Florida GOP Police Blotter #10: Broward County PD candidate arrested on drug charges

It's been a while since the Florida GOP Police Blotter has been active ... but it doesn't mean that the Republicans haven't been engaging in criminal behavior. I think they've mostly been busy defending themselves from all the existing charges.

Ironically, though, a candidate for public defender better come up with his own defense:

While in Tallahassee on May 2 filing last-minute papers to run for Broward County public defender, criminal defense attorney Gary Ostrow [(right)] was arrested on a charge of cocaine possession, according to a Florida Department of Law Enforcement report.

Tallahassee police officers arrested Ostrow, 52, at 11:35 p.m. The report did not specify a location.

The charge is a third-degree felony, punishable by up to five years in prison.

[...]

A week ago, Ostrow, a Republican candidate, vowed to give Public Defender Howard Finkelstein "the fight of his life" for leadership of the 175-person office.

Ostrow said he plans to spend $200,000 of his own money to jump-start his campaign. He has been a licensed attorney in Florida since 1982.

[...]

Finkelstein said he was "stunned" to hear from a reporter that Ostrow was arrested on the drug charge on the day he filed to run for public office.

"I hope he's OK, and I hope he deals with whatever he needs to deal with," Finkelstein said. "I'm just not the type of person to jump on somebody when they're down."

Finkelstein battled a drug problem in the 1980s. He lost his law license for a year after he crashed his car containing a briefcase with a small amount of cocaine and a bottle of painkillers into a deputy's car.

Finkelstein ultimately pleaded no contest to drug possession and drunken driving and was sentenced to five years' probation. He also went through drug rehabilitation.

Florida records show no criminal past for Ostrow except driving without a valid driver's license. He pleaded to the crime May 18, 2006, and paid $213. A formal conviction was withheld, according to Broward County court records.

Ostrow has represented high-profile clients such as Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams when he tested positive for marijuana, violating the National Football League's drug abuse policy.

Finkelstein obviously got clean. Ostrow, not so much ...

And so Gary Ostrow adds his name to the long, sordid list of Republican politicians in Florida facing criminal charges of one kind or another. I know that there are Democrats who engage in criminal or at least unethical activity -- indeed, the Ohio attorney general is being investigated for sexual misconduct -- but I really believe the Republicans have cornered the market on crime, especially crimes of "moral turpitude." So for all you trolls who want to throw a Democrat or two out there, I'll give you three Republicans in exchange for each Dem. Sound like a deal?

Speaking of deals: you'd better make one, Gary, or you can wave bye-bye to your career. Ah, the schadenfreude is sweet indeed ...

(h/t Kenneth Quinnell)