Ex-cop set for trial in August
BROOKSVILLE –
Bryan Drinkard’s attorney wanted his client to undergo substance abuse counseling and court-imposed supervision in exchange for dropped charges.
The state attorney’s office wouldn’t go for that — but it is willing to allow the former Brooksville police detective to avoid prison as long as he serves a combined four years of house arrest and probation.
As it stands, Drinkard is scheduled to stand trial Aug. 6 on charges of stalking, grand theft, trespassing and violating a domestic violence injunction.
Because he has no prior felony convictions, there is a chance he would not be sentenced to state prison even if he stands trial and is found guilty. That would depend on whether the judge determines the defendant to be a danger to society, said prosecutor Sonny McCathran.
A jail sentence remains a possibility.
“He has a heart of gold,” said Drinkard’s brother, Phil Drinkard. “He’s not going to hurt nobody.”
Bryan Drinkard, 42, was arrested the night of March 9 after he pulled into the Sunoco station along U.S. 41 and Powell Road. Hernando County sheriff’s deputies searched the car and discovered two handguns and a 12-gauge shotgun.
He was arrested after authorities learned he had been making threats against his former girlfriend, Tiffany Still, according to court documents.
Drinkard was accused by Still of stalking her. She also said he burglarized her home and stole several of her personal belongings.
Still is an administrative assistant at the Brooksville Police Department. The two began dating while Drinkard was a detective with the agency.
Drinkard was fired shortly after an internal affairs investigation was opened based on the allegations that he was stalking Still. He was ordered by the chief to turn in his agency-issued weapon and did so by walking into the lobby and leaving it loaded and unattended.
While questioned by the chief about it later, Drinkard said he couldn’t remember how he turned in the weapon because he was intoxicated, according to police reports. He was promptly fired.
Drinkard was forced to retire from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office in early 2003 after he was charged with stalking a former girlfriend. He was tried one year later and acquitted.
Drinkard has been in jail since March. He had his bond revoked after he sent a letter to Still stating he still loved her, authorities said.
His brother said Drinkard never stalked Still. He was brokenhearted after she broke up with him, but he never did anything wrong, he said.
“There are two sides to every story,” Phil Drinkard said. “Bryan hasn’t been able to tell his side of the story.”
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