An Osceola County sheriff’s deputy was arrested after investigators said he used unnecessary force on a 67-year-old woman during a DUI stop near Kissimmee, then falsely claimed she battered him. Deputy Joseph Billittier was booked into the Osceola County Jail facing battery on a person 65 or older, official misconduct, perjury in an official proceeding, and falsifying a public or court record.
According to WFTV, the traffic stop happened on September 25 near Simpson Road in Kissimmee. The incident began when a motorist called 911 after spotting a Toyota Corolla traveling the wrong way on Royal Palm Road, and the caller removed the car’s keys after it stopped in the median on Simpson Road. Billittier responded and conducted a DUI investigation before deputies arrested the 67-year-old driver.
Deputy Accused of Fabricating Battery Claim
Deputies handcuffed the driver in front, and she told them she had broken her clavicle in May and that her left arm was in a sling. The sheriff’s office said the interaction became physical as she was placed in a patrol vehicle and transported to jail, where jail staff requested medical clearance for her before she was taken to a hospital.
Supervisors later reviewed body-camera and in-car video after raising concerns about how Billittier treated the woman and his allegation that she had battered him. That review led investigators to determine the woman did not batter Billittier, and that he had used unnecessary force while handling her, the sheriff’s office said.
Charges and Bond Amounts
The state attorney’s office reviewed the criminal investigation before a judge signed an arrest warrant for Billittier Tuesday. He faces battery on a person 65 or older, which had no bond listed, along with official misconduct and perjury in an official proceeding, each carrying a $2,500 bond, and falsifying a public or court record, which carried a $1,000 bond.
Sheriff’s office representative Christopher Blackmon said the badge represents the public’s trust, and that no one is above the law, especially those sworn to enforce it. Blackmon also said Billittier has been relieved of duty pending formal termination proceedings. No response from Billittier or an attorney representing him was included in the sheriff’s office release, which also did not specify the woman’s injuries or the current status of her DUI case.
Another Florida Deputy Case
Another Florida case involved a deputy. In August, a Citrus County deputy was arrested on a battery charge and fired from that sheriff’s office following an incident investigated internally, according to CBS12. Florida residents can also check a statewide database for prior discipline records on officers, as reported by WTSP.
