2nd Columbus police officer arrested on allegations of crimes against children
The Columbus Police Department announced Tuesday the arrest of a second officer for alleged crimes against children.
A CPD news release says Ulises Hernandez and Leonard Forsyth were arrested “in separate and unrelated incidents involving allegations of crimes against children.”
The Ledger-Enquirer reported Monday court and jail documents show Hernandez was arrested March 2 and charged with battery, aggravated child molestation and create/etc or possess with intent to distribute/sell visual medium depicting minor in sexually explicit conduct.
Court documents show Forsyth is charged with first-degree cruelty to children, theft by taking (family violence) and abandonment of dependent child.
The news release says CPD opened investigations when they learned about the allegations in the cases.
“Based on the findings, the Columbus Police Department served as the arresting agency and filed the appropriate charges,” the news release says.
Both officers have been removed from duty and no longer have authority as police officers, according to the news release.
“Holding people accountable, including our own, is necessary to maintain the trust placed in this department,” the news release says. “The actions alleged in these cases do not represent the values of the Columbus Police Department or the hundreds of officers who serve this community with professionalism and integrity every day.”