ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando police officer at the center of an investigation after a man died outside his house following a weekend party had talked about the wild parties at his home on social media.
Police said the post isn’t currently part of the investigation.
Three days after William Byers, 48, died on Pelican Lane shortly after leaving a party at Officer John Tritt’s home, a message from Tritt appeared online asking, “What is this ‘Fear of retaliation?’” and, “I deeply apologize to all of you that felt that they had something to say to me, but couldn’t.”
The post popped up on the social media site Nextdoor, an app that allows users to connect with people in their neighborhood.
Tritt’s neighbors told Channel 9 they never complained about his large parties because they feared he would retaliate.
Investigators said they found Byers dead near a curb outside Tritt’s house Sunday night.
A neighbor, who asked not to be identified, saw the post and said it was “semi-sincere.”
“He understood that the neighbors are concerned about what’s going on. The fact that the cars are parked up and down the street, and it’s going on late into the evenings,” the neighbor said.
Tritt replied to one of Channel 9’s messages Wednesday saying he would need permission to comment.
Police said Tritt could not speak to Channel 9 until the investigation is complete.