Family court bailiff arrested

MIAMI (WSVN) -- Police have arrested a court bailiff accused of claiming she could fix traffic tickets for a price.

The State Attorney's Office said Juana Durand was using her position as a bailiff to get cash and fix tickets in DUI cases. Wednesday morning, the State Attorney's Office released video of Durand, identified by investigators in her bailiff outfit exchanging cash with an unknown person.

Durand has been under investigation for months, and investigators say everything has been caught on camera. "He got two tickets the same day: one was for careless driving, and the other one was for driving under the influence," Durand said in one video.

The State Attorney's Office said in one case, Durand accepted $2,000 to fix tickets.

According to the Office, Durand tried to use not only her position, but her relationship with the Police Benevolent Association while orchestrating this crime. According to the warrant, Durand says, "We know people at the PBA." The warrant says Durand has a daughter who works for the Miami-Dade Police Department and her husband is on the board of the PBA.

On Wednesday, Durand was taken into police custody.

Her arrest comes a week after PBA president John Rivera criticized Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle for an arrest of three Homestead police officers, who were accused of beating up a man.

Rivera called the arrests a campaign move, to bolster Rundle's re-election.

Rundle ia appalled by the bailiff's actions. "It is just such a sad day. Here, you have someone who represents the system, in uniform, and appearing to say that because of what the role is that they can somehow benefit that person through their influence. It's very sad," she said. "The good news is that we did have a lawyer come forward and bring us the information. Metro Dade Police Department and my office, everybody working together, we were able to put an end to it."

The PBA released the following statement: "Ms. Durand is the wife of one of our Board Members and that is the extent of our relationship with her. We are not involved in this case and have no knowledge of the facts surrounding this case."

The investigation continues.

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