Florida deputy charged with extortion

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Oct. 6 (UPI) -- A deputy cited for taking cash to ignore marijuana plants is the fourth Broward County, Fla., sheriff's official accused of misconduct this year, officials say.

Broward Sheriff Al Lamberti says there may be more charges against deputies in the near future, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported Tuesday.

Lamberti said Manuel Silva, 34, promised to turn a blind eye toward a marijuana grow-house in exchange for cash, and indicated the agency's Division of Internal Affairs is investigating allegations Silva may have had accomplices on the force.

"By no means is this over," Lamberti told reporters. "We believe he was not acting alone, and we're going to root out the other people who may have been involved."

The newspaper said Silva, a 9-year veteran of the force, was being held without bond at main Broward County jail in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., charged with extortion, armed burglary and drug possession. Lamberti alleges that Silva flashed a gun and a badge while demanding entry to the home of Orlando Gutierrez, 38, after after finding marijuana plants, said he wouldn't arrest him if Gutierrez paid him cash.