An officer from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, Brian Housend, aged 42, has found himself under arrest facing charges that include armed kidnapping with a firearm, written threats to kill, and aggravated stalking. In a press briefing, Sheriff T.K. Waters disclosed that the Nassau County Sheriff's Office had apprehended the officer and detailed the grave allegations against him. Housend's arrest is notably the 13th such incident involving a member of the agency in 2024 alone, as reported by First Coast News reported.
At the conference, Sheriff Waters highlighted the "serious and deplorable" nature of the accusations leveled at the officer and confirmed that Housend is suspended and faces termination proceedings. Although specifics of Housend's misconduct were not disclosed, Waters affirmed solidarity with the victim and reiterated that no one, regardless of the badge they wield, stood above the law, as per News4JAX reported. The claim is that the accused had apparently been engaged in this menacing behavior, stemming from a dissolved relationship with the victim.
Details from a heavily redacted arrest warrant suggest that the tumultuous relationship between Housend and the woman in question involved him using a firearm to intimidate and allegedly harm her. The warrant includes disturbing exchanges that were sent by the woman to Housend, one in which she refers to an incident where she was threatened and another detailing Housend's menacing conduct with a firearm, according to News4JAX.
Records reveal that Housend, hired initially on October 31, 2005, had prior incidents that brought him under internal affairs scrutiny, though none previously led to termination. His career also included a stint during which he left the JSO to pursue a law degree, still being an active member of the Florida Bar. Now facing the possibility of life in prison if convicted of armed kidnapping, Housend is currently being held on a $1 million bond. Meanwhile, further details regarding the case remain under the jurisdiction of the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office.
