A veteran of the force is accused of sexual misconduct with a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old. Gilroy police say the crimes occurred in the police officer's house, which is in a quiet suburban neighborhood.
The San Jose Mercury News, is reporting that the officer provided alcohol to minors at parties in his home and had sex with them.
The 44-year-old San Jose police officer has been under investigation for several years. At 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, as the officer showed up for work at the San Jose Police Department, he was arrested.
"They took one of our officers, Officer Patrick D'Arrigo into custody on a $100,000 warrant, charging him on three counts of child molest. He has been booked in the Santa Clara County main jail," said San Jose police spokesperson Sgt. Jason Dwyer.
And Gilroy police fear there could be more victims.
"It's possible, given the circumstances regarding the alleged misconduct, that there may be additional victims in the community or nearby. We're asking that people who may be a victim to please contact the police department," said Gilroy Police Sgt. Chad Gallacinao.
Reaction among fellow officers was understandably devastating.
"It's been a hard year for us. We've laid off officers, officers took a pay cut here. Now we're dealing with having to have the negative stigma attached with one of our own who's being accused of doing some pretty heinous things," said Dwyer.
D'Arrigo is one of two San Jose police officers accused of covering up a 2008 DUI crash involving a former police officer. He was fired and later rehired last year.
D'Arrigo was released on $100,000 bail and is expected to be arraigned later this week.
