ORLANDO, Fla. – Corp. Frank Sikos, a 20-year veteran of the Orlando Police Department, has been charged with three misdemeanors after a grand jury investigation found probable cause to charge him with three counts of battery.
Video taken from Sikos’ body camera shows a response to a 911 call of a suspected burglary at a construction site near Lake Ivanhoe was presented to a grand jury Thursday.
Orlando attorney Jacob Stuart Jr. is representing Sikos and told News 6 there is another side to this story that will be told.
“These charges are in their infancy and we look forward to the opportunity to defend the indictment at the appropriate time in a court of law," Stuart said. “Corporal Sikos is committed to defending his freedom, good name, and career in service to others. “
Sikos was honored for bravery in 2015 .
The incident occurred Sept. 8, 2019 when the burglary suspect stepped toward Sikos. The video shows him shoving the suspect and the man fell to the ground.
When he tried to get up, Sikos told him to stay down and shouted, “Orlando Police you are under arrest.”
Orlando Police chief Orlando Rolon issued this statement:
“The Orlando Police Department holds its officers to the highest standards. As soon as we were made aware of alleged misdemeanor criminal actions by Officer Frank Sikos, the Orlando Police Department immediately launched an internal investigation. This investigation is active and ongoing. “
Rolon said Sikos had been relieved with pay “of his law enforcement authority and duties, including his credentials and firearm(s) pending the outcome of the internal affairs investigation.”
Sikos has been employed with the Orlando Police Department since Feb. 14, 2000.