A Los Angeles police officer assigned to work on an LAPD youth program was arrested Friday on suspicion of sending “harmful” text messages to a juvenile, the department said.

Abel Montes De Oca, who has been with the LAPD for nine years, was arrested at the department’s downtown headquarters after a months-long internal affairs investigation, the LAPD said in a statement.

De Oca was booked on suspicion of distribution of harmful matter of a juvenile, child annoyance and destruction of evidence, police said.

De Oca did not immediately respond to a call seeking comment. An LAPD spokeswoman declined to say how long De Oca had been assigned to youth services, whether he met the victim through the youth program or answer any additional questions.


Youth services officers work with members of the LAPD Cadet Program, an 18-week training initiative that provides physical training and criminal justice education to students between the ages of 13 and 20, according to the program’s website. De Oca would have been responsible for coordinating cadet activities, according to the website.

De Oca had been required to stay at his home during the investigation. An LAPD spokeswoman would not say when the internal affairs investigation was launched.

james.queally@latimes.com

Follow @JamesQueallyLAT for crime and police news in California.


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