PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) — A Florida police officer has been arrested after authorities say he had sexual intercourse with a partner without disclosing that he is HIV-positive, a felony offense under state law.
Officer Pierce Cotton, 32, of the Pensacola Police Department was taken into custody Friday and charged under Florida Statute 384.24(2), which makes it illegal for someone who knows they are infected with HIV to have sex without informing their partner and obtaining consent.
According to police and jail records, Cotton was booked into the Escambia County Jail and later released the same day after posting a $10,000 bond.
The Pensacola Police Department confirmed the arrest and said Cotton has been placed on administrative leave while the department conducts an internal affairs investigation. Officials said no additional details about the case or the alleged victim have been released.
Florida law states that a person who knows they have HIV and has been informed the disease can be transmitted through sexual intercourse must disclose their status before engaging in sex, otherwise they may face criminal charges. Violations are classified as a third-degree felony.
Cotton joined the Pensacola Police Department in August 2020, according to department records. A previous department social media post noted he had received a Life Saving Award in 2023 for helping resuscitate a drowning victim at a hotel pool.
Because of Florida public records exemptions related to law enforcement personnel, Cotton’s mugshot has not been publicly released, authorities said.
The investigation remains ongoing.
