Dominic J. Galto - Pinellas JDC

Dominic J. Galto
Pinellas Juvenile Detention Center

04/29/08 Youth officer faces felony drug charge
Rita Farlow [(727) 445-4162 or farlow@sptimes.com] . St. Petersburg Times.

The juvenile detention officer resigns after his arrest on a charge of having crack cocaine.

A state juvenile detention officer has been arrested on a charge of felony possession of crack cocaine.

Dominic J. Galto, 22, a detention officer at the Pinellas Regional Juvenile Detention Center, was approached by Tarpon Springs police Thursday when they found him parked illegally near a "known and documented drug residence," according to an arrest report.

After Galto gave permission to search his vehicle, officers found a glass crack pipe that tested positive for cocaine.

According to the arrest report, Galto of 3151 Charter Club Drive, Unit F, Tarpon Springs, told officers he has had a crack problem for a year and went to rehab in December for it.

Galto was hired as a detention officer with the state Department of Juvenile Justice in December 2004 and had direct contact with children through his job, department spokesman Frank Penela said.

Galto was released from the Pinellas County Jail on Friday and submitted his resignation that day, Penela said.

"We don't tolerate any of this," Penela said.

Reached by phone Monday afternoon, Galto declined to comment.

Galto was arrested in February 2002 for possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, law enforcement records show.

Penela said he couldn't explain why Galto was hired with a drug arrest on his record until his department reviews Galto's personnel file.

Penela was out of the office Monday afternoon and did not have access to the information.

But the department has recently instituted stricter screening guidelines for hiring, due in part to the fallout from the arrest of Department of Children and Families spokesman Al Zimmerman earlier this year, Penela said.

After Zimmerman was arrested on child pornography charges, DCF officials learned he had prior charges for drunken driving and grand theft.

Rita Farlow can be reached at farlow@sptimes.com or (727) 445-4162.

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