Man Who Thought He Hit A Deer, Killed Pedestrian

Lakeland, FL (Law Firm Newswire) August 7 , 2013 – This unusual case points out quite graphically why those charged with a crime should never be automatically presumed to be guilty.

“In every criminal case, there is always two sides to every story. Often the police draw conclusions about what that story may be, based on the evidence. Fact is that the evidence does not always tell the true story. This case is a clear example of that,” outlined Thomas Grajek, a Lakeland criminal defense attorney. A 27-year-old man from Oviedo, Florida was cited with a felony hit-and-run, involving the death of a pedestrian on State Road A1A. The accident happened in November and the man left the scene of the accident, not stopping to render aid or assistance.

“On the face of just these facts alone, it appears the man may be guilty of a hit-and-run involving a death. However, not all of the facts have been closely examined,” Grajek added.

The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) began an investigation of this incident, as a body was found on the 28th of November, close to Patrick Air Force Base, about 7 a.m. The time of death was estimated as between 3 and 4:30 a.m. It was a relatively rural area, known to be frequented by various forms of wildlife.
The FHP investigation eventually led them to Amit Datt. During his discussions with police, he indicated he thought he had struck a deer and just kept going, which would explain why he did not stop to render aid and assistance at that time. Datt was arrested and posted a $20,000 bond to get out of Brevard County Jail.

“In any instance where someone is charged with a serious crime, all of the facts relating to the case need to be taken into consideration. Many crimes and crime scenes may not be what they look like. This case, in which the accused believes he hit a deer while he was driving, is a good example of a crime scene that looks like someone deliberately struck a pedestrian and fled the scene to hide that fact, but the reality of the situation is otherwise,” Grajek pointed out.

The accused is entitled to a strong and vigorous defense, as he is, by law, not guilty, until it is proven otherwise. “In dealing with cases like this, the accused is entitled to present their side of the story and offer facts that may have been left out of the case made against them by the police. Just because he was charged with a crime, does not mean he committed it. Sometimes, the police get it wrong. That’s why people need to speak to a qualified criminal defense attorney. They need someone to stick up for their rights,” added Grajek.

For more information about Lakeland criminal defense lawyer Thomas Grajek, go to http://www.flcrimedefense.com/ or call 863-688-4606.

Thomas C. Grajek
206 Easton Drive, Suite 102
Lakeland, FL 33803
Phone: 863.688.4606

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