A Cleburne County sheriff’s deputy was arrested over the weekend in Faulkner County as part of a joint sting operation targeting alleged human trafficking and child exploitation.
According to the Faulkner County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO), Jacob Teel (pictured), 37, was charged with internet stalking of a child and traveling for an unlawful sex act with a minor, both felonies.
In a post on the Cleburne County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) Facebook account, Sheriff Chris Brown said he had been alerted early Saturday morning about Teel’s arrest.
Brown said Teel was immediately suspended, and paperwork for his termination was being prepared. He added that the CCSO family was “shocked, saddened, angry, and disappointed by this news. There is no excuse for this type of behavior, and we do not condone or tolerate such actions.”
Brown continued, “On a personal note, I am heartbroken that this news will likely come with a broken sense of trust between the community and our sheriff’s office. And while I can’t wave a wand and fix that, I want our community to know that the actions of this one person don’t speak for or represent the men and women that serve Cleburne County. They don’t represent our heart or our dedication.”
The FCSO operation, called Operation Room Service, was a collaboration between the 20th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the United States Marshals Service, and Covenant Rescue Group. The Alabama-based Covenant Rescue Group was described by the FCSO as an organization of former military, law enforcement, and business executives, committed to ending human trafficking. It provides funding for rescues, arrests, prosecutions, and training for law enforcement.
For the full release from the FCSO, click here.
Image: Faulkner County Sheriff’s Office
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