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Charges Dropped Against BSO Sergeant in Tamarac Pepper-Spray Case

Sgt. Gregory LaCerra

By Kevin Deutsch

A Broward Sheriff’s Office sergeant criminally charged after pepper-spraying a teenage boy in Tamarac had the remaining criminal charges against him thrown out by a Broward judge Thursday.

Sgt. Gregory LaCerra, who was shown on video pepper-spraying then 15-year-old Delucca Rolle in the April 2019 incident before his BSO colleague beat the teen, won his motion to dismiss charges of falsifying records and conspiracy to falsify records.

LaCerra’s court victory follows a February win in which an appeals court found he was justified in his use of force under Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law, upholding the ruling of a Broward County judge.

As a result, prosecutors were forced to drop a battery charge they had filed against LaCerra.

The sergeant, who has more than 20 years of law enforcement experience, remains employed by BSO.

“Sgt. LaCerra has been exonerated,” his lawyer, Eric Schwartzreich, told Tamarac Talk Thursday. “He’s not facing any more charges.”

The other person involved in the Tamarac pepper spray case, former BSO Deputy Christopher Krickovich, lost his bid for “Stand Your Ground” immunity before the same appeals court earlier this year.

Krickovich, who was caught on video punching Rolle and slamming his head into the pavement, was fired by Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony in 2019.

The Stand Your Ground defense, which courts formerly interpreted as applying only to private citizens, has since been successfully invoked by members of Florida law enforcement.

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Author Profile

Kevin Deutsch

Kevin Deutsch is an award-winning crime journalist and author. A graduate of Florida International University, Kevin has worked on staff at The Miami Herald, New York Daily News, and The Palm Beach Post.