Prosecutors drop case against cyclist

The 18-year-old cyclist whose arrest last month in Seminole County drew public criticism will not face criminal charges in the case, prosecutors announced Wednesday.

The Seminole-Brevard State Attorney’s Office dropped the charges of fleeing a law enforcement officer and obstruction without violence against Javier López, who was pulled over Feb. 8 while biking with a group in Seminole County. The Seminole

County Sheriff’s deputy who pulled over López said he and a fellow cyclist first ignored a stop sign, and then continued to ride while the deputy attempted to pull the cyclists over. He then said López resisted arrest while he tried to handcuff him.

The arrest drew online criticism from the cycling community for being excessive. Video from the encounter did show the cyclists riding through a stop sign, however it was unclear if the cyclists initially realized the deputy was trying to pull them over.

The deputy also, upon exiting his patrol SUV, almost immediately began handcuffing López, and insisted on taking the 18-year-old to jail instead of issuing a citation.

State Attorney Phil Archer, who is the lead prosecutor for Seminole and Brevard counties, said López has already resolved the traffic citation he was issued for failing to obey the stop sign. Court records show he paid the ticket.

“I believe the civil citation that was issued in this case adequately and reasonably addresses those concerns without the need to pursue any further criminal charges,” Archer wrote in a statement Wednesday.

However, Archer added that it’s important for everyone to be aware of and follow Florida’s traffic laws, as well as comply with an officers’ commands.

López’s attorney, David Webster, was not immediately available for comment.