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Orlando officer who mistook doughnut glaze for crystal meth disciplined

Cpl. Shelby Riggs-Hopkins given written reprimand for wrongful arrest

June 5 is National Doughnut Day. Celebrate by grabbing a doughnut and learning about the history of this deep-fried pastry, according to information from (PRNewsFoto/Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation)

ORLANDO, Fla. – An Orlando police officer who arrested a man after mistaking doughnut glaze for meth has been disciplined, officials said.

The Orlando Sentinel reported that Cpl. Shelby Riggs-Hopkins was given a written reprimand for making an improper arrest.

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An internal affairs report released Thursday by the Orlando Police Department found no evidence that she acted in bad faith. The report said the department never trained its officers to use the department-issued roadside drug tests.

Daniel Rushing was arrested in December 2015 when Riggs-Hopkins spotted flakes of glaze on his floorboard and thought they were pieces of crystal methamphetamine. Rushing told officers it was likely sugar from Krispy Kreme doughnuts he'd eaten. Roadside drug tests were positive for the illegal substance, officials said.

A state crime lab test cleared Rushing several weeks later, and charges were dropped.


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