Midland officer charged with
online impersonation felony Odessa American oanews@oaoa.com
A Midland Police Department
officer was charged with online impersonation, a third-degree felony, following
a criminal investigation into allegations that the officer used a woman’s name
and explicit photos on a social networking site, a MPD release stated.
Jaren Speck, 25, a one-year
probationary officer with the department, was terminated by Police Chief Price
Robinson and was being transported and booked into Midland County Jail on Dec.
13, 2013. Speck was released from jail on a $15,000 bond Dec. 14, 2013.
A criminal investigation
followed after a woman alleged Speck used her name and explicit photos on a
website without her consent with “the intent to harm, defraud and intimidate
her,” a Midland Police Department release stated.
Speck was placed on
administrative suspension on Dec. 12 pending the outcome of the investigation.
Detectives charged Speck with online impersonation, a third-degree felony,
Tuesday afternoon, the release stated.
“The Midland Police Department
does not condone this type of behavior. I want it made perfectly clear that
public trust is of the utmost importance to this department and the men and
women that serve our community,” Police Chief Price Robinson said. “This is an
isolated incident that we are taking very seriously. We do not tolerate such a
violation of public trust.”
District Attorney Teresa
Clingman will prosecute the case.
