STATE DROPS DRUG CHARGE AGAINST PARAMEDIC

State prosecutors have dropped a misdemeanor drug possession charge
against a Collier County paramedic arrested after a Naples police
detective said he found marijuana inside the paramedic's personal bag
at a fire station in September.

Lt. Eric Timothy Havens, 29, returned to work Tuesday after about two
months on paid administrative leave.

His Marco Island attorney, Stephen Ostrow, said Havens was reinstated
by Collier County Emergency Medical Services to his original rank
after the State Attorney's Office dropped the charge. The
administrative case didn't result in any reduction in pay or rank, Ostrow said.

Police investigators responding to an anonymous tip found four bags
of marijuana inside Havens' padlocked duffel bag. Havens, a 10-year
veteran of the agency, was arrested where he worked, at Naples Fire
Station No. 2, 977 26th Ave. N.

"It was our position Mr. Havens was set up by a third party," Ostrow
said. "Once we presented all the information we had to the state
attorney, they dropped the charge."

Havens had faced a misdemeanor charge, possession of marijuana not
more than 20 grams, which is punishable by up to a year in jail. But
he pleaded innocent and intended to return to his job, which pays
$14.59 an hour, after he was cleared, Ostrow said.

Jamie Sarbaugh, a spokeswoman with Collier County Emergency Services,
was unavailable Tuesday to give details of what steps led to the
agency clearing Havens.

The charge was dropped Nov. 22, according to court records.