Collier deputy demoted for threatening residents

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla.- A deputy with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office has been demoted for allegedly threatening people while off duty.

An Internal Affairs investigation shows in February of 2014, Sergeant Brian Cohen pulled his gun on a man at a dog park in North Naples.

The report shows Cohen was off-duty when he tried to run the victim, who was on a bike, off Old 41 in North Naples. The victim tells WINK News, he was so upset he followed the deputy to the dog park and that’s when the deputy pulled a gun on him.

“I was in a tremendous amount of fear for my life,” said the man who asked to remain anonymous. “It was shameful to say the least.”

In a statement in the Internal Affairs report, Sergeant Cohen said he thought the man was reaching for a weapon.

The Sheriff’s Office demoted Cohen from sergeant to corporal, gave him a final warning and placed him on a one year probation.