State hospital police officer arrested on suspicion of molesting girl
A state hospital police officers has been arrested by South Gate police on suspicion of molesting a 14-year-old girl, police said.
Mario Estrada, 41, was taken into custody Tuesday after an investigation by the South Gate police found he had an “inappropriate relationship and illegal physical contact” with the girl, Police Capt. Darren Arakawa said.
Arakawa said Estrada began molesting the girl earlier this year. Estrada is a police officer for the California Department of State Hospitals assigned to the Metropolitan State Hospital in Norwalk. He met the girl through family friends, according to investigators.
Estrada was taken into custody shortly before 6 p.m. Tuesday and was being held in the L.A. County jail system in lieu of $15 million.
Arakawa said the investigation is ongoing and it is possible that there are other minor victims who have yet to be identified.
Detectives are planning to present a case to prosecutors Thursday.
Arakawa said anyone with information about Estrada or unidentified victims should contact South Gate Police Det. Scott Guerrero at smguerrero@sogate.org or (323) 563-5464.
ALSO:
Man arrested after allegedly refusing to pay for ‘too rare’ steak
‘Girls Gone Wild’ founder Joe Francis apologizes for jury remarks
Coroner digging up backyard in search of woman missing since 1978
Twitter: @lacrimes| Google+
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
