According to Fox 35 Orlando, citing a Hendry County Sheriff's Office statement, K-9 Deputy Braxton Haight, 27, was arrested Tuesday under Florida Statute 836.05 for extortion. Sheriff Steve Whidden said Haight left a voicemail and, when called back, allegedly said he knew the agency was trying to fire him and had documents he would release publicly. Investigators say Haight asked that his K-9 be handed over and his personnel file cleared of discipline. At a recorded meeting at the Port LaBelle Annex, Haight allegedly described a recording of a deputy making a derogatory comment as "a little bit of insurance." Detectives arrested him afterward. He is held at the Hendry County Jail on a $10,000 bond.
Why it matters
The case involves a charge that a sworn deputy used a threat to press the agency over his employment and disciplinary record. The charge is an allegation, and the sheriff's office has not released the disciplinary issues that prompted the effort to fire him.
Charged: Prosecutors filed criminal charges. A charge is not proof of guilt, and the person is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Researched with AI assistance from the sources listed here and reviewed under our methodology.