Florida Sheriff Reaches Deal To Avoid Trial Over Perjury Charges

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OCALA (CBSMiami/AP) — A long ordeal came to an end for a Florida law enforcement officer on Friday.

A suspended central Florida sheriff is resigning as part of a deal to avoid a trial on charges of perjury and official misconduct.

The Ocala Star Banner reported Saturday that Chris Blair has reached a deal with prosecutors that also required him to drop his re-election bid for a new term. Gov. Rick Scott suspended Blair last May after he was indicted by a grand jury.

Blair was charged in connection to an investigation into excessive force used by his deputies following an arrest. He had stated that he not seen the suspect in the case after he had been arrested, but a video recorded at the scene showed the man walk directly past the sheriff.

The newspaper reports that Blair is not admitting or denying the charges as part of the deal he has reached.

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