A Midland Police Department Officer was terminated and immediately arrested and charged with online impersonation on Friday, Dec. 13.
Jaren Speck, 25, a one-year probationary officer with the department, was terminated by Police Chief Price Robinson Friday afternoon and was being transported and booked into Midland County Jail as of 5:40 p.m.
Speck’s arrest follows a criminal investigation into allegations that the officer committed the offense of online impersonation. The Midland Police Department was made aware of this incident after a female contacted the department and alleged that her name had been used to create a website without her consent with the intent to harm, defraud, and intimidate her. Explicit photos of the victim had been posted to a page that was constructed on a commercial social networking site.
Speck was placed on administrative suspension on Dec. 12 pending the outcome of the investigation. Today, detectives charged Speck with online impersonation, which is a third-degree felony.
“The Midland Police Department does not condone this type of behavior. I want it made perfectly clear that public trust is of the utmost importance to this department and the men and women that serve our community,” Police Chief Price Robinson said. “This is an isolated incident that we are taking very seriously. We do not tolerate such a violation of public trust.”
The case has been turned over to District Attorney Teresa Clingman for prosecution.