When the “Blue Wall” Crumbles: Why Honest Cops Are Your Best Defense

By: John Guidry

If you believe everything you read in a police report, you might think Orlando’s police departments are the most perfect entities known to mankind. Of course, there are two sides to every story. Usually, the homeowner whose house has been ransacked has a different version of the facts.

The Sad Truth: Most judges believe everything law enforcement tells them. And typically, officers stick up for each other—they “cover” for their partners. The Surprise: But every now and then, a story comes along that proves there are good people in law enforcement who put the Constitution above the “Brotherhood.”

Did the police report lie about what happened in your home?

We expose the fabrication. Call John today at (407) 423-1117.

The Case: State v. Hunt (The Botched Raid)

This story comes from St. Louis (home of my Cardinals and Blues), but the lesson applies everywhere.

• The Target: Police were hunting for Phillip Alberternst, who was wanted for manufacturing meth.
• The Plan: Officers located him at a trailer park. They did not have a search warrant, so they planned to knock and ask for “Consent” to enter.

The Rogue Officer: Officer Christopher Hunt had his own ideas. Instead of asking for consent, he kicked in the porch door.

• The Crime: Entering a home without a warrant or consent is Burglary.
• The Brutality: After breaking in, Hunt proceeded to beat a “helpless, naked man” (Alberternst) who was not resisting.
• The Cover-Up: Hunt wrote a police report fabricating the entry and claiming the naked man resisted arrest. (Surprise, surprise. Every beatdown comes with a side of “Resisting Arrest”).

The Trial: Cop vs. Cop

In a shocking turn of events, Officer Hunt was charged with Burglary, Assault, and Property Damage. The trial took three days, but the star witnesses weren’t the suspects—they were other police officers.

The Scene in Court: Courtroom observers noted a visual split: Officer Hunt’s department sat on one side, while the officers from the neighboring counties (who witnessed the abuse) sat on the other.

• The Testimony: The deputies from Warren and Montgomery counties took the stand and testified that Hunt lied. They exposed the false report and the web of lies spun to cover it up.

The Sentence: The prosecutor asked for 15 years. The Judge imposed 5 Years in Prison for the burglary.

The Lesson: Rarely do you find a criminal defense attorney praising the police, but I call ’em like I see ’em. The officers who testified against Hunt deserve a badge of honor. They reminded us that many in law enforcement defend the Constitution just as much as we do.

John’s 2026 Update: “Duty to Intervene” & Body Cams

Note: In 2012, those officers were heroes for speaking up. In 2026, they would be criminals if they stayed silent.

1. The “Duty to Intervene” Law Since the George Floyd protests of the 2020s, Florida and many other states have passed strict Duty to Intervene policies.

• The Change: It is no longer optional for a “good cop” to stop a “bad cop.” If an officer witnesses excessive force, they are legally required to intervene and report it.
• The Defense: If we can show that a partner officer stood by and watched the abuse, we can often charge them or sue the department for failing to follow this mandatory duty.

2. Body Cams Killed the “Report Writer” In Hunt, the officer wrote a fake report relying on the fact that no one could prove him wrong.

• The 2026 Reality: With mandatory Body Worn Cameras (BWC), the report is secondary. We don’t read the report; we watch the movie. If the video shows a kick-in when the report says “consent,” the case is dismissed immediately, and the officer is flagged for Brady/Giglio violations (making them useless as future witnesses).

3. AI Report Analysis We now use AI to cross-reference the officer’s report against the timestamps in the video.

• The Tech: Our software spots discrepancies instantly. If the report says “Subject resisted at 10:02 PM” but the video shows the officer striking the subject at 10:01 PM, the credibility of the entire arrest is destroyed.

Good Cops Exist, But We Verify Everything

We love honest cops, but we don’t rely on luck. We use the law and technology to ensure that if a “Christopher Hunt” kicks down your door today, he won’t get away with it.

Call me at (407) 423-1117. Let’s hold them accountable.

About John Guidry II

John Guidry II is a seasoned criminal defense attorney and founder of the Law Firm of John P. Guidry II, P.A., located in downtown Orlando next to the Orange County Courthouse, where he has practiced for over 30 years. With more than three decades of experience defending clients throughout Central Florida since 1993, Guidry has successfully defended thousands of cases in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Brevard, Lake, and Volusia counties. He has built a reputation for his strategic approach to criminal defense, focusing on pretrial motions and case dismissals rather than jury trials.

Guidry earned both his Juris Doctorate and Master of Business Administration from St. Louis University in 1993. He is a member of the Florida Bar and the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. His practice encompasses the full spectrum of Florida state criminal charges, with a particular emphasis on achieving favorable outcomes through thorough pretrial preparation and motion practice.

Beyond the courtroom, Guidry is a prolific legal educator who has authored over 400 articles on criminal defense topics. He shares his legal expertise through his popular YouTube channel, Instagram, and TikTok accounts, where he has built a substantial following of people eager to learn about the law. His educational content breaks down complex legal concepts into accessible information for the general public.

When not practicing law, Guidry enjoys tennis and pickleball, and loves to travel. Drawing from his background as a former recording studio owner and music video producer in the Orlando area, he brings a creative perspective to his legal practice and continues to apply his passion for video production to his educational content.