A Monroe County sheriff's deputy has found himself on the wrong side of the law after an altercation at a popular Key West bar. Deputy Jesus Abdiel Rojas Burgos, 28, was arrested on a misdemeanor battery charge early Monday morning following an incident that unfolded at Rick’s Bar/Durty Harry's on Duval Street, as per the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. The confrontation transpired around 1 a.m., where Burgos is alleged to have inappropriately touched or grabbed a woman against her will, NBC Miami reports.
The victim recounted to the Key West Police that the incident began when she was speaking with another woman at the bar, and Burgos asked her for the woman's phone number. When she suggested that he should try to quickly ask for it himself and expressed a desire to discontinue their conversation, Burgos allegedly grabbed her arm as she attempted to leave. According to Local 10 News, surveillance footage reviewed by police corroborated the victim's story.
Following the woman's complaint, security personnel at the venue were met with resistance from Burgos, who reportedly became "argumentative" and refused to vacate the premises. When faced with the potential of police involvement, Burgos is said to have asserted his status as a law enforcement officer, stating, "I am a cop." These events escalated as security flagged down a nearby Key West police officer, only to witness Burgos present a clenched fist and engage in a heated verbal exchange. A friend of Burgos intervened, diffusing the situation momentarily by leading him away from the scene, as reported by Local 10 News.
Nevertheless, Burgos was soon detained by authorities, who had to confine him to a vehicle as he began to loudly "bang, kick and scream"—a commotion intense enough to attract the concern of passerby. Despite invoking his Miranda rights upon arrest, the charges against Burgos stand firm, with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office reiterating the gravity of the situation. Sheriff Rick Ramsay emphasized the department's commitment to transparency and accountability, asserting, "I take these incidents very seriously, will investigate this matter fully, and take the appropriate action," as he proclaimed in a news release covered by both NBC Miami and Local 10 News.
As of Monday afternoon, Burgos, who had been on the force less than a year, remained detained in the Monroe County Sheriff's Office Key West jail facility.
