Virginia deputy fired over ‘disturbing’ social media posts

A sheriff’s deputy in Virginia has been fired after “disturbing comments” appeared from his account on a right-wing social media site, officials have said.

The Prince William County Sheriff’s office said on Saturday they had been notified that “disturbing comments” were being made on “several social media outlets” on Christmas Day by the deputy’s account.

The former deputy has denied making the comments claiming that his account on Parler was hacked, The Washington Post reported.

The office said that the office’s sheriff ordered an Internal Affairs following reports of the posts and the deputy was “terminated from employment" following the conclusion of the investigation.