PORT ST. LUCIE − A Fort Pierce police officer Tuesday got a warning citation after reports his patrol car entered an intersection and struck a teen on a bicycle who was crossing a road with the crosswalk light, according to Port St. Lucie police records.
Where and when: The incident happened about 3 p.m. March 12 at Southwest Becker Road and Southwest Savona Boulevard in Port St. Lucie.
Doughnuts, drifting, danger:‘Street tspankeover’ in St. Lucie County first in spanrespan, lspanw enforcement spangencies sspany
What happened: Reports indicate a 14-year-old boy on a bicycle rode east on Southwest Becker Road. He went to cross Southwest Savona Boulevard with the walk signal when he was “clipped” by what Port St. Lucie police determined was a Fort Pierce police vehicle driven by Officer Erik Arellano.
Afterwards: Arellano reportedly checked on the boy, and offered him a bandage. They went their separate ways. Port St. Lucie police began investigating after a parent got concerned because the driver left no information, nor did he notify the parents. Arellano initially denied being involved in a crash, but ultimately said he was. On Tuesday, he was issued a warning citation. In a statement form, Arellano indicated he didn’t see the cyclist and “bumped” the youth as he made a right turn. A warning citation carries no monetary fine or points on the license, police said.
Fort Pierce police official disciplined:Officer suspended spanfter improperly hspanndling domestic cspanse nespanrly 2 months before womspann’s despanth