Former Deputy Charged In Investigation That Led To Firing

Port Orange, FL - A former Volusia Sheriff’s Office (VSO) sergeant is now facing a charge that came from the investigation that got him fired in the first place. According to deputies, 37-year-old Jacob Kraker was arrested by the Port Orange Police Department (POPD) Thursday (March 18th) on a Sheriff’s Office warrant that charged him with perjury. Investigators say the charges come from an investigation into an off-duty incident in July 2020. In that incident, Kraker, who was out of uniform and working as a security guard at a Port Orange apartment complex, used a neck hold on a young male during an incident at a pool; an encounter that was captured by a surveillance camera. During the investigation, Kraker alleged that the young man head-butted him. But, footage from the surveillance camera showed that no head-butting occurred. Investigators additionally asked Kraker if he used any kind of neck hold,  or a variation thereof, to which he said no. The video as well as witness statements further contradicted his statement. Kraker was ultimately fired by Sheriff Mike Chitwood in September 2020 after the investigation determined that Kraker violated several agency policies, including the unlawful use of deadly force. According to the Volusia Sheriff’s Office manual: "A neck hold is considered deadly force; VSO does not train in this technique and does not authorize its use." After the internal investigation wrapped up, VSO submitted their findings to the State Attorney’s Office, which resulted in the issuance of an arrest warrant. Kraker was eventually arrested and charged, but he was later released from jail after posting a $10,000 bond.