Ex-deputy accused of stealing pills will serve year of house arrest

A former Palm Beach County Sheriff’s deputy who stole prescription pills from a West Boynton Beach residence two days after Hurricane Irma will serve a year of house arrest.

Jason Cooke was caught in the act on home surveillance video 90 minutes after paramedics took the dying 85-year-old homeowner to the hospital.

Originally charged with armed burglary and grand theft, Cooke on Friday in Palm Beach County Circuit Court pleaded to reduced charges of burglary and petit theft.

Under the terms of the plea deal, Cooke also must serve three years probation and surrender his law enforcement certification, court records show.

Three deputies — none of them was Cooke — had gone to Moe Rosoff’s house last October to perform a welfare check. They found Rosoff on the floor of the master bedroom. He died hours later at the hospital.

After paramedics took Rosoff to the hospital, Deputy Cooke later showed up. He had gotten the home-garage code from the sheriff’s dispatch log and used it to creep inside the residence, authorities said.

One of Rosoff’s sons, who had requested that deputies check on his father, watched from North Carolina as Cooke rummaged through his father’s belongings. The security video showed Cooke at the kitchen island pick up at least two containers and put them in his pocket.

Sometime after the burglary, Rosoff’s son handed over the video to the sheriff’s office. A sergeant watched it and recognized Cooke, according to a police report.

Investigators searched Cooke’s patrol car to find 60 pills, including narcotic painkillers, muscle relaxers and other medicine.

Cooke later admitted to taking pills from the counter. He resigned soon after his Oct. 19 arrest.

In court on Friday, Cooke’s lawyer said his client is getting help and is now a different person.