KEY WEST, FL — A 21-year-old former Key West Police Department emergency dispatcher has been arrested on an array of felony charges after digital forensic teams uncovered child exploitation, artificial intelligence-altered media, and bestiality files on his electronic devices.
Jacob Rookey, of Cudjoe Key, was taken into custody on Thursday following an extensive multi-agency investigation. At the time the illicit digital trading allegedly occurred, Rookey was employed as a 911 telecommunicator for the city. Key West Police officials confirmed his brief employment was terminated in January.
Arrest Charges
Rookey faces a total of 18 felony counts, reflecting the diverse and severe nature of the material recovered:
- 7 counts: Promotion of animal sexual abuse material
- 3 counts: Promotion of AI-generated sexual images
- 3 counts: Possession of AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM)
- 2 counts: Solicitation of child sexual abuse material
- 1 count each: Promotion, possession, and electronic transmission of child sexual abuse material
Snapchat Tip Initiates Probe
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) launched the investigation in September 2025 after receiving a localized “Cybertip” from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The report, originally flagged and submitted by the social media platform Snapchat, indicated that an account had transmitted a video depicting the sexual abuse of a minor.
Cybercrime agents traced the digital footprint of the account directly to Rookey. A subsequent forensic analysis of his active accounts revealed a deeper network of illicit files, including images altered or manufactured using generative artificial intelligence tools.
Tactical Raid and Enforcement
On May 14, 2026, the FDLE Special Operations Team, alongside the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, executed a definitive search warrant at Rookey’s Cudjoe Key residence. Tactical units seized numerous computers, hard drives, and mobile devices for deep digital processing.
Rookey was arrested at the scene and booked into the Monroe County Jail. The state level enforcement operation received investigative support from federal partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
State Vows Maximum Prosecution
Because the crimes crossed local judicial lines, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier’s Office of Statewide Prosecution has taken control of the case.
“Trading in material that involves the sexual exploitation of children and animals is what keeps the sick market for this material alive,” Attorney General Uthmeier said in a statement. “We will seek the maximum punishment under the law for predators who perpetuate this abusive trade.”
FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass used the high-profile arrest of a public safety employee to urge parental vigilance, pointing families toward digital safety resources on the state’s Secure Florida platform. The forensic investigation into Rookey’s seized hardware remains active, and additional charges could be added as analysis continues.