Deputy arrested for theft, accused of racial slur

Woman claims deputy stole her phone, drivers license

Paul Pletcher

PLANTATION, Fla – A Broward Sheriff's deputy has been arrested after a wild traffic stop.

Deputy Paul Pletcher, 37, was arrested Monday.

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Plantation Police said they responded to 3800 Broward Boulevard on May 23, 2011 after a woman claimed she was assaulted by a police officer.

The alleged victim, Neyda Osorio, said she had just made a u-turn on Broward Boulevard when she was pulled over by the officer in Plantation.

When Osorio and her passenger, Selvin Alexander Guerra pulled over, they claim the officer, who was still in his Dodge Charger, pulled up next to them and began using racial slurs and making inappropriate hand gestures. Osorio said the officer gave her the "middle finger" and she responded in kind.

The officer finally got out of his car and approached Osorio's truck. She then gave her Blackberry to Guerra and told him to videotape what happened next.

The officer saw the phone and demanded Guerra give it to him. When he refused, the alleged victims claimed the officer reached into the truck and attempted to take it from Guerra.

Osorio told the officer she would give him her drivers license but not her phone. That's when she claims the officer placed his arm across her neck, restrained her hands and grabbed her cell phone from her purse.

Once the officer had the phone, he released her. Osorio claims he continued to be verbally abusive. She asked if the officer wanted to see her "green card." He took the card, looked at it, and then allegedly threw it at her, hitting her in the face. The officer then left the scene with Osorio's Blackberry and driver's license.

Osorio saw a security guard at a nearby bank and asked him to call 911. Plantation Police then responded.

After a search, police found the phone in pieces. But investigators were able to retrieve the video from the phone. Investigators used that video to work with the Broward Sheriff's Office to positively identify the officer as Deputy Paul Pletcher. Pletcher was not on duty at the time, and there's no word why he pulled over Osorio.

Pletcher faces four charges, including burglary, battery, criminal mischief and petty theft. A judge set bond at $6,100.