An Oviedo police officer
faces child molestation charges after accusations that he inappropriately touched a female family member, according to police.
An Oviedo Police officer was arrested Sunday on child molestation charges after accusations that he inappropriately touched a female family member, according to the police department.
Seminole County deputies arrested Officer Joseph Meyer, 42, and charged him with six counts of lewd and lascivious molestation of a child between the ages of 12 and 16 and one count of lewd and lascivious molestation of a child under 12 years of age, said Oviedo Police Chief Dale Coleman.
Meyer admitted to an unidentified relative that he “has cuddled with [the victim] in her bed and has fondled and groped her breasts,” the arrest report said.
The victim confirmed the account during an interview with the child protection team and said there were multiple incidents that began when she was 12-years-old that occurred when she stayed over at Meyer’s house every other weekend.
“It takes a lot of courage to come forth on a crime like this, especially at a young age,” Coleman said.
The police chief told reporters at a news conference that he felt “sickened” when he learned of the charges against Meyer.
“We take this very seriously,” Coleman said. “I know that public trust is easily lost … I want people to know that we do not condone this at all and that we stand for a full and complete investigation.”
Meyer declined to speak to investigators about the allegations after his arrest and requested a lawyer, according to the report.
The 15-year veteran’s service record includes multiple awards and accomplishments, the department said, but Meyer also has a history of disciplinary action for incidents involving a Taser.
“He’s had some minor issues — nothing on a firing offense by any means,” Coleman said.
In November 2014, Meyer received a written censure for misuse of a Taser when he deployed the device on a person he had pulled over driving a motorcycle, according to the department.
“The motorcyclist tried to take off and he tased him as he was taking off,” Coleman said.
In March 2016, Meyer was suspended for 12 hours without pay “for horse playing with his Taser that resulted in a fellow officer receiving a shock,” the police department said.
Meyer has been placed on administrative leave without pay during the criminal and internal investigation of the molestation charges, Coleman said. He is being held at the John E. Polk correctional facility with no bond.