Port St. Lucie police officer accused of having sex with a 16-year-old girl


Story by Jana Eschbach/CBS12 News

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (CBS12) -- A police officer from the Port St. Lucie Police Department has been arrested by the St.Lucie County Sheriff's Office.
Officer Myron Pratt is facing 10 felonies in connection with a relationship police say he had with a 16-year-old girl.
"My initial reaction is shock, disbelief and, as the evidence becomes more and more clear, the shock wears off and you know it's just unbelievable," said Port St. Lucie Police Chief Jon Bolduc.
Investigators said the two met while he worked as an adjunct professor at Indian River State College.
Investigators said Pratt is under investigation for performing two sex acts with the teen in her car in a property adjacent to a church.
Pratt, 30, is accused of use of child in sexual performance, two counts of sexual activity with a minor, possession of child pornography, promoting sexual performance by a child, disseminating information for child pornography, lewd computer solicitation of a child, two counts of traveling to meet a minor for unlawful sexual activity and one count of interfering with custody of parent/guardian.
Police also said there may be more victims out there.
Police arrested Pratt Monday night.  Investigators said he's refused to answer questions by authorities.
Pratt is former Navy and a graduate of St. Lucie High School.
He's been with the police department since Aug. 2013.
Police said the investigation began after the girl's mother found revealing text messages on her daughter's cellphone.
The daughter, according to police, broke off the relationship with Pratt because she had a new boyfriend.