A sheriff’s deputy named Florida’s ‘Law Enforcement Officer of the Year’ in 2016 has been arrested and kicked off the force after authorities found dog feces, illegal drugs and loaded weapons scattered around his home.
Cops were called to the home Brevard County Sheriff’s Deputy Nick Worthy, 29, shares with his girlfriend Rachel Trexler, 32, Wednesday night, after neighbors heard gunshots and a woman screaming.
When officers arrived on the scene, they knocked on the door but no one answered. They got a search warrant the following morning, and broke into the home – finding Worthy with Trexler inside with their two-year-old child and three dogs.
Nick Worthy was arrested and fired from the Brevard County Sheriff’s Department on Thursday. The 29-year-old is pictured leaving jail on Thursday
Worthy’s girlfriend Rachel Trexler, 32 (pictured), was also arrested after cops found drugs and loaded weapons in the couple’s home
Not only did they find evidence of the gunshots that neighbors heard, but they found illegal drugs and loaded weapons in plain sight inside the home.
On top of all that, the home was in ‘completely disarray’. Sheriff Wayne Ivey described it as ‘extremely disgusting’.
‘What was found inside was absolutely disgusting and deplorable,’ Ivey said in a press conference. ‘The house was in complete disarray. These were conditions no one should have been living in, especially not someone in a profession such as ours or someone that has a small child.’
Officers found small amounts of marijuana and cocaine, drug paraphernalia, two loaded and unsecured firearms, dog feces, trash and litter throughout the house.
Worthy and his girlfriend were immediately taken into custody and charged with child neglect, possession of cocaine and marijuana under 20 grams and possession of paraphernalia.
Cops were called to the deputy’s house in Viera Wednesday night after getting reports of shots fired and a woman screaming
When they served a search warrant, they found Worthy and his family living in ‘deplorable’ conditions. Above, investigators bring evidence out of the home on Thursday
They could face further charges if cops are able to confirm a domestic assault occurred.
Their toddler was placed in the care of the Department of Children and Families and the dogs were turned over to BCSO’s Animal Services unit.
Worthy was immediately fired after his arrest. He had served with the sheriff’s office since 2012.
While Sheriff Ivey said Worthy had been the subject of internal investigations before, he would not go into detail about those cases.
By all accounts, Worthy was an otherwise upstanding officer. He was named Brevard County ‘Deputy of the Year’ in 2015 and Florida’s ‘Law Enforcement Officer of the Year’ in 2016.
Dog feces, illegal drugs, and loaded weapons were found scattered around the home – where Worthy and his girlfriend live with a two-year-old child. The couple are often pictured with two children on Facebook, but only one child was at the residence at the time
Worthy and his girlfriend, Rachel Trexler, were arrested and charged with child neglect, drug possession and drug paraphernalia possession (the couple pictured left and right)
Worthy’s award for Deputy of the Year came after he and two other deputies saved the life of a man who was the victim of an arson attempt in February 2015. The following month, Worthy was shot at while responding to another call.
‘I could not be more proud of Deputy Nick Worthy for everything he does to protect our community and his heroic life saving actions,’ Ivey said at the time. ‘He is a shining example of dedication to protecting our citizens with compassion, professionalism and courage.’
In addition to his law enforcement career, Worthy was a sergeant in the Army Rangers and served four tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.
He was awarded the Bronze Star medal for his actions in Afghanistan.
Both Worthy and his girlfriend bonded out of jail on Thursday.
Worthy was named Brevard County Deputy of the Year in 2015 and Florida Law Enforcement Officer of the Year in 2016. He’s pictured left and right getting the Deputy of the Year award
Worthy is pictured above in a video recorded after he won Florida Law Enforcement Officer of the Year