Ethics Decision Delayed For Miami Cmsr. Over Traffic Stop

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – New details were released Tuesday at an ethics hearing involving City of Miami Commissioner Frank Carollo.

Carollo is accused of using his position to get out of a traffic ticket in Coconut Grove.

Miami resident and blogger Al Crespo filed an ethics complaint saying after being pulled over by Miami Police Officer John Blackerby, Carollo phoned City of Miami Police Chief Manuel Orosa for  help in getting out of a traffic ticket.

Shortly after that phone call was made, Blackerby got a call from his commander, allegedly at the request of Chief Orosa. Ultimately, Carollo was only given a warning.

"Only in Miami does a twice convicted armed bank robber worry about who gets a traffic citation and who gets a warning," said Commissioner Carollo. "However I will continue to do the work of the city even though this is a distraction."

In response, Crespo says Chief Orosa and the commissioner are attacking him personally to distract people from what happened.

"Anybody is foolish to think someone would call up the chief of police and say 'hey I just got stopped by traffic cop and I want you to fix it'. That's nonsense, it doesn't even happen in movies but the implication of a city official to personally call the chief of police in the midst of a traffic (stop). This wasn't a community issue it was a personal issue."

No decision was made at Tuesday's hearing. Another hearing date will be decided in September.