Since the State Attorney had appealed my case after Judge Henderson had dismissed the charges, the DUI case had just been sitting stale for a couple months. Don was going back and forth with the state attorney on different items, preparing for another hearing if needed. April of 2009 I got a call from Don that it was over finally and to come to the office. I drove straight there and he showed me the documentation that he had just received from Judge Hawthorne who was the highest judge in the 12th judicial circuit. Judge Hawthorne had written a very lengthy synopsis stating that he concurred with Judge Henderson that all charges against me should be dropped. Judge Hawthorne stated that my civil rights had been violated and that the arrest was completely illegal, and there was never probable cause for the arrest.
The state attorney office faxed over the nolle prosse paper work stating that all charges had been dropped against me. I couldn’t believe that it was finally over two years later and it was finally over. I drove straight to Bradenton Police Department to see the Chief Radilowski as he had told me the whole time that as soon as I was clear I would go on the road. I felt like I had new life and was so anxious to show the Chief the paper work. When I walked into the Chief's office I showed him the paper work and the Chief just smiled and shook my hand and told me that was great. "That's great" I thought to myself. The Chief wouldn't even look at me as he sat at his desk. Right then and there I knew I would never work as a police officer at the Bradenton Police Department.
I had life again and I was more determined than ever to get back in a uniform. I started applying at places all over the state of Florida. Everyone at Bradenton PD kept asking me when I was going on the road. I I would look at them and just say with a smile "I'm not" they would ask me if the Chief said that? I would look at them and say "he didn't have too".
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