Kevin Finley’s Tesla recorded the part of his August 2024 drive that the arresting officer’s account got wrong. The rear camera showed the unmarked police car’s lights for only a moment before the road curved, and a Seminole County judge acquitted Finley of criminal reckless driving in July 2026 without sending the case to the jury, according to a trial transcript reviewed by First for Autos. He did not walk away with nothing on his record: he pleaded no contest to improper passing and paid a $300 fine.
What the officer said Finley did
Officer Erik Schwartz was watching traffic from the far side of an intersection in Winter Springs, Florida, where new traffic lights had been installed but were not working yet, First for Autos reported from the transcript. Finley testified that a car sat in the left-turn lane without moving even though it had several chances to turn. He checked for oncoming traffic, drove around it and made his turn.
Schwartz saw that move as dangerous and tried to pull him over. In court he said the Tesla accelerated so hard that its rear tires lost traction. FOX 35 Orlando aired body-camera audio of the officer saying, “He’s trying to take off on me.”
What the Tesla cameras showed
FOX 35 reported that the patrol car’s emergency lights were visible in the footage for only a brief moment before curves in the road and nearby buildings hid the unmarked car. News 6 described the rear camera catching the officer, who had been driving the other way, switching on his lights and turning around “far off in the distance.”
Finley told the court he only realized police were there after he was home. “The first time I became aware of the officer was when I was already in my garage and the garage was shut,” he testified. When he opened the door again, the officer was pointing a gun at him and ordered him out, hands up, onto his knees.
On body-camera video aired by FOX 35, one officer said “One at gunpoint,” and another later weighed whether to charge “the felony side of flee and elude” or “all the traffic infractions.” Finley ended up charged with reckless driving, which is a criminal offense in Florida. He told FOX 35 it carries up to 90 days in jail.
What the judge said
Krause was not persuaded the driving was criminal. “The officer’s testimony alone, I mean, would suffice to do a careless driving, but reckless, that is a much more elevated charge than that,” she said, according to the transcript cited by First for Autos. She granted an acquittal before the jury got the case. WESH 2 and FOX 35 also reported that the judge acquitted him.
The reports don’t line up on two details. News 6 said a jury found Finley not guilty on July 16, 2026, while the transcript, WESH and FOX 35 say the judge decided it. News 6 dated the stop Aug. 7, 2024, and First for Autos dated it Aug. 27, 2024.
What happened to the officer
Finley filed a formal complaint after the trial, and the department opened an internal investigation. On Oct. 20, 2026, Police Chief Matthew Tracht said the officer no longer worked for the city and that “the conduct did not meet the standards and expectations I have for the officers who serve this department and our community,” News 6 reported. Police confirmed Schwartz resigned. The investigation’s findings have not been reported.
Finley has said he plans to sue the department for his legal costs and the distress he says the case caused him. No lawsuit filing had been reported when this was published.
How Tesla saves camera footage
Finley’s footage existed because the car was recording. Tesla’s owner’s manual says Dashcam needs a USB drive formatted to its requirements, plugged into the glovebox USB port. Under Controls, then Safety, then Dashcam, owners can set the car to save clips automatically or manually. The Dashcam page also describes an On Honk option that saves the most recent 10 minutes when you press the horn.
Tesla says recordings that are not saved can be overwritten, so if something happens on the road, save the clip and copy it off the drive soon afterward.
FAQ
Was Kevin Finley found not guilty?
Yes. He was acquitted of criminal reckless driving in July 2026. He pleaded no contest to improper passing and paid a $300 fine, First for Autos reported.
What did the Tesla video show?
The rear camera showed the unmarked police car’s lights only briefly before curves and buildings hid it, which backed Finley’s account that he never saw the officer.
Who was the officer?
Winter Springs Officer Erik Schwartz. He resigned in October 2026 while an internal investigation was ongoing.
Is Kevin Finley suing?
He has said he plans to sue the Winter Springs Police Department. No filing had been reported at publication.
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Updated November 13, 2026