A police officer employed by Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland has been arrested for sexual battery, extortion and aggravated stalking of a family member, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
Winfred "Carl" Stocks, Jr., 57, of Auburndale was arrested around noon on Thursday, January 10, 2019 and he submitted his resignation at the time of his arrest.
According to a press release from the Sheriff's Office, the victim approached a deputy on Wednesday, January 9, 2019 and told the deputy what Stocks had allegedly been doing to her since the fall of 2012. The victim showed the deputy hundreds of text messages from the past six months that showed Stocks controlling and influencing her with intimidation, isolation and humiliation, according to the press release.
"Carl Stocks betrayed this woman, and he betrayed his oath as a police officer to protect people. He systematically controlled the victim by maliciously stalking, threatening, and both verbally and physically controlling her for sex," said Sheriff Grady Judd.
Stocks reportedly used "force or violence likely to cause serious personal injury" to sexually batter the woman, according to the arrest affidavit. Stocks "verbally and by written communication, maliciously threatened" the victim into having sex with him by threatening to publicly share nude photos of her, which he took without her knowledge. The victim told deputies that Stocks repeatedly harassed and cyberstalked her through text messages.
Stocks was employed by Florida Polytech University for approximately two years. The school released the following statement on Friday:
"We are aware that former Florida Polytechnic University police officer Winfred "Carl" Stocks, Jr. was arrested on several domestic charges. Stocks no longer works for the University Police as he resigned on Thursday, Jan. 10, effective immediately. Prior to being employed by Florida Poly, a complete background investigation was conducted by Lakeland Police Department as required by Florida Department of Law Enforcement. We fully support the Polk County Sheriff's Office and their investigation."
Stocks had previously retired from the Nashville Metro Police Department which he was employed from 1994 to 2011, according to a press release.
