A San Jose, California police officer was arrested after he allegedly masturbated in front of a family who called police for help with a domestic disturbance, officials said Thursday.
The 32-year-old policer, officer Matthew Dominguez, allegedly “touched himself” in front of the family’s 23-year-old daughter in the home on April 21 — then exposed himself to the mother, according to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.
The “shocked and scared” women ran to two men elsewhere in the house, and one of them told detectives that he saw Dominguez exposing himself in the dining area of the home, the DA said.
“The charged behavior is beyond disturbing,” DA Jeff Rosen said in a statement. “Law enforcement officers respond to our homes to help crime victims, not terrorize, traumatize, and create new victims.”
Dominguez, who joined the department four years ago, was among other officers who responded to the home on a report of a mentally ill family member getting violent, officials said.
Dominguez reportedly ordered two other officers to look for the mentally ill family member around the house before he exposed himself, the DA said.
Dominguez is placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation, a spokesperson for San Jose police said. He was charged with indecent exposure and could face a year in prison and ten years on the sex offender registry.
Police Chief Anthony Mata released a YouTube video Thursday showing him walking Dominguez out of the Internal Affairs Office of the department.
