ORANGE PARK, FL — A 50-year-old youth basketball coach and elementary school substitute teacher is behind bars following a high-stakes tactical raid at his apartment by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team and regional cybercrime task forces.
Tyrone Julius Ferguson was arrested on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. He faces multiple severe felony counts involving the possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and animal abuse media.
SWAT Team Executes Wells Road Raid
The arrest was the culmination of an extensive, multi-agency digital forensics investigation. On June 2, tactical operators with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) SWAT team, the Special Operations Division, and special agents from the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force converged on an apartment complex located at 1863 Wells Road in Orange Park.
Ferguson, the sole occupant of the targeted apartment, exited the front door as tactical units moved in and was detained without incident. While forensic technicians systematically processed the apartment and seized various internet-connected devices, Ferguson was transported to police headquarters for questioning by CCSO Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) detectives.
Based on the illegal files uncovered during the preliminary forensic triage of his hardware, investigators developed immediate probable cause to book Ferguson into the Clay County Jail on:
- Four Counts: Possessing/Controlling/Intentionally Viewing Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM)
- Two Counts: Possession of Animal Sexual Abuse Material
Suspect Had Direct Access to Local Schoolchildren
The investigation has sent shockwaves through the local community after detectives verified Ferguson’s employment background. Investigators revealed that Ferguson was employed by a private staffing firm and actively worked as a substitute teacher, floating across various local campuses servicing elementary and middle school-aged children. Furthermore, Ferguson operated within the community as a youth basketball coach.
Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook issued a stern statement regarding the arrest of an individual positioned in a high place of public trust:
“The Clay County Sheriff’s Office will continue to hold those victimizing our most vulnerable accountable — every time, no exceptions. The safety, dignity and future of our children depend on swift and unwavering justice.”
Public Appeal for Information
Because Ferguson had extensive, unsupervised access to hundreds of local children through school networks and recreational sports leagues, the Sheriff’s Office considers this an active, widening investigation. Detectives are aggressively working to determine if any local children were directly victimized or filmed.
Authorities are making a widespread public appeal to parents, school staff, and league organizers. Anyone with information regarding Ferguson, his interactions with students, or his online activities is strongly urged to contact Detective Eva Solis immediately at esolis@claysheriff.com or via phone at 904-264-6512.
Anonymous tips can also be logged via the SaferWatch mobile application, or by calling First Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.