MIAMI — An officer with the Miami Police Department is off the job and facing charges after internal affairs investigators said he was caught drinking and attempting to drive his patrol vehicle.
Officer Jeffrey Marcano was being monitored as part of an ongoing internal affairs investigation when detectives said they saw him drive his cruiser to a restaurant and drink what appeared to be alcohol, WFOR reported.
In the arrest report, officers said Marcano had multiple drinks with a group outside of the restaurant before “staggering and swaying” while attempting to walk back to the parked police cruiser, WPLG reported. Detectives intervened at that point to prevent him from driving away.
In the arrest report, officers described Marcano has having red, bloodshot eyes and smelling like alcohol, WSVN reported. When Marcano got out of the marked cruiser, two clear bags dropped onto the ground. In the arrest report, officers said the bags contained suspected cocaine, and “landed on the asphalt directly behind the defendant’s feet, as if he was attempting to conceal it from investigators,” WSVN reported.
In a statement, the Miami Police Department said that Marcano was suspended without pay pending the outcome of the criminal investigation. In the statement, the department said: “The integrity of the Miami PD will not be compromised by anyone that would act in a manner that brings dishonor to our department, erodes public trust, and tarnishes the badge.”
— Miami PD (@MiamiPD) August 21, 2022
Marcano posted bond and was released from jail Sunday night. As he walked out of jail, he told WSVN’s cameras, “I just want to apologize to my family for putting them through this, especially my son.”
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