A Tampa federal prosecutor who gave police his business cards during a hit-and-run investigation pleaded down his DUI charge.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Ruddy now took a reckless driving charge even though he was arrested for drunken driving. At the time, police body-cam video showed him trying to give Tampa police his business cards after being pulled over.
It seemed police figured out what Ruddy was doing. “You realize, when they pull my body-worn camera footage and they see this, this is going to go really bad,” the officer said.
After months, the State Attorney’s Office for the 13th Judicial Circuit apparently preferred to make a plea deal than to take the Central Florida case against a federal prosecutor to trial. There were reportedly concerns about a lack of witnesses.
The plea deal reportedly includes community service, probation and a car interlocker device. The Justice Department said they were aware of situation and take all allegations of misconduct by department personnel seriously.
