Former Titusville Police Chief John Lau is contesting a careless driving citation issued following the late-night rollover crash that led to his termination, according to public court records.
Brevard Electronic Court Application documents show Lau was officially cited on July 14, 2026, stemming from the single-vehicle accident on June 23. On July 20, defense attorneys Samantha Lambert and David Webster filed a Notice of Appearance on Lau’s behalf and entered a plea of not guilty.
An infraction hearing is scheduled for September 17, 2026, at 1:30 PM before Judge Kelly Ingram at the Moore Justice Center in Viera.
The incident occurred at approximately 11:15 p.m. on June 23, 2026, when Lau—driving an unmarked, city-owned 2026 Chevrolet Silver SUV along Barna Avenue—failed to maintain control while navigating a turn. The vehicle ran off the roadway and overturned, coming to rest off Barna Avenue near River Oaks Drive. Lau sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital.
The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) investigated the collision. As previously reported by Talk of Titusville, body camera footage and police incident reports revealed responding officers photographed a partially consumed vodka bottle inside the city-issued vehicle.
Following observations at the scene, department leadership directed a commander to request that Lau submit to drug and alcohol testing pursuant to city policy.
After Lau refused the testing request, City Manager Tom Abbate officially terminated his employment on June 24 for violating city personnel policy, ending his 32-year tenure with the department where he had served as chief since 2012.
FHP ultimately did not file criminal charges or pursue a DUI investigation, noting troopers observed no signs of impairment when meeting Lau at the hospital. Further details regarding the initial administrative review can be found on Talk of Titusville.
The official Florida Highway Patrol ticket charges Lau under Florida Statute 316.1925(1) for Careless Driving.
| Case Detail | Information |
| Case Number | 05-2026-TR-028694-AXXX-BC |
| Defendant | John Lau |
| Charge | Careless Driving (F.S. 316.1925.1-A) |
| Penalty Amount | $169.00 (Presumptive) |
| Plea | Not Guilty |
| Infraction Hearing | September 17, 2026 at 1:30 PM |
| Location | Moore Justice Center, Viera, FL |
Deputy Chief Tyler “TJ” Wright continues to serve as Interim Chief of Police while proceedings move forward.
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