Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters speaks to reporters about the arrest of police officer Reginald McKinney. | News4Jax
Published on September 25, 2024 at 2:02 pm
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A Jacksonville police officer has become the 14th Sheriff’s Office employee arrested this year after he was accused of inappropriately touching a woman during a traffic stop.
Officer Reginald Reynard McKinney, 46, was arrested Tuesday on charges of false imprisonment and battery, Sheriff T.K. Waters said during a news conference Wednesday.
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McKinney, a two-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office, was a deputy in Clay County for four years before that. He has resigned, Waters said.
The sheriff said a woman complained after McKinney pulled her over Sept. 4.
“During that encounter, McKinney began remarking on the attractive appearance of the driver, even asked her for her phone number,” Waters said. “After concluding the traffic stop, he directed the driver to follow him in her vehicle to a nearby location, which she did. Once there, he continued his personal advances toward the driver and made inappropriate physical contact with her.”
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McKinney’s arrest report said the woman was pulled over for a suspended license and was told she was “fine as hell.”
The sheriff said the officer also violated police regulations by turning off his bodycam during the traffic stop.
The police report says the woman felt fearful that McKinney had turned off his bodycam. “The victim advised that due to his statement, the time of night and the isolated location, she felt she had to comply with his request,” the report says. “The victim stated this is the only reason she provided her phone number and followed him to the location on Cynthia Street.”
McKinney’s arrest comes about two weeks after Jacksonville Officer Brian Roger Housend, 42, was arrested on charges of kidnapping with a gun, aggravated stalking and written threats to kill in Nassau County, according to his arrest warrant.
The warrant refers to an “ongoing pattern of threats” a woman had been receiving from Housend, including threatening emails.
Housend was suspended and placed on leave without pay. Waters said that he would seek his termination from the department.
