Ohio police officer accused of producing child pornography

COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Ohio police officer is accused of producing child pornography, authorities said.

Raymond A. Rose III, 29, an officer with the Columbus Police Department, was arrested and charged with illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material and pandering obscenity involving a minor, according to court documents. Both charges are second-degree felonies.

A warrant for Rose’s arrest was filed Thursday morning.

#BREAKING: A Columbus police officer is in custody and is accused of recording an underage girl "in a state of nudity," according to court records. pic.twitter.com/64SmDNIjGu
— 10TV (@10TV) October 1, 2020

Rose is accused of producing a video recording involving a 10-year-old girl at a home in Columbus, WCMH reported. The Internal Affairs Bureau of the Columbus Department of Public Safety was contacted by a family member of the victim, the television station reported.

According to a complaint filed by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Rose recorded the girl in July, WBNS reported. The girl was known to the officer, according to the complaint.

Rose has been working with the Columbus Police Department since December 2015 and worked in the patrol division, according to WBNS.

Rose has been placed on administrative leave, WCMH reported. He will have no arrest powers and no firearm until the case is resolved.

“When criminal activity is discovered, our duty is to investigate and pursue the appropriate action based on the evidence," Columbus Police Chief Tom Quinlan said in a statement. "The fact that it involves one of our own does not change that. The protection of children demands the highest level of priority and investigation. Regardless of who the accused is, we support every effort to ensure justice is done.”