Deputy arrested in Polk County trafficking probe
Sheriff Grady Judd will release arrest details Friday after an Orange County deputy was charged with soliciting prostitution.
By Austin Reed ·
An Orange County sheriff's deputy has been arrested as part of a larger human trafficking and child sex predator investigation in Polk County, Florida. The suspect is Deputy Eric Raymond, who was taken into custody on Sunday on a charge of soliciting for prostitution.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd is scheduled to hold a news conference at 9:30 a.m. Friday to provide further details. He will present arrest affidavits and booking photos related to the ongoing case.
According to the arrest report, Raymond responded to a fake online advertisement offering escort services. He agreed to meet with an undercover detective and later consented to pay for sex before being detained.
Raymond has worked in the Uniform Patrol Division for the Orange County Sheriff's Office since August 2020. The agency has removed him from law enforcement duties and reassigned him to administrative work while the criminal case proceeds.
Sheriff Judd stated that Raymond's actions showed moral turpitude and that the online prostitution industry helps traffickers profit from exploited individuals. Orange County Sheriff John Mina said the department is committed to ensuring deputies follow the laws they enforce.
Mina confirmed that the agency will launch an internal investigation once the criminal case is finished.
