Holly MatkinSeminole County, FL – An Orlando police officer has been relieved of duty and criminally charged after he initially refused to pull over when a Seminole County deputy tried to stop him for speeding, argued with the deputy, and ultimately, fled the scene (video below).
The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) said Orlando Police Department (OPD) Officer Alexander Shaouni was driving to work in his marked patrol vehicle at approximately 12:15 p.m. on June 6 when a deputy clocked him traveling 80 miles per hour in a 45-mile-per-hour zone, WFLA reported.
The deputy said Officer Shaouni blew by him so quickly, he had to accelerate to more than 90 miles per hour just to catch back up with him, according to the news outlet.
The deputy attempted to stop the officer multiple times, but he refused and flashed his patrol car lights at him, dashcam footage showed.
The deputy was able to pull up alongside him at one point and yelled at him through the window, WFLA reported.
“You gonna pull over?” the frustrated deputy asked. “Pull over!”
The deputy pulled in front of the officer’s patrol vehicle and approached him as Officer Shaouni jumped out of his SUV and aggressively asked the deputy what he wanted, bodycam footage showed.
“I am going in to work, my man,” Officer Shaouni informed him. “Why are you trying to pull me over as I’m going to work?”
“Because you’re going 80 in a 45!” the exasperated deputy said.
Officer Shaouni continued to argue that he was on his way to work.
“What does it look like I am dressed for?” he asked the deputy repeatedly.
The deputy then asked the officer for his driver’s license.
“No,” Officer Shaouni retorted.
The entitled officer immediately turned away from the deputy, got back into his patrol SUV, and sped off, bodycam footage showed.
The deputy alerted over the radio that an Orlando police officer was fleeing a traffic stop and read off the vehicle’s license plate.
Deputies quickly identified Officer Shaouni using his badge number and patrol car number, WFLA reported.
He has since been charged with offenses of resisting an officer without violence, reckless driving, and fleeing or eluding police with lights and sirens active.
Officer Shaouni’s bond was set at $9,000, WFLA reported.
The OPD confirmed the officer has been placed on leave.
“The Orlando Police Department was notified by the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office on Friday, June 9th that OPD Officer Alexander Shaouni was involved in an incident that occurred in Seminole County that resulted in criminal charges,” OPD said in a statement to WESH. “Officer Shaouni has been relieved of duty pending the Seminole County Sheriff’s criminal investigation and OPD’s Internal Affairs investigation.”
Watch the incident unfold in the video below:
Orlando police officer arrested for fleeing/eluding, resisting officer , and reckless driving #orlando #florida #news #cnn #foxnews pic.twitter.com/iMlLE4297N
— Real Wicked Media (@Realwickedmedia) June 14, 2023
