Tallahassee Police Officer Accused of Planting Evidence During Traffic Stop.

Photo byOur Tallahassee

Calvin Riley Sr., a 56-year-old man, found himself at the center of a controversial police stop on March 7, 2023, when he was pulled over by a 26-year-old police officer. The encounter quickly escalated when the officer, subsequently referred to as "Florida woman" for this narrative, falsely accused Riley of driving under the influence of marijuana and alcohol. Despite Riley's protests and the absence of any marijuana found in his vehicle search, the situation took a turn for the worse.

Riley, who was handcuffed and placed in the back of the patrol vehicle, vehemently denied the officer's accusations, stating, "You lie," in response to her claim of smelling marijuana. The officer's next actions were even more questionable; she discovered a sealed bottle of alcohol in Riley's car, which she then proceeded to unseal, pour out, and toss back into the vehicle, a clear attempt to manufacture evidence against Riley.

This act of evidence tampering was caught on the officer's body camera, highlighting a deliberate plan to incriminate Riley by any means necessary. The Our Tallahassee report highlights that while Riley's license had been suspended—a notification he had received just a few weeks prior to the stop—officers have the discretion to arrest or not in the case of first-time offenders.

During the pretrial, the officer's actions were scrutinized, especially her reasoning for opening and disposing of the alcohol bottle. She cited an alleged policy that prohibits taking liquids as evidence, yet, when presented with the Tallahassee Police Department's Policy #42, she was unable to identify any section supporting her claim. Her deposition revealed a pattern of evasiveness, as she stated, "I don’t remember," at least sixteen times.

Calvin Riley Sr.'s jury trial for the DUI charge Began on April 5th. The outcome of this trial could have significant implications not only for Riley but also for the credibility of the Tallahassee Police Department. Riley's case underscores the crucial issues surrounding police conduct, the misuse of authority, and the potential for wrongful charges based on fabricated evidence.