“Markanthony Fernandez has embarrassed his community, police department, and law enforcement officers everywhere,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd this week in Florida.
He was talking about a 24-year-old officer with the Bartow Police Department who was arrested for improper conduct with teenage girls involving alcohol and THC during a weekend this February. Fernandez is also accused of recording several videos, including one where a 17-year-old committed a sex act on an 18-year-old and others that show them nude inside Fernandez’s home.
He sent these videos to fellow Bartow officers, who reported him. Fernandez has been on administrative leave since February and his employment with the Bartow Department is pending termination.
Judd said the officers who reported Fernandez did the right thing and that he will never have a badge again.
“A Bartow Police Department officer was arrested by detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, after the PCSO was requested by Bartow PD on May 8, 2024 to investigate his actions involving four teenage females, inappropriate video, drugs, and alcohol,” said a press release from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
According to authorities, two 18-year-old females, a 17-year-old female and a 16-year-old female were involved in Fernandez’ actions. In one video, one of the 18-year-olds was wearing a Bartow Police Department jacket. He allegedly provided them with alcoholic beverages, THC vape pens, and THC gummies.
“Fernandez was also accused of going into a bedroom at his residence where the 16-year old was, and began to touch her and choke her,” said the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
After his arrest, Fernandez was charged Tuesday with four felonies and six misdemeanors at the Polk County Jail. The felonies are: Promotion of a Juvenile in a Sexual Performance, Use of a Juvenile in a Sexual Performance, Battery by Strangulation and Illegal Use of a 2-Way Communication Device. The misdemeanors are: Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor and Providing Alcoholic Beverages to A Person Under 21-Years of Age.
Fernandez isn’t the only cop who has been arrested recently. Last week, a Los Angeles Police Department officer was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.