Tarpon Springs cop resigns, accused of having affair with
felon
TARPON SPRINGS — A Tarpon police detective resigned last
month before the conclusion of an internal affairs investigation that found he
was having an affair with a convicted felon and often traveled to her mobile
home while on duty to have sex with her, officials announced Wednesday.
According to internal affairs documents, Detective John
Loibl maintained a relationship with Nickole Carter, 31, and visited her up to
several times a week during his shift. Loibl also drove Carter, on probation
for drug charges, to probation office appointments in his unmarked police car.
Loibl, 49, was married at the time.
Carter told investigators she met Loibl the summer of 2011
at Busch Gardens while they both waited in line for an amusement ride. They
stayed in touch, became friends and eventually began an affair.
When Carter moved from Tampa to Tarpon Springs in October
2012, Loibl helped her find a job at a Subway restaurant and arranged for her
to stay at the Hillside Mobile Home Park on U.S. 19. Loibl drove to her home,
both in Tampa and later in Tarpon Springs, in his police car during his shift
to have sex with her while her children were at school, records show. She told
her probation officer she was Loibl's "mistress."
"I think he's a great man. I didn't ever feel forced to
do anything," she told investigators. "It was just good to have
somebody to actually treat me and my kids good, like nobody ever has."
Loibl took Carter and her three children out to dinner. He
bought hamsters for the children, ages 7, 9 and 11, and gave Carter cash to
help her with rent and her electric bill, she told investigators.
On July 26, Loibl texted his supervisor: "I don't feel
well. My stomach is a mess. … I'm going to go ahead and call out." That
same day, Loibl drove Carter in his police car to Perry — a 342-mile round
trip. He fueled his police car with gas from a city pump, records show.
Three days later, the Tarpon Springs Probation and Parole
Office told police that Loibl might be involved with Carter. Loibl had driven
her to the office for a monthly meeting with her probation officer, who
recognized him, police said.
Police Chief Robert P. Kochen ordered an internal affairs
investigation. On July 30, Loibl was placed on administrative leave with pay.
On Aug. 13, he resigned. He was uncooperative with investigators
and didn't show up for his internal affairs interview, police spokesman Capt.
Jeffrey Young said.
Had he remained at the department, Loibl would have been
terminated, Kochen said.
The chief called Loibl's behavior "disgraceful,"
adding that "no agency is immune from certain people doing things like
this."
Loibl was hired by the department in September 2005. In
2006, Loibl received additional training after investigators found he had
improperly documented evidence. In 2007, he was spoken to twice for tardiness,
Young said.
In December 2010, Carter was sentenced to 18 months
probation in Hillsborough County on a controlled substance possession charge.
Earlier this year, she violated her probation by traveling from Pinellas to
Hillsborough, where she was arrested for marijuana possession, police said.
State records show Carter was also convicted of DUI property
damage in November 2010. She was sentenced to one year of probation, and her
driver's license was suspended for six months.
Loibl and Carter could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Because Loibl had not completed 10 years at the department,
he will not receive pension benefits, Young said.
