Veteran Seattle Police Sergeant Arrested on Charges of Child Abuse

Seattle police sergeant Daniel Amador was sued in 2009 for excessive force in a jaywalking incident. Vimeo

Daniel Amador, a veteran police sergeant based out of the North Precinct, was arrested and booked into jail on Friday evening on charges of child rape, child molestation, and domestic violence, according to King County Jail records.

In a statement, the department said it received a tip on April 1 from Amador's two daughters alleging "long-term abuse." The department worked with Lake Forest Park police, who led the investigation, to develop probable cause and arrest Amador without incident, police said.

In 2009, Amador and other officers were accused of beating up a Queene Anne teen after he jaywalked. The incident was caught on video. The Office of Professional Accountability (OPA), the department's internal investigations arm, exonerated the officers, and a lawsuit seeking civil rights damages was later thrown out in federal court.

According to the SPD, Amador was investigated by the OPA in 2013 for alleged child abuse, but the investigation was inconclusive and prosecutors declined to bring charges.

In August of 2013, Amador was promoted to sergeant by then-interim chief Jim Pugel. The SPD said the arrested officer's status will be changed to unpaid administrative leave pending felony charges.