Former Boynton Beach police officer fled to Brazil, federal prosecutors say

David Britto, a Boynton Beach police officer turned federal fugitive, boarded a flight to Brazil the same day he slipped off his electronic monitoring device, according to a motion filed in federal court on Wednesday.

Britto, the department's 2010 Officer of the Year, went on the run Aug. 24 and has been sought by federal authorities since. He is facing federal drug charges.

After Wednesday's calendar call in Miami, the U.S. attorney's office filed a motion to request that Britto, 28, be present during a status conference Sept. 14.

The motion explains that despite signing the "requisite bond paperwork," which set the condition that he had to wear an electronic monitoring device, Britto's probation officer received a "tamper alert" from the device.

"Law enforcement officers later learned that (Britto) had boarded a flight from Miami to Brasilia, Brazil, that same day," the motion stated, in spite of being ordered to surrender all passports and to not visit commercial transportation establishment airports as conditions of his release.

Britto is a native of Brazil.

The motion adds that his counsel, attorney Michael Salnick, does not oppose the request.

Last week, Salnick told The Palm Beach Post that he was surprised when he heard that Britto had removed his ankle monitor, especially since Britto has been so involved with the defense.

Meanwhile, Britto remains on administrative leave from the Boynton Beach Police Department since he was arrested July 1 and charged with conspiracy to posses with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges July 18, and his case was set to go to trial Monday.