Miami Cop Pleads Not Guilty to Stealing From Motorists

MIAMI, FL — Fired rookie Miami police Officer Jose R. Acosta pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges that he stole money from "numerous" motorists. He is accused of pulling the victims over in bogus traffic stops. Acosta was arrested in March after being caught in a sting operation.

Mayor Tomas Regalado assured the community immediately followingAcosta's arrest and insisted that the city would continue with plans to hire dozens of new officers over the coming months. Police officials also said that they saw no need to make changes to the screening process or officer training program based on Acosta's case. (Sign up for our free Daily Newsletters and Breaking News Alerts for the Miami Patch.)

"It's important ... that the people of Miami, the residents and visitors of the city of Miami know — are assured — that the mission of the police department of the city of Miami is to protect and serve and that mission will continue," Regalado said at the time.

Acosta was released on home detention during Monday's court appearance and ordered to wear an ankle bracelet. The case has been given a tentative trial date of July 10.

Acosta was terminated the day after he was allegedly observed taking money from an undercover officer posing as a motorist.

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Miami police set up a sting operation with the State Attorney's Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement after receiving "several" complaints in February of a Miami police officer taking money during traffic stops.

State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle has gone on record as saying that her office will prosecute to the "full vigor of the law."

"I deeply believe that public corruption crimes steal the public’s trust," she said at a press conference last month. "Without trust, law enforcement loses its credibility. Officer Acosta never should have done that to this police department or to this community."

Deputy Police Chief Luis Cabrera told reporters that Acosta did not appear to have probable cause to stop the motorists he is believed to have stolen from.

"We are still interviewing these people and gathering more information," said Cabrera. "I will not disclose the amount right now of victims but, yes there are numerous victims that this officer has targeted and victimized. ... He's taken money from all of these victims."

The charges against Acosta stem from a traffic stop in the area of NW 3rd Avenue and NW 22 Street in which an undercover officer was sent out with a total of $1,250 in marked cash.

"He took the driver out of the vehicle and searched his pockets, removing his wallet and a bank envelope," according to Cabrera, who said that Acosta placed the items on the driver's seat of the vehicle while he placed the motorist in the back of his police vehicle.

"Acosta entered the driver’s vehicle and took $940 from the driver’s wallet and bank envelope," Cabrera explained. "He released the driver without issuing a citation or notifying police dispatch that he had made a traffic stop. Acosta concluded his tour of duty without declaring, reporting or otherwise documenting any money that he had taken."

The deputy chief said that Acosta was taken into custody in the area of NW 10th Avenue and NW 6th Street.

Investigators said they watched the officer conduct five separate stops, in which he had each victim step out of their vehicle while he performed a search. He then released the drivers without announcing any of the calls over the police radio or issuing citations.

Acosta was last assigned to the Wynwood area of the city, which is where many of the stops occurred.

Photos by Paul Scicchitano