NewsState

Actions

Miami-Dade police lieutenant accused of molesting young girl

Posted at 8:50 AM, Sep 14, 2018
and last updated 2018-09-14 10:20:14-04

A Miami-Dade police officer was arrested Thursday amid allegations he molested an underage girl.

Lt. Braulio Gonzalez was arrested as a result of an ongoing investigation, Miami-Dade Police Director Juan Perez said in a statement.

"Detectives from our Special Victims Bureau arrested a member of our agency. To say that I am shocked and disturbed at these serious allegations is an understatement," the statement read. "As I have said before, no one is above the law and I offer the victim in the case, my assurance of our commitment to a thorough investigation."

The Miami Herald reported that the 44-year-old Gonzalez was a member of the department's Special Response Team. He was charged with four counts of lewd and lascivious molestation of a child, and armed kidnapping.

An arrest warrant said the girl told a psychologist she was fondled repeatedly by Gonzalez when she was between the ages of eight and 10.

The warrant also said Gonzalez pointed a gun at the girl's head and threatened to kill her sibling unless she went with him to another room.

The warrant says the victim and the lieutenant have not had a relationship in five years. The Florida Department of Children and Families said they have opened a child protective investigation on the case.

Gonzalez was being held without bond Thursday, jail records showed. Attorney information wasn't available.

Courtesy of our news partner at NBC Miami