BSO Deputy Charged With Stealing Drugs Bonds Out
FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) - Suspended Broward Sheriff Deputy Eduardo Mesa bonded out of jail Thursday evening.
As he walked out, Mesa said "No comment."
He was back in court earlier in the day fighting to get out on bond.
His parents and sister went before the judge, putting up a home as collateral for his $79,000 bond. The judge accepted it.
Mesa is facing several felony charges, which include grand theft and armed trafficking in hydrocodone. Investigators said he stole drugs that belonged to a dead man, Billy Martin, and lied about it.
Martin was killed when he was hit by train in Pompano Beach in January when investigators said he committed suicide.
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Investigators said the victim's pill bottle and pills were found in Mesa's cruiser seven months later.
Tony Alfero, Mesa's attorney, is using the fact the pills were still in Mesa's squad car after seven months as a way to fight the charges.
"I don't see it as any kind of intent if, in fact, the bottle which is alleged to have been found in his car in July has been sitting there for seven months," Alfero said. "If he intended to do something wrong with it obviously it wouldn't be in a police car."
Kathy Gibbs, Martin's longtime friend and fiancé, sees this case differently.
"I'm relieved that he's been arrested and it gives me a smidge of hope in the justice system that he wouldn't be able to do this to anybody else," she said.
Gibbs it struck by the fact that not only is Mesa accused of taking Martin's pills, but tossing his belongs in the trash.
BSO officials said Mesa threw Martin's personal and private possessions, which were contained in two suitcases, into a dumpster.
Those items, precious to Gibbs and Martin's family, have never been found.
"Clearly he didn't have morals, feelings, in my opinion," she said. "His character was shocking in a 17-year officer. He had no care for human life, dead or alive."
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