Orlando Police Officer Alexander Shaouni has been arrested for speeding, but he claimed to have had a clear and decent reason for breaking the law — like everyone else, he was simply rushing to work.
Two men in uniform had a heated exchange that was caught on a body cam. A police report from the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office revealed on June 6 that Alexander Shaouni was pulled over by an unnamed Florida sheriff’s deputy at 12:15 p.m. local time.
The full video circulating on Facebook and Instagram showed the deputy walking to the Orlando PD cruiser like any other routine stop.
Shaouni was dressed in a police uniform and driving a marked Orlando Police Department SUV.
The deputy explained to officer Alexander Shaouni that he was stopped because he was driving nearly twice the speed limit. Shaouni, who was not thrilled by the deputy’s action, asked: “What? I am going into work, my man. Why are you trying to pull me over? What does it look like I’m dressed for?”
The deputy responded: “Because you’re going 80 in a 45.” The deputy went on to ask Alexander Shaouni to show his driver’s license, and he flatly said no and rapidly marched to his police vehicle and drove away.
The video showed that the deputy decided not to follow Shaouni after he fled the scene. Instead, he immediately reported the incident and the SUV’s license plate over the radio.
In a statement issued by the Orlando police officer, it was confirmed that Shaouni was being criminally charged.
The department said Shaouni has not yet been fired, but he has been removed from his post while they investigate the situation.
The statement read: “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. Officer Shaouni has been relieved of duty pending the Seminole County Sheriff’s criminal investigation and OPD’s Internal Affairs investigation.”
The two agencies seem to differ on the matter. The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office has moved to arrest and charge Shaouni.
Alexander Shaouni turned himself in to the Seminole County Jail on Friday, where he was slapped with the following charges: “Resisting an officer, reckless driving, and fleeing to elude a law enforcement officer (lights and siren activated).”
He was released on a $9,000 bond. Some former members of the Orlando Police Department say this kind of behavior is not acceptable.
