Zach Wester, the former Jackson County Deputy fired for planting evidence during traffic stops, faces his fourth day on trial with witness testimony from those charged and backup officers.
LIVE | Day 4 in trial of former Jackson County deputy Zach Wester
Posted at 10:36 AM, May 13, 2021
and last updated 2021-05-13 13:59:27-04
JACKSON COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) â Zach Wester, the former Jackson County Deputy fired for planting evidence during traffic stops, faces his third day on trial with witness testimony from those charged and backup officers.
Maria Thompson is the She was pulled over by Wester in 2017 because he said he smelt marijuana.
âI told him there was no way, said Thompson. That I had not been smoking marijuana. The only thing I had been smoking was a cigarette.â
Thompson told Wester during the stop that she was on drug probation. She says he then detained her and put her in the back of his patrol car. He then began searching her car.
LIVE | Day 3 in trial of former Jackson County deputy Zach Wester
Posted at 11:35 AM, May 12, 2021
and last updated 2021-05-12 12:53:43-04
JACKSON COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) â Zach Wester, the former Jackson County Deputy fired for planting evidence during traffic stops, faces his third day on trial with witness testimony from those charged and backup officers.
The 23rd witness is Jennifer Roeder.She s a crime lab analyst for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
There are 121 photos are entered into evidence. All relate to body camera footage from Teresa Odom s arrest.
Derrick Benefield, the 24th witness, says Wester pulled him over but didnât say why at first. Then said he smelt marijuana. Then Wester searched their car and said he found a pin top and a baggie. Benefield denied it was his and didnât know where it came from.