A 44-year-old deputy sheriff was arrested Wednesday in downtown on suspicion of sexual assault.

The arrest was reported at 4:15 p.m. on South King Street. The case has been classified as first-degree sexual assault.

The Department of Public Safety said the deputy sheriff joined the department in September 2001.

Toni Schwartz, department spokeswoman, said the agency will conduct its own internal investigation.

This is the second law enforcement officer arrested for sexual assault this week.

Windward area patrol officer Jessie Laconsay, a 10-year HPD veteran, was arrested at 1:30 p.m. p.m. in Mokuleia for allegedly sexually assaulting a teenage girl.

No charges have been filed, and the police officer remains hospitalized.

Police issued a CrimeStoppers bulletin Wednesday afternoon with the suspect’s mug shot and description of his car and he was apprehended an hour later. The alleged sexual assault occurred at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Laconsay has been placed on unpaid administrative leave.

He is facing a first-degree sexual assault charge.