(As originally published with bells and whistles, Mon, March 21st 2022, 4:00 AM EDT)
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — An extremely bad breakup led to a Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputy getting into deep trouble. His ex-girlfriend gave a laundry list of allegations to the sheriff’s office, which found he violated policy after policy.
The Internal Affairs investigation report said, “It was alleged Deputy Sheriff Joshua Brack engaged in misconduct and/or committed various crimes while on and off duty. It was also alleged Deputy Sheriff Brack disseminated agency information by sending a crime scene video to an unauthorized individual, sent nude and explicit photographs of himself to his work email while on duty and in uniform, neglected to respond to an in-progress call for service and possessed unauthorized weapons in his patrol vehicle, amongst other allegations.”
The trouble for Joshua Brack started June 15, 2021, when his ex-girlfriend called PBSO about a “civil dispute” and a sheriff’s deputy went to their apartment in Belle Glade.
Brack and his girlfriend of two years had broken up. They’d lived together for nine months.
SEE ALSO: 2 students critical after bus stop crash in Royal Palm Beach
The ex-girlfriend — according to the report — “stated her ex-boyfriend’s family members showed up at her residence to retrieve personal items of his, after he already moved out, and collected the remainder of his stuff.”
But, “While on scene, [the ex-girlfriend] volunteered the following information on D/S [Deputy Sheriff] Brack:
- “D/S Brack allegedly sent money to different males after having sex with them. Some incidents occurred while he was on duty.
- “D/S Brack allegedly engaged in traffic enforcement and seized marijuana from individuals, never turned it into evidence and brought it home for [his ex-girlfriend] to sell.
- “D/S Brack allegedly engaged in traffic enforcement and would take money from people.
- “D/S Brack allegedly drove [his ex-girlfriend] around in his marked PBSO vehicle, while on duty, when assigned to District 13, to include a shooting in South Bay.
- “D/S Brack allegedly sent [his ex-girlfriend] videos and photographs from calls he responded to.
- “While on and off duty, D/S Brack allegedly photographed his penis and sent it to males he met on his Grindr social media application.
- “D/S Brack allegedly responded to large Hispanic communities while in District 15 to randomly search people and keep their belongings.”
The report also said the ex-girlfriend gave the responding deputy a picture of a crash into a home, and video of a crime scene where a dead person was laying in the roadway.
That responding deputy took the information and potential evidence, and called his boss, the IA report stated.
“Due to the allegations and involvement of a PBSO employee, [the responding deputy] notified his supervisor, [a sergeant who was the District 13 road patrol supervisor], who responded to the scene,” the report read.
That got the case moving up the chain of command.
Three days later, “On June 18, 2021, the PBSO Violent Crimes Division (VCD) opened an investigation [into] misconduct and/or crimes being committed by D/S Brack while on duty.”
The ex-girlfriend went to the VCD office and gave a sworn audio and video statement.
The report said she showed a detective text messages “which indicated he had a relationship with another man and was apologizing.”
Also from the report:
- She alleged he “was sending money to other men, and in return they would send him nude photographs of their genitals and/or of them in sexual poses.”
- She alleged he “would take money and property from individuals he encountered while on duty.”
- She stated he “sent her photographs and videos from crime scenes.”
- She showed the detective “the video collected on scene by [the responding deputy] of a man lying in the roadway who had been struck by a vehicle.
- “When asked if D/S Brack had taken drugs from subjects, [she] stated mostly marijuana, but he also took lighters, brass knuckles, etc.”
- She alleged he “took items from other people he came into contact with and let them go instead of arresting them.”
- She alleged he “brought her drugs, mostly marijuana, so she could sell it.”
- She stated he “brought marijuana home because he stated PBSO Evidence was going to burn it anyway.”
- She stated he “associated with known drug dealers and, ‘act stupid.’”
- She alleged he “did not keep up with their bills and believed he was spending his money on male prostitutes and pornography.”
That discussion got the Violent Crimes Division to ask the Tactical Intelligence Unit to perform surveillance and gather intelligence on Brack. They did that from June 19 to June 30 and gave Internal Affairs logs, videos, and pictures.
These are some “notable incidents from” those 12 days, according to the report:
June 19: They installed a GPS tracker on his patrol car.
SEE ALSO: St. Lucie mother, two children found dead in car in central Florida
June 22 and 23: “D/S Brack was observed driving his marked patrol vehicle to multiple locations while out-of-county (Hendry County) for non-work related purposes.”
June 23: He left his home in Clewiston “and drove his marked patrol vehicle to Riviera Beach, were a [woman] and infant exited the back seat. D/S Brack left his marked patrol vehicle running, unoccupied, for an extended period of time. D/S Brack later left this residence with the [woman], infant, and toddler, all in the front passenger seat. Driving conditions at the time were wet and actively raining. Brack was observed driving his marked patrol vehicle 84mph on Military Trail, where the posted speed limit was 40mph. When the vehicle returned to the Riviera Beach residence, all occupants exited the vehicle and entered the apartment while the vehicle idled in the roadway. Later, D/S Brack, the [woman], and infant returned to the vehicle. The [woman] and infant child sat in the backseat of the patrol vehicle without a car seat. D/S Brack drove the vehicle to the Walmart in the town of Lake Park. After leaving Walmart, [a lieutenant] conducted a traffic stop on D/S Brack’s marked patrol vehicle. D/S Brack wore a sleeveless shirt, board shorts, and flip flops. D/S Brack did not have his off-duty firearm, spare magazine, or restraint device.”
June 24: “D/S Brack was again observed driving his marked patrol vehicle to multiple locations while out-of-county [Hendry County] for non-work related purposes.”
June 27: Brack was observed at someone’s home, talking to a man while smoking a cigarette. “At 1822 hours, D/S Brack was dispatched to a suspicious person call. At 1823 hours, D/S Brack acknowledged the call but remained at the residence for 11 minutes before getting into his patrol vehicle. D/S Brack never arrived or responded as backup to the call and cleared at 1834 hours.”
On July 6, a detective tried to schedule an interview with Brack but he declined. That detective could not “substantiate any of the criminal allegations made against D/S Brack.”
The report said two days later, Internal Affairs “placed D/S Brack on administrative leave due to his inappropriate conduct observed on multiple incidents.”
Internal Affairs also searched his marked patrol car. The report said “one pair of brass knuckles, two pocket knives and one large hunting knife with a wooden handle [were found] as part of his personal items.”
They reviewed his work email and found “on August 24, 2020, he emailed himself a screenshot of a text message from his personal email account, []. The screenshot was a conversation where the individual stated ‘sorry im at work lol. She was sending me screenshots of stuff tht guys were sayin about u and stuff then she blocked me.’” The next line refers to a man sending a woman a video of alleged cheating by performing oral sex on another man.
On May 4, 2021, he sent three pictures from his personal email account to his work email. “The photographs were of D/S Brack while on duty and in his PBSO issued uniform, in a restroom stall, with his uniform pants off, genitals exposed and in various positions. Photograph one depicted D/S Brack posing on his knees, with his buttocks and genitals exposed. His uniform pants are lying on the floor next to him. Photograph two depicted D/S Brack posing on his arms and knees with his buttocks and genitals exposed. In this photograph his PBSO portable radio was observed on the bathroom railing. Photograph three depicted D/S Brack standing with his buttocks and genitals exposed. A search of his PBSO timecard revealed D/S Brack was on duty May 4, 2021, at the time he emailed himself those three nude photographs.”
Investigators also checked his calls for service and on May 1, 2021, “while on scene, during an open investigation, videotaped [a] decapitated male lying in the roadway and sent it to [his ex-girlfriend].” It wasn’t determined whether this was what his ex-girlfriend gave the deputy at her apartment.
SEE ALSO: Crane collapse kills 2 in Boynton Beach
The Internal Affairs investigator interviewed or got sworn witness statements from 14 people. There were 12 PBSO officials, plus Brack and his ex-girlfriend.
This is just the new information that was gathered and quotes from the report are synopses from the witnesses.
The report said the ex-girlfriend showed phone messages to the supervisor-sergeant who met the first deputy at her home in Belle Glade. “[The supervisor] stated a lot of the text messages were of D/S Brack apologizing for mistakes he made. [His ex-girlfriend] questioned him on things he did, such as having a relationship with another male on duty. [She] alleged D/S Brack responded saying he would park his car around the corner and walk over to the barn. [The supervisor] also observed photographs within the text conversation of male genitals. [The supervisor] saw one photo and one video from active crime scenes sent to [the ex-girlfriend].” The sergeant notified his supervisors and documented the information in a memorandum.
The detective from the Violent Crimes Division assigned to investigate said the ex-girlfriend told him Brack “gave her two purses he took from a call for service while working. [She] was unable to locate both purses. [This detective] confirmed D/S Brack sent videos on duty of active crime scenes. [The detective] attempted to have D/S Brack come in for an interview, but an attorney for the Police Benevolent Association (PBA) later called and denied his interview. D/S Brack was notified by [another sergeant] not to respond to [his ex-girlfriend]’s residence after sending his family members there for a third time for property retrieval. [The detective] was unable to substantiate any of the criminal allegations made by the ex-girlfriend.”
The lead agent investigating Brack said the surveillance team consisted of eight agents and one sergeant, and was the person who completed the “notable incidents” list from that time. The agent added, on June 22, “D/S Brack, while not logged into his MDT [mobile data terminal, or car computer], went to several locations out of county while driving his marked patrol vehicle. The locations noted are: Save-A-Lot, Walmart, Git-N-Split convenience store, and the Public Access Boat Ramp, all within Clewiston.”
The next day, “On June 23, 2021, [the agent] observed D/S Brack, while off duty and not logged into his MDT, drive to a Dunkin Donuts and a Tropical Cafe in Clewiston. Later that afternoon, D/S Brack left his residence, and stopped at a gas station and McDonald’s.” When Brack was caught speeding in the rain, this agent was not there but “monitored the radio channel [and] confirmed D/S Brack’s speed while [a sergeant] relayed information over the radio. [The agent] confirmed there was no car seat for the child. [The agent] confirmed this was fluid surveillance and notifications were made to take immediate action due to D/S Brack traveling with an unsecured infant in the vehicle.”
An agent who was part of the surveillance “observed D/S Brack, an adult female and child (under 1 years of age) exit Walmart and enter into his patrol vehicle. D/S Brack handed the adult female a child who she placed on her lap while seated in the backseat.”
A second agent who was part of the surveillance testified seeing “D/S Brack’s patrol vehicle parked in the front swale of an apartment building [in Riviera Beach]. Both the [woman] and infant went into the rear seat of the vehicle. [This agent] did not observe a car seat or child carrier.”
Another agent who was part of the surveillance testified seeing “several children inside D/S Brack’s vehicle [on June 23], and he traveled while the roads were wet and it was actively raining. [This agent] observed some of D/S Brack’s driving patterns in excess speeds on Military Trail between Northlake Blvd. and Blue Heron Blvd.”
A lieutenant who was “working the Western Region as Watch Commander [on June 23] was asked to contact [a Tactical Intelligence Unit sergeant] in regards to conducting a traffic stop on a marked PBSO patrol vehicle. [The lieutenant] was advised by [a sergeant] there was a marked patrol car which had been observed by PBSO agents driving erratically with an infant unrestrained inside the vehicle. [The lieutenant] located the marked patrol vehicle at Seminole Pratt Whitney Road and E. Cornwall Drive where he activated his overhead lights twice, at which time the vehicle pulled over. [The lieutenant] immediately recognized the driver as D/S Brack. [The lieutenant] observed an adult female and infant child in the rear passenger seat. The infant was sitting on the adult female’s lap. [The lieutenant] confirmed there was not a car seat for the infant. D/S Brack wore a sleeveless shirt, shorts and slides. D/S Brack stated he only had his shotgun located inside the vehicle rack, and no other firearm was on his person. [The lieutenant] waited for another person to respond with a car seat, who picked the infant child up. [The lieutenant] stated D/S Brack made several comments about trying to stay on track and that he made a mistake.”
The investigator herself said the ex-girlfriend “voluntarily provided me with her cellphone to obtain screenshot images of messages between her and D/S Brack in both text and Facebook Messenger. [The ex-girlfriend] stated her old phone number was on the same plan as D/S Brack who has since disconnected the line. [She] had D/S Brack saved in her contact list as ‘Benjamin’ stating that was his middle name. [She] stated D/S Brack’s Facebook account name is Joshua Benjamin Brack.”
Finally, the investigator interviewed Brock on Sept. 9, 2021. A PBA lawyer was with him. “D/S Brack has been employed with PBSO for nine years and is currently assigned to District 15. His first five years were spent in corrections as a Correction D/S and the remaining four years have been on road patrol as a Law Enforcement D/S. D/S Brack was previously employed by Corrections State Prison for six years.”
According to the investigator in the report, “D/S Brack stated the screenshot text conversation sent to his work email was from a lewd and lascivious call he responded to. I was later able to locate this case, which substantiated his response. D/S Brack admitted to sending three nude and pornographic images of himself while on duty and in uniform to his work email, stating it was accidental. D/S Brack indicated he meant to send the photographs to his personal email not to his work email. D/S Brack did not explain why he photographed himself in this manner but acknowledged these photographs are explicit and inappropriate content. D/S Brack acknowledged these photographs of himself could discredit or bring embarrassment to PBSO.”
SEE ALSO: DeSantis says he’ll sign so-called ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill soon
Then, “D/S Brack stated he was aware of [his ex-girlfriend]’s allegations. D/S Brack denied all of her criminal allegations. D/S Brack admitted to sending her a video of an active VHI scene where there was a deceased person lying in the roadway. D/S Brack stated he made a bad choice. D/S Brack admitted to sending her a photograph from a vehicle accident and stated it was to let her know why he would be late.”
Finally:
- “In regards to TAC’s surveillance over the course of two weeks, D/S Brack said he had no reason to place an infant and toddler in his vehicle unrestrained, it was a ‘stupid mistake.’
- “D/S Brack confirmed he is certified to use a radar and laser. D/S Brack has conducted traffic stops for unlawful speed and written speeding tickets. D/S Brack is aware of Florida traffic laws, and there is nowhere in Florida with a posted speed limit of 84 mph. D/S Brack stated he was ‘showing off’ and going too fast.
- “D/S Brack acknowledged the policy regarding driving his marked patrol vehicle off duty. D/S Brack acknowledged he did not log into his MDT as required by policy. D/S Brack admitted to violating the attire policy and driving to non-work related locations, out of county. D/S Brack stated he usually carries his off-duty handgun, but on the night he was stopped, he had forgotten it.
- “D/S Brack confirmed he was standing outside of his friend’s house when he was dispatched to an in-progress call. D/S Brack stated his partner usually canceled backups, and he assumed he was going to be canceled. D/S Brack confirmed that is not standard procedures to an in-progress call with a suspect present. D/S Brack confirmed he was talking to his friend during the 11 minutes he did not respond as required.”
Plus, “D/S Brack acknowledged his behavior to the allegations and incidents discussed are not appropriate, nor a positive representation of PBSO. D/S Brack agreed his behavior may discredit or bring embarrassment to PBSO.”
The Internal Affairs investigation report continued with a summary of everything that was described.
In the “Recommended Findings” section, there were seven instances that began with, “A preponderance of evidence does exist to show D/S Joshua Brack violated Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Rule and Regulation…”
The Internal Affairs investigator found there were seven Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office rules and regulations he did break: standard of conduct, neglect of duty (2x), improper conduct offenses (3x), and dissemination of information.
Brack was not found to have violated any laws. He was fired from the sheriff’s office.
