Pasco Sheriff Investigating Own Office After 2nd Arrest Of Deputy

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL – A former Pasco County Sheriff’s deputy who was fired in February for inappropriate sexual conduct is now facing charges of tampering with evidence.

During a press conference Friday, March 16, Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said the latest arrest of Joseph Mercado, 25, points to a systemic problem in District 1 that’s now being investigated by the internal affairs division of the sheriff’s office.

Nocco said the latest complaints against Mercado came to light after he was fired and arrested on Feb. 28 for masturbating in front of a woman. (See related story).

Mercado is accused of going to the woman’s house on Feb. 15, masturbating in her driveway and then placing semen on her neck, breast and face. He was charged simple battery.

“What happened after that is that people started coming forward with information to the sheriff’s office and the command staff about things that happened before that were not handled properly,” Nocco said.

Mercado was a patrol deputy assigned to District 1, which runs west of U.S. 41 and north of Ridge Road to the Hernando County line. The District 1 Operations Center is located at 7432 Little Road in New Port Richey.

According to Nocco, a complaint was filed against Mercado in December after he reportedly threw a bag containing evidence including syringes and a spoon with crack cocaine residue over the back fence of a home belonging to a man who is on felony probation for drug offenses.

The bag belonged to another man being held at the Land O’ Lakes Detention Center for drug offenses.

When the resident filed a complaint, Nocco said the command staff at District 1 failed to investigate the complaint or forward it to the major crimes or internal affairs units.

Sheriff’s Cpt. James Steffens, commander of District 1, has since resigned and District 1 has a new commander, said Nocco.

Nocco said there is no excuse for not investigating the complaint and he said he does not know why the captain chose not to pursue it.

“It is an indication of a systemic failure in District 1 to do the right thing,” he said. “We will make sure we do everything possible to discipline ourselves and hold ourselves accountable.”

Nocco said he doesn't know why Mercado threw the bag over the homeowner’s fence. A neighbor saw him do it and told the homeowner who checked his home's surveillance video camera. The camera caught Mercado throwing the bag.

“It’s not clear at this time why he felt it was a good idea to throw it,” Nocco said. “I don’t know if it was laziness or what it was. I know he committed a crime in our eyes.”

He said the homeowner, who is attempting to turn his life around, felt as if he was being set up.

“I promise you, we are never going to set someone up,” Nocco said. “Unfortunately, our honesty and trust can be shattered by one individual.”

He added that Mercado is under investigation for at least one other criminal offense though there may be more as internal affairs digs deeper.

“I can imagine there’s probably going to be a few more,” he said.

He added that the deputies in his office have expressed support for the internal review now being conducted.

“Our deputies recognize there have been failures and are nodding affirmatively and thanking us for taking action,” he said.

Video via Pasco Sheriff's Office

(For more local news from Florida, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Tampa Patch. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here.)