POLK COUNTY, Fla. (NC NOW) – A former Carolina Panthers player was one of 255 people recently arrested in an undercover operation in Florida.
The operation, dubbed “Fool Around and Find Out,” took place over a nine-day span in Polk County, Fla., and cracked down on human trafficking, child predators and illegal immigration.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd discussed the operation during a news conference on Friday, May 16, and specifically talked about the case of the former Panther, Adarius Taylor.
The 34-year-old Taylor — who previously went by Adarius Glanton — had two stints with Carolina. His first came in 2014 before he returned six years later for the 2020 season.
Jail records showed that upon his May 8 arrest, Taylor was charged with soliciting another for prostitution and negligent child abuse without bodily harm.
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An affidavit showed that he responded to an online “ad” posted by an undercover deputy supposedly advertising prostitution. Taylor allegedly agreed to meet the deputy at a location for a “quick visit.” Shortly after he met the deputy, he was arrested. The affidavit said Taylor left his son in his Ford pickup truck during the encounter.
During Friday’s news conference, Sheriff Judd called out the former NFL linebacker for both falling for the operation and for bringing the boy.
“The dude made a lot of mistakes,” Judd said. “He not only brought his 6-year-old child to the operation, but he left his 6-year-old child in the car when he went to do the operation. The 6-year-old child has a lot of mental issues and he left this child alone that shouldn’t have never been left alone because of medical conditions.”
The sheriff said the Florida Department of Children and Families found the mother of Taylor’s child and turned the child over to her. The child was said to have been “doing fine.”
“Obviously he must’ve hit one too many people as a linebacker because his brain cells are scrambled,” Judd said. “He shouldn’t have shown up in the first place, but to leave that child…my goodness.”
Records showed Taylor was released from jail on May 11 after he posted a $6,000 total bond.
Taylor has not played in the NFL since his second stint with the Panthers. In between his two runs with Carolina, he played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cleveland Browns.
During his seven-year NFL career, Taylor played in 88 games and made 140 tackles.
Taylor is a native of Bartow, Fla., which is in Polk County.
***Image Credit: Polk County Sheriff’s Office (Florida)
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