FMPD officer resigns over ‘inappropriate’ texts with teen

FORT MYERS, Fla.- A 25-year-old Fort Myers Police Department officer resigned after an investigation revealed he had a texting relationship with a teen that was deemed “inappropriate.”

An internal investigation began in March into Matthew Vagi’s text conversations with the 17-year-old he met while on duty at Coronado High School.

“Huge issues, I mean it was very inappropriate on every level, regardless of his age or duty status,” said Fort Myers Interim Police Chief Dennis Eads. “It was very difficult not to just fire him right then.”

The teen’s mom filed a complaint, saying she knew the teen and police officer texted back and forth and she even saw Vagi drive her daughter around in his patrol car.

“I don’t think either one of them felt there was anything wrong with it, but I did,” Eads said.

Vagi and the teen exchanged more than 800 text messages over the course of three months, Eads added.

A 38-page internal investigation report reveals the officer texted the teen at times while on duty and had conversations with her about drugs, alcohol, and even the 17-year-old’s sex life.

Vagi resigned before he could be fired, Fort Myers police said. The department adds the case could be picked up by the Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission which would then decide whether or not to strip Vagi of his law enforcement certification.