A sheriff’s deputy was taken into custody and Thursday after officials received allegations he was involved in a sexual assault.
Deputy Scott Cole, 41, was booked into Central Men’s Jail Thursday amid what authorities described as an investigation that is in its early stages. Cole was released the same day after posting bond.
Sheriff officials announced Cole’s arrest in a written statement, but refused to provide details of the case, citing the continuing investigation and the Peace Officer Bill of Rights – a law that protects officers during criminal investigations and prohibits law enforcement agencies from disclosing disciplinary measures taken against officers.
Investigators from the sheriff department’s Special Victims Unit initiated the investigation into Cole, according to the statement. The investigation was prompted when investigators were approached by the victim, officials said.
The sheriff’s department is leading the investigation, working in conjunction with the Orange County District Attorney’s office, said Dan Salcedo, investigator with the sheriff’s department.
“Right now it’s too fresh of an investigation to provide any information,” Salcedo said.
Susan Kang Schroeder, chief of staff for the District Attorney’s office, said her office has been notified of the incident, but they have not received a case.
Asked what division Cole was assigned to before his arrest, Salcedo said he could not comment on that at the moment.
“Right now we’re not commenting because the investigation is still ongoing,” he said.
A booking photo, which is regularly released by sheriff officials after a suspect has been booked into county jail, has not been released.
According to a sheriff’s department online blog, Cole has received praise for his work in the past.
In a posting titled, “Words of Thanks Keep Coming,” letters and calls from Orange County residents commending deputies’ work is cited.
The blog states that Sgt. Ben Stripe of North Operations was approached by a resident who wanted to thank him for Cole’s work regarding a call about a boyfriend who assaulted her daughter.
“She was thankful that Deputy Cole took the time to see the human side of their predicament,” reads the post.
Contact the writer: shernandez@ocregister.com or 949-454-7361
