SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Charges have been dropped against a former Seminole County deputy who was arrested in August on accusations of sexual battery and false imprisonment during a traffic stop in Longwood.
Andrew Bergkvist, 31, was arrested as the sheriff’s office investigated a complaint alleging that he inappropriately touched a person who was the subject of an Aug. 14 traffic stop in a sexual manner after he concluded the stop and turned off his body-worn and in-car cameras.
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Bergkvist was placed on administrative leave on Aug. 15 and was booked Aug. 16 after a judge found probable cause to sign an arrest warrant. Bergkvist posted bond the following day and was released from jail, records show.
According to a statement from the Office of Brevard-Seminole State Attorney Phil Archer, prosecutors noted several factors that weighed heavily on the decision to drop the charges against Bergkvist, the most notable being a lack of physical evidence. The statement also referenced exculpatory evidence which allegedly prevented the state from overcoming Bergkvist’s claims “that the ‘pat down’ search of the victim was consensual, warranted, and did not involve unlawful intentional touching.”
While Bergkvist’s actions did not rise to the level of a crime under Florida statutes, this decision does not exempt him from possible violations of agency policy, Florida State Standards for law enforcement officers, or federally protected constitutional rights.
sa18.org - Dec. 18, 2023 - No Information Filed in BERGKVIST Prosecution (excerpt, Bergkvist’s name decapitalized)
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The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office served Bergkvist with a Notice of Final Discipline on Aug. 21, terminating his employment with the agency. News 6 on Wednesday confirmed with the sheriff’s office that Bergkvist remains terminated.
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