Justice is finally served after a former Navarre couple accepted a financial settlement in their lawsuit against Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. The amount of the settlement has not been disclosed.
Veteran Damien Graves, and his former wife, Jessica, filed the lawsuit, alleging false arrest, negligence, negligent training, negligent supervision, violation of civil rights and more, stemming from a November 2021 arrest.
The State of Florida dropped all charges against the couple after discovering video evidence in the case appeared altered.
“Despite ample evidence that no wrongdoing had occurred, Deputy (Felipe) Pinto returned approximately one week later and arrested the Graves for grand theft,” Tallahassee Attorney Marie Mattox previously stated. “The attorney who represented the Graves requested the exculpatory doorbell camera footage which was in the Department’s possession and control and exonerated the Graves. The Department then delayed providing it for literally months.”
Subsequently, a Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office internal inquiry determined Deputy Pinto violated agency policy.
Graves has since filed a federal lawsuit against the agency after a SRSO deputy, working courthouse security, refused to allow entry of his official service dog into the building during a related judicial proceeding.
