DCF Investigator Arrested On Cocaine Charges

Posted: 11:46 am EST February 27, 2011
Updated: 1:34 pm EST February 27, 2011
WFTV

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- Officials with the Orange County Sheriff's Office say an investigator for Florida's Department of Children and Families was arrested for possession of cocaine on Saturday.

Investigators say deputies watched 39-year-old Susan Cunningham buy drugs at a known drug spot on South Orange Blossom Trail Saturday afternoon. Deputies stopped Cunningham shortly after and found 15 grams of cocaine in a plastic bag that Cunningham had allegedly just purchased.

DCF told Eyewitness News Susan Cunningham has been a child protective investigator with the department since 2005.

In a statement to WFTV, John Cooper, the director of DCF, said Cunningham's termination paperwork has already been initiated. (If they could get away with it, they would post-date it to 5 years ago.)

Cunningham "holds a position of public trust, who is tasked to look after Florida's most vulnerable," explained Cooper. Cunningham is primarily responsible for going out to homes to make sure children aren't being abused or neglected.

Cunningham bonded out of the Orange County jail early Sunday morning.

Orange County deputies say when they pulled Cunningham over, she initially denied having any drugs in her car. Investigators say a K-9 dog was brought to the scene and alerted to Cunningham's vehicle, prompting them to search and find the drugs.

Officials say Cunningham refused to talk to investigators and asked for an attorney. (SEE? THEY know how to shut up)

As for Cunningham's current investigations with DCF, a spokeswoman told Eyewitness News they would be handled by someone else in the department.

"DCF took immediate measures, initiating the review of all Cunningham's open investigations to ensure child safety, these investigations have been re-assigned."

Another one of their finest skanks goes down.