Florida officer suspended after couple performs sexual act in back of patrol car

FORT PIERCE, Fla. (FOX 35 WOFL) - A Florida officer has been suspended after a couple he arrested for shoplifting performed sexual relations to each other in the back of his patrol car.

Body camera footage shows Fort Pierce Police Officer Doug McNeal inside a Walmart looking for a woman he heard might have been abused. Shoppers are helping him track her down. He eventually finds her outside, but she said she did not need help, so he cleared the call.

Ten minutes later, McNeal said that he was investigating a theft in progress with the same girl and another man on crutches, who was trespassed from the store the day before. However, this time, McNeal does not turn his body camera on.

Instead, McNeal watches the suspects on surveillance video. An hour and a half later, he turns his camera on and arrests both suspects. He also recovered stolen jewelry and a baby toy from them.

With his body camera still rolling, McNeal is shown allowing the suspects to smoke together before getting in the car. The male suspect is also shown being transported without handcuffs, violating policy.

Both the male and woman suspect are placed into the backseat unrestrained. They are captured on camera cuddling, kissing, and eventually performing sexual acts on each other while the officer plays music and writes reports. 

McNeal is also shown giving them permission to smoke in the sally port of the jail.

The officer then transported the suspect to the hospital for an injury to the man's leg -- all while still unrestrained. 

During all this, McNeal failed to tell dispatch where he was going. He also did not tell them his mileage as required by policy. 

According to the investigation, McNeal violated at least nine policies. Fort Pierce Police Chief Diane Hobley Burney said in a statement that "the conduct of this officer does not represent the values of this Department or the dedicated men and women who serve our community with honor every day."

McNeal is serving a 20-day suspension without pay.