A family in California called the police for help with a domestic disturbance, but instead a cop was arrested after he was caught masturbating inside their home, authorities said.
On April 21, police officers from the San Jose Police Department were called to a home on a report of a mentally ill family member getting violent, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office said. One of those officers was 32-year-old Matthew Dominguez, who allegedly “touched himself” in front of two female family members and then exposed himself to the mother, officials said.
The women were “shocked and scared” and ran to two men elsewhere in the house. One of those men allegedly saw Dominguez exposing himself in the dining area of the home, authorities said. District Attorney Jeff Rosen said, “The charged behavior is beyond disturbing. Law enforcement officers respond to our homes to help crime victims, not terrorize, traumatize, and create new victims.”
Dominguez, who has worked for the department for four years, allegedly sent two other officers away to find the mentally ill family member before exposing himself to the family members, officials said.
According to the department, Dominguez was put on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation. He was also charged with indecent exposure and could face a year in jail and 10 years on the sex offender registry.
A YouTube video was released showing Police Chief Anthony Mata walking Dominguez out of the department’s Internal Affairs Office, the New York Post reported. Mata said, “Last week I said that when an officer violated the public’s trust or engages in criminal conduct I would personally walk that Officer out the door. Today I did it.”
The department has been having some issues the past few weeks, as another officer was put on leave after responding drunk to a report of a kidnapping. Another officer is being investigated for trading a meth pipe to a woman in exchange for information, the New York Post stated. To help with the issue, the police chief wants to change disciplinary proceedings, which would allow him to “speak openly with the public.”
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In a statement from Mata, he said, “Let me start by sharing my commitment to transparency. The days of saying this is a ‘personnel matter’ are over in the San Jose Police Department. My administration and I will share what we can when it comes to investigations. Although the amount of information we can provide may be limited, we will provide it,” the New York Post reported.
