TAVARES, Fla. – A Florida Highway Patrol trooper was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of groping and kissing a woman he pulled over for a traffic stop in Lake County.
David Gonzalez, 35, was arrested on charges of battery, and News 6 found out he has been fired from his job.
The Lake County Sheriff's Office said a 21-year-old woman reported that she was pulled over by Gonzalez on Sept. 9 for speeding along U.S. Highway 441 in the area of the VIA|Port Mall.
The woman said Gonzalez had her move her vehicle to a side street after complimenting her about her appearance, deputies said.
"When she did, he took her cellphone from her, went into it and apparently added himself to her Snapchat account," said Lt. John Herrell, with the Sheriff's Office. "He gave her the phone back and then asked her to take a selfie of the two of them together."
It was then, Herrell said, Gonzalez hugged the woman, claiming she looked nervous.
"He continued on to the point where he started kissing on her, hugging her and eventually groped her breast."
The woman told investigators the Snapchats continued up to Tuesday night. That's when investigators pretended they were the woman and engaged the trooper in conversation.
"Well, it made me feel uneasy that you were comfortable with kissing my neck and stuff when you had just met me, " the investigators wrote him.
"I'm sorry I made you uneasy," he responded. "That wasn't my intention. Sorry."
Detectives obtained an arrest warrant and took Gonzalez into custody Wednesday afternoon. He posted $10,000 bail almost immediately and walked out of jail.
News 6 found out Gonzalez has been in trouble two other times while working with the Florida Highway Patrol.
A spokesman in Tallahassee said this incident forced them to terminate his employment.
