Pirates closer Felipe Vazquez arrested for soliciting a child
Felipe Vazquez, closer for the Pittsburgh Pirates, was arrested in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced that he was arrested for computer pornography — solicitation of a child and one count of providing obscene material to minors.
While Vazquez was arrested in Pittsburgh, the warrant came from Lee County, Florida. Investigators served a warrant on Vazquez’s Pittsburgh apartment on Tuesday morning.
The details of Vazquez’s alleged crimes are distressing and disgusting. According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Vazquez allegedly had a relationship with a young girl that started when she was 13, which continued for several years and included the sending of explicit texts and videos.
FDLE’s investigation began in August of this year after agents obtained information that Vazquez had a reported sexual relationship with a 13-year old female victim who resides in Lee County. The victim, now 15 years of age, was continuing to have a relationship with Vazquez via text messaging and received a video in July from him in which he is shown performing a sex act. Additionally, Vazquez allegedly sent the victim text messages suggesting they would meet for sex after his baseball season was over.
Vazquez was denied bond by a judge, and faces four additional charges, including statutory sexual assault and corruption of minors.
MORE BREAKING NEWS: Felipe Vazquez faces four additional charges out of Westmoreland County: Statutory sexual assault, unlawful contact with minor, corruption of minors, and indecent assault of someone less than 16. Late developments continuing to come in. #WTAE pic.twitter.com/4Cq81yaI4B
— David Kaplan (@DKaplanWTAE) September 17, 2019
The Pirates have released a statement about Vazquez’s arrest.
Pirates confirm that the MLB Commissioner's Office has placed Vazquez on administrative leave.
FULL STATEMENT: pic.twitter.com/0HlvXimmdL— James Santelli (@JamesSantelli) September 17, 2019
Vazquez has been placed on administrative leave. He is being held at the Allegheny County Jail and is facing extradition back to Florida. Vazquez’s extradition hearing will take place next Wednesday.
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