A Porterville Police officer was arrested Sunday night after he was found in a parked car with a teenage girl, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office said.
Sheriff’s deputies were called out to the area of Jaye Street and Baker Avenue in Porterville for a suspicious vehicle check.
When deputies arrived, they saw two cars parked in front of each other. When the deputy approached one of the car’s, he observed an adult male with a female — later determined to be a teenage girl.
The man in the car identified himself to deputies as, 33-year-old Wayne Martin, an off-duty Porterville Police sergeant.
The 17-years-old girl told deputies that she is an Explorer with the Porterville Police Department.
Sgt. Wayne Martin was arrested, the Sheriff’s Office said.
He was arrested on three counts of annoying or molesting a person under the age of 18. His bail is set at $150,000.
Sheriff Mike Boudreaux has asked Kings County officials to house Martin at the Kings County Jail, as Sgt. Martin likely has people he has arrested in the Tulare County Jail.
Anyone with information should call Sgt. J. Kennedy with the Sheriff*s Investigations Unit at 559-802-9563.
Callers can give information anonymously by calling 559-733-6218.