Cocoa police say Lateef Williams never denied placing a GPS tracking device on his ex-girlfriend\u2019s car to monitor her movements, an act investigators say violated Florida\u2019s newly strengthened anti-stalking law.<\/p>\n
According to police reports, the Orlando firefighter told officers exactly where to find the device, which had been attached underneath the woman\u2019s vehicle without her knowledge in October. Investigators said the tracker was still active and transmitting the victim\u2019s location as recently as December 13th.<\/p>\n
Authorities said concerns escalated after the victim reported Williams repeatedly showed up at her workplace, followed her, and left a handwritten note on her car warning that she had \u201cnowhere to go and no place to hide.\u201d Police said Williams claimed the woman had stolen medication from him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI find that in domestic violence and domestic situations, there\u2019s a certain level of entitlement when people think, \u2018That\u2019s my spouse,\u2019\u201d said defense attorney Joe Castrofort. \u201cThis is making it clear you don\u2019t have that right.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Orlando Fire Department declined to comment on the specific allegations but confirmed Williams has been placed on leave without pay.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe took this arrest very seriously and, as is our practice, initiated an immediate internal investigation,\u201d the department wrote in a statement. \u201cThe firefighter involved has been placed on leave without pay pending the outcome of the investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Williams\u2019 arrest comes as Florida enforces a new law that makes it a felony to secretly place or use a GPS or other tracking device to follow someone without their consent.<\/p>\n
The law, which took effect around the same time Williams is accused of placing the tracker, applies to both physical devices and software-based tracking applications that reveal a person\u2019s location or movements.<\/p>\n
Exceptions include law enforcement acting in an official capacity, parents tracking minor children, caregivers monitoring someone in their care, or individuals tracking their own vehicles.<\/p>\n
Penalties increase when unlawful tracking is connected to other crimes, including domestic violence or stalking.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you are tracking someone with the intent to commit one of these forcible felonies enumerated by law, and that can be any act of domestic violence, then you are guilty of a second-degree felony,\u201d Castrofort said.<\/p>\n
In addition to witness tampering, Williams is also charged with domestic stalking.<\/p>\n
Court records show the case is not Williams\u2019 first encounter with the criminal justice system. In 2023, he was arrested in an unrelated case involving aggravated assault and battery charges against another firefighter.<\/p>\n
The case remains under investigation.<\/p>\n
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