Officials: Clermont police officer arrested on perjury charges

CLERMONT, FLORIDA — Following a months-long investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, a Clermont police officer was arrested Wednesday on five counts of perjury by false written declaration.

Officer Cecil Garrett is accused of being "untruthful in his reports, affidavits, sworn testimony and/or in his documentation of citizen encounters and interactions while on duty," a statement from Clermont Police Chief Charles Broadway said.

Garrett was placed on administrative leave on March 10 after the department received multiple complaints about the officer, the statement said.

Garrett turned himself in to authorities Wednesday and has been placed on administrative leave without pay pending the outcome of case against him, Broadway said.

"This arrest stems from a series of isolated incidents that were dealt with swiftly and expeditiously," Broadway said. "It is in no way reflective of the hard-working men and women of the Clermont Police Department and their commitment to serving the public with integrity and professionalism."

According to Broadway's statement, Garrett was hired by the department in December 2005.

Wednesday's arrest was not the first time Garrett was accused of putting false information in a police report.

In 2011, he was fired from the Clermont Police Department on allegations that he lied and trumped up charges against a driver during a traffic stop.

An arbitrator ruled that he didn't do anything wrong and Garrett was rehired more than a year later.