7 West Palm Beach police officers arrested months after fatal pursuit in Boynton Beach
Seven West Palm Beach police officers are facing criminal charges after a high-speed chase in Boynton Beach last year that killed a mother and her daughter, the State Attorney's Office announced Thursday.
The officers were arrested Wednesday night and had their first appearances in court Thursday morning. Three of them, Austin B. Danielovich, Pierre F. Etienne, and Christopher C. Rekdahl, each face two counts of leaving the scene of a crash involving death, a first-degree felony, as well as one count of official misconduct, a third-degree felony. Their bonds were set at $125,000. They are ordered to have no contact with the victims' family or each other.
The other four officers, Michael E. Borgen, William L. Loayza, Brandan C. Stedfelt, and Darien J. Thomas, each face one count of official misconduct. Their bonds were set at $5,000.
On the night of Aug. 2, Neoni Copeland was speeding away from police officers on North Congress Avenue in Boynton Beach when he crashed into a Toyota that was trying to make a left turn, according to police. Copeland had minor injuries and was arrested. The mother and daughter in the Corolla, Marcia Pochette, 57, and Jenice Woods, 27, were killed.
'The police officers' actions are a disturbing betrayal of the public trust,' State Attorney Alexcia Cox said in a statement. 'Law enforcement officers have a duty to the public they swore to uphold. No one is above the law, and this office will pursue justice wherever the facts and the law lead.'
The West Palm Beach Fraternal Order of Police union defended the officers in a statement Wednesday night while recognizing the tragedy, saying, 'We recognize the profound pain this tragedy has caused and join the community in mourning this devastating loss. We also stand in support of our members who have been arrested in connection with this incident. These officers are entitled to the full protections of due process. We respectfully ask the public to allow the legal system to do its work fairly and without presumption.'
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