MIRAMAR, Fla. – A Miramar police captain is out of jail after being arrested on charges of lewd and lascivious conduct on a child under age 16.
Juan De Los Rios, 46, an 18-year veteran of the force with 28 years of experience in law enforcement, was released from jail after paying a $30,000 bond.
De Los Rios walked out of the Broward County Jail saying nothing and showing no sign of emotion.
He failed to respond any of the questions Local 10's reporter Ross Palombo asked.
The State Attorney's Office said De Los Rios approached a vehicle in a Miramar industrial park early in the afternoon of Jan. 15 and found a 15-year-old girl and a 19-year-old man sitting in the back seat.
The girl told police De Los Rios asked if she and the 19-year-old had had sex, but she told him they had not. Prosecutors said the girl told investigators that De Los Rios told her she needed to take off her pants and underwear so he could "see" whether she had had sex.
The girl complied, prosecutors said, and De Los Rios used a flashlight to "inspect" her, then had her pull down her blouse to check for "bruising." De Los Rios then let them drive away.
Prosecutors said the girl initially was too scared to report what happened, but her sister convicted her to tell her parents. The family reported it to Miramar police, and prosecutors said the girl chose De Los Rios' picture from a lineup.
A representative of the Miramar Police Department said the alleged victim is not related to De Los Rios, who has been suspended without pay.
He's now facing 2 felony counts of lewd conduct with a child.
If convicted, De Los Rios could face up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.