Palm Beach County Sheriff‘s Deputy John Biagiotti was arrested for claiming he was assaulted in a nightclub when the establishment’s video surveillance showed that Biagiotti was the aggressor.
K-9 PBSO Deputy John Biagiotti, arrested for lying on an arrest report
Biagiotti, 51, was charged with a felony count of filing a false report of a crime and official misconduct last night.
The K-9 deputy paid his $3,000-bond and was released. He was also suspended from the job.
The incident occurred about 4 a.m. on July 14 as Biagiotti worked off-duty security at the Rumbass International nightclub on North Military Trail in West Palm Beach.
Biagiotti claimed he was assisting bouncers in ejecting patronJonathan Guevara from the club when Guevara started allegedly bumping the deputy with his chest.
Biagiotti tried to cuff Guevara, 27, but both fell to the ground. At that point, Biagiotti said he hit Guevera in the head with his fist until he stopped resisting.
Guevara was charged with two felonies, battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest with violence.
Shortly after Guevara was released, however, he filed an Internal Affairs complaint against Biagiotti, who also moonlights as a salesman at Harley Davidson of Palm Beach,
IA sleuths viewed the nightclub’s video surveillance system, and here’s what they saw, according to their report:
“Guevara did not bump Biagiotti in the chest at any time,” the report reads. “He was not being aggressive and his hands were open with the palms facing Biagiotti when Biagiotti pushed him . . . Biagiotti slipped, causing Guevara to fall on top of him . . . Guevara’s hands were still open when he was punched in the eye.”
The charges against Guevara were dropped a week later.