CHARLOTTE, N.C. — CMPD Officer Michael Santiago has been charged with one count of sexual battery after an incident was reported.
Early Sunday morning just before 1:30 a.m., a woman reported a man touched her inappropriately while she was at a nightclub at 116 West 5th Street in Charlotte.
Officers working off duty outside the club recognized the person as 30-year-old Officer Santiago, who was off duty at the time.
Sexual battery is a misdemeanor.
Santiago does not know the woman in question, but they were both at the same club according to CMPD.
“I am disappointed by this incident," Chief Kerr Putney said in a statement. "As officers, we uphold the law and absolutely will not tolerate one of our own violating it. Officers who disregard the law will be held accountable for their actions.”
CMPD says as the investigation continues, it could result in anything from time off to losing his job altogether.
Santiago has been placed on unpaid leave. He has been employed by CMPD since June 27, 2016.
CMPD said they have followed standard procedures in this ongoing investigation.
As is standard procedure when an officer is accused of a crime, a separate internal investigation is being conducted to determine if Santiago violated any CMPD policies.
CMPD asks anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.
WCNC will update this as more information becomes available.