Tampa police officers can no longer administratively close a case - a step taken when there are no more leads to be pursued - until they have consulted with the State Attorney's Office on the case. The change was announced after criticism related to a February hit-and-run accident that left a homeless women dead. The case was administratively closed by detectives, although it could be prosecuted, even in the years to come, if the department gathered sufficient evidence against a suspect. Although hit-and-run and DUI often go hand-in-hand, there has been no allegation that the hit-and-run driver was under the influence of alcohol.
On February 8, a Nissan Murano hit Melissa Sjostrom, 33, as she crossed Hyde Park Avenue. The investigation into the hit-and-run accident centered on the prominent local Valdez family. The oldest daughter, Jordan Valdez, is believed by police to have been the driver in that accident. Jordan is 16 years old. The Valdez's Nissan Murano was impounded the night of the accident after officers observed significant body damage. Jordan did not advise her parents that she had been involved in an accident until the vehicle had been impounded by law enforcement officers. The paint chips from the scene of the accident match the paint on the Valdez vehicle.
In late April, Jordan Valdez's attorney admitted to police that Jordan had been the driver of the vehicle that evening, as opposed to one of her parents or another person. The admission was for the civil investigation and Jordan was cited for careless driving. The case was thereafter administratively closed. Last week, the careless driving citation was dropped because the police officer did not appear to testify for the case. Her attorney has stated that they believed the matter was over when the police officer issued Jordan the citation and gave her a lecture in front of her father, which reportedly reduced the teenager to tears. At this point in time, no one, including Jordan Valdez, has been charged in relation to the hit-and-run accident, and the teen's driving record is unblemished according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
If you have been arrested for a hit-and-run or DUI, contact the Tampa DUI attorneys at Musca Law to discuss your legal rights.
