JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office announced the arrest of one of its officers Thursday, charging him with false imprisonment and battery on a victim in a crime case he was working.
JSO Director Brian Kee said John Burgos, 35, was on duty and in uniform when he was dispatched to a call at 4 p.m. Wednesday to meet with a crime victim. After the initial investigation was completed, Kee said Burgos returned and met with the victim again, reporting to be conducting an additional investigation.
While alone with the victim and "under the color of authority," Burgos didn't let the victim leave the area and he "touched the victim without valid consent," Kee said.
After Burgos left, Kee said the victim called JSO and reported Burgos' conduct. JSO's integrity unit began an immediate investigation, which lead to the officer's arrest.
Burgos was charged with one count of false imprisonment, a third degree felony, and one count of battery, a first degree misdemeanor.
Burgos was stripped of all police authority and suspended without pay, but JSO said he will be fired.
Kee said this is the 11th arrest of a JSO employee by JSO in 2024. He added that the agency is "appalled by Burgos' conduct," and the fact that he did this "while representing himself as a public servant."
At the time of his arrest, Burgos had been employed by JSO for 6 years and 4 months.