By Patch Staff
On Tuesday, May 21, detectives from the South Gate Police Department (SGPD) arrested Lynwood resident Mario Estrada, 41, in connection to a number of alleged sex crimes against a minor.
Estrada, a police officer with the California Department of State Hospitals, was currently assigned to the Metropolitan State Hospital in Norwalk, California.
“The investigation has revealed that Estrada befriended the 14 year old victim early in 2013,” said Darren Captain Darren Arakawa of the SGPD in a statement. “This resulted in an inappropriate relationship and illegal physical contact between the suspect and victim.”
Estrada allegedly met the girl through “family and friends,'' and not because of anything related to his place employment, said Arakawa, according to City News Service.
The case is ongoing and the SGPD has officially stated that there exists the possibility of there being more alleged underage victims. The SGPD urges anyone with information to contact Detective Scott Guerrero of the SGPD, at either smguerrero@sogate.org or at (323) 563-5464.
Estrada will be arraigned in Downtown Los Angeles this Thursday morning, and is being held on a $15 million bail.
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