LOS ANGELES — A 10-year-veteran deputy of the Los Angeles County sheriff’s department was arrested in connection with engaging in sexual contact with two women inmates, officials announced Thursday.

Giancarlo Scotti, 31, a San Pedro High School graduate and current community resident, was arrested while on duty on suspicion of two counts of rape under the color of authority and two counts of oral copulation also under the color of authority.

“Let me be clear that the crime of this nature is horrific,” said a somber L.A. County Sheriff Jim McDonnell of the Wednesday night arrest, within hours of the criminal allegations. “Criminal misconduct, especially criminal misconduct that preys upon a vulnerable population, will not be tolerated and will be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We have a public obligation to follow the evidence and the facts.”

The sheriff, who made his remarks during a news conference inside downtown L.A.’s Hall of Justice, added Scotti was booked at the sheriff’s Norwalk station and released on $100,000 bail.

#LASD Sheriff Jim McDonnell explains what happened involving a deputy being arrested in connection with rape under the color of authority pic.twitter.com/btFUGYt8TH — Wes Woods II (@JournoWes) September 14, 2017

According to the county sheriff’s department booking log, Scotti was arrested at 6 p.m. Wednesday and was released at 3:50 a.m. the next day after posting bail.

Authorities learned of the crime after one of the women inmates inside the Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood reported it around 9 a.m. Wednesday to a teaching instructor who works inside the jail.

“Lockdown of the scene occurred immediately to preserve evidence,” McDonnell said, adding investigators were called to the scene and Scotti was notified and remained in a watch commander’s office until just before 2 p.m.

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“All of this occurred within five hours of the initial complaint,” McDonnell explained. “The evidence was compelling enough for us to make the arrest.”

An investigation revealed that there were two alleged victims, the sheriff said, adding the assaults occurred after midnight in one of the dorms of the women’s jail.

“This went over a period of an hour or so,” McDonnell said of the crimes. “At least an hour or so from what we know–on and off.”

DNA evidence was “certainly” part of the arrest, but the sheriff declined to go into further details.

McDonnell said he was not aware of any other similar crimes involving Scotti but he noted the investigation was continuing and “I can’t talk about prior issues with this individual if there were any.”

There’s been no indication or evidence that other personnel are involved and the focus of this investigation remains on the deputy, the sheriff said.

Scotti’s job responsibilities, McDonnell explained, involved overseeing the care and custody of the inmates in the Lynwood facility.

“I won’t go into detail on where this happened because it’s part of the investigation but he was able to put himself in a place where he was alone with the two,” the sheriff said.

There is a policy where if a male deputy or custody assistant goes into a cell with members of the opposite sex a female deputy or custody assistant must be present.

“That did not happen in this case,” McDonnell said.

The Lynwood detention facility has 2,090 inmates and the ratio of staff to inmates is one that’s spread “very, very” thinly, the sheriff said.

“It is a good size facility and to try and accommodate the safety and security of so many inmates there is a need for our staff to be very busy and moving from one location to another and it is amazing what they get done,” McDonnell added. “For something like this to happen is certainly something we take exceptionally seriously and that’s why we’re here today is to share that.”

Scotti is currently on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the criminal investigation until the day criminal charges are filed, the sheriff said.

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The Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, the union that represents deputies, issued a statement urging the public to withhold judgement until the facts of the case are proven.

“We too believe there should be zero tolerance for any law enforcement officer who is proven to have taken advantage of anyone who is in custody,” according to the group’s statement.

A spokesman with the District Attorney’s Office said no charges were filed on Thursday.

Staff writer Susan Abram contributed to this report.