Mr Viral
In a recent press conference, Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters shed light on a troubling incident involving a former member of his team. The situation revolves around Claude Fleurimond, a 49-year-old officer who was taken into custody on Tuesday night, accused of stalking his ex-girlfriend.
The charges against Fleurimond are serious, including stalking, which is classified as a first-degree misdemeanor, and false imprisonment, a third-degree felony. Sheriff Waters conveyed that the situation came to light when Fleurimond allegedly pulled over his former girlfriend in October, questioning her about why she had ceased communication with him.
Following his arrest, Fleurimond promptly resigned from his position within the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO). His tenure at JSO lasted just over three years, having been hired on August 22, 2022. This abrupt departure underscores the gravity of the accusations he faces.
The case reached the attention of JSO’s Integrity Unit on December 5, when they received a complaint regarding Fleurimond’s alleged conduct. The swift response by law enforcement demonstrates their commitment to upholding standards of integrity within the force, even when it involves one of their own.
On Dec. 5, Waters said JSO’s Integrity Unit received a complaint alleging that Fleurimond was stalking his ex-girlfriend.
During the investigation into the allegation, Waters said detectives discovered that over the course of several months, Fleurimond “repeatedly” followed his ex-girlfriend.
“In October, Fleurimond actually conducted a traffic stop on his former girlfriend in his marked JSO police vehicle,” Waters said. “Using his police authority to detain his former girlfriend, Fleurimond then questioned her about why she was no longer communicating with him. Based on the totality of the circumstances, Fleurimond was arrested by our integrity detectives for false imprisonment and stalking.”
When asked if Fleurimond threatened his ex-girlfriend during any period of the alleged stalking or Dec. 5 traffic stop, Waters said: “Not to my knowledge, but a traffic stop on a person for no reason is threatening enough.”
Fleurimond is the sixth officer to be arrested by JSO in 2025, Waters said.
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