PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. – A former rookie deputy with the Broward Sheriff's Office took his own life Tuesday, nearly two months after he was arrested for allegedly extorting a victim for sexual favors, authorities said.
Pembroke Pines police said they were called to a home shortly before 9:30 p.m. Tuesday. Authorities said they found Trazell McLeod, 20, dead at the home from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
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McLeod was fired by BSO on Oct. 20 after the investigation was opened and he was arrested on Nov. 10.
A termination form said McLeod had no rights to appeal his termination because he was still in a probationary period. He was hired in February.
According to an arrest warrant, McLeod threatened to have criminal charges pressed on Oct. 16 with an intent to extort the victim for sexual favors.
McLeod allegedly told the victim, "You're going to have to (expletive) me. I'm not only talking about one time -- on a consistent basis."
Authorities said McLeod falsified a police report the next day, stating that he had found crack cocaine on the ground rather than on the victim. Detectives said he falsified the report with the intent to obtain sexual favors from the victim.
McLeod was also accused of trying to criminally charge an innocent person for the cocaine possession four hours after the drugs were seized.
He was arrested on charges of extortion, official misconduct and attempting to tamper with or fabricating physical evidence.