Linette Ochoa, Hialeah, Florida (disorderly conduct -- not charged) [MIA]

Chester the Molester · Jul 31, 2012

Name: Linette Ochoa, Hialeah, Florida

Age: 33 (born Nov 14 1978)

TSA Job: "Screener"

Crime: "DISORD DISORDERLY CONDUCT", "SUSP,Primary Role" (not charged)

Note: Linette Ochoa is referenced in the below articles only as "a friend" of Milagros D. Casanas, who was the only one of the two to be arrested. It appears from the narrative in the police report (see below) that Linette Ochoa was not charged because the victims declined to press charges after their property had been recovered and no police officer had personally witnessed Linette Ochoa committing any crimes.

Local 10: Police: TSA officer attacked woman who videotaped her while intoxicated: Miami TSA officer arrested in Key West after video camera incident (July 30 2012)

Milagros Casanas, 25, was arrested along Duval Street on July 22nd and charged with disorderly conduct after she allegedly attacked Jaqueline Copeland. "Casanas was extremely unsteady on her feet, her speech was very slurred, and she had a strong smell of an alcoholic beverage on her breath," according to the police report. Officers responded to the 200 block of Duval Street after receiving reports that a fight had broken out between two women. The arrest report stated that Casanas and a friend were passed out on the sidewalk. When they awoke, they realized someone was videotaping them with a cell phone. Detectives said Casanas yelled at Copeland to delete the recording, then grabbed the phone out of the woman's hands. According to the report, Casanas' friend told officers "... they did not want to be recorded because they were federal officers (TS) and did not want video of them on the internet." Casanas was charged with disorderly conduct.

Keys Net: TSA officer arrested for disorderly conduct (July 28 2012)

Miami Herald: TSA officer from Miami charged with disorderly conduct in Key West (July 30 2012)

Courtesy Local 10, here is the police report:

Chester the Molester · Jul 31, 2012

Narrative from the police report:

While Casanas was being treated my Rescue, I spoke with Copeland. Copeland said the incident started because Casanas and her friend, later identified as Linette Ochoa, were passed out on the sidewalk.Copeland said her friend, Jesse C. Bennett, thought it would be funny to moon (expose his buttocks to) Casanas and Ochoa as they were sleeping on the sidewalk. I asked Copeland if Bennett touched either female with his buttocks and she said no. Copeland said Bennett fell on the ground next to Ochoa as he pulled his pants down. Copeland said she started recording Bennett because she thought it was funny that he fell. Copeland confirmed that Bennett fell next to Ochoa and not on to her. Copeland said after Bennett fell, Ochoa and Casanas woke up and immediately began attacking her and Bennett. Copeland said Casanas yelled at her to delete the recording and grabbed the phone out of her hands. Copeland said she began to back away as Casanas started to swing at her.

Copeland showed me two videos of the incident. The first video is only several seconds long and showed Bennett sitting on the ground next to Ochoa. The video then showed Ochoa getting up and walking towards Bennett. The second video showed Bennett trying to stand up and Ochoa pushing him over several times. Copeland said there is no video of Casanas attacking her because she stopped recording when Casanas and Ochoa told her to. Copeland provided me with the videos. The videos will be placed on a disk and submitted into evidence.

Copeland completed a sworn written statement. Copeland did not want to press charges against Casanas under the condition that Casanas returned her phone. Officer Anglin searched Casanas ncident to arrest and recovered Copeland's phone. I returned the phone to Copeland.

I spoke to Bennett, who was uncooperative and did not wish to press charges or make any statements.

I also spoke to Ochoa. Ochoa told me the fight started because Copeland was recording them while they were sitting on the sidewalk. Ochoa said she and Casanas did not want to be recorded because they were federal officers (TSA) and did not want a video of them on the Internet. Ochoa said she demanded that Copeland delete the video and Copeland did not comply. I asked Ochoa what happen after Copeland refused to delete the video. Ochoa said police arrived at that time. Ochoa's speech was slurred, she was unsteady on her feet, and had a strong smell of an alcoholic beverage on her breath.

Casanas was treated by Rescue on scene. After being medically treated I placed Casanas into my patrol vehicle and transported her to MCDC without further incident.

Ochoa was not charged criminally because Bennett refused to press charges and Sgt. Tripp did not witness her striking anyone.

I did not charge Casanas with robbery even though the elements of robbery were present. Sgt. Tripp called the duty ASA Mark Wilson and advised him of the incident, and told him Copeland was adamant about not pressing charges. ASA Wilson as well as Sgt. Tripp and I all agreed that disorderly conduct would be a charge that best addressed the problem.

I charged Casanas with Disorderly Conduct (F.S.S. 877.03). Casanas did engage in fighting in the middle of Duval St.