Florida Sheriff’s Deputy Fired and Arrested After Helping Friend Accused of Having Sex with Minor Escaped Authorities

Photo Credit: Osceola County Sheriff's Office

A former Florida sheriff’s deputy is behind bars for allegedly helping his

“life-long friend”

accused of having sex with a minor avoid arrest, police said per Fox News

Arturo Dominguez of the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office was terminated and taken into custody Wednesday. Dominguez is accused of tipping off his friend, Omar Ayala, accused of having sex with a minor, before his arrest. 

Police grew suspicious of Dominguez when he kept running Omar Ayala’s name in a database system, according to the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office. When asked about it, Dominguez said he pulled Ayala over for a traffic stop, reports reveal. 

Police later discovered that the two were

“life-long friends.”

Dominguez later told police that he looked up Ayala’s name to see if he had any active warrants and claims he spoke to him about it, the news station said. He admitted that he told Ayala to flee. 

Ayala has not been arrested and is at large. Dominguez faces four charges of

“official misconduct by obstructing an investigation, accessory after the fact to unlawful sexual activity with a minor, unauthorized access of computer and devices, and disclosure or use of confidential criminal justice information,”

Fox Orlando reported. 

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