reprimand for Polk judge

TALLAHASSEE - A judge who ordered Lakeland police to release his son's teenage friend after a drunken driving arrest will receive a public reprimand from the Florida Supreme Court.

The high court on Thursday unanimously approved an agreement for the reprimand between the state Judicial Qualifications Commission and Circuit Judge Dennis Maloney of Polk County. Maloney's son was with the driver when he was arrested.

The justices could have removed Maloney from the bench, but cited mitigating circumstances. "Judge Maloney has no prior disciplinary action in his 27-year career on the bench," they wrote. "He is generally regarded as a fair, impartial and competent jurist."

"We're grateful to the Supreme Court for approving the agreement," said Robin Gibson, Maloney's lawyer. "He acknowledged the facts and was contrite."

Police are required by state law to keep motorists charged with drunken driving in custody at least eight hours unless they are no longer under the influence of alcohol or register a blood-alcohol level of 0.05 percent or less.

Maloney's son was in a car driven by Travis Braddy, then 19, in 2003 when Braddy was arrested. Maloney's son was not charged.

Police objected to Maloney's directive to release Braddy to his father's custody but complied.

Braddy later pleaded no contest, lost his driver's license for six months, was on probation for a year and was ordered to perform 50 hours of community service.

ORLANDO - A 47-year-old man died Thursday after being shot twice with a Taser stun gun as police tried to subdue him.

Orange County sheriff's deputies responding to a mobile home disturbance found Jeffrey D. Earnhardt, of Winter Garden, "screaming and attempting to run into traffic," according to a statement.

When he allegedly struck Deputy James Vignali, Vignali responded with a jolt from the Taser, and fired again when that appeared to have no effect, the Sheriff's Office said. More deputies arrived and restrained Earnhardt. Earnhardt, who has a history of drug and other arrests, was pronounced dead at Florida Hospital East.

Taser Inc. says its stun guns are a nonlethal alternative to shooting dangerous suspects with firearms. But more than 100 people have died in the United States and Canada since 2001 after being Tasered. Many of the victims were drug users.

ORLANDO - A man who fled after allegedly stabbing his wife and children has been captured.

Will Dalton, 48, was arrested Wednesday night in Brevard County after authorities got a tip. He is facing attempted murder charges.

The Orange County Sheriff's Office said Dalton came home Tuesday night and got into a heated argument with his family - over a cell phone bill, the Orlando Sentinel reported. When he physically attacked his wife, Ritnama Dalton, 48, their 14-year-old son Mark tried to intervene. He was stabbed, along with his mother and a sister, Christina Dalton, 20.

The victims were hospitalized, Ritnama and Christina Dalton with multiple life-threatening wounds.

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