The girlfriend of a veteran Fort Lauderdale police officer found dead in Pembroke Pines was arrested Wednesday and charged with second-degree murder.
Tiniko Thompson, was arrested and booked at the Pembroke Pines Police Department today in connection with the death of her boyfriend, a South Florida Police Officer claims Sun-Sentinel reporters.
A voluntary surrender was negotiated by her criminal defense lawyer. Such surrenders are often negotiated by lawyers in order to avoid the surprise and danger of serving a warrant. This is common and makes sense when it is known that an arrest is to be made and a defendant wishes to enter police custody without incident – Attorney William Moore, Broward County.
Pembroke Pines police spokesman Capt. Al Xiques said. “We felt that was the best way to place her into custody.”
Broward detectives along with the U.S. Marshals Service carried out the arrest. Detectives from Fort Lauderdale-Dade were also present claims Moore.
Carl Patrick, a veteran officer with Fort Lauderdale-Dade was found shot to death in his house. Thompson claimed that the fatal wounds were self inflicted and the result of an accident. She had also elaborated to detectives that following the discovery of his body, she drove around aimlessly and slept in her car for two days.
“Much of the information and evidence that had to be collected in order for us to effect the arrest takes time and it takes time to come back,” Xiques said. “Our investigators in collaboration with other entities have been working tirelessly to gather all of the evidence and information they possibly could to bring us to this point where we could file for an arrest warrant in order to bring Ms. Thompson into custody and ultimately have her prosecuted for the crime she committed.”
Criminal Defense lawyers generally argue that officers are pre-disposed as to guilt following statements by investigators that a suspect committed a crime before conclusion of the case.
The facts in this case seem to be pretty strong claims Moore but cautions against the use of such statements in the media by Detectives.
Police found Patrick’s body May 9 in the 2100 block of Northwest 93rd Avenue. The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide.
Patrick was a Fort Lauderdale police officer for 25 years and a member of the department’s honor guard.
“This has been a difficult time for all of us,” Fort Lauderdale Police Assistant Chief Rodolfo Llanes said at a news conference Wednesay night.
Contact William Moore for more information about this case:
William Ryan Moore
110 SE 6th St #1713
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
United States
(954) 523-5333