Altamonte Springs officer demoted, suspended for trying to keep friend from arrest

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla.,None — An Altamonte Springs police officer has been demoted and suspended for stepping into an investigation involving his friend.

Officials said Officer Luis Torres tried to keep his friend from getting arrested. That friend later sued the police department.

Torres, an officer since 1996, was recently demoted from senior police officer and suspended for 36 hours without pay following the internal investigation.

It all stems from the 2007 arrest of James Sada for disorderly conduct and battery for an incident involving his son at the Altamonte Mall Sears store.

According to the report, Torres admitted Sada was a friend. Torres didn't respond to the scene, but he showed up later and allegedly asked a supervisor if it was "possible not to arrest Sada."

Two years later, he asked another officer to give Sada's son a break during a traffic stop.

Sada's charges were later dropped, and he sued the police department asking for $1 million for false arrest and slander.

Torres admitted trying to help his friend. He contacted Sada's attorney and gave testimony without telling the police chief.

He was also accused of lying during a deposition to help his friend. That wasn't proven in the internal investigation, but the police chief wrote that he was incompetent, used poor judgment and deserved the demotion.

The police chief wrote in his discipline report that Torres' testimony about how he got involved in the lawsuit was misleading to the point a federal judge had to intervene and question him about his actions.

WFTV's Jeff Deal asked why Torres wasn't fired. The police chief said he believes the report speaks for itself.

Torres takes a 3.5 percent pay cut with the demotion.

This incident is just the latest in problems for the Altamonte Springs police department.

Last week, an Altamonte Springs officer was disciplined for inappropriate behavior at Lake Brantley High School, where he was a school resource officer.

Earlier this year, other officers got in trouble for using a cellphone while driving and ethics violations.

WFTV