In a peculiar incident at the scene of a plane crash in Clearwater, Florida, a 66-year-old St. Petersburg man, Joseph Salvatore Schifano, found himself in legal trouble after attempting to cross the designated crime scene area.
Around 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, Schifano allegedly identified himself as medical staff as he tried to bypass the “police line do not cross” tape at the intersection of Sumo Dr and Nagano Dr. Clearwater police report that Schifano failed to provide any evidence of his employment or duty during this encounter.
Despite the lack of verification, officials observed Schifano a short time later at the intersection of Nagano Dr and Rice Paddy Dr, crossing under the crime scene tape and entering the restricted area.
Upon confronting Schifano, police informed him to stay out of the crime scene, to which he reportedly responded that he was “just nosey.” Despite warnings to “move along,” Schifano allegedly tried to evade another officer and swiftly walked under the clearly marked “police line do not cross” tape and into the crime scene.
According to an affidavit, Schifano was discovered an “entire house length into the crime scene,” recording a video of the plane crash on his cellphone when law enforcement made contact with him. Subsequently, after being read his rights, Schifano acknowledged his wrongdoing, apologized, and stated that he was attempting to capture a video for a media company to make money.
Joseph Salvatore Schifano now faces charges of resisting an officer without violence in connection to the incident at the Clearwater plane crash site. The circumstances surrounding his actions raise questions about public safety protocols and the importance of adhering to law enforcement instructions at accident scenes.
