Guilty!
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 58
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From: The Lone Star State
Story
Column: (FL) Highway patrol TV show has hook(er)
By Frank Cerabino, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 26, 2000
I've been captivated by the tale of Trooper Titus.
That's when I found out about the Florida Highway Patrol trooper who was driving his cruiser at more than 100 miles an hour through Fort Pierce during the wee hours of the morning.
Oh, and I almost forgot . . . the trooper had a hooker in his cruiser.
I'm sure there's a logical explanation for this.
At any rate, I think it's safe to say that the television show, Real Stories of the Highway Patrol has a sweeps-week no-brainer on its hands.
Trooper Wayne Titus has been on paid leave this week while investigators look into why he was zipping through streets at 2:30 last Thursday morning, blowing through stop signs, and driving southbound in a northbound lane.
It might be easier to explain if he were chasing another car. But in this case, he was being chased by other law enforcement vehicles.
Oh, and I almost forgot . . . the hooker in his car also has an extensive record of cocaine arrests.
They figured it had to be stolen
We might have never known about Trooper Titus if it hadn't been for the midnight road patrol shift of the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office, who assumed that some maniac had commandeered a Florida Highway Patrol car.
It was a pretty good assumption, too.
The Florida Highway Patrol dispatcher reported that the only cruiser in the county was supposed to be on Interstate 95. And no patrol car had reported responding to any emergency.
So deputies chased the Florida Highway Patrol cruiser, which sped up, rather than slow down as deputies' cars pursued it.
"The general consensus on the radio between deputies at this time was that the car was certainly stolen and we expected the occupants to stop and bail out at any minute," Detective Bill Hardman wrote in his report.
But after deputies finally stopped the car, they were surprised to see a uniformed on-duty trooper get out of the cruiser.
Trooper Titus explained to the deputies that the woman in his car was a confidential informant, and she was giving him information on a recent homicide, according to the report.
The deputies told Titus not to get back in the car, and they called for a Florida Highway Patrol supervisor to sort out the situation.
And that's where we're at today. Still sorting things out.
The hope is it's the truth
The good news for Trooper Titus is that he hasn't been charged with any traffic infractions. The bad news is that his confidential-informant explanation is being questioned.
I'm hoping Trooper Titus is telling the truth.
If so, I think he should be commended. Sure, he could have spent his shift out on I-95, pulling over speeders or helping stranded motorists.
But where does it say that highway patrol officers need to, er, patrol highways?
OK, maybe that's not a good way to phrase it.
But I'm just a little hesitant to knock a guy who has shown some real initiative in forming his own freelance crime-fighting unit, and being smart enough to recruit a member of the community who has extensive knowledge of the street.
I can see the pair of them, making their first arrest, surprising a startled killer in his home.
"Step away from the vehicle, turn around, and put your hands on the hood," Titus would shout as he busts into a house pointing a flashlight at the suspect.
"What vehicle? I'm sitting on a couch," the confused killer would say.
"Search his pants for a weapon," Titus would instruct his crime-fightin' buddy.
"That'll cost him $20," she'll say, before announcing, "You have the right to remain silent . . ."
frank_cerabino@pbpost.com
**************************************************
Grrrr...
Skyhawk
[This message has been edited by Skyhawk (edited 07-26-2000).]
Column: (FL) Highway patrol TV show has hook(er)
By Frank Cerabino, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 26, 2000
I've been captivated by the tale of Trooper Titus.
That's when I found out about the Florida Highway Patrol trooper who was driving his cruiser at more than 100 miles an hour through Fort Pierce during the wee hours of the morning.
Oh, and I almost forgot . . . the trooper had a hooker in his cruiser.
I'm sure there's a logical explanation for this.
At any rate, I think it's safe to say that the television show, Real Stories of the Highway Patrol has a sweeps-week no-brainer on its hands.
Trooper Wayne Titus has been on paid leave this week while investigators look into why he was zipping through streets at 2:30 last Thursday morning, blowing through stop signs, and driving southbound in a northbound lane.
It might be easier to explain if he were chasing another car. But in this case, he was being chased by other law enforcement vehicles.
Oh, and I almost forgot . . . the hooker in his car also has an extensive record of cocaine arrests.
They figured it had to be stolen
We might have never known about Trooper Titus if it hadn't been for the midnight road patrol shift of the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office, who assumed that some maniac had commandeered a Florida Highway Patrol car.
It was a pretty good assumption, too.
The Florida Highway Patrol dispatcher reported that the only cruiser in the county was supposed to be on Interstate 95. And no patrol car had reported responding to any emergency.
So deputies chased the Florida Highway Patrol cruiser, which sped up, rather than slow down as deputies' cars pursued it.
"The general consensus on the radio between deputies at this time was that the car was certainly stolen and we expected the occupants to stop and bail out at any minute," Detective Bill Hardman wrote in his report.
But after deputies finally stopped the car, they were surprised to see a uniformed on-duty trooper get out of the cruiser.
Trooper Titus explained to the deputies that the woman in his car was a confidential informant, and she was giving him information on a recent homicide, according to the report.
The deputies told Titus not to get back in the car, and they called for a Florida Highway Patrol supervisor to sort out the situation.
And that's where we're at today. Still sorting things out.
The hope is it's the truth
The good news for Trooper Titus is that he hasn't been charged with any traffic infractions. The bad news is that his confidential-informant explanation is being questioned.
I'm hoping Trooper Titus is telling the truth.
If so, I think he should be commended. Sure, he could have spent his shift out on I-95, pulling over speeders or helping stranded motorists.
But where does it say that highway patrol officers need to, er, patrol highways?
OK, maybe that's not a good way to phrase it.
But I'm just a little hesitant to knock a guy who has shown some real initiative in forming his own freelance crime-fighting unit, and being smart enough to recruit a member of the community who has extensive knowledge of the street.
I can see the pair of them, making their first arrest, surprising a startled killer in his home.
"Step away from the vehicle, turn around, and put your hands on the hood," Titus would shout as he busts into a house pointing a flashlight at the suspect.
"What vehicle? I'm sitting on a couch," the confused killer would say.
"Search his pants for a weapon," Titus would instruct his crime-fightin' buddy.
"That'll cost him $20," she'll say, before announcing, "You have the right to remain silent . . ."
frank_cerabino@pbpost.com
**************************************************
Grrrr...
Skyhawk
[This message has been edited by Skyhawk (edited 07-26-2000).]
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 725
Likes: 0
From: Orlando, FL
Alpha,
I recently had a 3 point infraction removed from my record and my fine reduced because I attended a Florida state approved 3-hour Improv Comedy traffic school. The school just cost $35, was actually fun and the instructor/comic gave everybody free tickets to a regular (non-traffic school) Improv performance.
Does California offer anything similar to this?
Mike
I recently had a 3 point infraction removed from my record and my fine reduced because I attended a Florida state approved 3-hour Improv Comedy traffic school. The school just cost $35, was actually fun and the instructor/comic gave everybody free tickets to a regular (non-traffic school) Improv performance.
Does California offer anything similar to this?
Mike
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,009
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas , NV
Geo...Sorry to hear about the ticket/fine/lawyer/points etc. But I think I can help you out! There is no way you can keep your foot out of that thing for 6mo with all those mods on it and take the chance of another ticket. Sooo, I am willing to drive to your house so that we can put them on my truck for safe keeping! What are friends for anyway? When we are all done, lets go fishing in your new boat, then back to your house and maybe you'll cook us up some steaks after all that hard work/play.
Let me know what weekend you would like to do all of this. PS What size bed is in the guest room?
Let me know what weekend you would like to do all of this. PS What size bed is in the guest room?
Thread Starter
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Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 2,357
Likes: 0
From: Ventura, CA, USA
It is truly heartwarming to have friends on the board like you, Kevin, who will go the extra mile to help a pal. 
The bed is a queen size hide away, well tested by many friends. However, going to have to cool it on the fishing for a while; still waiting for OMC to start shipping the 2001 motors, which supposedly will happen next month.
And yes, Mike, CA does have a program like that, but you can only use it once per 18 month period, and I have already used that option (but that's another story).
The bed is a queen size hide away, well tested by many friends. However, going to have to cool it on the fishing for a while; still waiting for OMC to start shipping the 2001 motors, which supposedly will happen next month.And yes, Mike, CA does have a program like that, but you can only use it once per 18 month period, and I have already used that option (but that's another story).