Deputy Stalked Ex-Girlfriend, Faces Charges: Manatee Sheriff

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — A deputy with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office has been fired after being charged with stalking an ex-girlfriend.

William Fickey, 27, who is on active duty with the U.S. Army Reserves, was arrested Friday morning in Bradenton, according to a news release from the agency.

MCSO said its internal affairs department received a complaint Monday from the victim’s mother that Fickey was stalking her daughter.

Investigators learned that while he was on military deployment, he repeatedly contacted his ex-girlfriend, despite knowing that she didn’t want to hear from him.

The victim and her family told the sheriff’s office that their relationship began in March of 2019 and became “unhealthy.” She broke up with Fickey in October of 2021.

Over the next several months, he continued to reach out to his ex-girlfriend and made threatening statements.

“Fickey did not respect the wishes of this victim, he ignored her numerous requests to leave her alone, and as a result, he willingly broke the law,” Sheriff Rick Wells said. “His actions are appalling, and his behavior is not expectable conduct for an employee of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.”

He was hired by MCSO in January of 2020 and had been working as a bailiff prior to his deployment in August of 2021. An internal investigation and an active criminal investigation are ongoing, the agency said.