Former Sanford cop accused of bribery turns self in

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla.,None — A former  Sanford police officer turned himself in to the Seminole County jail Wednesday morning on an active warrant. Joseph Wiggins was booked on charges of bribery and accepting unlawful compensation. He posted his $3,000 bond and was released.

Wiggins was relieved of duty with pay from the department last month over allegations that he took money in exchange for not giving a driver a ticket.   A complaint was filed against Wiggins shortly after the traffic stop in August.

WFTV met with the Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee who said Sanford doesn't have a policy that lets the chief strip Wiggins of his salary, but he's working to change that.

In the meantime, investigators said they are looking into whether any other drivers were offered deals to get out of their tickets.

Wiggins didn't answer the door when WFTV knocked at his Sanford home. But investigators said he had plenty to say to at least two drivers he pulled over this year.

In August, investigators said that during a traffic stop he gave one driver two options: either go to jail for driving without a license or pay him $400.

The driver told investigators he gave Wiggins the cash.

"As soon as we got the complaint, we contacted the Florida Department of Law Enforcement," Lee said.

FDLE launched an investigation and said they used an undercover officer to catch Wiggins in the act.

According to an affidavit, Wiggins pulled the undercover officer over, but when the officer couldn't provide a drivers license, Wiggins offered him the same proposition; either pay $400 or go to jail.

But this time, the incident was caught on camera.

Wiggins has been a Sanford officer for three years and makes $40,000 per year.

The felony charges he faces come with maximum sentences of five and 15 years.

WFTV