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| Mistake During Jury Selection Frees Inmate |
| By South Florida Sun-Sentinel |
| Published: 10/22/2002 |
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A judge said Friday that a man convicted of shooting a Fort Lauderdale police officer in 1999 can go free on $10,000 bail because the prosecutor and judge handling the case made a mistake during jury selection and will have to put him on trial again. Scott Raft, a prosecutor who handles appeals for the State Attorney's Office, agreed with the defense Friday that Frank Crimi, 47, is entitled to a new trial on charges stemming from a fight he had with Detective Paul Allen in August 1999. Crimi is accused of stripping Allen of his gun and shooting him in the hand. Allen, who had gone to Crimi's house because neighbors complained about it being an eyesore, had the ring finger on his left hand amputated this year and still has not returned to work. Fort Lauderdale police declined comment, but the department's union president who was on the scene the night Allen was shot was upset that Crimi would get out of jail. 'I've got concerns for all law enforcement officers, regardless of where the criminal lives, but also for the citizens,' said Tom Mangifesta, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 31. 'He's a loose cannon and I fear for his neighbors.' Crimi, who had been in jail since being found guilty in July, said in court Friday that if released he would live with his fiancé. He also said he will act as his own lawyer during the next trial. Circuit Court Judge Ronald J. Rothschild said there was evidence that Crimi posed a 'potential threat to the members of the community,' but that $10,000 bail was enough to impress upon Crimi the seriousness of the charges. |
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