LAWRENCE — Police officer Carlos Gonzalez is accused of
sexually assaulting a child while he was on vacation in Florida last summer.
Gonzalez, 48, was at Massachusetts School of Law in Andover,
where he is studying to be a lawyer, when he was arrested and charged on a
fugitive from justice warrant at 3 p.m. yesterday, police said.
A police officer since May 1988, Gonzalez is charged by
Haines City, Fla. police with sexual battery by a custodian on a person between
ages 12 and 18 and selling, giving or serving alcohol to a person under age 21,
police said yesterday.
Haines City is located between Tampa and Orlando in Florida.
The victim, who was not identified by police yesterday, told
police she was assaulted on July 22, 2012 in a private home, police said.
Detectives from Haines City flew to Massachusetts yesterday
to arrest Gonzalez. He was taken into custody by Lawrence police, who were
assisted by Andover police at the law school, and booked afterwards at the
Lawrence Police Department.
He was held overnight without bail and is scheduled for
arraignment today in Lawrence District Court on the fugitive from justice
charge.
Police Chief John Romero said Lawrence detectives launched
an immediate investigation after the victim reported the incident here in
December.
“Even though we did not have jurisdiction, the fact he was a
Lawrence police office prompted an investigation,” Romero said.
Gonzalez, who earns $60,000 annually, was placed on paid
administrative on Dec. 17 as police investigated. However, in light of his
arrest yesterday, Romero said Gonzalez’s pay status is now “under review.”
If he is indicted in Florida, Romero said the city can halt
Gonzalez’s pay and possibly terminate him.
However, Mayor William Lantigua, the appointing authority,
has allowed three police officers, including two facing felony indictments, to
remain on paid administrative leave for months.
Deputy Chief Melix Bonilla, who earns $140,000 annually, was
indicted on felony charges in September in an ongoing investigation into
Lantigua and his administration. Bonilla is accused of swapping 13 city-owned
vehicles for four Chevrolets with a Lantigua friend. The state Inspector
General said the city lost $30,000 in the deal.
Also in September, Officer PJ Lopez was indicted by a
federal grand jury. He’s accused of making arrangements with a local tow
company to have cars he ticketed towed in exchange for a “stream of benefits”
including a $4,000 snow plow. Lopez faces charges of bribery, making false
statements to a federal agency and obstruction of justice in connection with an
unnamed towing company in Lawrence.
And officer Daron Fraser is on paid administrative leave
again after he was accused of assaulting a superior officer on Jan. 27. Fraser
allegedly “belly-bumped” a sergeant in the 90 Lowell St. police station after
an argument over a television being on and whether a door should be closed.
A hearing will be held Friday in Lawrence District Court to
determine if Fraser will face criminal charges over the incident.
In July 2010, Fraser was placed on paid administrative leave
after he was arrested and charged with beating his then-girlfriend. A Haverhill
jury later convicted Fraser of domestic assault and battery for putting his
knee on his ex-girlfriend’s throat and gagging her.
Despite Romero’s requests to fire him, Fraser, who earns
$60,000 annually, remained on the payroll until October 2012. During his 29
months of paid suspension, Fraser earned more than $150,000 and also continued
to accrue sick and vacation time and benefits.
In addition to Haines City police, Romero said Lawrence
detectives also conferred with the District Attorney’s office and the state’s
Department of Children and Families as they investigated the allegations
against Gonzalez.