GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. – James Will Padgett, a lieutenant with the Clay County Fire Department, was arrested Sunday after an undercover drug investigation, according to the Clay County Sheriff's Office.
According to the arrest report, Padgett, 40, was arrested after an undercover investigation into the sale of a half gram of heroin on Branscomb Road in Green Cove Springs on Jan. 14. Padgett was arrested in a traffic stop on Leonard Taylor Parkway.
The address listed in the arrest report as the location of the drug deal appears to be an empty building. There is a sign for a hair salon, which appeared to be closed, and a sign for office space.
Records show that Padgett has worked for the Clay County Fire Department since 1995. Fire Chief Lorin Mock sent a statement Monday afternoon saying Padgett was removed from duty pending the outcome of the criminal investigation.
"The county has zero tolerance for the type of misconduct alleged in the criminal charges. The county will thoroughly investigate this matter and, based on the results of the investigation, will apply the appropriate disciplinary action, up to an including termination," Mock said.
One of Padgett's neighbors, who declined to give her name, said she doesn't know a lot about him.
"I just know that he's always been very nice when I've seen him out and about and that he is a firefighter," the woman said. "That's really all I know."