Daniel Rushing, 65, is a huge Krispy Kreme doughnut fan and used to enjoy munching on the sweet treats in his car. However, that habit changed after Rushing was arrested in 2015 when the police spotted glaze from the doughnuts in his car and mistook the sugar for crystal methamphetamine, or meth. Rushing has now reached a settlement with the City of Orlando, which has awarded him a $37,500 payout for the wrongful arrest.

Krispy Kreme doughnuts leads to narcotics arrest

As reported by the Orlando Sentinel, Rushing was near the 7-Eleven store on West Colonial Drive in Orlando on December 11, 2015, when the incident happened.

Orlando Police Cpl. Shelby Riggs-Hopkins spotted flakes of the doughnut glaze on the floor of Rushing’s car. Believing the substance to be crystal meth, she performed several roadside tests, which reportedly came up positive for an illegal substance. She took Rushing into custody, where he was charged with possession of an illegal drug and forced to spend 10 hours behind bars. Eventually, the police released him on a $2,500 bond.

However, when a more accurate test was run by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, it was found that the “illegal” substance found in on the floor of Rushing’s car was not crystal meth, but sugar dropped from the Krispy Kreme doughnuts he is so fond of eating.

Charges were immediately dropped against Rushing, leading to him filing a lawsuit for damages in the sum of $15,000 for his wrongful arrest.

According to a report by the New York Daily News, Rushing said he repeatedly told police it wasn’t meth and that it was doughnut glaze. He said at first officers said it was crack cocaine, later changing their tune to say it was crystal meth.

He said they wouldn’t listen to him.

Florida man hopes the arrest record can be expunged

Speaking to the Orlando Sentinel, Rushing said he spent 25 years with the Orlando Parks Department before he retired, but the arrest has made things difficult for him.

He says he hasn’t been able to find work, as when people look him up online they see a criminal record. Rushing now hopes his wrongful arrest will be expunged from his record, allowing him to carry on with his life.

Meanwhile, the police officer involved in the wrongful arrest resigned on January 22 this year after receiving a written reprimand for her actions. Riggs-Hopkins, 38, had been with the department for more than the years. At the time of Rushing’s arrest, she said her 11 years of training and her experience led her to recognize the substance as some kind of narcotic. However, an internal affairs investigation showed no evidence of drugs being found in Rushing’s car and found the police officer to have acted in bad faith.

As for Rushing, he still loves Krispy Kreme doughnuts, which he reportedly buys every other Wednesday, but he has decided to avoid eating them in his car in future.
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