Just been following the saga of a guy who ran a funeral escort business in Florida. But the guy was a piece of work, where he's been convicted of impersonating a law enforcement officer on several occasions and has served time in prison. But he's clearly a wannabe cop, where he's even gotten into arguments with police and local sheriff's deputies over what he can and can't do. The really appalling thing is that he went way overboard, using retired police vehicles (especially Kawasaki and BMW police motorcycles), wearing police style uniforms, issuing police style badges, and carrying weapons (although he wasn't allowed to carry firearms as a felon). And he made sure that all his people wore bodycams for some reason, and even posted a lot of his recordings to the internet. I think one time he was arrested on impersonation charges was related to when someone who he was yelling at asked if he was real law enforcement and he yelled back "We're a state certified agency!" All of his workers were part time, and one was encouraged to openly carry an actual firearm since he had a security guard permit. But he could only carry that when he was in his security guard uniform, and not in the funeral processions. I think he lost his security guard permit as a result.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Dewitte
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...impersonator-set-released-prison-Florida.html
His business was called Metro State Services, although the side might say something like Metro State Protection Services or something different. Some of the videos he's posted he's tried to stop people from going around the funeral processions, and he's yelled at people too. He had issues with blue or red lights and eventually was forced to use only purple or amber lights that are allowed by law for funeral escorts that aren't by actual law enforcement. I believe that legally in Florida, funerals are allowed to continue on after the lead escort vehicle enters an intersection on green, and an escort service should have motorcycles blocking entrance from the sides. But other than that, they can't really keep anyone from driving around a procession (which he and his workers have tried to stop). And even if someone manages to slip into a procession, funeral escorts don't have the authority to direct anyone to keep out of the procession. The law apparently only allows them to block entrance (but not exit) via intersections that the procession is going through.
What got him recently was actually not registering his vehicles as a sex offender (long story), as well as federal tax evasion.
But around here I've seen a few funeral processions. Some are led by off-duty law enforcement, but I guess there are some funeral escort companies that outfit themselves with police style vehicles and uniforms. But others just have their workers outfitted in standard motorcycle attire where they have all black motorcycles and a "FUNERAL" decal on the bikes. Like this guy:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Dewitte
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...impersonator-set-released-prison-Florida.html
His business was called Metro State Services, although the side might say something like Metro State Protection Services or something different. Some of the videos he's posted he's tried to stop people from going around the funeral processions, and he's yelled at people too. He had issues with blue or red lights and eventually was forced to use only purple or amber lights that are allowed by law for funeral escorts that aren't by actual law enforcement. I believe that legally in Florida, funerals are allowed to continue on after the lead escort vehicle enters an intersection on green, and an escort service should have motorcycles blocking entrance from the sides. But other than that, they can't really keep anyone from driving around a procession (which he and his workers have tried to stop). And even if someone manages to slip into a procession, funeral escorts don't have the authority to direct anyone to keep out of the procession. The law apparently only allows them to block entrance (but not exit) via intersections that the procession is going through.
What got him recently was actually not registering his vehicles as a sex offender (long story), as well as federal tax evasion.
Orlando, FL – A Florida man was sentenced yesterday to 41 months in prison for filing false tax returns with the IRS for two consecutive years that he knew underreported his business’s revenue.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Jeremy Charles DeWitte owned and operated Metro State Special Services, a funeral-procession escort business located in Central Florida. DeWitte filed individual income tax returns for 2017 and 2018 that materially understated the revenue he received from operating his business.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Julie S. Sneed ordered DeWitte to serve one year of supervised release and to pay approximately $70,000 in restitution to the United States.
But around here I've seen a few funeral processions. Some are led by off-duty law enforcement, but I guess there are some funeral escort companies that outfit themselves with police style vehicles and uniforms. But others just have their workers outfitted in standard motorcycle attire where they have all black motorcycles and a "FUNERAL" decal on the bikes. Like this guy:
) of funeral processions, and why are they allowed to override traffic signals and stop other traffic? The person in the hearse is dead, so what's the hurry, right? I've been on my way to work or important appointments and been held up by long funeral processions, so this is something to consider.
