‘Partially consumed vodka bottle’ found in now-fired Florida police chief’s vehicle after crash
By Allison Petro, Madilyn Destefano, Meghan Moriarty
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KISSIMMEE, Florida (WESH) — Titusville Police Chief John Lau was terminated on Wednesday after refusing to take a drug/alcohol test following a rollover crash on Tuesday night, according to a letter from the City of Titusville.
However, the city said Florida Highway Patrol “determined no criminal charges will be filed.”
The crash occurred at approximately 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Barna Avenue and River Oaks Drive, FHP said
Lau was in a 2026 Chevrolet Tahoe, which was an unmarked Titusville Police Department vehicle.
The Tahoe ran off the roadway and overturned several times. Lau was extricated from the vehicle before he was transported to Parrish Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.
The letter from Titusville said Lau was terminated “effective immediately” for “violating the City Policy on Drug and Alcohol after refusing to do a drug test after the crash.”
The release says officers observed at the scene, “a partially consumed vodka bottle and a metal cup.”
According to a case report from TPD, officers also “could hear a slight slur in Chief Lau’s speech.”
Officers also said Lau’s eyes were bloodshot.
Lau refused to submit to an alcohol test at the hospital. He was discharged on Wednesday.
The city says TPD will release body camera video, photographs, and the incident case report.
Lau began his career with the Titusville Police Department in 1992. He worked his way up the ranks to police chief in 2013.
Deputy Chief Tyler Wright has been appointed acting chief of police.
>> This is a developing story.
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