FORT LAUDERDALE — A Broward County Sheriff’s deputy was arrested Tuesday just after he was accused of sending sexually billed texts to a 17-calendar year-previous woman he fulfilled when on obligation and responding to a domestic violence call, authorities reported.
Deputy Jemiah Thomas, 35, was taken into custody next an investigation by the section over his alleged interactions with a teenager woman, Sheriff Gregory Tony mentioned through an afternoon information conference.
He mentioned Thomas has been suspended without the need of pay, pending the investigation and its consequence.
It was the second time in 12 times that the sheriff had to announce the arrests of his very own employees subsequent allegations of completely wrong doing by his employees.
“At the time once again we’re in the situation exactly where we experienced to arrest just one of our own,” Tony claimed. “Not a little something we are proud of.”
Thomas, who has been a Broward deputy for six decades, is going through a quantity of rates, including the use of a laptop or computer to lure a baby, touring to fulfill after applying a laptop to lure a little one and tried lewd and lascivious solicitation.
The sheriff mentioned the accused deputy was called in September to a domestic violence get in touch with where by he apparently achieved the target.
“In this certain scenario, you acquired a deputy out below who did very little much more than just take edge,” Tony claimed. “Just take gain of his powers, abuse his authorities and solicit, sexual solicitation of a slight.”
The visibly agitated sheriff likened the deputy to being a “sexual predator” as he advised reporters about the scenario.
Tony explained the department acquired a suggestion from the girl’s father about the steps of the deputy, who allegedly exchanged telephone numbers with the sufferer soon after he initially fulfilled her on the get in touch with for support.
The deputy then tried to satisfy with the woman and despatched her photographs of his penis while conversation with the woman, according to the sheriff.
Tony mentioned it was not apparent if the deputy had been accused of erroneous undertaking in the earlier. But he explained the expenses will be insurmountable.
“There is no coming again from this,” Tony reported. “If you assume you are heading to manipulate a 17-year-previous girl into sexual intercourse, you happen to be going to be gone.”
Subsequent the arrest, the president of the International Union of Law enforcement Associations issued a assertion.
“We are only privy to the rates brought towards him and not the facts of the investigation. The alleged charges, if correct, are incredibly about and unacceptable. The information of the investigation will appear out in courtroom exactly where eventually a jury of Thomas’s peers will critique the proof and make a resolve of guilt or innocence,” mentioned IUPA. Neighborhood 6020 President Matt Cowart in the statement.
He included that Thomas is innocent right until confirmed guilty and “shall be awarded his because of method through the courts.”
It can be the next black eye for the sheriff’s division this thirty day period.
On Oct. 12, federal investigators and Tony introduced charges against 17 BSO staff members accused of fraud whilst making an attempt to choose edge of COVID-19 pandemic reduction systems.
In that situation, investigators said the suspects allegedly acquired $495,171 in guidance unlawfully and made use of the proceeds to unjustly enrich by themselves.
