Local deputy arrested in traffic sting as sheriff prepares to unveil wider probe

Residents of the central Florida region will see new details about a local law enforcement figure who has been removed from street duty. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office will hold a news conference on Friday at 9:30 a.m. to discuss an ongoing human trafficking and child sex predator investigation. The event follows the weekend arrest of a deputy from a neighboring county.

The investigation gained momentum after deputies in Polk County set up an undercover operation. On Sunday, Orange County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Eric Raymond responded to a false online advertisement offering escort services. He met with an undercover detective and agreed to pay for sex before being taken into custody. Raymond has been employed by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office since August 2020 and serves in the Uniform Patrol Division.

Raymond faces one count of soliciting prostitution. The agency has relieved him of all law enforcement duties and reassigned him to administrative work while the criminal case proceeds. Sheriff Grady Judd of Polk County stated in a release that Raymond should have known better. He described the actions as moral turpitude and noted that the online prostitution industry enables human traffickers to profit from exploitation.

Sheriff John Mina of Orange County confirmed the department’s commitment to accountability. He said the agency is committed to ensuring deputies follow the laws they are responsible for upholding. Once the criminal case concludes, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office will conduct its own internal investigation into the incident.

Sheriff Judd is expected to release arrest affidavits and booking photos during the Friday announcement. These documents will provide the public with visual evidence and specific charges related to the broader trafficking probe.