Officer Avoids Trial After Pinning Homeless Man Under Car

In a controversial incident that occurred last February, an Orlando police officer will not face trial for pinning a homeless man under his car at the end of a high-speed chase. According to prosecutors, the officer, Christopher Moulton, initiated a traffic stop on 30-year-old Dornell Bargnare, who he claimed had an "unreadable" license plate. Bargnare then allegedly took off, leading to a chase that reached speeds of 90 miles per hour through city streets.

The chase ended when Bargnare rounded a corner and hit a pole, striking a pedestrian, 58-year-old Clifford Neal, who was walking on the sidewalk. Neal fell, and Moulton's car rolled on top of him as the officer tried to pin Bargnare. Neal remained under Moulton's tire for 15 minutes as a foot chase ensued.

In a memo dated last October, prosecutors stated that while the decision to initiate the pursuit was a moral and policy question, Moulton's actions during the chase were in line with department policy. They explained that even if Moulton had been negligent at some point, it would be impossible to prove when that began and if it was directly related to Neal's death.

The incident remains under internal investigation, particularly regarding Moulton's decision to prematurely end his body camera recording when he realized Neal was under his truck. Bargnare's trial is currently scheduled for December, and he faces 30 years in prison if convicted of leaving the scene.