A Miami-Dade police officer was arrested by his own department after being accused of molesting children, according to this arrest report.
The 40-year-old officer, Daniel Ramos-Aviles, was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correction Facility on Monday night.
He faces several charges, including three counts of sexual battery on a minor, two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation of a child less than 12 years of age, and two counts of lewd and lascivious exhibition on a child under 16 years of age.
As of Tuesday, he was being held without bond.
Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge Mindy Glazer has ordered Ramos-Aviles to have no contact with the three victims and to stay at least 500 feet away from their homes and places of employment. He was also ordered to surrender any firearms and prohibited from taking any drugs.
On Tuesday, Miami-Dade Police Interim Director Stephanie V. Daniels released a statement in response to the allegations.
“The privilege to be a law enforcement officer means the oath we took and the badge we wear represents integrity, trust, and the honor to be the protectors and peacekeepers of our community,” she said in the statement.
“I am appalled to know that as a result of an investigation, detectives from our Special Victims Bureau arrested a member of this agency. The Miami-Dade Police Department will not tolerate this behavior, and as is customary, the department will assist and cooperate with the judicial process.”
Second report within a week
Just last week another South Florida law enforcement officer was accused of an inappropriate sexual relationship with a minor.
Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony announced on Wednesday that one of his deputies is currently under investigation for allegedly sending sexually charged texts to a 17-year-old girl he met while on duty when he was responding to a domestic violence call.
The officer, 35-year-old Deputy Jemiah Thomas, was arrested and suspended without pay as the investigation continues. He was released from jail the same day on a $4,000 bond, but ordered to wear an ankle GPS monitoring device.
