Bartow Police Officer Arrested
Polk County, FL. - A Bartow Police Department officer found himself in custody following an investigation led by detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at the request of the Bartow PD.
The officer in question, 24-year-old Markanthony Fernandez, faced charges on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at the Polk County Jail. The charges against Fernandez included four felonies and six misdemeanors related to incidents that transpired over the weekend of February 3, 2024, events captured on video by
Fernandez and shared with his colleagues at Bartow PD, who promptly reported the concerning activities to their superiors.
“Markanthony Fernandez has embarrassed his community, police department, and law enforcement officers everywhere. In contrast, his fellow officers at Bartow Police Department did the right thing by reporting his conduct. Markanthony Fernandez must never wear a badge again.” - Grady Judd, Sheriff
The investigation revealed the involvement of four teenage females in the February incident, two of whom were 18 years old while the other two were minors aged 17 and 16. Fernandez’s recorded videos depicted disturbing scenes, including one where an 18-year-old girl was seen in a Bartow PD jacket while a 17-year-old engaged in a sexual act under Fernandez’s direction. Additional footage showed the victims unclothed within Fernandez's residence, where he provided them with alcoholic beverages, THC vape pens, and THC-infused gummies.
In a particularly troubling allegation, Fernandez was accused of engaging in inappropriate behavior with the 16-year-old victim, which involved unwanted physical contact and choking. Upon his arrest, Fernandez faced a range of charges, including Promotion of a Juvenile in a Sexual Performance, Use of a Juvenile in a Sexual Performance, Battery by Strangulation, Illegal Use of a 2-Way Communication Device, Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, and Providing Alcoholic Beverages to Persons Under 21 years of age.
Since February, Fernandez had been on administrative leave from Bartow PD, with his continued employment pending termination following his arrest.
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