. Let me ask you this though. I I gave you a chance to talk and I'm trying to respond to you now, but you just cut me off within like two words of me responding back to you, so I just want to make sure we can have a a proper communication. We have to have a sender and a receiver. So, it's your turn. I just want to make sure that now I get to kind of kind of rebut some of the things that you said and address them with you and then we'll just keep going back and forth. Um All right. So, as far as the professional courtesy thing goes, uh I I think it it's a undocumented but well-known practice that's occurred from time to time, but it should never be expected. And um as far as our agency goes, if there's anything that we pride ourselves with the most, it's the fact that we do hold each other accountable probably to a higher standard than everyone else. Um I think the fact that >> with that, but go ahead. I think I think the fact that we deputy spoke with you in the first place on a traffic stop that didn't involve you, that in and of itself was pretty courteous of him because I wouldn't have entertained that. I would have done my traffic stop first and then I'd have came and talked to you afterwards. Um that's just cuz that's how I handle my business. So, I I don't find that to be inappropriate. Um as far as the declaring war on your agency, we're not ever doing that. That's That's quite absurd to me. I don't think that that's uh something that I would He shook his head and he said yes and said, "Okay." He said yes that he's declaring war on your agency? >> He said, "That's fine, dude. You want to declare war on our agency? We can do that." He He shook his head up and down and goes, "That's fine." Then what would make you say that though? Like what? Sarge, no disrespect to you, but I'm just going to take my complaint to to the ethics committee with you guys' agency and we're just going to roll with that. Yeah, okay. Well, just before you do that I just stand on that thing. I understand that the deputy uses uh they have body cameras. So, just be very careful about the things that you accuse him of saying and didn't and not saying because they better be accurate. All right. Please access and I hope your you know ethics committee or ethical standards has access to that. This guy was slick. And of course they Of course they have access to it, sir. I It's It's mandated by the >> Yeah, yeah. Um the other thing is he didn't He didn't give you your suit the supervisor's number because that would be inappropriate as well. You would You would need to contact dispatch and get that. We don't hand out phone numbers to other people on the street. That's That's not inappropriate, so. Or that that is not inappropriate. >> it's it's okay to give me the supervisor's name? Uh yeah, he could have gave you his name. He may He may not have known which one would be calling you back, so. Um you know, that's something that we could address with him in the future. He probably could have gave you give you at least somebody to ask for. Uh but you did say that you were expecting a different sergeant, which makes me believe that maybe you did have somebody to ask for. Yeah, he gave me a a sergeant Medias. Well, there you go. He gave you the sergeant's name. So. Just a minute ago you told me that he didn't give you a name, but uh but he did. All right, Sarge. I appreciate you calling me, but I'm working. You like you tell that I mean I I don't respect the fact that you have your deputy's back. Oh lord, that's the second Hillsboro deputy I've had tell me that. No, it's not about that. It's just that your your story is inconsistent and I'm just pointing that out to you. Okay. All right. I mean I understand I understand you guys are backing each I got it. I understand you're backing up your your deputy I and I respect it. I really do. But um so, we'll just take it to ethical standards and let them know what happened. All righty. Is there anything else I can do for you? No, sir. All right. Have a good day, sir. Today's date is Monday, June 25th, 2018. The current time is approximately 1606 hours. Location of this interview is at the Wiregrass Substation for the Pasco County Sheriff's Office. Present for this interview is myself, Master Detective Danny Johnson, ABN number 4536. And sir, can you state your name, rank, and agency for the record, please? Certainly, Captain Tate Sanborn, Pasco Sheriff's Office. And Captain Sanborn, can you spell your first and last name for the record, please? T A I T. It's Tate, my first name. Last name is Sanborn, S A N B O R N. And Captain Sanborn, you're aware this interview is being audio recorded? Yes, sir. And prior to this interview, did you have an opportunity to uh read, review, and sign a perjury affidavit? Yes, sir. Did you have any questions on that? >> No, sir. All right. If you'll raise your right hand as a notary of the state of Florida, I'm going to place you under oath. Do you swear or affirm the testimony you're about to give is true and accurate to the best of your knowledge? I do. All right. If you'll sign there on the bottom. And if you'll put time for the oath at 1607 hours. [Applause] The purpose of this interview is in relation to Hillsboro County Sheriff's Office Internal Affairs Case number I2018-027. Uh Captain Sanborn, before we get started, can you just explain um how long you've been with the Pasco Sheriff's Office, where you're currently assigned, and what your day-to-day duties are? Certainly, I've been with the Pasco Sheriff's Office since December of 2003. Um I'm currently assigned as the District 2 uh Field Operations Commander. District 2 covers the uh range generally speaking from US 41 east to Polk County, from Hillsboro County to Hernando. Um and as the the Field Operations Commander, I run all patrol um sh- the Sexual Street Crimes and Property Crimes units within the district. Okay. Um so, prior to our interview, we kind of talked about it, but it's my understanding that as um a District Commander, sometimes you get involved uh with neighborhoods, uh HOA meetings, stuff like that. And And you you go as a representative of the Sheriff's Office. Um and it's my understanding that you became uh you went to a HOA meeting or some type of formal meeting within the subdivision. Um can you kind of go into that, how you got involved, and and what you learned? Certainly. Um the uh fairly large community, um they uh historically have had uh very good relationship with the Sheriff's Office. Uh every once in a while uh they they frequently employ contract deputies. Um they also have a a very good uh both an HOA and a CDD. Um in this particular case, my involvement came from uh one of our uh newly promo- promoted sergeant, Sergeant Debrow, um does some website work um for a couple of different HOAs as part of an authorized um uh off-duty employment. And uh so, he's got very good connections. His family also lived in there when he was growing up in high school. And so, he's got very good connections to uh the HOA and CDD. Sanborn knows high HOA standards. >> getting a lot of feedback primarily from him initially that there were some uh traffic concerns within the area. Um I initiated some conversations with um the CDD president and the HOA president. Um both of them acknowledged that there were some some traffic complaints, some on the main roads. And I was sort of pointed in the direction of um of a particular complaint that was in a one of the specific communities involving a lady that was repeatedly driving too fast, driving erratically, doing some things on purpose to uh aggravate her neighbors. And so, um wanted to have a meeting uh wanted to attend one of the HOA meetings in order to hear the concerns firsthand from the community. Now, it's my understanding that there was a lot of Facebook posts or something to that effect about that. >> Yes, I became aware of those. Um the the the community itself within Right. Um there was a some back and forth on the Facebook page. They were expressing some of their concerns. They were They were communicating in amongst themselves. And again, those are um not necessarily anonymous per se, but they have a little bit of anonymity, and I wanted to make sure that I was available to the members of the community hear firsthand what their concerns were as opposed to second and third hand through social media outlets. Because it's not the most reliable source of information, I I wanted to make sure that I had an opportunity to go face-to-face with some people. Okay. Um and so, while you're there, did um this family or this this particular female that apparently is driving erratic, and I I focus on this. Um were there any particulars that came up about her husband and her husband's employment, or concerns from the community? Certainly, when I went to the HOA meeting, it was populated almost entirely by the HOA board on the one side of the table, and on the other side in the audience was uh I think with maybe one exception, it was entirely neighbors from By my rough estimate, there was 25 or so people there, which is significantly higher than most of the HOA meetings that I go to, um even when I'm kind of touted as a guest speaker. Usual attendance somewhere sits around the 10 to 12 area. And to see all all those individuals come from a particular particular subset of the overall was relatively surprising. Um as we started getting into the details of the conversation, it was very clear that there was a lot of frustration. Some of that frustration was um directed at at me as a representative of the sheriff's office because the lady in question um according to members of the community um kind of presented herself as as There was also an equal concern that her husband was uh a deputy sheriff with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and that maybe there was a um an agreement, you know, some sort or some sort of uh for lack of a better term, professional courtesy or something that we were somehow cutting these people a break because of their connections to us in the Hillsborough Sheriff's Office. Okay. And based upon that meeting, was there a direction um that that members of your district, deputies under your command were were kind of certainly guided to do? Um so again, it's very unusual to get that many people at a at a community meeting. It's very unusual to get that many people all upset about the very same thing. Um and so that lends a significant amount of credibility to their complaint. So um as anybody would do, it was my responsibility to validate that complaint. I um would receive multiple video clips that seemed to validate it. So I I had asked a couple of the deputies um Corporal Denbo at the time who's been promoted to sergeant since then, Deputy Aiken, um specifically to go ahead and and keep a close eye on the neighborhood um particularly the interior areas there on um just to to validate the concern and obviously to take any sort of enforcement action that became necessary because what we can't have is is the community members thinking that we're somehow trying to uh protect somebody for any reason um you know, cuz that would cause them to lose confidence in our agency and and we're not going to have that. Okay. Um I think that pretty much covers my my questions. Is there anything else that uh that you would like to add for the record um to this or is there any type of um anything you'd like to clarify? So again, not not particularly. Um the the process is pretty straightforward. Um you know, I had I had heard about some complaints within the community um from Corporal Denbo who's got close ties to the community. I went to the meeting in order to validate those complaints. The sheer number and fresh and and amount of frustration in my opinion went a long ways towards validating those complaints. And then uh Deputy Aiken's personal observation and driving. The only thing that I would add is that um it was very disappointing to see the behavior of uh the Coker family towards Deputy Aiken. Um it was very clear that that they didn't they they they didn't necessarily want to have anything to do with him and and it was extremely disappointing to see um the way that Mr. Coker presented himself um you know, as somebody that's tied into law enforcement, I I would have assumed that you would understand that that's not the proper way to go about having Okay. Is there anything else? No, sir. Okay. Then I will conclude this interview at 16:15 hours. I interviewed Pasco Sheriff's Deputy Duriel Aiken the 20th of June, 2018. Today's date is Wednesday, June 20th, the time is 16:14 hours. The location of this interview is at the Pasco County Sheriff's Office Wiregrass Substation located in Wesley Chapel, Florida. Present at this interview is myself, Master Detective Danny Johnson, ABN number 4536. And sir, can you state your name and badge number for the record, please? >> I'm Deputy Duriel Aiken, badge number 3942. And can you spell your first and last name for the record, please? D U R R I E L Last name A I K E N Okay. And Deputy Aiken, you're you're employed with the Pasco County Sheriff's Office, am I correct? Yes. Okay. Um and are you aware that this interview is being audio recorded? Yes. And have you had a chance to read, sign and you fully understand the perjury affidavit that I presented to you prior to the interview? Yes. The purpose of this interview is in relation to Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Internal Affairs Case number I2018-000154. Uh in that, are you tasked with special assignments and different things like that? Yes. Okay. And uh recently uh it's my understanding and and based on our conversation prior uh to the recording, um you guys have been assigned to or or maybe just you individually um due to some complaints about uh traffic, am I correct in that? Yes. So kind of in your own words and in story form, tell me how this all started. Um initially, there were complaints and and at one point, now Sergeant Denbo received information that there was a traffic violator with um For him, he was informed that a blue Nissan SUV would continuously speed, run stop sign, whatnot within even though there are kids driving or or not driving, kids outside playing. Cuz it's a neighborhood. Right. And there was a white female driver. And then at some point after that, we ended up going to a HOA meeting. It was myself, Captain Sanborn, and Lieutenant Troy. So let me ask you this, what you guys received a complaint that's there's been ongoing traffic issue. Um is it normal for you guys to go to an HOA meeting for What was special about this? Um I believe that one of the main reasons why for the HOA meeting cuz it was so continuous and it had been going on for so long. And then the fact that the person in question driving and the husband had a fit was a deputy in Hillsborough. Okay. So prior to this meeting or or was it prior to this meeting that you learned that that and that her husband was employed by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office or is it after the meeting that you learned this? I believe I learned it at the meeting. Okay. But others may have known, but Okay. For your purposes, you found out at the meeting. Yeah. Um so what I want to focus on is primarily um what what was actually what was some of the concerns by the neighbors? What was brought up? Was there anything unusual about this HOA meeting? Was it just a couple people? Tell me about that. Um There was roughly maybe 25 people at the HOA meeting, which I've never seen that many people at HOA meeting. And alone, I would say roughly 20 of the people there were all Okay. And each person was talking about the same vehicle, which is a Nissan Rogue, I believe. Blue. And it was the same person driving it, which her name Okay. They ended up mentioning that she was and her husband, Ed or Eddie, was a deputy with Hillsborough. Okay. They and they gave concerns that one reason why nothing has happened to them is because of their affiliation with law enforcement. Okay. And they keep they just kept trying and that's how you know, getting to the meeting. Okay. So there at the meeting, you learn uh the the Cokers um they're both affiliated with law enforcement. The neighbors are out in force um and that they're concerned that nothing has happened to them because of their affiliation. Yes. Okay. Um did they make and and I understand focus mainly on our employee. Um so Deputy Coker, he Was there anything specific mentioned about him? Any concerns that he made any statements to neighbors or anything that you recall that that he that that was brought up during that meeting? There was a post brought up at one point after the Cokers got an injunction against one of the neighbors. Okay. Cuz one of the neighbors actually went to go talk to them and try to get them to slow down, basically. And the Cokers ended up getting a I think it was a repeat violence instruct injunction. Okay. And at the final court hearing or the whatever hearing for both sides to be given, the to my understanding, the injunction got they got rid of it. Okay. But Ed a post and Eddie allegedly made a post. I have a copy of the post that was made also. On on Facebook or on some sort of social media >> some some form of social Okay. All right. Um and uh Do you off the top of your head remember exactly what the post said? It in in reference to one of the neighbors who was heavy set in a sense, calling her fat. Not so many terms and I don't remember the rest of the statement. Okay. All right. Um So and this was against the neighbor that basically they got an injunction against them. No, not that neighbor. It's a different neighbor. Okay. But it's started after the neighbor that they got the injunction against. Okay. All right. So if I'm understanding you correctly, it's basically sounds like that um the Cokers live in there as well. Yes. >> Okay. It seems like that the neighbors consistently all are all agree that there's an issue with this one family and it's the Cokers. Yes. Okay. Um did they mention anything about Deputy Coker um making any comments about him being in law enforcement? Um making any comments about uh using his status with the Sheriff's Office or his employment status in the Sheriff's Office to influence anything or anything like that? Was there anything mentioned by the neighbors to you that you can recall? That I can't recall. Okay. Um So as this meeting goes on, what was uh the general consensus or what was there a was there action plan developed after that or or or you know, or kind of a direction that you guys and when I say you guys, Pasco Sheriff's Office were were going towards? Yes. Okay. Um, or anyway, you know, discuss that. So, is there anything you're you're able to talk about? Um, basically do traffic enforcement. Okay, within I mean, go from there. If by chance we see this car violating some form of a traffic law, then pull it over, go from there. >> Okay. So, at this point the action plan is to uh there's a lot of complaint about traffic, so we're going to go in there and and let's just enforce traffic within there and and hopefully that may resolve the issue. Is Is my understanding correct? >> Yes. Okay. Um, I know at some point uh in in in this investigation, we were provided body cam footage uh from you. Um, the Was that your first encounter with the Kokers or have you had a prior encounter with them? That was my first encounter. Okay. Um, do you know of anybody else, any other deputies or anybody assigned to your squad that has had an encounter with them that was negative? Yes. Okay. Uh Do you want to >> Specifically Deputy Deputy Coker, uh did did Deputy Coker act in the way that he did with you with any other deputy that you can recall? No. Okay. Um, Like I said, the video speaks for itself, but is there anything that wasn't on video or anything that you feel uh you would like to add? Um, I know after my encounter with him, he actually called to complain on me. Oh, really? Okay. And he spoke to Sergeant Denbo. Okay. Do you know the the details of that complaint or or the information or All I know is from what's in the call. Okay. Which said that I was rude and I was scary. Okay. Other than that, I I can't remember what was specifically said in the notes. Okay. So, Sergeant Denbo will be the best person to speak with about that complaint. Okay. Um, is Is there an active complaint right now that you can speak over is that pretty much handled? I With that, I don't know. Okay. All right, no problem. His actions that day toward you um and you know, telling you uh that telling you that he would have Hillsborough deputies stop you and and issue tickets to other Pasco deputies and making statements to that effect, what are your thoughts on that? Like or what are your Do you feel he was professional in his encounter with you or tell me your personal opinion? Personally, I don't think it was professional at all. I think that was his tactic in order to try to threaten me and coerce me into not citing his wife. Okay. Is there anything else that we haven't discussed that you'd like to add? Nothing I can think of right now. Okay. If there's nothing else, then I'll conclude the interview at Tuesday Thursday, June 21st. The current time is approximately 18:17 hours. Location of this interview is at the Wiregrass Mall Substation for the Pasco County Sheriff's Office in Wesley Chapel, Florida. Present for this interview is myself, Master Detective Danny Johnson, ABN number 4536. And sir, can you state your name and badge number for the record, please? >> Sergeant Andrew Denbo, Pasco Sheriff's Office, badge 3844. And can you spell your first and last name? Yep, Andrew's A N D R E W. Last name's Denbo, D E N B O. Okay. And just again to reiterate, Sergeant Denbo, you work for the Pasco County Sheriff's Office. Yes. Okay. And the purpose of this interview is in relation Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Department of Internal Affairs case number I2018-027. Um, Um, were you your current assignment as a sergeant, were you have you been that the last 6 months or >> Uh no, only last couple weeks. I was prior to that I was >> Okay. So, what I'd like to talk about is when you were uh it's my understanding based on conversations that we've had that uh you became involved or you initiated or you somehow uh responded out to within um in reference to some complaints by residents there. >> Correct. Can you just kind of in story form tell me how that got started and and what the issue was? Yeah. The um The neighbor is an HOA and CDD neighborhood and their uh board members and representatives have my contact information through my role as a uh reached out to me and and asked that I looked into an issue that was developing in their neighborhood. It involved uh traffic violator who later learned through investigation is is uh um short short summary of of their complaint was is that they felt on a daily basis for the last several months that she was driving her her blue SUV down the street in a manner that was reckless, it put the kids in danger and that was they felt that it was harassment that basically every day she would run stop signs, she would um you know, accelerate, squeal her tires, things like that. Um, they felt that uh you know, that there was a enough of a concern there that they had had tried some different things that hadn't worked out for them and they wanted to know if the Sheriff's Office could come out and do some enforcement of the stop signs and check speeding, things like that. Or if nothing else, just have a conversation with her and see if the if she can stop her driving pattern and things like that. Okay. So, what were your actions uh in the in the beginning of this? So, um you know, with all complaints, we want to validate that there is actually an issue. So, we went out and um we we did uh approximately 2 weeks of of uh like traffic enforcement throughout the entire community. Um, so while we were doing that, we kind of like just looked to see if there's any pocket areas where there's particular problems. And we also met with homeowners, we drove around the neighborhoods and we and we and we kind of solicited feedback, is there an area that you guys have problems in? Um, during that process, I was um introduced to uh Sarah. That's her first name, I believe. Her last name might be Brown, but I'm not sure. Uh but Sarah is a resident of the same street as the Coker family and and uh I was introduced to her and I was asked to kind of go out and meet with her cuz she was kind of spearheading a lot of the collection of of videos from all the neighbors and things like that. So, while my team was out doing the traffic enforcement, I actually went out and sat down with her in her house and met with her about the issue. Um, specific to her husband down at at that end of their street. So, she lives probably 10 15 houses down the street from them and and she had like very specific concerns. And you spoke with several neighbors. >> I did during that time as well. Yeah, I spoke with I would estimate at least five to six different neighbors on the street. >> And what was the general consensus of the neighbors? They were uh they were concerned about a couple things, but mainly her driving, but also what had happened that when they, you know, tried to to to do the neighborly thing and go out and talk to them about it. Um, just the fact that one of their neighbors went over to confront him about it and ended up with a restraining order and had to hire an attorney and go to court and things like that. They were they were scared. They they felt that that his position as a deputy sheriff or or whatever his role was >> uh Deputy Coker, her husband. Correct. Yeah, they felt that that that he was um you know, they they knew he was a law enforcement officer and they um they felt that there there would be issues if if they reported things to law enforcement. They said that's some of the reason that they hadn't contacted the Pasco Sheriff's Office about the issue. Um, they uh they said that some of their previous conversations had led them to believe that he was a like a patrol officer and several of them work in the Hillsborough County area, so they were they were concerned about that. They they they they didn't cite specifically why they were concerned, but they said that they were concerned that um if they uh you know, if they if they went down there, there might be some kind of retribution for them making reports against him and things like that. Um, they said at one point they uh sat down as a community and they decided to send a letter to the Hillsborough Sheriff's Office regarding this issue. I haven't personally read the letter, but I I heard that they did send a letter about it. Okay. Um, and then I reviewed uh I want to say 30 or more videos of of these alleged traffic violations going on. Okay. And uh I found that the the the the the video the the videos did reflect that there was obviously issues with with the with the driving. Okay. Now, uh the driving right there, does it appear to just on in the issues appear to only be or does it also is Deputy Coker involved in this as well? >> know that he's involved in the driving. I mean, the uh the testimony I got from all the neighbors was that she is the primary driver of the blue vehicle. >> Okay. But I I I I can't make out from the videos who's driving and who's not. >> Okay. Um, Is there anything else that we haven't discussed that you feel is relevant to add or anything that you'd like to clarify for the for the record? Um, Now, I think I mean, in in summary, I think the neighborhood out there their their biggest concern uh which was kind of echoed when when I I was a participant in the interview um that Sergeant Formby did with uh over the phone with with Mr. Coker, Deputy Coker. Okay. This is after the >> Correct. >> Just for the record, so the traffic stop occurs with Deputy Aiken and now um uh after the traffic stop, uh our Deputy Coker Correct. calls Pasco County Sheriff's Office to complain on Deputy Aiken. Deputy uh I'm sorry, Sergeant Formby was is Deputy Aiken's supervisor and you were in the vehicle or right there next to him or something. >> Right. So, um I I at the time I still was um I I was in training at for the sergeant position I occupy now and uh at that time Sergeant Formby was the shift supervisor that was out. He's not his immediate supervisor, but he was the one that generally that's how we handle complaints. They go to whoever's on duty. Sergeant is not is not normally on duty, you know, at those hours. So, um basically he took the complaint over the phone and I I I heard you know, the conversation that was going back between Sergeant Formby and and Deputy Coker. And and based on hearing that conversation kind of validated the concerns that some of these people had in the neighborhood. Okay. Because they you know, they he did allude several times to you know, that even to us as as law enforcement officers that you know, you're starting some kind of war between the Hillsborough Sheriff's Office and the Pasco Sheriff's Office and you know, alluded that we need to be careful when we sped through the you know, Hillsborough County things like that. Um Uh he he made so so I so I could validated that that that there's you know, that there's obviously something there. And then I I know he he he alluded to us that he was a patrol deputy that worked in law enforcement at that time. He He stated at least once he stated that he had a patrol car and that people uh uh people would give him looks on the street when he came down the street. Um you know, the the reason that his neighbors didn't like him is because he was a police officer and things like that. So, Okay. That's about it. I I don't can't think of anything else. All right. If there's nothing else, it will conclude the interview at 18:26 >> Today's date is June 27th, 2018. The current time is approximately 12:06 hours. Present at this interview is myself, Master Detective Danny Johnson, ABN 4536. Detective Kevin Shea, ABN 214369. And sir, can you state your name and ABN for the record, please? I'm Dwayne Coker. All right. And is it okay if I call you Dwayne? Yes, sir. All right. And Dwayne, are you aware this interview is being audio recorded? Yes, sir. Um before we get started, how long have you been employed with the Sheriff's Office and in what capacity? I'm a detention deputy. I work over at Falkenburg Road Jail. And I've been there since um I was uh 2006. Okay. So, roughly 12 years. Yes, sir. Okay. Uh during your time with the Sheriff's Office, have you um has the entire time been at Falkenburg Road Jail or have you worked anywhere else here within the Sheriff's Office? Yes, sir. I worked over at um Orient Road Jail. Okay. So, Orient Road and and Falkenburg, any um special assignments or just been working the pods? Um hospital duty, booking, um I've done transport of inmates from the hospital and between jails. I've done pretty much and currently I'm working in the lockdown unit. Okay. So, I've pretty much done a little bit of everything. So, currently in lockdown. Were you in transportation? No, sir. Okay. All right. But I have transported um inmates to and from the hospital and between the jails. All right. Prior to coming to the Sheriff's Office, um I'm not insulting you, but you know, 12 years you're not fresh out of high school. What did you What did you do prior to coming here? I was in the Marine Corps. Okay. How long were you in the Marines? Um 7 years. 7 years? Okay. What did you do in there? I was a infantry. Just plain old grunt. Okay. For the whole 7 years? Yes, sir. Okay. Um and prior to the Marine Corps, what'd you do? Um I worked for a finance company. Oh, before the Marine Corps? Yes, sir. Um I joined the Marine Corps right out of high school. Okay. So, right out of high school uh you spent 7 years in the Marines and then you started working here. No, sir. I went to college. Okay. All right. So, um So, the Marine Corps, college, and the Sheriff's Office. So, >> uh Maybe miscellaneous jobs I worked my way through school. Yes, sir. I was on the it seemed like the lifetime program cuz I could only go part-time. Yeah. And it took me a quite a while to graduate. Uh no problem. Um so, any um So, other than the Sheriff's Office and the Marine Corps, any kind of uh law enforcement agency that you've worked for? I worked for um the University of Tampa, which is their security. Okay. Remember what years you worked there? As while I was going through school, so probably I graduated in '04. Probably from '99 to '03. Okay. 2003, something like that. And that's not a law enforcement position, that's more of just a security. Am I correct in that? I believe they were considered reserves. Did you go to any kind of Did you go to any kind of law enforcement training? >> no, sir. Okay. No law enforcement training No, sir. for that. >> No, sir. Um Have you ever been a law enforcement officer? No, sir. Okay. Um have you ever been assigned a marked HCSO vehicle? I've driven vehicles in transportation Mhm. capacities, but never been assigned a vehicle. No, sir. >> Okay. Um nothing that you would take home, your transportation vehicle. >> Um Any type of Have you ever conducted a traffic stop? No, sir. Okay. Have you ever testified in uh at court in regards to a criminal matter, whether it be traffic, uh misdemeanor traffic, um civil traffic, uh any type of of crime um like like that? Yes, sir. I have testified in court. Okay. >> Um regarding As it relates to your position in the jail? Yes, sir. Okay. >> Um in answering subpoenas. Okay. Uh any Have you had any training um or extensive knowledge of Chapter 316 in the Florida State Statutes regarding traffic? No, sir. I have no idea what that is, so >> Okay. No problem. Um You've had an opportunity to to kind of review everything um that that's happened in in the the main focus of this investigation is basically an interaction that um you had with the Pasco County Sheriff's Office during a traffic stop of your wife. Yes, sir. Um and then your actions afterwards. And that's that's the main focus of this. There are some other things that that have come to light, but the main focus is is that. Um so, with that being said, you've I mean, you reviewed body cam footage, you reviewed phone calls uh made by you. Do you feel you've done anything wrong? I feel like I overreacted. Yes, sir. Okay. So, tell me how. Well, the one thing that's not evident on the body camera video is like when I was like when I was having my Well, number let me start from the beginning cuz it's very extremely nervous and I'm getting like But anyway, right from the very beginning, the traffic stop was in my driveway. Okay. So, that's why I came out in the beginning. Okay. And I guess the main thing that got me a little upset was when he referred to my wife as I have to deal with that. And he pointed right at her. You You've watched the the body cam footage, right? >> Yes, sir. And after watching that, that's that's what you feel happened? Well, yes, sir. I know I was I was standing right in front of him and he I mean, the thing that's not evident in the body >> let me stop you there. Let me let me interrupt you. Let's touch on that, then. So, for the record, what I'm showing you here is um And there's other things that I'm going to touch on on on that traffic stop. But let's I interviewed HCSO Deputy Dwayne Eddy Coker on the 27th of June, 2018. stutters. You look at your wife and go, you would you knock it off? And then as he's trying to explain, so that's why and he's explaining to you cuz your wife interrupted him by calling him that. That's That's what happened. He wasn't insulting your wife. Actually, it's the exact opposite. is your wife referred to him as a racial slur. Do you approve of that? Absolutely not. No, sir. Did you hear her say that? No, I did not. So, the first time you were aware of that is is right now. Exactly. Did you not notice that when you watched the body cam video? I thought it was more I did hear that, but I thought it was like at the end when she was walking inside. She may have been walking inside, but she threw that out there and that was during that time. I honestly don't remember. I don't remember seeing that before she walked inside. Because here's my concern, Deputy Coker, is your wife calls him that. That was uncomfortable for you to read. Absolutely. That was uncomfortable for you to read. Cuz that word is >> But but yeah. Oh, yeah. So, the issue I have is you tell her to stop, so you you heard her. Now, whether it registered what she said or not, but what it appears what the perception of it is, she says that, you tell her to uh be quiet and then you continue to demand professional courtesy from Deputy Aikens. And then and then you start getting on to him saying that he's insulting your wife. That's an issue. And the first thing that I saw when I saw when I when when I see this is I think the average person if they heard that and they disapproved of that type of language would be to go, you know what, look, I'm sorry. That's not her, she's frustrated or make some sort of excuse or or apologize or something, but you don't do that. I honestly didn't hear that before. I mean, can I read further down in the transcript because I don't remember hearing that at that point at all. So, you you've watched the video. Yes, sir. That That's the point. That's the point where he says that. Because then you start going into you just looked at her um uh and said that and he's like, I didn't. And he says, when did I say that? And and you continue on and that's where you start getting into him about that. You feel an issue? Definitely. Yes, sir. And So, I don't I honestly do not remember hearing that, though. I don't. >> Okay. So, you feel you overreacted, but you felt that he insulted your wife. So, now that we've established he didn't insult your wife and it was actually the complete opposite, what else do you feel you've done wrong? Actually, I should not even got involved. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't even got gotten And I take ownership of that and accept responsibility that I should not have even gotten involved. I should have I should have told her, "You know, you deal with this. I'll take the rest of the groceries in. I'll do whatever needs to be done in that aspect." But I thought I could help my wife. She was obviously upset. And I mean, look, I your wife's an adult and there's nothing you can do about what comes out of her mouth and her actions and and you know, I don't expect you to be responsible for her actions, okay? What we expect you to do is when you identify yourself as a deputy with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office to uh act in an appropriate professional manner. Do you feel you acted that way? No, sir. Like I said, I should have stayed completely out of it. It wasn't my place. But she's my wife. I thought I could help her. Um >> Coker apologizes for Mr. >> video, you can see where I'm not sure I'm still not sure how he saw her run a stop sign because the following day, we actually retained an attorney. And even our attorney has driven the route and goes, "There's no way she he saw anything in reference to that." Anyway, we're getting off >> let me ask you this. Based on your wife's actions, okay? That that you you seen how your wife reacted. Do you feel that she was appropriate in her actions? >> Absolutely not. Okay. Do you feel that maybe she could be mistaken? Mistaken for? That she did run a stop sign? I mean, is it plausible based on her reaction? Basically, I'm going strictly by what she told me. Right. >> She's told me that she didn't run a stop sign. So, he didn't see her run a stop sign. And he feels like based on the constant complaints and even in the information I was um given that I was reviewing, the complaints in the HOA meeting, which that's a whole other kettle of fish that I hope we actually get a chance to get to. I'm going by strictly what she said. And she feels like she was targeted. And that's why we retained an attorney the next day to fight this in court. And even the attorney we retained has stated, "We think you were targeted." Okay. Well, if if your if your wife and the complaint basically is is that your wife is erratically driving through a neighborhood. They they they have video of your wife doing that. So, which which has triggered there were other complaints about traffic from what we're understanding. But the main crux of it is there are people in your neighborhood that are concerned about the driving. You saw the video that's in there. >> Yes, sir. Uh your your your your vehicle, whether it's you driving is it it in that video is is it you driving? That's definitely not my vehicle. Well, it's a it's a blue Nissan Rogue. And and I wanted to bring that up to you. It seems like I'm just referring to my notes page. >> So, let me ask you this. All of the neighbors say that that's your car. It matches your car. I'm not saying you were driving. >> Mhm. But it matches your car. And the neighbors are saying that. All right. People are writing writing to that. So, are you saying there's a conspiracy by your neighborhood to gang up on the Kokers? Detective, I don't know. But I know in a couple of those videos, it looks like a black vehicle. If you go back to the original report that was sent over to the Sheriff's Office via email, um we had a meeting with Major AD right after we received that report. And in that report, it says it's a black SUV. It's reported as a black SUV driving through the neighborhood. Okay. Neither one of us drives a black SUV. Well, here's >> So, maybe the neighbors are mistaken. I don't know. Okay. Um a couple of those videos are are very difficult to see. Well, here's here's my thing. Here's my thing with you. I I would like to give you the benefit of the doubt. But would you say in your in your um interactions with Pasco from the traffic stop all the way to the phone call to their com center and the and the phone call to the sergeant to file a complaint, um do you feel you were completely truthful in all of those? As I saw it, yes, sir. As you saw it? I think I may have overreacted. Okay. So, you feel that you were truthful, but you didn't overreact. I mean, you overreacted, but you were truthful in all of it. >> Yes, sir, cuz I >> Okay. So, let me stop you there. So, when you tell um when you refer when you call the com center and you tell them uh you're a 15-year deputy, this is my work cell that I have uh specifically for work, and you start inferring that you work on the street, would that be a truth or a lie? I don't work on the street, so Correct. So, and then when you tell Sergeant Formby when you file your complaint that um when you drive your patrol car home uh and uh that when you've done traffic stops on uh highway patrolmen and they ask you for professional courtesy all the time, would you say that's a truth or a lie? I honestly don't remember saying I stopped highway patrolmen. You did. >> I've been stopped by the highway patrol. And I asked for professional courtesy like about 4 or 5 years ago. Okay. But you refer to stopping highway patrolmen in that video and asking for a professional courtesy. And they've I'm sorry, they've asked you for a professional courtesy and you give it all the time. I ate an interview >> that you're going to basically um you try to say that Deputy Aiken said that he wanted to he was starting a war with Hillsborough County and there was going to be a war between Pasco and Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. You say that you're going to you're going to next time you stop a Pasco deputy, you're going to write him a ticket. Well, if you work in the jail, you don't have a patrol car, how are you going to stop someone? I'm not going to stop anyone. But you said it. So, were you were you being truthful or untruthful in that statement? If if that's the case, then I was being untruthful. Okay. Um when you make reference that in your patrol car that the neighbors are all against you and as you drive down the street patrol car, they they allege that you're giving them the bird and uh they don't like cops. Would that be a truth or a lie? Well, when I drive home in my car, my >> No, no, no, no. Your patrol car. You specifically said patrol car. Detective Shay and I both watched these videos numerous times. You said patrol car. And you referred to that and you basically referred to yourself and made it appear that you were a law enforcement deputy out on the street. Well, I apologize if that's how I made it appear cuz that's not the case. I didn't I know it's not the case, but that's what you did. I apologize for that. Why would you Why would you do that? That was not my intent. Well, so what was your intent? Basically, when I drive home, I'm in my uniform. >> but what is your intent in trying to portray yourself as a law enforcement deputy on the street and telling Pasco County that? I didn't think I was trying to portray myself as a law enforcement deputy. So, what do you think you're doing when you tell them that when you conduct traffic stops and you drive your patrol car home and that you're going to and next time you do a traffic stop, you're going to write past every Pasco guy is going to write a ticket. What are you trying to do? If it's not your intent to portray yourself as a law enforcement deputy, what are you trying to do? I'm not sure. I mean, all I can tell is that at the point I was trying to help my wife and I was pissed off because of the way this guy was rolling his eyes and the way he made that gesture towards my wife. >> shown that that gesture that was not at your wife. And if I got to tell you, I've watched that video I don't know how many times and that deputy Deputy Aiken was absolutely the utmost professional to you and your wife. As your wife sat there and berated him and berated him and berated him and called him a racial slur, you're threatening him and other Pasco County deputies. He was the utmost professional. But yet then you then you double down and you call the com center and you say this guy's scary um that uh you you're making up these complaints about him and then they transfer you over to um then the sergeant calls you and the sergeant reaches out to you and then you just go all in with this. You go all in. And you say, "You know what? I'm going to take this bluff and I'm going to go all in with it." And you allege that uh you call this guy he was an ass was an absolute ass to you. Um you you insult him and say that he's been serving since yesterday. I've been there 15 years. I don't expect to get treated this way. Um you you make references that you're that you've conducted traffic stops on highway patrolmen. You feel that professional courtesy is should have been given. Um all these things. Why? That's the big question is why? To get your wife out of a ticket? Was Was that why? I mean when you say why, which which question would you like me to Why are you Why are you untruthful and why are you making up these things to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office? Making up these things? One, he did he did gesture towards my wife and say, "We have to deal with that." No, he didn't. I just showed you the transcript. Deputy Coker, I just gave you the transcript. We read it. We read it. We We read it verbatim. You watched the video. He did not do that. I I'm I'm dumbfounded by this. My My My concern is that here here's the biggest thing in all of this cuz realistically you know, to interview you for this investigation, it's all on video. It's all recorded. Yes, sir. The thing I've got to figure out at this point is do I have a deputy that works here for the sheriff's office that is untruthful and will take untruthfulness to get his wife out of a ticket or do you lack such self-awareness and and delusional when you get upset that you can't maintain any facts? Because here's the problem. The facts are there, sir. The facts are there, Dwayne. All there. We've got it transcribed. I had it I had it transcribed. I had you read it. You read it verbatim. He never insulted your wife. Never insulted your wife. He never pointed to your wife and called her an that. He was in the middle of talking and explaining why he had to write a ticket and when your wife called him a racial slur, he stopped. It caught him off guard. You told her to stop and as he continued, he was finishing his sentence. That's what happened. That's exactly what happened. It's cuz of my cuz when I was taking my notations when we were watching that video, I even made it in my notation that he refers to her. He does He makes a gesture and he goes >> you Then what were you watching in there? Because it's nothing that we gave you. If If If If that's what you saw, then I have concerns about that. I have concerns about your observations. You're in a controlled sterile environment, an office to yourself. You had all the time in the world that you needed to review that stuff. And that's what you pick out of. Even though Even though I I just showed you the transcript. You just read it verbatim. Essentially >> We put it in We put it We put it in context. Yes, sir. But yet you still argue that he said that and he didn't. What about the other stuff? That he was an absolute ass. Oh, this guy's slick. Uh you know, things like that. And that you In fact, and then you claim that he It was pulling teeth to get him to give you a card and a sergeant's name and all these things. In fact, the sergeant Sergeant Forbito Pasco called you out on it because you alleged that he never gave you any supervisor's name but pointed out at the beginning of that phone call, you made the statement, "Well, this wasn't the supervisor I expected." So clearly you had a name. Yes, sir. And I watched him. I watched the video. He wrote all the information down and gave it to you. You were upset because he wouldn't call the supervisor for you. He told you to call the comp center and that was the appropriate way to do it. You just didn't like that. And then you tried to trick him up and says, "Well, you're unwilling and willing and and and and do that." And he looked at it and goes, "Sir, I don't know what you're talking about. You got me, I guess, but there's the information." He provided that to you. You even said it on the on the phone call to the comp center when you called to get a hold of a sergeant that he wrote it too tiny for you to read. And then and and then and then you tell the sergeant when he does call you back, "Well, he never provided that information." You You're portraying Deputy Aiken as all these things and he really wasn't. Is that what you truly perceived? All I can tell you, sir, is is what happened. Okay, but answer the question. Is that what you truly perceived? Perceived that Deputy Aiken's was this just mean, aggressive, rude deputy. Is that what you truly perceived? Did I say he was mean, aggressive, and rude? No, but that's that's how you portrayed him. You may not have used those exact words, but that's how you portrayed him. I believe you you stated, "He's an ass. He's an ass. Uh this guy's slick. Ski- He's scary. Um he was rude to my wife." These are things that you said. Mhm. So is that how you really perceived him? Well, between the eye rolling and when he made that gesture towards my wife Which we said he didn't. Which we've we've proven he didn't towards your wife. Let me ask you this. Do you feel it was You You know, and another thing that bothered me in this is when you came out and and then it was either in the phone call to their comp center or the supervisor, you make the statement that, you know, you came out to And I believe it was something to the effect of the peacekeeper or something to that effect. It may be not those, but basically to keep the peace between you your wife and and and Deputy Aiken's, okay? That to kind of maybe mediate and and and bring some civility to it. That traffic stop was none of your business. In fact, I Deputy Aiken gave you and your wife a lot of latitude. Because any type of if if you've ever done a traffic stop, one of the things is your wife would have been told to stand at the rear of the vehicle or sit inside the passenger and don't move. She is legally being detained. Yes, sir. You should have never been allowed up there. But he entertained you. He allowed you to come up there. He spoke with you. That traffic stop, I believe, was about 18 minutes and quite frankly, it was about 15 minutes too long. But that's my opinion. I agree. Because your wife ran him through the wringer and he maintained his composure. If anything, I wouldn't be concerned about your Deputy Aiken pointing to your wife, I would have concern with my wife treating a fellow deputy that way because that was completely uncalled for. But like I said, she's an adult and there's nothing you can do about that. All right? But that's just absolutely horrendous. But you see those actions. You see what he stops her for. You know, you you admittedly to yourself, you know you didn't even know what chapter 316 is in Florida state statutes dealing with traffic and the and the criminal violations. You feel that he has to have you on video in order to do that. He saw you. He saw her do it. You're more than welcome to take it to court. That's well within your right. Gave you the option. But that video's going to get played in court. Okay. Do what you want, but that that whole video's going to get played in court. Everything. Did you ever read the ticket? Did you ever look at the ticket? Yes, sir. So you didn't notice when he wrote on there wrote on the citation, "Called me an F and N." You didn't notice he notated that? Called me an F and N? Yeah. So when you look at the traffic citation that he wrote your wife, because a lot of times we'll write comments on there. So when in there, so for the one that he put uh no proof of insurance / called me and then the N-word. Never noticed that? You never noticed that on the Yes, sir. I read it. I just Well, no, I was reviewing it. I read the ticket. It just threw me off when you said he called me an F and N. >> Sorry, that's that's what your wife said. What he wrote on the ticket was called me the N-word. He wrote them on both citations. That never struck you as, "Man, why would he put that on there?" You That That didn't make you wonder? Because Because you said that was when my wife pointed that out to you, that was the first time you'd ever seen that. But now, you know, it's on the citation and you're saying you never noticed that. You You That stands out like a sore thumb. It's right next to the um the reason why they stopped. Yes, sir. I even wrote it down on my notes because >> Did you show your attorney that? Yeah, he has the the ticket. He never asked you about that? No, sir. And you've never You've never checked out a vehicle HCSO vehicle and driven it home? No, sir. Um Do you have a duty belt? Yes, sir. Like the one that the guys on the street wear, full duty belt, firearm, taser, or maybe not taser, but the the basket weave Uncle Mike's or whatever it is now. Do you have one of those? With a holster and everything? Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Do you have one of those that's issued to you? It's not issued to me. I had to purchase it myself. You purchased it yourself? >> Well, I'm sorry. The duty belt, I had to purchase I purchased a holster when I went to the new holster. The rest of the duty belt was issued to me. They didn't issue >> Like the handcuff case, the pepper spray, the pepper spray case, the >> I'm I'm not talking about the nylon the nylon Uncle Mike's one that you wear in the jail. I'm talking about the duty belt that's the basket weave similar to exactly like the one that the guys on the street wear, the law enforcement wears. Do you have one of those? I'm not sure what duty belt you're talking about, so I can't say. Have you ever noticed any of the street deputies? You ever pay attention to the guys on the street here at the sheriff's office? No, sir. >> the outside the outside security guys? You You ever see those guys? Yes, sir. Okay. You notice they have the full duty belt. It's that black basket weave. It's completely different than that nylon uh sh- plain duty belt that you guys wear in the jail. You You You know the two di- different duty belts? I never really paid much attention to it, to be honest >> You've never seen that. I mean, I've I've probably seen it. I just didn't pay any attention to it. >> have one? A duty belt? Yes, sir. Okay. The basket weave style. No, sir. I have the one from Uncle Mike's. It's like plain nylon. It's the nylon that It's like this. It has the the belt or the buckle in the front. So you don't have the other one. No, sir. Okay. All right. Um Why did you What if What authority do you feel you have here at the sheriff's office to tell Deputy Aiken that I'm going to go back to my agency and tell everybody to write Pasco tickets? What authority do you feel you have to to to make that statement? I have no authority to make that statement, sir. Why did you make that statement? I just I was pissed and I made a stupid statement and I wish I could take it back, but I can't. Then you tell the sergeant that Deputy Aiken basically said something to the effect of uh starting a war against us. Why would you say that? He never said it. Why would you say that to the sergeant? Again, I was just I was pissed off. So that's it. Would you say that was an untruthful statement? I'm not sure what you mean. Did you lie to the sergeant when you when you said that Deputy Aiken said that that there was going to be a war between our two agencies? Deputy Aiken never said that. No, that's what you told the sergeant. You told sergeant for me on the phone call. And he asked you, "Why would he say that?" "I don't know, but I told him do what he do what he has to do and and uh you know that was you. You made the statement. Like I said, if if I had to do it all over again like you said, I would have stayed completely out of it. But I allowed myself I thought I could help her. Then I got pulled into it. I got pissed off based on a perception I guess of what he I thought he was doing. And it's to me even when you watch the his dashcam and you see him he's coming around a corner at a high rate of speed. I don't to me it's she was targeted. How does How does that Do you Do you know their policy on body worn cameras? Are you Are you aware of their policy? >> no. Are you aware of their policy on when they have to turn them on or turn them off? No, sir. Okay. So, is it plausible that maybe his body worn camera is off and that as soon as he sees her commit the violation because he's clearly trying to catch up with her he turns it on. Well, even in the body camera you see him he's coming around a corner. Right. So, I'm not sure how he could have seen a stop sign a quarter of a mile away through a series of houses. >> It might not have happened there. You understand what I'm saying? The time it takes for him to see that put the car in gear, try to catch up with her, turn on the body cam, the body cam might have a delay or something when he goes to turn it on boom, you can cover a quarter mile pretty quick. And if you hear him you hear the engine, okay? The engine's revving so he's having to speed up to catch up to her. Yes, sir, as he's coming around the corner. >> Right. So, more than likely if your wife's traveling your wife's traveling and if she doesn't come to a complete stop or she's going at a higher rate of speed, he's at a complete stop, it's going to take him a while to catch up. That's why the engine's revving. But see, sir, what I'm getting at is you're tearing apart a traffic stop that you've never done. You've never done one. Absolutely, but >> You've never done one. I can tell you I've done a few. Detective Shays done a few. And that scenario right there is entirely plausible because it takes a minute for your brain to recognize it to act upon it and start putting things into motion in order to affect that traffic stop. See, I understand what you're saying completely. But um you don't know the makeup of our neighborhood. It does It's it's impossible. I mean, I understand what you're saying. He's sitting in his place. He sees it. But you don't know where he was sitting. You're going based off your wife. >> I'm going based off what I saw on the your camera. Right. Right, but you don't know what happened before the camera went on. And the camera are mounted on their epaulets on their on their shoulder. So, it's not directly facing that. You realize that, right? The body camera's on his shoulder. Actually, that's a great question here I have for you. When did you realize the body camera was on? Or when did you realize he had a body camera? I didn't even see a body camera. All I know is that there's >> So, that's how it So, wasn't it till the end where you pointed at his body camera and said, "We're going to subpoena that." Is that when you realized he had a body camera? I said you were going to subpoena that. Oh, yeah, you did. Yeah, you did. To quote you when I quote, "And we and you know because I guess we're going to try and subpoena your body camera as evidence." That's your statement. That's your statement right there. So, was that the point you realized he had a body camera? I was already I knew that Pasco County they all all those guys wore body cameras because But during this time did you know he had a body camera on? I didn't really think about it there towards I guess I don't even it's it's just such a a blur. I honestly don't even remember saying that. >> Cuz here's here's the thing that concerns me. You know, when they talk about integrity and they talk about you know, it's something that you do when you when nobody else is watching. And that's who you are. So, you felt nobody was watching at the time cuz you didn't realize there was a body camera. And that was Dwayne Coker. Right there. That was Dwayne Coker right there. Because see, your responses to me as far as I made a mistake and all that they they feel canned. They feel prepared. They don't feel I I I I may be wrong, but that's how it's it's portrayed to me. Maybe I'm wrong and maybe the people listening to this recording uh will feel differently. But that was the real Dwayne Coker there and that's what concerns me because you didn't realize anybody was watching. Same thing when you called their comm center and the same thing when you called that sergeant. That you would do anything to you would lie about this deputy in order to get this ticket removed. I didn't lie about that deputy. I'm going based on what I what I saw. I mean, you can twist it any way you want it. There's no twisting, Dwayne. There's no twisting. I heard your words. You're claiming he didn't give you the name of the supervisor. >> patrol duties. >> about your status with the sheriff's office. And referring and and and and that you work the street. You're threatening Deputy Aiken's with a war against the two agencies. That's Dwayne Coker right there because Dwayne Coker didn't realize he was being videotaped. Do you realize Let me ask you this. You You've been with the sheriff's office for 12 years. I'm sure you watch the news and you're you're aware of things. Um you know, law enforcement gets a gets a bad rap at times because we just uh you know, there are things that we do and we deserve to get in trouble for, but there's a lot of times where people just make up stuff about cops and they get in trouble and it gets portrayed over the media and it gets blown way out of proportion and then when the facts come out the media never does the retraction story. And so, we get a bad rap a lot of times for that. What you did exactly that. If they had not had those body cameras Pasco probably questioning their deputy there'd be some things that we'd be curious about with you, but you probably um you know, we'd look at him and go, "Well, the guy's been here 12 years. He hasn't had any problems. There's no issues. You know, maybe it happened, maybe it didn't happen that way." And we have some questions. But it's clear, crystal clear because we have that. And yet we're reading your emails. You're going to go after this guy. You're filing complaints. You want to call the ethics commission. Um you know, you're you're basically calling this guy corrupt when you're clearly in the wrong. So, if you're saying that you weren't untruthful and that's what you perceived, then it concerns me about your self-awareness. That you have no self-awareness of what you're doing. Zero. That's a problem. Would you agree? If that was the case, yes, sir. So, what's the case? You tell me. Well, what what emails are you referring to? The emails that were in the packet that we gave you prior. But I want you to answer the question. If it's if it's if you're not if you lack self- If you If it's not the case where you lack self-awareness, then what is it? Do you get that much of a rage that you just black out and not know what you're doing? Absolutely not. Because that's what you're saying. You were so pissed off that and and and now we've got all these things with Pasco. It's like if in my emails I went into Pasco's um professional standards. Mhm. The guy lied on the traffic stop. How did he lie? There's no way he saw my wife. There is no way. >> Were you in a Were you in the car with your wife? Were Were you in the car with your wife? Where were you at? I was home. >> You were home. You were in the house. So, >> So, the only two people that really know the truth Deputy Aiken and your wife. Right. You take it to court. But if he's saying he saw it Well, I I've made many a traffic stops and written many a tickets for things that I personally observed. But he's lying because your wife got the ticket. No, he's lying because he never saw her stop. No, you don't know that. Well, let me show you why I say that. >> No, no, no. Did you see her drive? Were you in the car with her? No, sir. So, you don't know that she she didn't stop. You don't know. You don't know. You can't definitively say he lied. Period. And you can definitively say he's telling the truth. You can't definitively say he lied. Okay. You can fight it out in court and that's what you got to do. You do what you got to do. But let's move on. Uh uh I've this point I think we've we've gotten it across and I just don't think you understand the severity of this, but I absolutely understand the severity of it, but you're also saying too in in my opinion you're telling me that if I feel like she was stopped illegally, I'm not allowed to look up information to defend ourselves. You can look up information all you want and take it to court. That's why I sent her that email. Okay. >> Because based on the Pasco County >> No, no, you're filing a complaint. But here's the problem. Here's the problem. When you call Pasco County Sheriff's Office and you complain on him, you better have your facts right. And you didn't have your facts right. You lied. I didn't lie. Yes, you did. Are you Are you Do you work on the street? Do you work on the street? >> No, sir. Okay. Have you done traffic stops? >> No, sir. Okay. Have you Have you been asked by the Florida Highway Patrol for professional courtesy? No, sir. Okay. Have you ever written a POP ticket? No, sir. Do you What is a POP ticket? Pissed off police. >> Okay. Who told you that? I just I can't remember exactly where I heard it, but it's common knowledge. Okay. So, you've never worked the street. You have no knowledge of how traffic stop works. You have no knowledge of of uh traffic law. But yet you lied and told him that. You lied and you told him that Deputy Aiken's was an ass. He was an ass, but he wasn't. We've all watched this video. Let me tell you, we'd be in good shape if that's the way deputies acted on the street because he was very professional with you, very calm, and and I went above and beyond to treat you respectfully. But, we're going to move on. So, I'm not allowed to reply? You You will in a minute when I'm done. I'll give you an opportunity to to talk about whatever you want to talk about. So, let's talk about um let's talk about your emails. November 4th, 2016, you write to Corporal Ramos, r a m o s, "I was dealing with an idiot and I did not hear you on the radio. Sorry about that. I can almost promise you you will have an unhappy F-tard come up to you when you're here uh today complain." What does F-tard mean? [ __ ] Okay. What does that mean? Like just a an idiot. I mean, I'm not sure how to Okay. >> break it down. So, did you get Corporal Ramos's response when he said, "Remember emails are public record. Refrain from using terms like that"? Yes, sir. Did you continue to use that term? In talking to Corporal Ramos? Just anyone. Um I think I might have said it in an email to my wife, but I'm not sure. You've sent it in multiple emails. Here's one March 29th of 2017, "Warrant on F-tard still in effect." Uh let's see here. That's your ex-husband. In Citrus County, that is currently Okay. $22,000 behind in his child support. >> Is your email still public record? Yes, sir. Is your Is that an offensive term that your corporal told you to stop using? And he advised that I not use that term. Yes, sir. >> Okay. And you used it again. Yes, sir. Okay. Sorry, I have to get a verbal response so the record can pick it up. So, how about this? Your wife asked you, "Are you still the [ __ ] whisperer?" Is that a Is that a thing that you refer to yourself cuz you write "You bet." So, do you refer to yourself as the [ __ ] whisperer? Please tell me what that means. It's like when you work in a um like the psychiatric unit Mhm. where there's mostly people who are extremely violent because they suffer from mental illness. Everybody over there refers to them as tards. [ __ ] whisperer is meant like for instance, if you have one that's violent and no one can speak to him and reach this guy, [ __ ] whisperers are the ones that can actually go up, get him settled down, have him listen to counseling, and avoid any more issues such as flooding, breaking the sprinkler heads, destroying property. Do you feel that's appropriate to refer to them in that way? As a [ __ ] Mhm. Yes. Do you feel that's appropriate? No, sir. I would never refer to him as a [ __ ] like to their face or something. So, But, why not? Because like you said, it is I admit it is an offensive >> Well, I don't want to hear what I said. I want to hear how you feel. Do you feel that's offensive? Yes, sir. I do feel like but it's the language that we use in the jail. So, that makes it okay? No, sir. I never said that. Well, I asked you and you said, "Well, that's the language you use in the jail." So, if that's the language you use in the jail, does that make it okay? No, sir. Okay. So, but you continue to use it. Here's a email from September of '17, "Effing [ __ ] spit toothpaste on me and desk." Have an issue with that? Do you think that's appropriate? I think the inappropriate part is that he came up to my desk >> No, no, no, no. >> a mouthful of toothpaste on me. So, as a professional, right? Cuz that's what we are. We're supposed to be professional, right? Mhm. Do you feel as a professional because an inmate acts out that you don't have to rise above that and be be better than that. Is that what you're saying? Because he came up You can call him an F-tard or an effing [ __ ] because he spit on your desk? I didn't call him an effing [ __ ] I referred to him as an effing [ __ ] in my email. >> Right. That's what I'm saying. So, it's acceptable to say that because he came and spit on your desk. No, sir. Then you state, "Lucky Luck as hell I did not knock his teeth out, but it's a different world we work in now." Right. What does that mean? That it's exactly how it says. I refrained from I mean, imagine you for a moment. Somebody comes up to you on the street and just spits a full out mouthful of spit in your face. Mhm. Right. So, it's never going to cross your mind I'm going to knock this freaking guy out. No, I'm going to do my job and I'm going to remain a professional. So, it never crosses your mind if someone spits a mouthful of toothpaste in your face. Oh, people get angry. Don't get me wrong. But, you're going to put that in an email? You're going to write that in an email? That's what I should have done. I should have knocked his teeth out, but it's a different world we work in now. But, I didn't. I refrained from doing it. >> Right, but it's a different world we work in now. So, what changed? Because it's obviously clear that you would have done that, but something changed. So, what changed? Just the fact that I can I restrained myself. I didn't do it. That but that's not how it's por- portrayed on here. But, it's a different world we work in now. So, something changed or else you would have done it. I mean, it's a modern era. We don't We don't live and work in the I guess like the 1700s. I mean, I don't know. Let me ask you this. You You know emails are public record, right? Yes, sir. And that the media could come in at any time and do a public records request and I want to see all of Deputy uh Deputy Dwayne Coker's emails. Right? You know they can do that. And and make a public records request and get those, right? No, sir. I didn't know that. Well, Corporal Ramos told you. Corporal Ramos said emails are public record. Remember that from 2016? Yes, sir. Okay. So, fast forward. We know that you you've known that since at least 2016 and you continue to still use that term. You make statements of I should have knocked that his teeth out. That goes out, the media gets that and they put that on blast. They put this uh "Look what Deputy Coker said." What's the public perception now of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and Deputy Coker? Yes, sir. I do see your point of view. Well, I I don't What's the perception? Tell me How does the public perceive us? I think you can perceive it in two different ways. I think one side of the perception could be How do Okay. How do you really feel the public perceives that? Like I was saying, I think you can perceive that in two different ways. You can have one perception of "Oh my god, if he would have spit in my face, I would have knocked him out." And then you can have the other side go, "Well, if he spit in my face, and then it's pretty cool that he didn't knock him out." Really? That That's That's what you get out of that? But, I think it's I mean, if someone spits in your face, I don't understand how Let me stop you. I'm asking you when if that went public, you referred to this guy as an effing [ __ ] and you should have used excessive force against this guy. That's what you just said. That's what you just said in that email. Because per our use of force policy, if you'd have knocked his teeth out, that's that's no good at that point, right? You can't do it. It'd be excessive or unnecessary force. So, doesn't your your reaction wouldn't have matched up. And then you referred to him as an effing [ __ ] So, you're telling me that the that that that went out and the media put that on blast, you would either be uh revered for your severe restraint or people would have been like, "No, I'd have knocked his teeth out." That's what you get out of it. You don't Yes, sir. I do think it would have brought negative light because just the use of language was I agree with you is And we continue to use that term again and again and again and again. Which causes concern is how are you talking to people in the jail? Once again, integrity. How you were looked at when nobody else is looking. What are you doing when nobody else is looking? We saw how you act with Pasco. We see what's going on on emails that you didn't realize that people can monitor. So, what are you doing by yourself in the jail? That's a concern for me. How are you reacting? At one point you said, "I feel cowardly for uh splitting his face open." That was another where for spook I don't understand what you mean. You wrote in an email that you felt cowardly for not splitting a guy's face open. Just Just goes on and on. I mean, what did he do to me? Does it matter? Absolutely matters. So, you can tell me you're working on the street and someone takes a cup of urine and throws it in your face. It's not going to cross your mind No, no, no, no. I'm asking. What I'm asking you is, do you feel that's appropriate to put in an email? No, sir. It's not appropriate to put in an email. People are going to get angry when stuff like that happens. I get it. I get it. But, this These are the statements that you're making. But, these are emails back and forth. That are public record. Yes, sir. I didn't stop to think about that. I thought it was just emails back and forth to friends that I work with. I I'm not really going to touch too much on this whole neighborhood dispute because quite frankly, that's your personal life, but I'm going to tell you, you have to be you're held as a deputy sheriff, whether you work in the jail or the street, to a higher standard. Mhm. You understand that, right? >> Yes, sir. And the way you act and the way you are perceived reflects on us. Yes, sir. All right? Cuz I got to tell you, Pasco County takes that body cam video and they put it on their social media site and go, "Look at this guy. Look at this lady. Look how they acted." She drops a racial slur. This guy says he's a deputy. He's going to wage war on our other deputies and and go from there. Does that affect just you and your wife? No, sir. That affects me. That affects him, that affects everybody here at the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. Everybody. I don't think you realize you made our entire agency look bad with Pasco. You made us look horrible. And quite frankly, I was embarrassed when I saw that. I wasn't even there and I felt the need to apologize to those guys for your actions that day. Do you understand the severity of that? >> Yes, sir. Deputy Coker, I can't tell you how to how to live your personal life. It's not my business and it's not my place. But I would ask that when you're out there in your neighborhood and you're dealing with your neighbors, because it's clearly there's some animosity between all of you, sir, you've got to get you got to get some things back in order because right now the perception out there is that wait, we have a deputy down here down the street and he's they just do whatever they want and then that's a reflection on all of us. If you're Dwayne Coker, private citizen, and not associated with the Sheriff's Office, hey look, if you don't get along with your neighbors, whatever, man. But at this point the two have crossed into each other and your personal life has bled over into your professional life and you have to be very careful on how you act when people know that you are a deputy sheriff. Would you agree with that? >> Yes, sir. Okay. Um Dwayne, I'm not going to beat a dead horse. There's so many things I probably could ask you. Um it's all on there. Is it okay if Detective Shea asks you some questions? Absolutely. Ask you a few questions there, Deputy Coker. I just want to touch on the traffic stop real quick. Your wife drives a blue Nissan Rogue, correct? Yes, sir. And you're saying that the reports were a black SUV. The reports that an email that was sent over to Major AD, I believe it was August of 2017 that it referred to the vehicle that was driving at a high rate of speed was a black SUV. Okay. Have you ever made a mistake in color between a black and a blue vehicle? I mean, I don't understand how you can make a mistake. >> be confused? Dark colored SUV? She doesn't drive a a dark colored SUV. She drives a light blue. It's almost like a it's almost like the color on that napkin box right there. It's like a teal, like a like a bright teal. So, I'm not sure how you >> When you watch the videos on YouTube a car turning that corner, screeching tires, and driving down, do you think that is anybody else except for your wife? I couldn't see who was driving the vehicle. Of course, you can't see her in this dark entry. You can't see the driver. I know that. But watching it over and over and over again, you live in the dead end of cul-de-sac. That's the last stop sign before your house. It's a small left-hand turn bend to your cul-de-sac circle, right to your driveway. Actually >> anyone from that stop sign to that cul-de-sac, your house, that drives a dark colored SUV? Blue, black, green? >> Actually, if you when you turn to the right on that stop sign and you're coming down towards the cul-de-sac there's another street that heads down to a a different cul-de-sac. >> Little right-hand turn. And I believe there's six 10 houses in there. I think it's more like 15 or 20 houses in there. But I think there's a lady over there or a man, I don't know. But I know there's a black SUV that parks over there. Have you seen her speeding around? I can't say that I have. No, sir. I'm just saying that these these neighbors and everything are basing on a perception of what they think. They see a car not stop at the stop sign. >> Mhm. Turn and screech tires in front of kids where they have it's a neighborhood where kids are playing. Mhm. If if you lived at that intersection and you had kids out front that are screaming every time a dark SUV turns a corner, doesn't stop, beeps at cars, not pulling in the driveway fast enough, wouldn't that be concerning? Absolutely. I would get the tag number and call the police. >> All right, so lots of phone calls made into the police station. They made it to the Sheriff's Office, Pasco. Hey, will someone come out here and look for this SUV that's almost hitting kids driving erratically. Do you think that's a good enough reason to send some deputies out to a neighborhood to to see if they see this SUV? May not have a tag. Maybe they drive by too fast. Maybe they don't have a piece of paper and they don't remember, right? But is that a good enough reason for a bunch of Pasco deputies be sitting in a neighborhood? Absolutely. I believe so. Do you think they're targeting somebody? Based on what I saw read in the reports, especially to HOA meeting, these people are throwing my wife's name out there, the address, but at no point for instance, yesterday one of these our neighbors actually threatened my wife, stopped her in the middle of the street, got out, pinned her in, and threatened her. >> All right, and that's that's an issue with your HOA and your what's going on in your personal life. Right. >> think it's a good enough reason for people to come in? But what I'm saying is when that happened my wife walked to the house in question, took a picture of the tag, came to find out it was an off-duty Tampa police officer. She called in to professional standards and filed a complaint. So, if these people are so sure it's my wife driving and they're so sure it's a light teal instead of a black vehicle, why don't one of them just walk down to the cul-de-sac, take a picture of her tag, and say this is the vehicle. I don't understand. I don't know how they how they I can't answer why people do the things I don't know why they don't do the things they do, but calling the Sheriff's Office and saying there's a dark colored SUV that turns the corner doesn't This is This is SUV that turns the corner almost hit my kids. We got it on video. We got 10 of them. We'll We'll throw it up on YouTube. Can you see why the Sheriff's Office would come out there and start watching that intersection, start looking for this vehicle? And plus, I mean >> They're personally being targeted or they're targeting the neighborhood cuz people are complaining. I mean, that's what we do. The Sheriff's Office handles complaints from neighborhoods. Our districts would send out the motor units to these neighborhoods. And the but the complaint very specifically mentions my wife and her vehicle. Very specifically at the HOA meeting, mentions my wife and her vehicle. The thing that's not being said is two of the chief complainants, the main the reason we like it's in the the paperwork when we had a no contact order filed against them, they followed my wife home and threatened to murder her and our children in our front yard. We have photographs of this woman standing at the end of our driveway holding a broom in her hand yelling threats and screaming at the front of the house. That's one of the main complainers about this. And maybe she is standing in her driveway No, our driveway. Hold on. Maybe she is standing in her driveway watching this car fly by her children every day. I I don't know. I don't know where the complaints come from, but looking at from the Sheriff's Office down standpoint for Pasco, isn't that a good enough reason to send some deputies in there to start looking for vehicles? Maybe issue some tickets, maybe slow down some people. Yeah, I saw in the the paperwork or it looks like several tickets were issued. Okay. So, they're doing their job. That's a good thing. But I'm just letting you know that one of the chief complainers here actually threatened and it went to the point where Pasco County it went to their IA department. >> that's nothing to do with this investigation. It's all here. It's in the paperwork and part of the paperwork I was told to review. >> And in regards to why the Sheriff's Office is out there, you feel like you're being targeted. I feel like my wife is being targeted, not me. >> And and and the neighborhood is definitely under close watch. Yes, sir. You said that on the call to the comm center when you called to complain the deputy was scary. What did he do to scare you? I didn't mean scary as in scared me like I was afraid. I mean, just as like >> Intimidating? No, not intimidating. I mean, just the way I felt like at the time and I still do feel like now that he didn't see her do anything wrong and he stopped her based on this multitude of so-called complaints that he actually took while he attended an HOA meeting. I mean, what I'm saying is he got all these complaints from these citizens at an HOA meeting. He went by our neighborhood talking to all these residents saying that, you know, my wife is this terrible driver and you know, she's a menace to society. But no point did he come just ring my doorbell and say, "Hey, we're getting these complaints about your wife. Can you ask her to slow down?" Didn't no one notified you of complaints? >> The only time that someone did that is when three of our neighbors followed her home and threatened to kill her and I quote, "Cut her throat." That's the only time and that's when we went to the court, got the restraining order. There wasn't enough evidence to maintain a restraining order cuz I guess under the state statute to maintain a restraining order, you have to have three instances regarding the complaint or the recipient of the complaint. We had two. So, the deputy isn't scary as you told the dispatcher. Not in a a frightening way, no, sir. You're insinuating that he or you're stating he did not see her on traffic stop. I don't believe so, no, sir. So, he's a dirty cop. Just making it up. I mean, yes, if he's stopping someone based on something he did not see, but that's a case for traffic court and the attorney that we've hired and everything like that. That will come out later. >> And being and being in in um out on the road in the past and I understand that when anyone writes a citation there's going to be the two sides of the story. Law enforcement's going to say, "I witnessed you." You don't need the body camera footage or video. Um can't video tape every intersection just to prove on film because less and less is given to the truthfulness of the officer. You're fortunate that everything that happens in the jail is on video. It's black and white. You can watch it. But in the street, now cuz the body cameras you can see it, but it's the truthfulness of the officer who took an oath. What would be his gain to write her a ticket if he didn't see it? Why would he lie? I don't know. That's what we're going to figure out in court because that's why we retained an attorney. That attorney has driven the route cuz apparently he subpoenaed the attorney to handle that. Right. I understand. And even the attorney says there's no way okay unless he has x-ray vision he could see suit. I'm basing that opinion on the fact of what our attorney is telling us, what I saw in the video about him coming around the corner. I I respect what you said, but if you would allow me to draw you a diagram of our neighborhood, I could even show you how he couldn't have seen it. No. He's basing his opinion on three pages of complaints from neighbors. How do you know that? Because he even So he's going to say because I've read all these complaints and I have heard of from from your neighborhood and have attended HOA meetings, that's the reason I'm writing our ticket. And he's attended these neighbors at their homes, went into their homes, sat down, reviewed all their videos, then went across the street, saw another neighbor, sat down, went across the street, saw another neighbor. If he believed all he had to do was come to us and say, "Are you speeding?" And and that'll be that'll be handled in court. Right. All that's going to be handled in court. That's why it's I mean if When when I have a question about the body camera cuz you see it clearly you see it on his shoulder. You say, "I'm going to ask we're going to subpoena the body camera." Right. For the video evidence. What are you thinking he's going to do? He's going to be surprised and be like, "Oh, this is all on camera? I'm going to do away with this ticket?" No. What did you expect him to do when you mentioned the body camera and mentioned professional courtesy and asking for professional courtesy for your wife? The professional courtesy part, like I said, if I had to do it over again, I'd have never got involved. I completely agree with you there. It was a bad choice on my part to even get involved in this crap which I should not have. It all sounds slightly threatening. Like professional courtesy, professional courtesy, where's professional courtesy? Oh, oh, see you pointed at my wife. Well, this is what this is what it's all about? What it what clearly wasn't. He's in the middle of a statement explaining to you and your wife who doesn't want to hear anything except for I'm taking it to court, I'm taking it to court, I'm taking it to court. And then when she walks away and makes her racial slur in the middle of how he's explaining to you who he doesn't have to explain anything to. He's already explained it to her. He's doing a courtesy to you explaining to you the process, the reason why. We've gotten complaints. We've had a lot of cars in here. We've ticketed a lot of people. Racial slur out of the background. Things are disrupted for 2 seconds and that's why. And he's not saying that's why to your wife. He's saying, "Let me finish my statement and that's why I'm out here writing tickets." But you're so blinded by your wife's anger that and then making him second guess himself. Oh, well, he got that body camera on. We're going to subpoena that. He knows that. He's he's a law enforcement officer. He does THIS ALL DAY LONG. I'm I'm sorry for interrupting. Can I get a like a just a cup of water or something like that? My throat is absolutely killing me. I I really only have one more question and and then I'll end this. You mentioned in the email the warrant on the F-tard is still active. Correct? So you said who who is that? That's my wife's ex-husband. You said it was a policy you know that was still active. It's not the police. Cuz you can go into the Citrus County website. It's a public website. You seem upset with my wife. Go in and actually see there's a tab there you click active warrants. Are you doing that at work? You can do it at home or at work, either one. Did you run it at work? Did I run it? Well Did you run your wife's ex-husband's on the Citrus County website while you're working or at home? Well, I looked it up on the computer while I was at work. Should be looking up personal stuff on your computers while you're at work. Personal stuff. It's a public website. But it's not like I'm It's a personal inquiry. I mean, that's your ex-wife your husband's your wife's ex-husband. That's $22,000 behind on child support. So you have access to our computer at home to be able to run that. Yes, sir. You didn't use any Sheriff's Office databases to run him. We we can't run I don't understand what you mean by run. Did you look up any information on your wife's ex-husband using Sheriff's Office equipment? No, sir. We can't look up individual and individuals information. The only thing we can look at is like for instance if you go into the Citrus County Sheriff's Office website. Again, I'm I apologize my throat is freaking dog dry, but you can go into the Citrus County's public website and there's a tab there it's public information of saying active warrants. And his name was right at the top of the page. I'm done with the questions. I just got one one final question for you if that's okay and then we'll be done. On the video during the traffic stop reading the straight from the transcription here. One statement you make, "Okay, we'll be sure to let my agency know that if we stop one of you guys, make sure you issue the ticket." And the next one is, "I hope you know the next Pasco guy I stop just to let you know." What did you mean by that? What was your intent of saying that? There wasn't really any intent behind it. It's just I was just pissed off and and I said and I let my mouth run away. I should not have done it. I should Let me stop you. I I've heard that before. What I'm asking is what was your intent in making that statement? Why did you say that? I guess I was just playing a game for tit for tat and I was pissed. What were you hoping the outcome would be? I knew there wasn't going to be any outcome. I knew I wasn't getting out of it. It's just it was a tit for tat stupid thing I should have never have said, but I said it and I wish I could take it back, but I can't. Okay. Is there anything else that we haven't discussed that you would like to add? Now is now is your now is your time. Can I just get a drink of water before I start adding stuff because my throat is falling apart. Sure. I'm just going to leave the recording on. Here's a bottle of water. Oh, thank you. Go ahead and make your your statement about what you want to talk about. And do me a favor, keep it in regarding to the investigation that we're talking about. If it gets to the fights with your neighbors and stuff, I may stop you, but let's focus on what we we've discussed here today. Okay? Okay, so the So any of the stuff that regarding the neighbors that I had to review that we talked about, I can't try to rebut any of that or I had that in there because that's some of the Pasco material, but we're I'm not concerned about I'm not concerned about your your wife's driving. I mean, we focus on your actions during that day, your statements that you've made to to Pasco County Sheriff's Office and your emails. That's the crux of this. Okay, my emails I completely agree with you. It's like I just it's emailing back and forth between friends at work. The language that was used, I'm not trying to I'm it's the language of the jail, but I'm not going to use as an excuse cuz there is no excuse and I accept full responsibility for that. I shouldn't be referring to people like that, but I'm sorry that's just the way it is and I did it. There's no sense in saying I didn't do it, but I did. It's just the language of the jail. Um Let me interrupt you. Anything you want to talk about, you know what, just go ahead and do it. So if you want to talk about that other stuff, go ahead and do it. Okay. To really get an idea of how all this got started, the main thing goes back to when we first had the restraining order or tried to get the restraining order done when three of our neighbors followed my wife home. They came up into standing outside our driveway and threatened to murder her in front of our children. At that point, I was coming home from work. I drove up into the garage. I was upstairs getting undressed. My son comes running upstairs saying he's saying, "Mommy, is somebody Daddy Mommy's somebody's threatening to murder kill Mommy." So I'm like, "What the hell?" So I go downstairs. These people are livid. They're threat They're like, "F you, F you know, the police. I'm going to F and kill you. I'm going to kill your family. I'm going to kill everybody." That's the whole basis of this. Can I ask you something in regards to that? Sure. Do you think any of that falls upon the driving of your wife, the driving habits of your wife? Do you think there's any responsibility maybe in your wife's part of that that would piss off the neighbors? I'm not agreeing if they're threatening to kill your family, but hey, let me tell you I'll be the first one to tell you that's inappropriate. I'm right here with you. I'll tell you that's inappropriate. But do you think people's emotions are high because of your wife's driving? Because I've seen how your wife interacts with a deputy and her attitude towards a deputy. So I would imagine that's probably the same way she's dealing with these people because when I see the video, she about runs one of the neighbors off the road and honks the horn. She's squealing her tires. Let me phrase that. Your vehicle, we don't know who's driving. We don't know who's We don't know who's driving. There's a mystery driver in that vehicle. That's definitely not my vehicle. But it is. It's not dark. It's it's car. But it's It's your car, sir. And I looked at the the email that was sent to Sheriff G. There's no mention of a black SUV. In the paperwork, there is. The paperwork that was sent >> seen your car. I'm telling you right now, some people could construe that it is a dark-colored SUV. And it And it could be construed. I've seen it in real life. I've driven by your house. I know what it looks like. There's no mistaking that the neighbors know it's it's it's her. They've confronted They've talked about it. The deputy went out there. Deputy Seltman with the Pasco County Sheriff's Office. You said nobody's talked to you about it. He actually went out to your house. He went out to your house on June 6th, 2018. Your wife slammed the door in his face. It's right here in the report. So, I didn't know that. Hi, ma'am. How are you? So, we got a call. I guess there was some speeding in the neighborhood. But they constantly accuse me of it, and it's [ __ ] So. Well, I saw a video today. And? I mean, unless you see me doing it, that is their video could be doctored. I know. I'm just saying. I mean, Um I've got a beef with them for almost a year. Okay. >> They can go [ __ ] themselves, okay? I'm not doing anything wrong. They call the police on me constantly. All right. I did nothing wrong. Unless you catch me But that's the problem, Deputy Coker. You don't know all the facts, but you go off and get upset instead of being a fact-finder. Okay? Instead of getting everything and taking an impartial view and overlooking everything, you get upset and you assume. Do you see how that's a problem? Do you see how that could be a problem? Do you feel that you're And you've already said your wife's behavior was not appropriate, right? You You said your wife's behavior towards Deputy Aiken was not appropriate. Am I correct in that? >> It was not appropriate, but >> Okay. So, let me stop you. So, based upon that, based upon the way she acted, based upon the neighbor seeing her, they videotaped it. I showed the videos in there. So, I can I can see how the neighbors get pissed off. So, I can see that. I don't agree with them threatening your family. I absolutely don't agree that. But when 20 of your neighbors show up to an HOA meeting, 20 of your neighbors show up to an HOA meeting. Generally, those things people are apathetic. They don't care. But they showed up. And it's all because of one person. Whether your wife's doing it or not, your neighborhood perceives you as the nightmare neighbors. It's very clear. That's not strictly what they said, but Lord knows we've all moved places where like, "Oh gosh, I hope our neighbors are are decent people." Your neighbors don't like you. I get that. I think hate is a better word. There you go. But I got to tell you, with my kid And if my kid's playing outside of the road and seeing your wife the the drive the way that that she is, I would really be upset. And I think that if it was your kids out there and somebody was driving the way that you'd be really upset. I think you would. Absolutely agree. We're all dads in this room. We're all dads. And we'd do anything for our kids to protect our kids, right? Absolutely. And so, emotions get a little high by people when it comes to their kids. My question to you, okay? And I'll let you talk about all of this, but my question to you is, what is Dwayne Coker doing to maybe try to diffuse and settle this issue? You don't have to answer it, but think about it. I'm going to give you something to think about. What are you doing to diffuse this situation and maybe try to make peace in the neighborhood, especially when they know that your identity with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office? And it's been brought up. And there's concerns. What if they legitimately do have fears about you being a deputy and retaliation? What if they do perceive that? Well, that's probably something we got to work on, right? Would you agree? We got to work on that because they shouldn't be afraid of a deputy. Absolutely not. We shouldn't be We should We should be pillars of our communities. We should be upstanding citizens. We should We should want kids to come up and talk to us when they're upset. It doesn't matter >> Coker's eye here. >> here in the jail, it doesn't matter if you're on the street. You wear a white shirt and a badge. You're a deputy sheriff. And people in your community should look up to you. I agree. So, my question to you that you really need to think about, what is Dwayne Coker doing to ensure that there's peace in his neighborhood because right now, they don't like you. Your words, they hate you. Right. So, They threatened to murder me. So, I'm not sure how much more hateful they can be. So, is there anything that the Coker family is can do to maybe try to Let's ease off of that, you know? I can I Granted, I I get it that you can't control what your wife says and does. But if she really is Let's Let's Let's Let's play devil's advocate. Let's say that is her car. Let's say that is her driving that way. Maybe that's something we can improve on, if possible. Maybe try talking to your wife. Maybe try making peace with the neighbors. Look, I'm sorry. We're frustrated. And instead of trying to threaten to kill each other and take each other to court and and, you know, and and and have a lynch mob against everybody in the neighborhood, maybe let's just kind of sit down, take a step back, take a deep breath, and let cooler heads prevail. That way nobody has neighbors that they hate. That way nobody's threatening to kill each other. But if we go tit for tat, that's when the problems start. Let's work it out. I'm sure you've had personal conflict with people and that, you know what? We just got to talk this out and things got better. You know, it may not be right away, but that's my point. Think about this. You don't have all the facts. You just said I just talked to you about when Deputy Seltman came out. Yeah. I didn't know that. You were unaware of that. I didn't even know that name. So. What if there other things that are going on that you're not aware of? So, all you see is this small view that your wife's telling you, right? That your wife's telling you and you don't see all the facts. Think about that. What if you don't know all the facts, that you're only getting a minuscule part from your wife, and that it's biased. Oh, I'm not doing anything. I'm, you know, uh you know, I'm not saying that your wife's lying to you, but she may not be disclosing everything to you. Or you may be hearing hearing alternate facts. So, why don't we get big picture? Why don't we look at all the facts surrounding this and say, "You know what? Clearly, something is wrong for these people to come up and threaten my family. Something happened because people just don't randomly come up and threaten people like that. I I assume you live in a decent neighborhood. I drove there, and it looks like a pretty nice neighborhood. >> It's very nice neighborhood. So, so why, you know, you got to ask yourself, why would people do that? Does Does that make sense to you? Sure. That's exactly what you're saying. Yeah. So, when I tell you that your personal life and your professional life have now bled into each other and it's and and and it's it's mixed together, you got to do something to work on that. Whether you like it or not, you know, you got to do something about it. Go Go ahead and and and finish what you want to say, sir. I'm sorry. But at what point? I mean, if just one of these neighbors, cuz I drive home in uniform, Mhm. if just one of these neighbors flagged me down, Mhm. "Can I talk to you for a second? Could you please tell your wife to slow down?" It's never happened. Never. Instead, they pick HOA meetings to go to. Um they send these videos that are sus mean suspect. You can't tell it's her driving. I mean, I know what you're saying. And maybe if I put the fact that it's my wife, I'm just in too much of a hurry to take her side. It's very possible. And that's understandable. I mean, but it's my wife. I get it. And the main part of I know of is that I remember these people coming to our home and threatening to cut her effing throat right in front of our kids. So, And that's unacceptable. I'm I'm right there with you. I'm right there with you. And this is the same Pasco County Sheriff's Office that we called. We got pictures. We got video. Here she is. She's standing in front of her house. Even the Pasco deputy was like, "Oh, this is aggravated battery all day long." Nothing's done. Nothing. Threatening that is not aggravated battery, but I'm just telling you what I heard. I'm just telling you what I was told. But do you see how Did Did you ever Did you ever question on how it got to that point? Like, what happened prior? Did you ever ever question that? What if What if, devil's advocate, what if they went up and talked to your wife and your wife just flat out laid into them? So, they never talked to you. They talked to your wife. And hey, cuz if it's not you driving, and they see her driving, well, maybe they went up to you or they went up to her and not you. You ever think of that? No, sir. So, what if they did go up to your wife? And if your wife responded to them just like she did with that deputy, and it's continuous, are they going to come to you at that point? Are they just going to go, "Man, that lady is and we're not going to deal with her." Can you Can you maybe see that scenario? I'm not saying that's what happened, but could you see that's a plausible scenario? >> I see that as a plausible scenario. >> And And that's And that's what I want you to start thinking about. Look, I get it, man. You're going to take your wife's side. You're going to take your um You want to believe your wife. You want to take everything she says as gospel. I get that. I respect that, okay? But I think you need to be asking more questions. Because outside looking in, that we don't have these relationships, we're just two people right here looking at everything, big picture, outside looking in. I I I can tell you that this whole thing is probably over your wife driving. Or whoever's driving the car. And And And so, they may be mean, nasty people. They may be people if they threaten to kill your family, slit her throat, cut her in front of your kids. I I got to tell you that would piss me off beyond I I I'd be aggravated. And I got to tell you as probably as a husband and as a father, I I would I would be extremely upset and and and and I'm right there with you. So, I'm not I'm not arguing with you that you shouldn't be upset that they said that. I I firmly believe that you should be upset and you're trying to protect your family and do right by your family. I get that, man. But, you got to look at big picture and how did it get to that point? And that's that's what I'm trying to drive home with you. I completely see where you're coming from. It's like because I mean, there's there's something I feel like I have to say. It's when I first got here this morning and I told you I've got that knot in my stomach. Yes, sir. And I'm puking and I can't sleep. It's because I am so torn. I mean, a part of me knows I mean, there's I wish I could explain it better, but there's a part of me that knows that I just that phone call I made, I swear to God I wish I never got involved. But, I thought I was helping her. I thought that they were ganging up on her based on all this. I thought she was being being ganged up on. She told me there's no way the guy saw her run anything. So, I just saw it as just a bullying attempt. And I got involved in something >> Discussion [Music] has caused the biggest knot in my freaking stomach. It's not the nervousness of sitting in front of you guys because I'm going to sit here and tell the truth. It's that because I did something that in my mind I knew it was wrong and it's just eating me alive inside and that's the God's honest truth. Because I know what I did was wrong. But, I can't not side with my wife. I've got to believe my wife. But, I just I'm asking myself did I believe her too much and get way in over my freaking head which absolutely I did and it's eating me alive that I took it to a point where I never should have taken it. Dwayne, I told you earlier that I felt that you were giving me a a canned response. That's the first time that I felt that that's a true emotional heartfelt response. It's eating me alive. It is absolutely That's what's eating me alive. And that's the truth. I I don't know. I mean, and I realize I probably just hung myself on tape saying that. But, I can't walk out of here knowing that's it. That's what's causing the sleepless nights. That's what's causing the knot in my stomach. That's what caused me to throw up before I came over here. It's because I'm afraid of what I've done. I've done something and I took it to a point where it never should have went. Yes, that I perceived some of the stuff that he was doing. It's all in perception. I get it. I didn't hear her say that. If she would have said that, I would have apologized instantly to that deputy for that kind of language because absolutely we don't I there I would No. That's that's beyond. But, I mean, I have to side with my wife, but I look at this stuff and I look at that body camera and then I hear this what you were telling me about the other deputy coming to my home and she slammed the door in his face. I didn't freaking know about that. I wish he would have waited outside my damn house and said, "Hey, man, can I talk to you for a second?" But, it's like this is I mean, so what do I do? Do I go to my wife and tell her "You need to freaking slow down." And then she's just going to look at me and go "You need to mind your own business." Or go I mean, I don't know. I don't know. All I know is that day is eating me alive because I got involved in something I should have never got involved in. And then once I got involved in it, it ran out of control. It was like a runaway train. And I apologize and I apologize and I apologize. And I swear to God if I could I would just I would allow you to cut off one of my freaking fingers because I feel so horrible inside for the direction this went. Dwayne, I can't tell you what to do at home, man. I really can't. That's that's something between you and your wife and and I feel for you and man, I I I I would hope that I never have to to be in your shoes. I hope that doesn't come across as bad, but I I don't know what to tell you, man. That bell's been rung and and and you know, and and we can't unring it and that's just what we do from this point on is is is how how you know, And you're right, the bell can't be unrung. I accept full responsibility for my actions. And if I could redo it again, I would have just said "This is on you." And I would have walked my ass back inside. But, I didn't and I ran off for some prescriptions. I mean, I don't know. Dwayne, is there anything else that that you want to discuss before we conclude this interview? Uh no, sir. Not that I can think of. Not that we haven't already discussed. No, sir. Then I'll conclude this interview at 13:44 hours. Danny, I'm sorry about that. Hey. >> She is just wound up. >> Yeah. She was upset when I got here. Yeah. I can't imagine how upset she was before. She was pretty upset. Um Pretty upset. Copy too. The biggest issue is there are kids. It's a small road. There's not much space. And when she drives down some feel that she's driving too fast. I don't have any evidence to say she's driving too fast. I I've seen a video of her stopping abruptly and not hitting a child, but she was able to stop. Things happen. You know. But, all of every all of her actions point to her being the one upset. Her being Because when I got here, she was angry. I appreciate you guys not having your cuffs because that that could have happened. I know that and you know that. Yeah, and it it seems to me you're you're trying to keep the peace. I get it. Um and there's nothing wrong with that. But, Basically, what's been happening for the last couple of months is I don't I don't know if you're aware of it, but the neighbors are are complaining that she's speeding up and down the road and this is what I was asking you guys when I came in because I I knew it was prob We we do this all the time, you know. Yeah, yeah. It was leading to that. It's it's going to be that. We talked to one, two, three, four four or five people that all tells us the same story. Now, when we talk to the other half, the people that make contact with you guys up front here, they came down to talk to you guys, but they they are the ones that said when your wife was coming in and when he was saying slow down, like she said they jumped in front of the car. He's on the side of the road just saying slow down, slow down and then your wife is giving the middle finger saying F you. And I mean, what do we see when we come in here when we start talking to her? She's She's still doing the F you stuff. But, in her defense though, Well, yeah. She's under an enormous amount of stress. Well, no. She was She was upset because I mean, No, like outside of this, you know. Is there other stress? I thought I could get it going on the spot for her, work and the kids, big bill. I mean, she does this for a living, but you know, we don't see it all coming on. It just comes on over a period of time. And these are good signs. But, in her defense though, this lady did follow her down there. The other lady was pretty wound up, too. And she did threaten me as well. And and and that's my biggest She's got the same Right. She's got the same speech that she was threat as well. Her kids were threatened. You want to go? >> She She had threatened to run the kids over. She had a gun. Not good. What can I do for you? I was coming home from an event. Um coming down my street and a neighbor never seen him before, jumped in front of my car waving and I waved around him. Mhm. Um I came home. He had just gotten home. Um I pulled in. My dog squirted out the door, so I came out running. I brought brought my wheeled my trash down. Mhm. And him and his wife come running in across to me. The wife threatened to kill me and had wielded a broom at me. She had a broom above her above her head we threatening to kill me. How far away was she from you? Investigation of alleged threats by co-complainant covers a joint complaint, videos, and final IA conclusions leading So, when she was holding it like both hands above her head? >> Yes. Both hands above her head saying I'm going to [ __ ] kill you. I want her arrested. The the only thing I could think of, they are horrible I hate to say they're horrible parents. The kids playing in the street. I almost ran one over a couple weeks ago because there's no parents. They don't supervise their kids. Their kids are never supervised. Their And my daughter Have you called in the the abuse hotline for that? >> No, I'm a psychologist. Um You know, it's like What am I getting? She had threatened to run the kids over. She had a gun. And I mean, she's not telling you the whole I don't think she's telling you the whole story. Being granted, I was upstairs when all this stuff broke loose. And my first contact with it was on my son coming upstairs from There's some lady screaming at her at Robin out there. She's got no problem cursing at everybody. I mean, I can't argue with that. You did all of that. Yeah. That's why I got into it and I was talking And everybody's everybody says the cursing coming from your wife. Everybody that we talked to today. And that's that's what I asked you all. Just I mean, Huh? We're all under stress with job. Maybe she's she's not really identifying that because this is what she does. Right. You know. Doctors are the worst patients. You know. If this is not going to argue me. Yeah, right. It's not going to argue me. Hell, I mean, I would hate for something worse to happen. I agree with you. I agree with what you're saying. You know, and she's not going to be receptive to me. So, I lost my cool in there, but um Well, I appreciate you. Thank you for catching it. Yeah. Because I don't know how it feels when you have somebody barking at you in the face. You're like, "Oh, hell no. I'm going to yell." I know we spent three nearly three I know. I appreciate all the effort you went into. And when I to go back inside right now and tell Could be in the back of that car with very easily if you're barking at them like that. You're barking at me. Yeah, that's true. Well, he's She's saying we're not doing anything. There is going to be a report written. I know. I want to tell her and explain that to her. But there there is not going to be no arrest. It's It's a It's an ongoing neighborhood dispute. The report number on it, so my main concern is when I'm not here, these people following her and stuff. And this time, you know, vandalize your car, vandalize your house, you know, stuff like I I really don't think that's going to happen. I mean, we talked to all these people. They're They're just like you. They're nice. They're like us. They They just want to talk. >> They want peace in their They want peace in their neighborhood. Oh, absolutely. That's why we live here. And And I think you know, just as an outsider not living here, I think that everybody got upset because their peace is being interrupted by her driving by and, you know, them her potentially giving the bird gets swelled. Right. Um and then her peace is interrupted when they're coming down here and wanting to confront her about that. Right. I mean, I know there's Nothing happened here. Right. Other than, you know, everybody's filled out some reports and, you know, feelings were hurt. Right. But I wouldn't want to escalate to where someone lost a tooth. Someone got hurt or something. And it got Does get her feelings hurt. It's stemming off that stuff, right? Right. Right. Okay. And we have a good night at 2:27 today. But you have to I mean, I'm caught in the middle here. I can sympathize with you guys. No, I But I got to And then you got your wife. You got to protect >> Yeah, this is your family. I know. You know, I I I respect that. I mean, that's why these people are losing their cool out here. I'm going to tell them to slow down. Sir, you get a hold of your wife. I'll get a hold of my These two females separated. Yeah. And just to let you know, interaction with everybody, it's all recorded. So, I mean I know. I see that. Just so you let her know that just to You know how it is. It goes I know. You're not thinking about recording devices. You're not thinking about them. See it all the time. All right. Uh well, my supervisor hasn't called me, so I don't know what she's talking about. So, Let me uh I'll get a business card with the case number And then I can I'll start the entering information in and see if she can come And we'll go from there. All right, man. All right. Thank you. Sorry. >> safe, man. [Music] She's got a camera there. Did you ask I talked to out here and I saw her here, but I've never saw her her with a broom above her head. I didn't see the guy No, I think the gentleman was shooing his wife into the house and then the lady was yelling at Yeah, wearing white. I guess she said that he was a sheriff. So, as she was driving that she was going to run over the children and threatened to like run them over. Then another lady came walking in with her phone and she was like, "I heard it, too. I heard her say it. That's why I went to go get my phone." cuz she had threatened the kids. She the mom threatened them that she was going to run them over next cuz she said that they she pulled back the car and pulled forward and then pulled back that she was going to like like run them over. So, she just holding it and Yeah, she wasn't like going to swing at them. She was like She was grabbing it like she was getting ready to grab a baseball or No, she was She was like I never really I never Well, when I came out, she was actually outside of their driveway. Complete my investigation and I'll come back and let you know, okay? I mean, All right. >> you work for? The Um for Pasco. No, what do you do there? I'm a psychologist. Do you work at at the headquarters? No, no. At the jail. Hill I work for Pasco and Hillsborough County. Okay. Sure. I work um Falkenburg Orient and Land O' Lakes Jail. All right. So, you you deal with a lot of inmates. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Don't expect the crazy in this neighborhood, but Okay. Oh, I'm sure everybody here heard screaming, but I want her arrested if at all possible. I mean, she threatened to kill me, you know, told me she was going to run run my kids over, going to run me over, back up, run them over again. What is going on? [Applause] The video concludes with references to Coker's sustained charges on 8 October 2020 and CJSTC revocation on 30 I'm a doctor and I will have a beautiful home and beautiful everything. And you never walk. I bet you live in a trailer. No, ma'am. No? Where do you live? I live in a house. A house? Your mom's house? No. I bet you do. I bet you live I don't have any family in Florida. No, Kathy Kathy? No, Dr. Coker. I'm sorry. I'm Dr. Coker. Okay. Okay, so here's what's going to happen. You're going to leave or you're going to go to jail. Which one do you want it to be? I'll go to jail. You'll go to jail? Yeah. Yeah, so she didn't decide to leave on the trespass, so now she's heading to our beautiful detention center and I don't have anybody working there right now that it's going to book her in, so I need you to head on over and help me out. I'm not kidding, so give me your number because the deputies got to roll and I got to call you back on my phone. So, I used to run the Pasco County Detention Center's Mental Health Department up until last month when I decided to go private practice. So, >> Okay. like that's my baby. That's my jam. I was there for 3 years. I created all the behavioral health unit, the B the B hit team, all that [ __ ] Created all of that, so it is what it is and if you say Stephanie, they're going to know who I am anyway. Okay. So, it is what it is. She used to work there as a mental health person as well. So, she hasn't in a while cuz we pulled her security clearance. The first violation, misdirected action in an official investigation, addresses Coker's false statements and misrepresentations during his complaint against Deputy Aiken by providing materially false information about his role and authority. Coker attempted to misdirect the investigation. Is less than BR is greater than is less than BR is greater than. The second violation, misuse of communications facilities, involves the inappropriate emails containing offensive language about inmates sent through official Hillsborough County communication systems after being warned that such communications are public record. Is less than BR is greater than is less than BR is greater than. The third violation, improper use of official position, is most serious. This addresses Coker's misrepresentation of his law enforcement role to Deputy Aiken and Pasco County officials, his implied threats of retaliatory enforcement, and his attempt to leverage a false portrayal of his authority to influence the outcome of his wife's traffic stop. Is less than BR is greater than is less than BR is greater than. The fourth violation, conduct unbecoming a member of the Sheriff's Office, encompasses the overall pattern of behavior that reflects poorly on the agency and undermines public trust in law enforcement. Under Florida law, misuse of public position is classified as a moral character violation. Because of this classification, Coker's case was forwarded to the Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission, known as CJSTC. This is the state body responsible for overseeing the certification and training of all law enforcement officers and correctional officers in Florida. This is less than BR is greater than is less than BR is greater than. On January 30th, 2020, the CJSTC convened for officer disciplinary hearings. After reviewing the investigation and hearing the case, the Commission voted to revoke Dwayne Coker's law enforcement certification. Deputy Aiken receives an A minus. The grade reflects exemplary performance in the most challenging circumstances with only minor areas where alternative approaches might have been considered. Is less than BR is greater than is less than BR is greater than. Deputy Aiken's positive aspects are substantial. He maintained complete professionalism while being subjected to continuous verbal abuse, accusations, profanity, and ultimately a racial slur. His composure under this pressure is remarkable and exactly what law enforcement training emphasizes. He properly exercised his authority under Pennsylvania versus Mimms to detain Kathy Coker during the traffic stop even when she attempted to enter her residence. His explanation of this authority was clear and legally accurate. He correctly warned that entering the house would constitute obstruction and he was prepared to enforce that boundary if necessary. Is less than BR is greater than is less than BR is greater than. Throughout the encounter, Deputy Aiken demonstrated excellent knowledge of relevant law. He accurately explained that video evidence is not required for traffic citations when officer has directly observed the violation. He properly provided information about the citation process and the subject's options under Florida law. He maintained appropriate officer safety positioning and tactics throughout the encounter. When Dwayne Coker made implied threats of retaliatory enforcement against Pasco deputies, Deputy Aiken did not escalate, but instead continued to focus on completing his administrative duties. Is less than BR is greater than is less than BR is greater than. Most impressively, when Kathy Coker used a racial slur, Deputy Aiken paused briefly, processed what had occurred, and then continued with his professional explanation without retaliating, escalating, or allowing the comment to derail the traffic stop. This level of restraint and professionalism under such offensive provocation is extraordinary and deserves recognition. Is less than BR is greater than is less than BR is greater than. However, the A minus rather than an A reflects one area of concern. During his explanation to Dwayne Coker about why professional courtesy was not being extended, Deputy Akin stated, "If she would have been nice and calm, the professional courtesy probably would have been done, but since she was upset, it's a pop ticket." While the deputy may have been explaining that discretion and professional courtesy is more likely when interactions are respectful. This phrasing suggests that the deputy's decision was influenced by the subject's attitude rather than solely by the violation observed. Under equal protection principles, enforcement decisions should be based on the violation and relevant factors such as driving record and public safety concerns, not on whether the violator is pleasant or difficult. A better articulation would have focused on the violation itself and the community safety concerns that led to heightened enforcement in the area. Is less than BR is greater than is less than BR is greater than. This single statement does not significantly diminish Deputy Akin's otherwise exemplary performance, but it represents a teaching moment about the importance of precise language when explaining enforcement decisions, particularly when interactions are being recorded. Overall, Deputy Akin's handling of this extremely difficult encounter serves as a model of professionalism under pressure. Dr. Kathy Coker receives an F. This grade reflects conduct that was not only counterproductive to her own interest, but that crossed fundamental lines of civil discourse and human decency. Is less than BR is greater than is less than BR is greater than. From the moment Deputy Akin made contact, Dr. Coker was immediately confrontational, accusatory, and uncooperative. She denied the violation despite having no basis to know whether the deputy had observed her demanded video evidence that is not legally required and repeatedly accused the deputy of harassment and targeting without foundation. Her refusal to provide basic information, such as proof of insurance, unnecessarily complicated what should have been a routine traffic stop. Is less than BR is greater than is less than BR is greater than. Dr. Coker's behavior escalated when she attempted to enter her residence during the active traffic stop. When Deputy Akin correctly advised her that she was being detained and could not leave, she responded with increasing hostility and profanity. Her statement, "Give me my [ __ ] ticket and go." and her repeated use of profanity created an unnecessarily hostile environment. Is less than BR is greater than is less than BR is greater than. However, the most serious aspect of Dr. Coker's conduct was her use of a racial slur directed at Deputy Akin, an African-American officer who was conducting himself with complete professionalism. While the First Amendment protects offensive speech, including speech directed at law enforcement officers, this legal protection does not make such speech acceptable, appropriate, or anything other than deeply offensive and harmful. Dr. Coker's use of this language reflects poorly on her character and professional standing. Is less than BR is greater than is less than BR is greater than. As a psychologist who works with inmates in the Pasco and Hillsborough County jail systems, Dr. Coker presumably has training in de-escalation, communication under stress, and appropriate professional conduct. Her behavior during this encounter violated every principle of de-escalation and conflict resolution. Rather than accepting responsibility for the violation, providing the required documentation, and accepting the citation with the intent to contest it in court if she believed it was improper, she chose to create confrontation, use offensive language, and ultimately subject a law enforcement officer to racial abuse while he attempted to perform his duties. Is less than BR is greater than is less than BR is greater than. There are no positive aspects of Dr. Coker's conduct to acknowledge. From beginning to end, her behavior made a routine traffic stop more difficult, more contentious, and more dangerous. Her actions reflect an apparent belief that her professional status, her husband's law enforcement connection, or some other factor should exempt her from the consequences of traffic violations. This sense of entitlement combined with a willingness to use racial slurs when confronted with lawful authority demonstrates a fundamental failure to understand or respect the equal application of law. The F grade reflects conduct that falls below any acceptable standard of civil behavior. Detention Deputy Dwayne Coker receives an F. This grade reflects official misconduct that resulted in the permanent revocation of his law enforcement certification and end of his career. Is less than BR is greater than is less than BR is greater than. Coker's misconduct operated on multiple levels. First, he had no legal standing to intervene in his wife's traffic stop. As a detention deputy, he's not a law enforcement officer with arrest authority, does not conduct traffic stops, and has no relevant expertise regarding traffic enforcement. His decision to insert himself into an active traffic stop created confusion and unnecessarily complicated Deputy Akin's duties. Is less than BR is greater than is less than BR is greater than. Second, and far more seriously, Coker deliberately misrepresented his role and authority to Deputy Akin and subsequently to Pasco County officials. He allowed Deputy Akin to believe he was a patrol officer who conducts traffic stops. During his phone call to Sergeant Fornby, he explicitly claimed to have conducted traffic stops on highway patrol officers, to have been stopped by highway patrol, and asked for professional courtesy to drive a patrol car. Every one of these representations was false. Is less than BR is greater than is less than BR is greater than. The purpose of these misrepresentations was clear. To leverage what appeared to be peer-to-peer law enforcement standing to influence the outcome of his wife's traffic stop. When that failed, Coker made implied threats of retaliatory enforcement, telling Deputy Akin that he would inform his agency to ensure that Pasco County deputies receive tickets when stopped by Hillsborough County. He later told Sergeant Fornby that Deputy Akin had declared war between the agencies, a statement the body cam footage does not support. Is less than BR is greater than is less than BR is greater than. Third, Coker filed a formal complaint against Deputy Akin based on a false narrative. He claimed the deputy had pointed at his wife and referred to her as that in a derogatory manner. The body cam footage clearly shows this did not occur. Deputy Akin was in the middle of an explanation when Kathy Coker used a racial slur, causing him to pause before continuing with his sentence. There was no pointing at Kathy Coker and no derogatory reference. Coker's entire complaint was built on a foundation of misperception or deliberate misrepresentation. What is less than BR is greater than is less than BR is greater than. Fourth, the email evidence revealed a pattern of unprofessional conduct predating this incident. Despite being warned by a supervisor in 2016 that emails are public records and that he should not use offensive language, Coker continued to refer to inmates with mental health issues using derogatory terms. His email suggesting he wanted to use excessive force against inmates but was restraining himself only due to modern accountability standards raised serious concerns about his fitness for any role involving authority over vulnerable populations. Is less than BR is greater than is less than BR is greater than. The investigation also revealed concerning judgment issues in Coker's personal life. The neighborhood disputes, the multiple complaints about driving, the confrontations with neighbors, and the apparent pattern of conflict all suggested someone who had difficulty maintaining appropriate boundaries and professional conduct, even in his personal affairs. That is less than BR is greater than is less than BR is greater than. Coker's emotional breakdown during the internal affairs interview, while appearing genuine, does not excuse the misconduct. His statement that it's eating me alive and his acknowledgement that he got in over his head demonstrates some self-awareness. But this recognition came only after being confronted with irrefutable evidence of his deceptions. The remorse appears to be more about the consequences he faced than about the harm his actions caused to Deputy Akin, who was subjected to false accusations of misconduct and to the reputation of law enforcement generally. Is less than BR is greater than is less than BR is greater than. Under Florida law, misuse of public position is a moral character violation that justifies revocation of law enforcement certification. The Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission correctly determined that Coker's conduct demonstrated a fundamental failure of character that made him unsuitable for any role in law enforcement or corrections. A person who will lie about his authority, make false complaints against fellow officers, and threaten retaliatory enforcement cannot be trusted with the powers and responsibilities that come with the law enforcement certification. Is less than BR is greater than is less than BR is greater than. The F grade reflects not just poor judgment in a single encounter, but a pattern of conduct demonstrating unsuitability for law enforcement service. Coker's actions betrayed the trust placed in him by his agency, undermined public confidence in law enforcement, subjected an innocent deputy to false accusations, and represented exactly the kind of abuse of position that certification revocation is designed to address. His career ended appropriately as someone who misuses law enforcement authority for personal benefit has no place in the profession. The Pasco County Sheriff's Office receives an A for its handling of this entire matter. Is less than BR is greater than is less than BR is greater than. The agency