PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- A Port St. Lucie man is under arrest after his 4-year-old daughter allegedly made disturbing revelations to her baby sitter.
Police received a 911 call on Friday, September 25, 2015 from a Port St. Lucie woman who said she was a baby sitter for the girl.
She described that she and two other people were in a car parked in a parking lot eating lunch with the child, when the girl asked the other occupants of the car if they wanted to touch her like her daddy does (using more graphic language than is used here).
One of the witnesses says the girl gestured towards her crotch when making the statement.
The baby sitter says the girl has a cell phone which is provided by her father and the victim shows off her photos daily.
The baby sitter says she saw a graphic photo showing the victim nude. When the baby sitter asked who took the photo, the girl responded, "my daddy."
The woman told police she also saw text messages from phone numbers with no name associated asking for more pictures.
Police confiscated the phone as evidence and obtained a search warrant for the phone.
A forensic search of the phone did reveal a photo of the victim nude and exposing her genitals. Police say there were also photos, prior to the victim's photo, of a baby doll set up in the same position as the victim.
Because of the allegation of sexual battery, the victim was sent to the child protection team for a physical exam, which came back with negative findings.
A police officer and detective went to speak with the victim's father, 53-year-old Scott Petz.
When Petz was shown a blocked out photo of the victim, he told police that the victim got out of the bath and was holding a doll when she asked him to take the picture.
Police pointed out that the victim had dry hair, was not holding a doll, and had dirty feet in the photo.
According to a warrant affidavit, Petz said the photo was innocent and wanted to show them his cell phone.
Petz directed the police officer and detective into his house so they could view the contents of his phone.
Police were not able to see any incriminating photo of the victim in his phone at that time.
Petz went on to say the photos were innocent and not meant for anybody to see but his daughter.
Police say Petz claimed that he did not know when the photo was taken and said it was over a year ago.
Police informed Petz that the photo was actually taken earlier this month. He said he did not know when it was taken because it didn't mean anything.
Petz was placed under arrest and is facing one felony count of cruelty to a child/promoting a sexual performance by a child.
