Use of excessive force gets deputy suspended

Thursday, May 3, 2007

Post a comment | E-mail this story | Print

The deputy is accused of using excessive force on a woman as he arrested her.

Hillsborough County Deputy Kevin Stabins has been suspended for five days after an internal affairs investigation found he used excessive force on a woman he pulled over.

The woman, Melissa Langston, had been pulled over for going 63 in a 35 mile an hour zone on Nov. 1. Langston was on the way to make sure her father, who was driving himself to University Community Hospital after suffering a heart attack, got there safely.

When Stabins went back to his car to run her plates and write a ticket, the woman waited three minutes, but then took off and drove a short distance to park her car.

More Information

Stabins is accused of using excessive force to pull her out of her car and pin her to the hood.

Langston's father survived the heart attack and all charges against her were dropped. She spent about five hours in jail.

Stabins's suspension starts May 22.

The sheriff's office says Stabins said he thought Langston was making up the story about her father's heart attack and that

Stabins is a good deputy who showed bad judgment.

Langston declined an interview request.

The conversations between Langston and Stabins

Langston: Hi, I'm so sorry. My father's having a heart attack, can I please get there?
Deputy: I need to see your license, registration and proof of insurance please.
Langston: Please, come on just take it in there.

Langston again tried to explain about her father's condition.

Deputy: He's in the care of the doctor ma'am.
Langston: I don't know that he's there. I don't know that he made it to the hospital. He was driving himself.

While Stabins was writing the ticket, Langston drove off to check the parking lot for her father's car. Stabins followed her and pulled her over a second time.

Deputy: That was not smart.
Langston: I need to get there. I'm sorry but I just need to get there.
Deputy: Put it in park. Put it in park. Put it in park. Out of the car. Hands behind your back. Now you're going to jail.
Langston: Please let me get to my dad. Please, my dad's having a heart attack. If it was your dad. . .
Stabins: Now you're not going to get to see him because you're going to jail. Not smart.