A South Florida police detective faces felony charges for using stolen license plates to avoid tolls on Florida's Turnpike.

Det. Octavio Oliu of the Sweetwater Police Department surrendered Thursday, more than a year after he was suspended from the tiny, scandal-ridden agency in Miami-Dade County.

Oliu's attorney C. Michael Cornerly told the Miami Herald his client will fight the allegations.

Sweetwater Mayor Jose Diaz said 42-year-old Oliu had been on unpaid leave. He says he won't tolerate police officers who betray the badge.

The investigation began in August 2013 a Florida Highway Patrol trooper stopped Oliu's SUV. The trooper ran a computer check of the Michigan license plate and found it had been reported stolen.

Oliu is accused of racking up over 500 SunPass toll violations and red-light camera citations.

He's charged with official misconduct and organized scheme to defraud.