CCSO investigation finds deputy involved in fatal crash innocent, family plans action

An internal investigation has cleared a Collier County deputy accused of traveling at "high speed" without emergency lights, fatally striking a pedestrian a year ago.

According to an internal investigation from the Collier County Sheriff's Office, which Sheriff Kevin Rambosk concluded April 5, found that Cpl. Leticia Silva didn't violate policy.

Following the crash, Silva had been reassigned to the sheriff's office's communications division.

After the internal investigation concluded, Silva was returned to the Golden Gate patrol district, Michelle Batten, spokesperson for the sheriff's office, told the Daily News.

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"I can make noise, but the administration has the last say," Carlos Moreno, the victim's father, told the Daily News. He added he's been speaking with his attorneys and plans to take legal action.

Silva originally told troopers she had her lights and sirens activated when she hit Jacob Moreno, 19, shortly after midnight May 8, 2022. Florida Highway Patrol officials reversed information two days later.

Sheriff's office finds pedestrian crossed cruiser's path

The sheriff's office found that Jacob Moreno crossed in front of the cruiser when he was struck.

The investigation found that Jacob Moreno violated three state laws — possessing and consuming controlled substances; violating pedestrian traffic regulations; and running into the path of a car on the street.

The report indicates the area where the crash happened was "quite dark" and the road was damp from recent rain.

Silva tested negative for alcohol or controlled substances, according to the report. Silva's cruiser recorded speed data through May 7, 2022, on the eve of the crash, "but stopped recording data leading up to the traffic crash," the report says.

A reconstruction by the Florida Highway Patrol determined Silva was traveling between 72 and 76 mph and slowed to 58 mph at the time of the wreck.

The report says Silva was responding to an emergency. Silva said she was responding to a call for service at Santa Barbara Boulevard and Green Boulevard.

"The impact shattered her front windshield which caused glass to strike her," the report says.

According to the investigation, the review didn't find any sheriff's office policy violations by Silva.

According to the report, Jacob Moreno's family reported the teenager had a history of drug use and had consumed moments before the crash. Authorities spoke with Nathan Guzman, Jacob Moreno's cousin, who said Jacob Moreno consumed "mushrooms" that evening.

She was responding to a call regarding the victim

A separate report says Silva was responding to a call regarding a suspicious person possibly "under the influence of an unknown narcotic."

"The male was nude and was approaching vehicles in the road," the report says. "While responding to this call, Corporal Silva was involved in a vehicle versus a pedestrian accident involving this same male."

Jacob Moreno was acting "strange" and "yelling and screaming," according to the report.

Following the crash, Silva reported she exited her car, her attention "immediately" drawn to a man screaming out from a car behind car. She reported she then realized the car wasn't involved in the crash and went to the front of her cruiser.

She saw Jacob Moreno next to her cruiser.

A Florida State University student, he had just completed his first year. A GoFundMe campaign said he was the only son of Carlos and Claudia, immigrants from Colombia, and was the first in his family to attend college.

The GoFundMe has raised more than $45,000.

Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@gannett.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Twitter @TomasFRoBeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran and Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews.