By Shelby Webb
NORTH PORT - Three more
officers have been suspended from the North Port Police Department, but the
department's leaders would not say who they are or why they are being
investigated.
According to emails obtained by
the Herald-Tribune, North Port Police Chief Kevin Vespia notified one officer
of his or her paid suspension on March 31 and notified two others on April 10.
In refusing to name the
officers, North Port officials cited a Florida law that governs investigations
into law enforcement officials. They redacted the officers' names from the
emails requested by the Herald-Tribune.
It was that same law the
department says prevented authorities from releasing the names of officers
Melanie Turner and Ricky Urbina when they were suspended and criminally
investigated for allegedly handcuffing a woman at a party and raping her on
March 1. Their names were only released on March 20, after a judge signed
arrest warrants for both officers.
Other North Port police
officers were at that party and it is unclear whether the most recent
suspensions are tied to that case.
Turner was arrested on one
count of principal to a sexual assault and one count of false imprisonment. She
posted bail and remains on unpaid administrative leave as the North Port Police
Department conducts an internal investigation into the incident.
Urbina was charged with sexual
assault and false imprisonment, but he shot and killed himself March 20 as
authorities were on their way to arrest him.
The officers who were recently
put on paid suspension were told to turn their badges, identification cards,
department vehicles and department-issued fire arms.
Turner has an arraignment
hearing scheduled for April 25.