Former Volusia County Sheriff Sergeant Charged with Perjury. Written by Kristen Schmutz Belden Communications News

Written by Kristen Schmutz

Belden Communications News

A former Volusia Sheriff’s Office Sergeant was charged with making false statements during an investigation that led to his termination by Sheriff Mike Chitwood last year.

Jacob Kraker, 37, was arrested Thursday by the Port Orange Police Department on a Sheriff’s Office warrant charging him with perjury.

According to a release from the Sheriff’s Office, Kraker’s charges stem from an investigation into an off-duty incident from back in July of 2020. Kraker, was out of uniform and working as a security officer at a Port Orange apartment complex, when he used a neck hold on a young man during an incident at the complex’s pool. The encounter was captured on video by a surveillance camera.

During the investigation, Kraker stated that the young man head-butted him. Based on the incident report, Kraker described the young man’s actions as “throwing his face and head into Kraker’s head making contact.”

The investigation and the surveillance video showed no sign of the young man making any violent action, including a head-butt, towards Kraker.

Kraker was asked by investigators if he used any type of force, specifically a neck hold or any variation of a neck or chokehold. Kraker answered no. Witness statements and the video surveillance proved Kraker’s account of the incident was false.

Internal affairs completed their investigation in August 2020, and the Sheriff’s Office submitted its findings to the State Attorney’s Office for review.

According to the release, the Sheriff’s Office has been working in conjunction with the SAO on this investigation, causing the issuance of an arrest warrant.

Port Orange police arrested Kraker on transporting him to the Volusia County Branch Jail. He was released Thursday evening after posting a $10,000 bond.

The investigation of this case remains open and ongoing.

According to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office General Orders, “A neck hold is considered deadly force; VSO does not train in this technique and does not authorize its use.”

Sheriff Chitwood terminated Kraker back in September of 2020, finding he violated several agency policies, including unlawful use of deadly force.