Police officer allegedly touched woman during traffic stop

A Jacksonville police officer is the 14th sheriff's office employee arrested this year after being accused of inappropriately touching a woman during a traffic stop.

Officer Reginald Reynard McKinney, 46, was arrested Tuesday on charges of false imprisonment and assault, Sheriff TK Waters said during a news conference Wednesday.

McKinney, who has been with the Sheriff's Office for two years, previously served as a Clay County deputy for four years. He resigned, Waters said.

The sheriff said a woman complained after McKinney stopped her on Sept. 4.

“During this encounter, McKinney began to comment on the driver's attractive appearance and even asked for her phone number,” Waters said. “After the traffic stop was completed, he instructed the driver to follow him in her vehicle to a nearby location, which she did. Once there, he continued to make personal advances to the driver and made inappropriate physical contact with her.”

The McKinney police report states that the woman was stopped for a suspended license and was told she was “perfectly fine.”

The sheriff said the officer also violated police regulations by turning off his body camera during the traffic stop.

The police report states that the woman was afraid that McKinney had turned off his body camera. “The victim stated that due to his statement, the time of night and the remote location, she felt she had to comply with his request,” the report states. “The victim stated that this was the only reason she gave him her phone number and followed him to the location on Cynthia Street.”

McKinney's arrest came about two weeks after Jacksonville Police Officer Brian Roger Housend, 42, was arrested in Nassau County on charges of armed kidnapping, aggravated stalking and making written death threats, according to his arrest warrant.

The warrant refers to a “persistent pattern of threats” that a woman had received from Housend, including threatening emails.

Housend was suspended and placed on unpaid leave. Waters said he would request his termination from the department.