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In a troubling case involving a former school resource officer in Jacksonville, Florida, Alexander Capasso is under scrutiny for allegedly engaging in inappropriate conduct with students and attempting to conceal his actions.
The 26-year-old ex-officer from Duval County Public Schools faces serious allegations, as he is accused of interacting with a fake Instagram account created by high school students and subsequently attempting to erase evidence of his actions, according to local authorities.
Capasso has been charged with several offenses, including soliciting or engaging in a romantic relationship with a student, the unlawful use of a communication device, and tampering with evidence. These charges were brought to light by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and are logged in school district records.
The incident reportedly began in early March when three female high school students devised a plan to create a fictitious Instagram profile under the name “Courtney.” They intended to use this account to monitor an ex-boyfriend’s activity. The profile featured a photo of an unknown girl smoking.
Capasso, serving as a school resource officer at the time, allegedly initiated conversation with this fake account on February 26. He discussed topics such as photography and his role at the school before suggesting a meet-up with “Courtney” over the weekend, according to the arrest report.
The students found the conversation inappropriate, blocked him and were called to the dean’s office the next day.
Capasso learned of the meeting, pulled the girls from class and demanded their phones, according to investigators.
He allegedly went through their private photos, deleted screenshots of the chats and permanently erased files from the “recently deleted” folder.
He told them “lie about it” and “don’t tell anyone,” leaving the students feeling intimidated by his authority, the report states.
“They’re teenagers,” First Coast News crime and safety expert Mark Baughman said. “So here they are listening to an officer who they’ve seen at school in uniform that’s supposed to be enforcing Florida state statute, safeguarding students in the school, doing what the school administration was working as a sworn police officer to serve and protect. He turned it into … a hunting ground for young female students.”
The Duval County school district emailed parents at Atlantic Coast, Fletcher and Mandarin high schools March 27, noting Capasso had worked those campuses on an interim basis before resigning on March 2 amid the investigation.
Further investigation uncovered Capasso had been messaging a real 18-year-old female student since at least November via Instagram and text, including romantic conversations and an invitation to a bar, records show. He also visited her at her job at a gas station.
“He’s in a professional position of authority, and they’re students,” Baughman said. “He’s supposed to be looking out for their well-being while they’re at school and not have any other contact or relationship with them other than that.”
Capasso told the student to delete messages and got “very granular and specific” about what to erase “so it wouldn’t support the charge that he probably saw coming,” Baughman added.
During questioning, Capasso initially denied improper contact but later admitted some details, calling messages “satire” while agreeing the conduct seemed inappropriate, the report states.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office did not release Capasso’s mugshot, citing a Florida public records exemption law. Capasso was released from Duval County Jail. His next court date is April 16. JSO says while the investigation continues, if anyone has any tips, contact 904-630-0500.
First Coast News also contacted Capasso, but received no response.