A former Grapevine patrol officer is under investigation on suspicion of indecency with a child at his Roanoke home, while another Grapevine patrol officer remained on leave, accused of failing to report an incidence of family violence, in which a father reportedly punched his daughter at Grapevine Mills mall, authorities said Monday.
No criminal charges have been filed against either of the officers.
In the indecency case, a 14-year-old girl alerted a parent who contacted Roanoke police in late July, Roanoke officials said Monday.
The officer resigned Aug. 15 as Grapevine police began an internal investigation, Grapevine police said Monday.
The 47-year-old officer, who is not being identified because he has not been arrested or charged, had been with the department for seven years.
The officer was assigned to patrol, and he did not have any contact with children as part of his regular duties, Grapevine police Sgt. Kim Smith said Monday.
Roanoke police began an investigation July 22 after getting the report from the girl.
"The report was that a juvenile had been furnished alcohol and she had been touched," Roanoke police Sgt. Chris Almonrode said Monday.
As of Monday, there was one juvenile accuser and several juvenile witnesses, Almonrode said.
Roanoke police, armed with warrants, searched the former officer’s home Aug. 26. They confiscated two cellphones and two computers from the home.
Secret Service agents are conducting tests on the electronic equipment, Almonrode said.
The FBI, Secret Service and other federal agencies provide investigation services in Tarrant County to local law enforcement agencies, authorities said.
The former officer faces charges of indecency with a child by sexual contact and providing alcohol to minors, Almonrode said Monday.
Resignation
The veteran officer was placed on administrative leave with pay July 23 after Roanoke police contacted Grapevine police officials about the criminal investigation.
Grapevine police began an internal investigation Aug. 11, and he resigned Aug. 15, noting that he was leaving because of the allegations, authorities said Monday.
"The allegations against him is not a representation of this department," Smith said. "We want to be known as a professional department."
Grapevine incident
On July 12, officer Gus Barrera, 30, was dispatched to a report of shoplifting at Grapevine Mills mall.
According to Grapevine police reports, store employees called the parents of a 16-year-old girl.
The father was so upset with his daughter that he struck her with his hands and threatened her with a pipe, the report states.
When he arrived, Barrera found that the 16-year-old and her parents had left, but employees told him about the assault and voiced concern over the incident.
Grapevine police did not learn about the assault until store employees contacted authorities a few days later.
Barrera is accused of failing to make a family violence report on the incident.
Police arrested Sung Shik Choi, 43, of Fort Worth on Aug. 11 on suspicion of aggravated assault. He posted $50,000 bail Aug. 13 and remained free Monday.
Officer on leave
Barrera, a seven-year veteran, was placed on administrative leave with pay Aug. 13.
Barrera remained on leave as of Monday.
No comments:
Post a Comment