FDLE: Florida police sergeant burned boat to collect insurance money

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Investigators: Former police officer helped police sergeant

MELBOURNE, Fla. —A Melbourne police sergeant and a former Melbourne police officer are accused of burning a boat then filing a fraudulent insurance claim, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced Tuesday.

The police sergeant, 38-year-old Brian Wical, reported his personal 2008 Stratas boat was stolen from his home in Palm Bay on Sept. 29, but police said Wical, together with 40-year-old James Roy Hartman, destroyed the boat.

Wical collected $45,066.72 on an insurance claim, but investigators said they believe the men conspired to burn the boat.

FDLE began investigating the pair in January after receiving a tip that Wical was committing insurance fraud.

The men turned themselves into the Brevard County Jail Tuesday and have since been released.

Wical was charged with arson, false and fraudulent insurance claim, burning to defraud the insurer and false report to a law enforcement authority.

Hartman, a former Melbourne police officer, was charged with arson and burning to defraud the insurer.

Melbourne Police Chief Steve Mimbs released the following statement:

“Sgt. Brian Wical’s employment status with the Melbourne Police Department has not changed at this time. He currently remains on administrative leave with pay. Now that the criminal investigation that was conducted by FDLE is complete, and has resulted in arrest, a full and expeditious review of that investigation’s findings will occur before a determination can be made regarding any changes in Sgt. Wical’s current status.”

By WESH Orlando on Tue, 18 Mar 2014 13:21:11 -0700