A Miami-Dade police officer has been arrested amid allegations he molested an underage girl.
Lt. Braulio Gonzalez was arrested Thursday 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.
"These are extremely serious allegations involving the victimization of a vulnerable child. The charges represent a breach of trust by a law enforcement officer who has sworn to protect the community and uphold the law," the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office said in a statement. "All victims of sexual crimes should feel confident that their voices will be heard and the alleged crimes against them will be investigated. No one is ever above the law."
