A jury cleared a Fort Myers Police lieutenant at trial, although an internal affairs probe regarding indecent exposure remained active.
A Lee County jury exonerated Lt. Dion Freeman, 45, on Oct. 29 of one count of indecent exposure of the sexual organs.
“From the very early stages of this case, we had some questions about the evidence that the state provided,” Freeman’s attorney, Ian Mann, told The News-Press on Oct. 30 about the January incident.
Mann explained that Freeman’s case “took a little longer than expected to get to trial.”
“In essence there was only one witness who was able to provide any testimony,” Mann said.
Freeman testified in his defense and said told jurors he did not do anything wrong in a restroom inside the Target store at Gulf Coast Town Center.
According to the court documents, the accuser claimed the incident happened Jan. 14.
Freeman was never arrested. According to Florida State Statutes, the law only allows authorities to make an arrest when they witness an offense. The statute allows for some exemptions in domestic battery and DUI cases.
In cases such as Freeman’s, misdemeanor prosecution typically begins with the issuance of a summons, which the state filed in February.
Despite the exoneration, Megan Fuentes, spokesperson for Fort Myers Police, confirmed in an Oct. 30 email that the “internal processes are still ongoing.”
Freeman was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the criminal case and internal affairs investigation.
“Mr. Freeman is willing and able to return to duty,” Mann said, adding that the police lieutenant has been ready to carry a badge and a gun for several months.
Mann said they are unsure how long the internal affairs probe will take.
“Cases that involve law enforcement as defendants in and out of themselves are out of the ordinary,” said Mann, who has represented three law enforcement officers including Freeman in court throughout his 25 years as an attorney.
More than 2 decades with Fort Myers Police
Fort Myers Police hired Freeman in 2002, who then enrolled in the Southwest Florida Public Safety Academy. He graduated as president of the 100th Law Enforcement class from the Southwest Florida Public Safety Academy, according to the police department.
Over the years, police said, Freeman has been assigned to their Patrol Division, Bicycle Unit and Juvenile Assessment & Monitoring Unit. Freeman also serviced as a detective, investigating burglaries, vehicle thefts and robbery cases.
Freeman was promoted to the rank of lieutenant on Feb. 21, 2020, and assigned to the Patrol Division. His employment status was not known by publication.
Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@gannett.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran, Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews and Bluesky @tomasfrodriguez.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Fort Myers Police lieutenant exonerated after accusation of indecent exposure
Reporting by Tomas Rodriguez, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
