Sarasota Police Officer Placed on Leave Following Arrest on Multiple Charges at St-Pete Clearwater International Airport
Sarasota Police Officer, 51 year-old Derrick Gilbert was arrested following an incident at the St Pete-Clearwater International Airport located at 14700 Terminal Boulevard.
At approximately about 6:30 p.m. on Friday, November 9, 2018, deputies were called to the Allegiant Airline terminal for a report of an intoxicated subject that had been removed from Allegiant Flight #834, departing to Greensboro, North Carolina.
When deputies arrived, they made contact with Allegiant Airline employees who were standing on the terminal ramp with 51-year-old Derrick Gilbert and his 18 year-old son Tai Gilbert.
Deputies say Derrick’s eyes were bloodshot and he smelled of alcohol. Derrick was yelling profanities at Allegiant Airline employees and he refused to move into the terminal, away from the aircraft.
Allegiant Airline employees informed deputies that Derrick was on the airplane where he appeared intoxicated. Flight attendants said Derrick was so intoxicated he couldn’t find his seat, had slurred speech, glassed over eyes, and looked confused.
Flight attendants explained they have a zero tolerance for intoxicated subjects and determined Derrick was too intoxicated to fly so they asked him to exit the aircraft. Initially Derrick refused to leave the aircraft but they eventually convinced him to get off the plane.
Deputies warned Derrick that he had to leave the airport or be arrested for trespassing. Deputies say Derrick refused to leave the airport and told deputies they could not arrest him because he was a police officer with the Sarasota Police Department.
Meanwhile, witnesses told deputies that Derrick intentionally pushed Allegiant Airline employee, 25-year-old Kelby Oats, while Gilbert was exiting the plane.
Witnesses also informed deputies that Derrick’s son Tai was trying to convince him to leave peacefully when Derrick violently pushed Tai and grabbed Tai by the neck in an angry manner.
Deputies took Derrick into custody and transported him to the Pinellas County Jail without incident.
Oats and Tai Gilbert were uninjured.
Allegiant Airlines staff said that there were approximately 133 people waiting to take off on Flight #834 when the incident occurred.
Derrick was charged with one count of Trespassing on Property other than Structure or Conveyance, one count of Battery, and one count of Domestic Battery.
Sarasota Police Chief Bernadette DiPino has ordered Officer Gilbert to be placed on administrative leave with pay as soon as he’s released from the Pinellas County Jail. An Internal Affairs investigation has been initiated.
“We hold our Officers to the highest standard of both professionalism on and off duty,” said Chief DiPino. “I’ve instructed our Internal Affairs Division to conduct a through investigation. We will diligently investigate this incident per our policies.”
Due to the active and ongoing Internal Affairs investigation, nothing further is able to be discussed in relation to this incident according to the Sarasota Police Department.
Officer Gilbert was assigned to the Patrol Division.
The investigation continues.