© 2024 WFSU Public Media
WFSU News · Tallahassee · Panama City · Thomasville
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Trial Begins In Ex-Deputy Drug Planting Case

Ex-Deputy Zachary Wester
Jackson County Sheriff's Department

Former Jackson County Sheriff Zachary Wester is on trial. He is accused of planting drugs inside people’s cars during traffic stops. Joshua Emanuel was pulled over by Wester in April of 2018. He says he was shocked when Wester told him he was going to jail.

“I go from getting pulled over to not really sure why. To learning my license was invalid. Then having a search done on my car. Then to being told I’m going to jail for methamphetamines possession," said Emanuel. "I mean it was total confusion, I didn’t know what was going on.”

Other people pulled over by Wester say that he alluded to smelling marijuana coming from their car. He’d then make a request to search their vehicle. Wester is facing more than 50 charges of racketeering.

Blaise Gainey is a State Government Reporter for WFSU News. Blaise hails from Windermere, Florida. He graduated from The School of Journalism at the Florida A&M University. He formerly worked for The Florida Channel, WTXL-TV, and before graduating interned with WFSU News. He is excited to return to the newsroom. In his spare time he enjoys watching sports, Netflix, outdoor activities and anything involving his daughter.