A rookie Broward Sheriff's Office deputy is out of jail, but still facing multiple charges after authorities say he tried to extort a man for sexual favors.
Trazell McLeod, 20, is charged with extortion, official misconduct and tampering with evidence, BSO officials said Thursday.
McLeod, who was hired in February and was still on probation, was fired by the BSO. No attorney information was immediately available. He bonded out of jail early Friday morning, but would not speak to reporters.
"It’s always disappointing to learn that a deputy who swore to serve and protect the public was only out to serve himself," BSO Sheriff Scott Israel said in a statement. "I am extremely proud of the swift actions of our Internal Affairs and Public Corruption Units. Within four days of receiving the complaint, they investigated, conducted surveillance and brought forth evidence to support the immediate termination of this rookie deputy."
According to the arrest affidavit, the victim, a 34-year-old man, went to the BSO Division of Internal Affairs last month to report that McLeod touched him inappropriately and was extorting him for sexual favors.
The victim said he met McLeod in Pompano Beach the night of Oct. 16. He said McLeod stopped him and tried to frisk him on the hood of his marked BSO car but then told him to stand by a wall because it was raining, the affidavit said.
The victim said he was frisked as he was against the wall and said McLeod grabbed his "private area" and said "You gonna have to give me this," the affidavit said.
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During the encounter, the victim told McLeod he was armed and has a concealed weapons permit. McLeod continued the search and told the victim he found drugs on him and could be in serious trouble for being armed, having drugs and trying to pick up a prostitute, the affidavit said.
The victim denied the allegations except for having the gun, the affidavit said. McLeod told the victim he was in a tough position and asked how he thought he should handle the situation, the affidavit said.
When the victim again said he was innocent, McLeod replied "Well...I'm gay, so you're gonna have to slay me," and when asked what "slay" meant said "You're gonna have to f--- me, I'm not only talking about one time, on a consistent basis," the affidavit said.
During the encounter, the victim was never placed in handcuffs or told he was under arrest, and McLeod didn't advise the radio dispatcher of the incident or request assistance, the affidavit said.
After McLeod extorted the man for sexual favors, he told him to wait in a security office. When McLeod went to get something from his car, the man was able to escape and called his wife to pick him up, the affidavit said.
According to the affidavit, part of the encounter was captured by nearby surveillance cameras. McLeod later denied making the statements to the victim and denied the sexual extortion, the affidavit said.
McLeod later falsified a police report regarding the discovery of crack cocaine that had been seized from one suspect and had intended to charge an innocent person with possessing the cocaine, the affidavit said.
