Detrick McClellan is seen in this undated photo. (Photo: CBS News)
The Florida Highway Patrol is under heavy fire after a state trooper was found responsible for the death of a grandmother in a crash at over 100 miles per hour, but saw the case dismissed after the officer who wrote his citation failed to show up to trial.
Worse yet, the officers and the judge in the courtroom were seen laughing about the dismissal on video.
According to reports, it began roughly a year ago when Detrick McClellan was answering a call about people throwing rocks from an overpass. Driving without his lights on, he slammed into 51-year-old Michelle Campbell’s car at a curve with a suggested speed limit of 35 mph. The crash killed Campbell, threw her young granddaughter through the windshield, and injured her niece.
This image shows the wreckage from the crash that killed Michelle Campbell. (Photo: CBS News)
The Sun Sentinel continues:
FHP found the trooper, Detrick McClellan, at fault in the horrific crash, fired him, and cited him with three traffic violations.
But when his case came up in court, the trooper who issued the citations wasn’t there. Another trooper in attendance said that though he couldn’t represent the agency, he would not object to dismissing the tickets, and the judge did just that.
McClellan walked out with no consequences, and even got handshakes from his fellow law enforcement officers.
“If the FHP allows it to stand, what they’re saying is the law does not apply to us, even if we kill people,” said Dennis Kenney, a professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York and a former Florida police officer.
[...]
The trooper who issued the citations has been exonerated — FHP found he had a legitimate reason to miss court — but seven other troopers remain under investigation for their conduct in the hearing. FHP is still trying to sort out what happened in the courtroom.
Here’s the unsettling video from the courtroom, where the officer says he’s “easy to please” when asked if he’d like the citations dismissed, and the judge asks if she’s on Candid Camera before the group starts laughing:
CBS News reports that the FHP has fired a commanding officer and demoted a sergeant over the case, but the other officials are still being scrutinized.
Many are saying the incident points to a larger problem among Florida police officers. According to the Sun Sentinel, speeding officers have caused at least 320 accidents involving 19 deaths across the state since 2004.
But the Florida Highway Patrol says they’re doing their best to limit the danger to innocent bystanders, telling CBS News: “We have taken steps to ensure that our members understand the high ethical expectations we have of them.”
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Comments (99)
jessieH
Feb. 21, 2013 at 12:52pmMust have been Democrats, like David Gregory. Only Democrats are above the law.
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Uechi
Feb. 21, 2013 at 11:10amThere should be no place for thsi dumbass cop to hide.
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floridaborn
Feb. 21, 2013 at 10:50amI have served on two jury trials here in Florida. It has been obvious to me each time that there seems to be an attitude of “we’re in this together” on the police and the trial judges, and other members of the Courthouse staff. It has made me uncomfortable.
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Wyld_goose
Feb. 21, 2013 at 11:59amJury Nullification !
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omgfolks
Feb. 21, 2013 at 10:35amThis is a joke, a primary reason why Citizens in America have last faith in Police Officers, Lawyers and the Judicial System. For this judge to dimiss the charges because Law Enforcement Failing to show up to court is a travesty of justice. Loss of life ANY LIFE should not be taken so jokingly.Every officer involved should be held accountable as well as the judge herself. All of the LEO’s should be removed from law enforcement forever and have the weaons confinscated and never permitted to own a weapon again. They cannot be trusted and showed a lack of professionalism which can reasonably cause concern for their ability to possibly cause harm to others with their fire arms.
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Senior Viking
Feb. 21, 2013 at 10:33amWhere you don’t get justice – you get even.
No one is immune.
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ottknot
Feb. 21, 2013 at 10:13amJust another example of our “conservatism” hurting us. All of us respect the job our police do. But we’ve made them something they are not. It’s a job, much like every other job. Ive been an officer and Ive also been a prison officer. Both careers are prone to arrogance and a mindset that leads the employee to feel they are the law, not just employed to enforce the law. Both parties shower them with adulation in order to be seen as tough on crime. We’ve all witnessed them breaking laws we would would be ticketed for or go to jail. Ive done it myself, there is no speed limit when your an officer. In my youth I was driven home if I got pulled over as an obvious DUI. I’ve been quietly removed from a scene where every other person went to jail for drunk and disorderly. In my youth. If anything the police have become even more corrupt and militaristic over recent years. To the above posters, you can make it a black thing if you’d like. The racism prevalent in the minority communities is so obvious and the indoctrination so constant.
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grimmster
Feb. 21, 2013 at 10:09amThere is an attitude and unwritten laws in police forces,never rat on a brother officer.Cops stick together like liquorice sticks covering each others ass through most wrong doings,and it unlike say our military personel,is done through intimidation,not comradery. These types of instances have gone on since we have had cops,but i say expect it to get worse,as society gets worse.Ouyside our politicians (government),the biggest threat to law abiding citizens is our police forces……..
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pizzaman87
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:35amThis one of the few time I would say sue, I hate our sue happy society over stupid stuff but this is just pathetic. Sue the judge, sue the other officer who supported him, sue the Florida highway patrol!
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fastgen1
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:31amThis is what happens when you hire people who are not qualified to “Serve and Protect”. Most police depts are out of control. When there are no consequences for your actions, then this is what you get. With dash cams, a gazillion phone cameras clicking away, what has been said for years, “and denied”, is coming to light. Police depts are trying to ban phone cameras, but to no avail, these gestapo thugs are being found out on a daily basis. The reality is that the police depts are hiring these thugs on purpose because Neanderthals are easy to train as killers, and tax collectors. The thugs are being trained to attack and kill citizens if an uprising should ever occur, just look at what happened in kaliphoricate when the cops shot up two ladies in a pickup truck and are asking to be released of any wrongdoing. I guarantee that these cops will shoot you in a New York second. That’s what cowards do….Most of these thugs would shoot their own mothers if an uprising should occur.
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THX-1138
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:23amThat was not cool. That said…
Was anyone in Grandma’s car wearing a seatbelt?
And why the hell was he running that fast without lights?
And, physics question here, how the hell does ANY car get through a 35 MPH curve at 100?
So many stupid mistakes and then, of course, the cover up to make it worse… Wow.
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FiscalBill
Feb. 21, 2013 at 8:06amIm unclear why the other officers testimony/presence was required. This one was being negligent and exceeding the speed limit by a large amount over “rocks”.
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walnutportconservative
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:00amThe other officer is the one who issued the speeding ticket… first at the scene. Something like that?
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THX-1138
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:26amThere have been quite a few people mamed and even killed from some idiot chucking rocks off and overpass. It was probably a legit call, but no lights? That was stupid at any speed over the limit….
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walnutportconservative
Feb. 21, 2013 at 8:00amWhat’s wrong with covering for a friend or fellow officer? That’s the right thing to do isn’t it?
I have a state trooper in the family, I know how these things work. My son, at age 17 was “pinched” for speeding. The trooper proceeded to do us a “favor”, and proceeded to make it go away for the young man.
What? a favor? Of coarse I and the other liberal thinkers of my family do not agree on most things, as, we did not on this. It’s the way they roll. They see it as loyalty?
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woodenputter
Feb. 21, 2013 at 7:53amWhy do these police officers have to use excessive speeds to get a minor incident? I know in the township I live in they go much to fast to go a fender bender, quite a few times I’ve heard on the monitor at work about a minor traffic incident, the next thing you know there are four of five cop cars literally “flying” down the road at break neck speeds, why? I quess they have to full feel Starsky and Hutch dreams….
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walnutportconservative
Feb. 21, 2013 at 8:02amAdd the local volunteer fireman to that list. Passing people to get to the fire will only gain a minute, while they risk compounding the amount of incidents in the area. Make one incident into two.
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glckgrl
Feb. 21, 2013 at 6:32amThe judge had authority to reset the matter and could have chosen to do so; that has been m experience when the other side did not show. It has also been my experience that cases have been dismissed, but not an alleged crime where a death has occurred. I doubt everyone received notice because the decedent’s relatives would have appeared.
Where o where is the lamestream media on this one? The judge does have to maintain proper decorum on the bench and that does not include candid camera jokes. The judges I used to work for would have found her conduct disgusting like we do. But hey, anyone, and that means us, can file a bar complaint. I pray this woman’s family does so. This dismissal will also make a wrongful death suit harder, not impossible, just harder. Wish I knew the family; there are very few lawyers willing and capable of adequate representation in a case of this magnitude, but I know one, and wish I could send her to him… for Justice. That judge is NOT upholding the Constitution, IMHO. Another sad day for America.
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matt_c
Feb. 21, 2013 at 6:31amI’m not saying I approve in any way of what he did, but if any law enforcement officers out there are wondering why there was so much support for Christopher Dorner, it’s due in part to this type of thing. There IS a price to pay for flaunting and abuse of power and always standing behind each other no matter what. That price is the distrust of the general public you have to deal with every day. Distrust breeds anger, frustration, and danger for you guys. Think about it.
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averageman
Feb. 21, 2013 at 5:50amEvery day it seems another PIG is revealed. I am a law abiding , respectful person. But PIGS like these must be culled (the entire force shares the blame) since superiors allowed this orchestrated travesty.
You ignorant “law enforcement puppets”, dont you realize that when you do this , you turn millions against you? and put your safety further at risk?
My kids are taught to stay away from the cops, they are more often the problem rather than the solution. More often it seems the ranks are made up of psycho power tripping tiny dicks. With tasters, guns and authority.
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glckgrl
Feb. 21, 2013 at 6:45amIt matters who you know and who you are, and that’s reality in the New Amerika. A relative was killed as a rookie cop but it wasn’t solved until 6 years later when a thug arrested offered up the shooter to get immunity from his current charges.
Personally, I prefer the America under Reagan.
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Wyld_goose
Feb. 21, 2013 at 11:16amClick, click… Pull !
Isn’t that a dam shame. There used to be a time when children looked up to the police man as an inspiring figure like superman, now they are taught to fear them.
Any action or none action can result in interfering in a police matter or resisting. They’ve been given arbitrary vague tools like this to use at heir own discretion. Police, like so many other tyrannical figures only understand force, and can only be dealt with by using force.
YES being a sheriff/deputy, hwy patrol, city cop is a difficult job ! That’s why over 75% should be fired. I do understand there are quite a few jobs out there, that the common man would be ill-equipped to do. We don’t expect joe-smo, or a knuckle dragger to be an astronaut or fighter pilot. We do expect the best of the best who have instinct and elite training to be cool under the most intense situations.
In every situation cops do something, replace the badged individuals with common citizens and then ask if the scene is legal, constitutional and/or requires incarcerations.
I would surmise, to those that say that society disrespects cops, that if people really only had it out simply because cops are authority figures, you would see a lot more dead and maimed cops. With all of the petite women cops and the obese, they would have no chance at all if people really did start “resisting an officer” rather than just be accused of doing so.
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high school drop out
Feb. 21, 2013 at 5:50amAs a person who was nearly hit by a speeding (yes! It was obvious) Orange County Fla. Sherriffs deputy in 1992 Who missed my wife and myself by mere Inches and hit a tree instead. The Deputy simply lost control while traveling 70 to 80 M.P.H without lights or siren in a 35 (I had a clear unobstructed view of the entire event) As my wife and I filled out the witness statements I told the investigator that I had no animosity toward the Deputy but he was was 100% at fault! We were thanked for our honesty and assured that there would be a complete investigation. Well, I did a follow up through some friends at the Dept. and discovered that the Deputy only recieved a reprimand for totaling a cruiser! I know for a fact there are many good folks at the sheriffs Dept. and the F.H.P. BUT there are some who “Run cover” for anyone who “Screws up” That kind of dishonesty taints the credibility of the majority of good law enforcement folks making their jobs so much harder! Equal treatment under the law would go along way to restoring the credibility of law enforcement across the Country
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glckgrl
Feb. 21, 2013 at 6:47amI am so glad that you are your wife were not injured or killed in the crash. Blessings on you for lack of anger.
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RecoveringRepublican
Feb. 21, 2013 at 5:33amdon’t run from the police. Problem solved. You’re welcome.
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Rowgue
Feb. 21, 2013 at 6:24amNobody was running from the police idiot. The person he killed and the children that were in the car with her that were critically injured were innocent bystanders that just happened to be driving the other way on the road. Maybe try at least skimming an article before responding. You might sound less like an imbecile.
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mtnvortex
Feb. 21, 2013 at 5:02amI’m so sick of dirt bag cops ruining peoples’ lives…while they get a free pass on everything. It’s disgusting.
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Rowgue
Feb. 21, 2013 at 5:01amThat is absurd of course, but that is traffic court for simple traffic citations.
Why is this assclown not being criminally prosecuted for reckless homicide?
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EnemiesWithinWillNOTPrevail
Feb. 21, 2013 at 4:30amYou’re right! America is finished as most of us knew it. And, we haven’t seen anything yet. Many of the blacks throughout the world blame whitey for their problems. barry who hates America is their man. He’s going to give them anything they want for now. They are his voting base. Sadly, many are too ignorant to see the truth. He is not their friend and he is probably a leader in the muslim brotherhood. We just aren’t aware of it Officially yet.
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gyro
Feb. 21, 2013 at 3:42amnot enough information to make a judgment
that said
he got off easy
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glckgrl
Feb. 21, 2013 at 6:50amI disagree. The niece lived, plus there is a camera in every cruiser. This result is disgusting and that judge should have reset the hearing due to probable problem of improper notice to prosecutor.
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Robert-CA
Feb. 21, 2013 at 3:05amThis is so sick .
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flatfish
Feb. 21, 2013 at 2:50amThe prosecutor and the judge should be held accountable ! Find out their names and addresses and make life hell.
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vaman
Feb. 21, 2013 at 8:56amI think you should do that. In fact, after your investigative work is over, go knock on their front doors. See what happens.
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theaton
Feb. 21, 2013 at 10:13amVaman,
What do you expect to happen? The prosecutor and judge are citizens. I can knock on any citizens door I wish, unless there are no tresspassing signs posted. They need to be held to account and we need to stop being afraid to force the accountability. There are peaceful ways to do so. You can even make their lives hell peacefully. When the government fears the people there is liberty. When the people fear the government there is Tyranny.
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Secret Squirrel
Feb. 21, 2013 at 10:23am“the law does not apply to us, even if we kill people,”
You’re just figuring that out now?
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Charbet
Feb. 21, 2013 at 10:26amSo, Vaman thinks what? Because she was old her death didn’t mean anything? Look out, this is the mindset that is taking this Country down. All involved need to be held accountable.
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Wyld_goose
Feb. 21, 2013 at 12:28pmClick, click… Pull !
Isn’t that a dam shame. There used to be a time when children looked up to the police man as an inspiring figure like superman, now they are taught to fear them.
Any action or none action can result in interfering in a police matter or resisting. They’ve been given arbitrary vague tools like this to use at heir own discretion. Police, like so many other tyrannical figures only understand force, and can only be dealt with by using force.
YES being a sheriff/deputy, hwy patrol, city cop is a difficult job ! That’s why over 75% should be fired. I do understand there are quite a few jobs out there, that the common man would be ill-equipped to do. We don’t expect joe-smo, or a knuckle dragger to be an astronaut or fighter pilot. We do expect the best of the best who have instinct and elite training to be cool under the most intense situations.
In every situation cops do something, replace the badged individuals with common citizens and then ask if the scene is legal, constitutional and/or requires incarcerations.
I would surmise, to those that say that society disrespects cops, that if people really only had it out simply because cops are authority figures, you would see a lot more dead and maimed cops. With all of the petite women cops and the obese, they would have no chance at all if people really did start “resisting an officer” rather than just be accused of doing so.
Report this comment
Bluedog78
Feb. 21, 2013 at 2:25pmIt was a civil citation, the “prosecutor” is the officer who wrote the ticket. The judge did nothing wrong, the state’s witness didn’t show up and she dismissed the case against the defendant as she should have.
Its the troopers who screwed this up and they’re being demoted and investigated.
We had an officer a few years ago here in AZ who was driving like and idiot and killed somebody, did 5 years in prison. I’d be interested to know the details of this wreck.
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Wyld_goose
Feb. 21, 2013 at 4:20pmThis happened Feb. 10, 2012 over a year ago. Has the cop seen a single day behind bars? nope. Would a civilian who, let’s say, was trying to get a dying person to the hospital (for the reason to be driving like this) been allowed to go free (be suspended from his job, whoopie!! you just killed someone) like this guy has been allowed to? h377 NO!
Even if they were allow to be released on their own reconnaissance, they would have seen one night behind bars.
remember over a year ago!!
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Mr.buff1959
Feb. 21, 2013 at 2:32amWow.
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NoSleeper
Feb. 21, 2013 at 5:09amAlthough I would like to think this is just a local instance of officials making a mockery of the justice system, I cannot. The Government (Federal, State and Local) is flexing its muscles, seeing how much it can get away with…but “the Government” cannot do anything without individuals to act. As the Government continues to grow and consolidate its power (at the expense of justice and individual liberty), one can expect to see more abuses of power and miscarriages of justice.
And for the idiots with the racial comments: this, like almost all other issues in this country, has nothing to do with race. Race-baiting is a cheap tactic used to unjustifiably discredit opposition, divide opinion, and distract from the issue at hand. Although it has worked well for the Left for years, it is a tired and played-out. Time to step up your game.
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DonaldH
Feb. 21, 2013 at 6:01amNosleeper– race is the root of it all— were have you been? the emerging majority in this country are brown and black and are under the age of 45— hence the political isolation of “white people” particularly, “white men” as being ” old and out of touch” — race is just a tool used by the left to help bring socialism– And as long as those like you refuse and resist to believe that– then capitalism will be lost and with it our self-reliance to remain of our own free-will… If you can’t see that– then you are a sleep…
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The-Monk
Feb. 21, 2013 at 6:38amWhat were the three traffic citations?
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RedHarley
Feb. 21, 2013 at 6:42amThe dems love to pander to the cops and create “special” status for them.
Let’s make sure they are all exempt from the new gun control laws as well.
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The-Monk
Feb. 21, 2013 at 6:44am“Yarborough cited McClellan for careless driving, speeding, and failure to use his emergency lights — non-criminal traffic infractions typically punishable by fines.”
He wasn’t even charged with reckless driving resulting in a fatality…..
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The-Monk
Feb. 21, 2013 at 6:49am“His defense? FHP had failed to maintain his car, and the trooper lost control because he briefly glanced down when the “check engine” light came on, Webster said. His speed at collision, the attorney noted, was about 90 mph.”
Looks like they just set up the FHP for a lawsuit….
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naughtycal
Feb. 21, 2013 at 7:40amSo all these Nazi have to do is not show up and they can protect their fellow nazis. BS my home was broken into they caught the guy but on the day of the trial I was unable to get to court to testify. They sent police to pick me up and give me a ride to court and back home. So why couldn’t they send police to pick up this witness.
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mikem1969
Feb. 21, 2013 at 8:23amWhen cops and government officials can get away with crap like this, they wonder why so many of us have guns.
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battles
Feb. 21, 2013 at 9:09amIt’s called ‘The good old boy club’.
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grimmster
Feb. 21, 2013 at 10:13am@nosleeper
It is ALL about race, remember,it was oblamo and his horde that started playing the race card,and now blacks are so imboldened, they believe they can do anything and get away with it, wake the hell up, and smell the crap thats going on in this country……
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