A Florida sheriff’s deputy has been acquitted after a trial stemming from a 2022 incident in which he tasered a motorcyclist at a gas station, leading to both the deputy and the motorcyclist being set on fire.

The trial, which concluded on Friday, found Osceola County Deputy David Crawford not guilty of negligence in the February 2022 encounter, according to WESH.

The incident began when Jean Barreto, then 26, was pursued by law enforcement after fleeing from officers responding to reports of reckless motorcycle riding.

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During the pursuit, Barreto was confronted at a Wawa gas station in Osceola County, where he was filling up his motorcycle.

Crawford testified in his defense, telling the jury that he feared Barreto was armed, claiming that he thought the suspect might have had a gun.

The incident was captured on body camera footage, which showed Crawford approaching the gas pumps where Barreto was refueling.

The video recorded Crawford shouting at Barreto to get off the bike and get on the ground.

As the situation escalated, a fellow officer, Deputy Christopher Koffinas, deployed a stun gun on Barreto.

In the video, Crawford can be heard shouting “Kill the pump, kill the pump, there’s gas” as gasoline spilled onto the ground, which was not shut off before the officers tackled Barreto.

Crawford later warned Barreto, “You’re about to get tasered again, dude,” before firing the taser, despite warnings of the flammable environment.

Seconds later, flames erupted at the scene, with both Crawford and Barreto engulfed in fire.

The flames burned both individuals, forcing Crawford to roll on the ground in an attempt to extinguish the fire, which lasted for about 30 seconds.

NEW: Florida deputy who was charged for catching a motorcyclist on fire by tasering him at a gas station, cleared of all charges.

Osceola County deputy David Crawford was found not guilty after 26-year-old Jean Baretto was burned alive after being tased.

Baretto had been pulled… pic.twitter.com/9zoPqaeY8E

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 25, 2024

Despite the seriousness of the situation, Crawford was not charged with intentionally deploying the taser. His defense team argued that the taser was discharged unintentionally when he tossed it to the side.

Crawford’s attorney stated during the trial that “every single witness, every single video conclusively shows you that he never intentionally discharged that taser.”

On the witness stand, Crawford testified that he did not remember turning off the safety on the taser.

Prosecutors, however, argued that Crawford’s approach to the situation was reckless, putting both Barreto and the officers in harm’s way.

A prosecutor involved in the case said, “There is no need for one man to run, like a cowboy, and tackle someone off a motorcycle filling up with gas. The end result of this was foreseeable from the fact that he walked across that parking lot.”

After Crawford’s acquittal, his defense lawyer expressed satisfaction with the jury’s decision. “We were convinced from the very beginning that my client was not guilty of these charges,” the lawyer said. “We are very happy with the result we got here today. My client’s relieved. I’m relieved. We are just very happy the jury reached the right conclusion.”

The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement respecting the jury’s verdict, highlighting that the office had conducted its own criminal investigation into the actions of Deputy Crawford, much as it would for any other criminal case. “The jury found Deputy Crawford not guilty of any crime, and we respect the wisdom of the jury’s decision,” the sheriff’s office said.

At the time of the incident, Sheriff Marcos López stated that deputies believed Barreto matched the description of a man on a dirt bike who had allegedly pointed a gun at a driver.

However, Barreto was never charged with any criminal offense related to that claim.

In the aftermath of the incident, Barreto’s attorney, Albert Yonfa, stated that he intends to file a civil lawsuit against the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office for what he called the “reckless, excessive use of force.”

Yonfa added that the evidence presented during the criminal trial strengthened the case for a civil suit.

While Crawford was suspended following the incident, his current status with the sheriff’s department is unclear following the acquittal.