Police officer arrested on charge of lewdness with minor
A Las Vegas police officer was arrested Tuesday afternoon on a recommended felony charge of lewdness with a minor under 14.
Police said Garrett Vandereecken, 43, turned himself in to the Clark County Detention Center at 3 p.m. He remained in custody at 4:30 p.m. Vandereecken was being investigated by his own department's Juvenile Sexual Abuse Detail.
Vandereecken was assigned to the Northwest Area Command. He has been with the department for four years. He has been relieved of duty without pay pending both internal and criminal investigations.
Vandereecken's arrest marks the second time this year Las Vegas police arrested one of their own.
On Feb. 1, 33-year-old John Norman was arrested on felony charges of coercion and oppression under the color of office and misdemeanor open or gross lewdness.
He was accused of pulling over two women last year and coercing them into exposing their breasts.
Norman is also accused of groping one of the women.
Two additional women also came forward to the Metropolitan Police Department and alleged misconduct against Norman.
Police said those allegations did not rise to the level of crimes, but Norman might have violated department policies along the lines of conduct unbecoming of an officer.
Contact reporter Antonio Planas at aplanas@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638.
