CHARLOTTE COUNTY -- The state attorney's office decided there wasn't enough evidence to bring any charges against Sgt. Joseph David Marinola III, an officer accused of being a "dirty cop" in a Florida Department of Law Enforcement report.

The state attorney's decision was made before the FDLE released a report Thursday that said Marinola's case was under investigation.

"Those allegations are just outlandish," said Marinola, who was accused of warning suspects when and where drug raids and investigations were taking place.

On Thursday, spokesmen for the state attorney's office in Charlotte County said it had received no paperwork on the case, and FDLE's report said the case "was pending." But Friday, the state attorney's office in Lee County said it had investigated and did not have enough evidence to pursue any case against Marinola.

The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office has declined to comment on Marinola, but said it is continuing to look into his behavior. A spokeswoman for the 20th Judicial Circuit said the case was handled by Lee County's special investigation unit, which generally handles unusual accusations.

Marinola, 38, was terminated from his job last week in a letter that cited his heart condition. Marinola's doctor said the condition made it impossible for him to continue working.

On Friday, Marinola said he was innocent. He said the sheriff's office ordered the FDLE investigation as retaliation after he claimed two Charlotte detectives falsely arrested a man for grand theft.

"I know who I am and I know what I'm about. I know how I was raised, and I know how I've led and trained others to be good officers," Marinola said.

Marinola, who said Friday that he is not working, served 18 years with the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office. The FDLE report released Thursday alleged Marinola's misconduct occurred between June 2004 and November 2005.

According to the report, the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office contacted FDLE on Oct. 10 and asked agents to investigate because an Englewood resident said Marinola was "dirty." The report charges Marinola with a host of indiscretions involving sex and drugs.

But the state attorney's office found in early March that "based on the lack of credible evidence to establish the specific legal elements of the criminal offense we have determined that we cannot file criminal charges in this case."

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