State Attorney’s Office Brings Charges Against Palm Bay Council Member Arrested in Cocaine Case
PALM BAY, Florida. The former Palm Bay council member who resigned last Friday after his arrest two weeks ago is now facing formal charges from the state’s attorney’s office and is expected to lose his seat on the Brevard County planning and zoning board.
The state’s attorney’s office is filing charges, including drug possession, which is a felony in the third degree.
The 34-year-old was arrested Feb. 11 when Palm Bay police said officers found 10 grams of cocaine in Filiberto’s socks after he speeded and drove stop signs on his motorcycle with a suspended license through a community of 55 and older.
Mayor Rob Medina said he sympathized with the former council member and his family with all his heart.
“I think Pete did the right thing by resigning,” the mayor said.
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Medina said the city is currently planning to hold a special meeting, possibly next week, to begin the process of nominating Filiberto’s replacement.
The mayor expects the council to choose someone in the next two months.
This man will take Filiberto’s seat until next year’s general election.
“So apply, Palm Bay, and then we’ll see who gets selected,” Medina said.
News 6 also found out why Filiberto did not release the photo after his arrest.
In a transcript provided by the records department of the Brevard Sheriff’s Office, Filiberto wrote that he worked for a police department near Miami.
Based on his handwriting, he started working for Surfside Police in 2013.
Law enforcement officers, past and present, are exempt from ordering photographs.
Meanwhile, the county commission will decide on Tuesday whether to remove Filiberto from the planning and zoning board. Filiberto attended several board meetings before his arrest.
Commissioner John Tobia said he was confident the commission would approve Filiberto’s removal from the board without discussion.
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texasstandard.news contributed to this report.
