Why is the news media surprised that a Daytona Beach Fire Fighter, an accused double rape suspect, received special treatment from jail officers? Doesn't the Volusia County Jail have a rather long history of giving certain people special consideration? Read the below information and decide for yourself.
Updated August 4, 2010
“What we've got here is (a) failure to communicate”- Actors, Strother Martin (as the Captain) and Paul Newman (as Cool Hand Luke) - Cool Hand Luke, 1967
Why is our local media so surprised that the Volusia County Jail would extend a special favor to an accused rapist? Inmate Adam Silva was recently released from the jail after his second arrest on the charge of sexual assault.
Apparently, because of Mr. Silva's position as a Daytona Beach Fire Fighter, allegations are flying that he was given special treatment from jail staff. This special treatment was in the form of being allowed to sneak out of the back door of the jail after posting bond in order to avoid members of the media.
Here are some web links that further explain this alleged special treatment, to include a letter from the Volusia County Manager which promises not to do it again.
Not only has it been alleged that the Volusia County Jail gave Mr. Silva special treatment, but it appears clear that Police Chief Chitwood believes that other Daytona Beach Fire Fighter(s) are calling and threatening witnesses in the Silva criminal cases.
Calm down, Chief Chitwood - don't swear on your children souls that you will seek justice on all of this (yes, Chitwood was documented making that statement - see below media links ) - you must understand that this is how the criminal justice system works here in Volusia County.
After all, several members of the Volusia County Beach Patrol were accused of engaging in sex with underage girls and both FDLE and the local State Attorney could not initially find enough probable cause to make any arrests. It was ONLY after a local attorney approached the Florida Governor's office that any real investigation got started on these apparently rogue officers. Several of these officers have now been criminally charged.
Chief Chitwood, you must remember, this is the very same jail whereas a jail guard can be paid to bring in drugs to inmates without getting criminally charged. Why? Well maybe because his father is a jail captain?
Chief Chitwood, this is the very same jail that has falsified records involving the deaths of inmates with no criminal actions being applied. In fact, it would appear that the Volusia County Sheriff's Major Case investigative squad has even manipulated their investigations to ignore these inconsistencies. One prime example of this is the September 2009 death of Inmate Tracey Veira. Jail officers documented that they saw her alive approximately thirty minutes prior to her death. However, the Major Case investigator documented in his initial report that inconsistencies existed between the inmate's decomposition and the last alleged live observations of her by staff. The major case investigator never followed up on these inconsistencies in his final report. Why not? Was there a conflict of interest between the VCSO and the Volusia County Legal Department? Read the below link and decide for yourself.