Police: No charges against Flagler sheriff's sergeant in incident at Finn's Beachside Pub
No criminal charges will be filed against a Flagler County Sheriff’s Office sergeant who reportedly pressured a man into buying him a drink at Finn’s Beachside Pub in Flagler Beach.
Flagler County Sheriff Sgt. Michael F. Breckwoldt has been reassigned to administrative work and relieved of all law enforcement duties and authority, according to the sheriff’s office which is conducting an internal affairs investigation into the incident.
Breckwoldt has been with FCSO for 20 years and earns $92,743.60 per year, according to the sheriff’s office.
Flagler Beach Police Detective Rosanna Vinci investigated the incident and "with consideration of the totality of the circumstances, there will not be any criminal charges filed in conjunction with this case; which is hereby closed," police stated on Friday.
The incident began on the night of May 25 at Finn’s Beachside Pub at 101 N. Oceanshore Blvd.
That's where Breckwoldt, who was off-duty, approached a man who did not know him or know initially that he was with the sheriff’s office.
Breckwoldt was described as impaired in the report.
"If you know who I am ... you would buy me a drink"
The man, whose name is redacted in the report and is identified only as L.R., was in the upper level of Finn’s standing at the bar when Breckwoldt “put his back” up to him and said “Buy me a drink,” the report stated.
The man initially refused but Breckwoldt continued, repeatedly tapping the man on the arm.
The man said said Breckwoldt bumped him again and told him: “If you know who I am and know like I know, you would buy me a drink.”
Victim said he bought drink because he was fearful
The man said a woman told him something wasn’t right with Breckwoldt, who now got specific about his request. “Buy me a Jameson drink,” Breckwoldt said.
So, the man said he bought Breckwoldt a Jameson whiskey. The man said he did so because he was fearful.
The man then moved to another part of the bar and saw a friend. He asked the friend if he knew who Breckwoldt was and the friend told him he was a “high-up” law enforcement officer and to leave him alone.
The man subsequently returned to where Breckwoldt was and confronted him, according to his interview with Flagler Beach Police.
“So, you’re a police officer that likes to sit here and pry and put down on people like that?” the man said he told Breckwoldt.
He said Breckwoldt responded, "So you found out who I am, so now you know.”
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The man said he felt threatened at one point because Breckwoldt was reaching for something at his hip. The man said he was a convicted felon and does not own weapons, so he was defenseless.
The man said he believed that Breckwoldt profiled him because of his looks, assuming he was a drug dealer. The man’s wife said that his being African-American was another reason he was targeted. The man was wearing a black T-shirt with the words “home grown” in purple and an image of a marijuana plant.
The bartender indicated he was cutting Breckwoldt off and staff escorted Breckwoldt out of Finn’s.
Finn’s security carmera’s also recorded Breckwoldt as he talked to a woman identified as A. Perkins. Breckwoldt appears to touch Perkins on the upper right chest area with an open hand and she did not visibly react. Breckwoldt next places his right hand on the woman’s left shoulder and she pushes his hand off. Breckwoldt then reaches behind her head in an attempt to pull her closer. She pushes his hand off and away from her and is visibly uncomfortable, the report stated.
Breckwoldt next appears unsteady as he approaches some people sitting at a table. He touches a woman on the left shoulder and a man at the table said something to Breckwoldt who holds his hands up indicating he meant no harm, according to the security video.
Flagler Beach Police officers found Breckwoldt passed out about 1:16 a.m. on May 26 at North Second Street and North Oceanshore Boulevard, according to Flagler Beach Police.
L.R., who was also described as appearing to be under the influence of alcohol, walked out of Finn's and told police that he felt Breckwoldt was trying to use his status as a deputy to his advantage.
Police then gave Breckwoldt a ride home to Palm Coast.
The sheriff’s office stated that Sheriff Rick Staly “is deeply disappointed in the alleged behavior which, if proven, is not in keeping with the expectations expected of an FCSO employee.”
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Flagler sheriff's sergeant won't face charges for Finn's incident
