In what marks a concluding chapter to a misconduct case that has gripped the community, former Kissimmee Police Department officer Andrew Baseggio will face sentencing today, after a legal odyssey stemming from a 2023 use-of-force incident. According to WFTV, Baseggio entered a guilty plea for actions captured on bodycam footage where he is seen striking a suspect several times in the face, necessitating dental surgery.
Initially, the consequences for Baseggio could have been quite severe; allegations ranged wide from witness tampering to falsifying his report which, if he had been convicted, could have landed him a 40-year prison stretch because he was indicted by a grand jury for his conduct, that included entering a home without a warrant and applying force contrary to policy, he managed to negotiate a plea that caps his punishment at a maximum of 24 months as WDBO reported.
Baseggio's case sparked a wider investigation into the Kissimmee Police Department, revealing more than 15 instances of excessive force and leading to a shake-up within the department that saw multiple officers resign and the stepping down of former Police Chief Betty Holland. The State Attorney's Office said in a statement obtained by WFTV, "Baseggio entered the home without a warrant and used force that was not consistent with the Kissimmee Police Department’s use of force policy to take a man into custody, resulting in serious bodily injury to the man."
