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| Jeffery Closson |
(Scroll down for video) A police officer was arrested and charged with sexual assault related charges after he sexually assaulted a young man with disabilities inside a shopping mall bathroom, according to police reports in California.
Sacramento Police said that Jeffery Closson, a 25 year veteran of the California Highway Patrol, or CHP, was arrested Friday and charged with two counts of misdemeanor assault and disorderly conduct charges. He was later released on $5,000 bond.
Closson, who was off duty at the time of the incident, has been placed on administrative leave pending an internal review by the CHP.
Arden Fair Mall officials were alerted to the incident by the victim, a 22-year-old man with disabilities.
The victim said that Closson inappropriately touched him in the Macy's store men's room. He said Closson was exposed and he touched himself as well. Arden Fair Mall security chief Steve Reed said they were able to identify Closson by reviewing surveillance cameras located inside the shopping mall.
"We saw his car on video. We pretty much knew who this guy was immediately," Reed said.
In an interview, the victim's father welcomed the arrest of Closson but voiced his disgust that a police officer had abused his power.
"He was in a public restroom preying on someone like him. It's disgusting," Jim Garcia said. "You know what you've done. Ryan knows what you did. Be a man. You're supposed to be there to protect people," he said.