CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - A Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer is accused of secretly taking pictures of juvenile girls that captured parts of their underwear as they participated in the department’s high school academy.
Officer Thomas E. Allen is charged with four counts of secretly using a photographic imaging device to view another’s body or undergarments and four counts of possessing photographic images in violation of the peeping statute.
Police say the charges stemmed from an investigation that began last October. Authorities found that Allen took four pictures of juvenile girls during CMPD High School Academy events in 2011 and 2013.
Police spokesman Robert Tufano said Allen took photos through the victims clothing during physical training. Tufano didn’t say what kind of device was used.
Allen was hired in March 1996. He’s been recommended for dismissal.
Tufano said 11 detectives have been assigned to the case, and they have reviewed several thousand photographs that were found on Allen’s home and work computers. The detectives have also processed the computers, and Tufano said there has been no evidence of child pornography.
Tufano also said detectives are working to interview the approximately 700 people who participated in youth programs that Allen was associated with. He said detectives have attempted to contact more than 400 of those people and have formally interviewed nearly 180 to determine if any inappropriate contact occurred while Allen was with the department.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police has a dedicated phone line for people to call if they have additional information in the case.
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