Osceola County commissioner accused of impersonating law enforcement officer
LAKE MARY, Fla. - A member of the Osceola County Commission is accused of impersonating a law enforcement officer.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) on Monday announced the arrest of Fred Wilbur Hawkins, 53, of Saint Cloud, for one count of false personation. Hawkins turned himself into the Osceola County Jail early Monday evening.
Investigators said that last November, Hawkins attempted to gain access to an election of the Turnberry Reserve Homeowner’s Association (HOA), of which he was not a member.
"When a security guard prevented him from entering the room, he flashed sheriff’s office credentials, claiming that he was with the Sheriff’s Office and threatening her with arrest," read a news release from the FDLE. "Hawkins is a Special Deputy with the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, an honorary title, but he does not have arrest powers, nor has he ever been certified as a law enforcement officer in the State of Florida."
“Commissioner Fred Hawkins did not impersonate an officer, as is charged and what will be proven is that he is innocent of the allegation,“ said Christina Johnson, a spokesperson for Hawkins.
Hawkins was first elected in 2008 and has served as chairman of the Commission in 2010, 2014, and 2017.
He was booked into the Osceola County Jail on a $1,000 bond. The case will be prosecuted by the State Attorney’s Office, Ninth Judicial Circuit.
Full statement by Christina Johnson, spokesperson, Fred Hawkins for State House campaign:
“Commissioner Fred Hawkins did not impersonate an officer, as is charged and what will be proven is that he is innocent of the allegation.“
"Through due process, what will be proven is the Commissioner was merely trying to gain access inside a meeting room where an HOA meeting was growing contentious and citizens getting unruly. Hawkins was attempting to reach a deputy in hopes of deescalating the situation when he was blocked by a private security guard who was already warned not to block the door. As an aside, Hawkins had requested that charges not be filed against the private security guard who was arrested for battery against him. Commissioner Hawkins has routinely cooperated with investigators in an open and honest fashion and will continue to do so in this next phase.
“A few days prior to the November 7, 2019 Turnberry Reserve Homeowners Association (HOA) meeting, several postings on social media led many to believe, which later proved to be accurate, a contentious and heated gathering was to be expected related to electing a new HOA board. Commissioner Fred Hawkins reached out to the Osceola County Sheriff’s office two days prior to the planned meeting, asking for the office to provide deputies for security purposes. It is important to note that Commissioner Hawkins was appointed a Special Deputy on February 19, 2019 through the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office and was there ready to assist.
“What had been previously reported, and may be viewed from several online videos, one can plainly see the HOA meeting was quickly escalating and an angry and frustrated crowd of homeowners began to demand access to the room for fear the board would restrict their access to vote. Reasons for the warranted frustration included commands by the hired security guard blocking the front door of the voting location that there was to be an unachievable time-certain for all votes to be cast, no videos or photos allowed within the room, and the inability to view the HOA ballot prior to voting.
“This is nothing more than an orchestrated witch hunt to take out the Republican frontrunner in a hotly contested election year.”