Updated: Officer accused of sex with minor
A Cape Coral police officer surrendered to police Wednesday and was charged with two counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor
following at least two alleged sexual encounters with a then-16-year-old girl late last year.
Casey M. Ortiz, 34,an eight-year veteran of the force, was contacted by police after a warrant was approved by Judge Maria Gonzalez. Ortiz
came to the Cape Coral Police Department where he turned himself in to detectives.
Ortiz was employed by the Cape Coral police department in January 2006.
On Feb. 2, parents of the teen contacted the department to file a report alleging that their daughter had engaged in sexual activity with a Cape Coral police officer.
The teen was interviewed by detectives on Feb. 4, and a week later detectives executed a search warrant at the home of Ortiz.
Ortiz, who was at the Cape Coral Police Department at that time, was also served with a “body warrant” at the station.
The investigation stemmed from actions alleged to have taken place over several weeks, said Dana Coston, police spokesperson.
The actions reportedly took place between September and the beginning of November over the course of three unauthorized police ride-alongs, and began following a call for police service at the teen’s home, Coston said.
Forensics has determined there had been cell phone contact between the teen and Ortiz during the time in question.
Ortiz was subsequently relieved of duty, according to the prepared statement.
About a decade ago there was an unrelated incident when an officer was found to have had a sexual encounter with a former Police
Explorer.
Coston said investigations of this nature are fast and thorough.
“It’s important the police department acts quickly to maintain public trust, and the timeline of events we set forth and the actions we did in
tandem with the child protection team and state attorney’s office should make people feel better in that trust.”
” I stress that these types of cases are rare and should not reflect negatively on the men and women who protect and serve our citizens on a
daily basis,” Police Chief Bart Connelly said in a statement.
Ortiz was transported to the Lee County Jail. He is expected to make his first court appearance Thursday.