A Los Angeles police officer was taken into custody Thursday on suspicion of raping a child under the age of 14, according to the LAPD.
Diego Jose Miranda Lopez, who worked at the North Hollywood station and was apart of the force for less than a year and was booked for the rape of a child under 14. The LAPD announced the alleged rape occurred before he joined the department. The agency also announced that he resigned when he was confronted about the allegations.
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He was taken into custody in the city of Los Angeles and is being held without bail. The L.A. County District attorney will reportedly review the case Monday to determine if charges will be filed.
This isn’t the first time the LAPD has been in the news for their officers being involved with rape allegations, but 2019, William Rodriguez, a 33-year-old veteran of the department, was taken into custody on Tuesday and charged with two counts of forcible rape. An investigation was pursued after a woman reported a sexual assault involving a female friend of Rodriguez at his home on November 1, 2018.
The LAPD report that the initial investigation led them to another rape in 2015 that was linked with a “cold hit” notification by the Combined DNA System.
The rapes had occurred while he was off-duty
“When one of our own breaks the trust of the people we are sworn to protect and to serve, it tarnishes the badge we all wear proudly on our chests,” LAPD Chief Michel Moore said. “This arrest also reflects our commitment to pursue every lead no matter where the investigation takes us.”
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The L.A. Police Protective League also released a statement, saying that if Rodriguez is found guilty, he should serve a long prison sentence.
“If these allegations are true, this officer’s conduct is sickening, and an absolute disgrace. We stand with the victims seeking justice for these heinous acts. If found guilty, William Rodriguez should serve a long prison sentence. Police officers are sworn to protect people, not prey upon them. We hope the victims and the public understand that the vile acts of any one individual shouldn’t tarnish the reputations of our officers who protect the people of Los Angeles on a daily basis in an honorable manner.”
LAPD officer Diego Jose Miranda Lopez was arrested for raping a child today. He was assigned to the North Hollywood area. https://t.co/Zp5oh8TRik
— Damien Burke (@ExMember) April 21, 2023
LAPD officer Diego Jose Miranda Lopez, 23, recently graduated from the police academy & was serving as a probationary officer assigned to North Hollywood area when investigators confronted him with sex crime allegations. He was arrested on Thursday night. https://t.co/49FUgRZ5uD
— People’s City Council – Los Angeles (@PplsCityCouncil) April 21, 2023