A Broward deputy was called to help a teenager. Now he faces charges, cops say
A 17-year-old girl expected help from the Broward Sheriff’s Office when an altercation between her and her parents prompted authorities to be called, officials say. But the deputy who responded later sent lewd messages to her trying to have sex, according to officials.
“This here is one of the most grotesque and deliberate attempts to really abuse a minor in our community,” Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony said Tuesday at a press conference. “Get past the fact we are talking about a deputy, a criminal is criminal. I don’t care if you are wearing a star on your chest or you’re a civilian ... we’re going to hold you accountable to the laws of this state.”
Deputy Jemiah Thomas, 35, was arrested Tuesday morning and is facing charges of written solicitation to a 16- or 17-year-old to commit a lewd or lascivious act; obscene communication, using a computer to seduce, solicit or lure a child; transmitting material harmful to minors by an electronic device; and traveling to meet a child for unlawful sexual contact after using a computer to lure a child.
Thomas, who was hired by BSO on May 15, 2017, was placed on administrative leave without pay. His employee history shows no incidents in the six years he worked with the sheriff’s office, according to Division of Internal Affairs records.
In September, Thomas was responding to a domestic dispute call in Pompano Beach involving a 17-year-old girl and her parents. He gave the girl his personal phone number and started talking to her after the initial incident was settled, the sheriff’s office said.
Detectives say that at one point, he messaged her that he could be her “personal sheriff that handcuff you from time to time.”
During Tuesday’s press conference, Tony said he was angry that the crime happened in the aftermath of a response to an emergency call.
“People call 911 when they are at their worst. They don’t call us when they are at their best,” Tony said. “And people are hoping that when we respond, that the [deputy] will be qualified, competent and morally sound to do the job, and they damn sure better be on time. They are not expecting be victimized a second time by an officer’s act....”
The girl’s father sent a tip to BSO’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force about the inappropriate relationship, which sparked an investigation in mid-October.
Over nine days, Thomas unknowingly was texting an undercover detective instead of the girl. Thomas would text about his desire to meet her and have sex with her, sending a photo of his private parts, detectives said.
When Thomas went to a hotel believing he was going to see her, he was met with undercover detectives instead, the sheriff’s office said.
“To read this affidavit...and talk to our investigators and see a lot of deliberate efforts to be nothing more than a sexual predator is an insult to this agency, it is an insult to this profession and this is an insult to anyone that has every served in this capacity,” Tony said.
Matt Cowart, president of the International Union of Police Associations Local 6020, released a statement after Thomas’ arrest. The local chapter represents Broward Sheriff’s deputies.
“We are only privy to the charges brought against him and not the details of the investigation,” the statement said. “The alleged charges, if true, are extremely concerning and unacceptable. The facts of the investigation will come out in court where ultimately a jury of Thomas’ peers will review the evidence and make a determination of guilt or innocence.”
Detectives believe this to be an isolated incident and that there are no other victims, Tony said Tuesday. As for preventive efforts, he says that these types of incidents do not happen all the time and immediate discipline is one of the best courses of action.
This story was originally published October 24, 2023 at 10:51 AM.
