Iowa: Predator Police Accused of Using Ride-Along Program to Victimize Teens While Ironically Investigating Sex Offender

The former cop was found guilty of sexually assaulting teenage girls.

An Iowa police was accused of sexually assaulting teens while ironically investigating a sex offender. The cop, who is now an ex-police officer, was found guilty of victimizing young girls using the police ride-along program.

Crime scene
The teenage suspect reportedly began to brandish a firearm that the 26-year-old homeowner had left at the property. ANDRI TAMBUNAN/AFP via Getty Images

For those who are not familiar with this program, the ride-along initiative was established to allow civilians to see the daily activities of law enforcement officers.

They can do this by accompanying cops on their patrols; observing and learning about the practices and procedures of police. However, this former cop used the ride-along program for his evil deed.

Iowa Predator Police Accused of Using Ride-Along Program to Victimize Teens

According to Fox News' latest report, 35-year-old Michael Tobin was a Clarksville police lieutenant. However, he was terminated after he was accused of sexually assaulting teens during their department's ride-along program.

To make matters worse, he was investigating another sex offender who was accused of offering cigarettes and alcohol to teenage girls in exchange for their nudes, as reported by the New York Daily News.

In 2021, Tobin allegedly had sex with one of his victims. After that, he exchanged nude images with the teenager. Court documents stated that the ex-Iowa police asked the girl and her friends for their sexually explicit photos.

After, he also showed them nude images of other teenagers who he allegedly victimized. The minor informed the Butler County Sheriff's Office regarding the incident.

Because of this, Michael Tobin was relieved from his duty as a police official on March 5, 2022. Six months later, he was arrested and charged with several sexual exploitation crimes (September 2022).

Ex-Iowa Police Found Guilty

Iowa: Predator Police Accused of Using Ride-Along Program to Victimize Teens While Ironically Investigating Sex Offender
A police car with a broken window sits at the crime scene where a Des Moines police officer was shot and killed in his squad car overnight on November 2, 2016 in Des Moines, Iowa. The officer was responding to a call for help after an Urbandale, Iowa police officer was shot and killed. Steve Pope/Getty Images

The Butler County jury announced that Michael Tobin was found guilty in October, allowing the two teenage girls to win the lawsuit they filed against him.

"No matter how many times she said she did not want to engage in sex with Tobin, he did not stop until the City of Clarksville fired him," said the lawsuit.

The jury convicted the predator police on several counts of sexual exploitation against a minor; 11 counts in the indictment to be exact.

The former Clarksville police lieutenant was sent to prison on Monday, Dec. 11. The presiding judge decided to sentence the sex offender to 15 years in prison.

Tags
Iowa, Sex offender
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