MIAMI (AP) — A South Florida jury is being asked to decide whether a former Miami Beach police officer committed a crime or simply used bad judgment when he struck and seriously injured two people walking on the beach while joy-riding on a police all-terrain vehicle.
Prosecutors said in opening statements Monday at Derick Kuilan’s trial that he was drinking while on duty in July 2011 when he invited a woman at a South Beach nightclub bachelorette party to take a reckless ATV ride.
Kuilan’s lawyer says the officer was negligent but did not commit a crime.
Kuilan is charged with two counts of driving under the influence with serious bodily injury and two counts of reckless driving with bodily injury.
Each felony charge carries a potential five-year prison sentence.
