Pasco deputy fired over Snapchat accusations

NEW PORT RICHEY (FOX 13) - A school resource officer from Pasco County has been fired after being accused of inappropriate online contact with students.

Sheriff Chris Nocco identified the deputy as Cpl. Milton Arroyo.  Nocco said a Fivay High School student told an administrator about a conversation they were having on Snapchat, which led to a sheriff’s office investigation.

The sheriff explained that Milton Arroyo asked students if they were into 50-year-old Puerto Rican men.  The sheriff also said Arroyo asked one to send him a picture of her undergarments, asked others to video chat with him in bed, and asked some if they wanted to see pictures of him.

The sheriff said he gave an excuse for why he messaged with the girls.

"As a school resource officer, he saw there were a lot of students that were exchanging inappropriate pictures to each other, he was actually using this as a teaching moment because if one of these students had sent a picture, he was going to use this as a teaching moment for them. Obviously everybody at home, same as us, we don't buy that story."

After a months-long investigation, Arroyo has been fired.

"Someone who does this does not deserve to be wearing the badge and the gun," the sheriff said.

Arroyo will be facing a charge of violating a law enforcement database.