An Anderson County Sheriff's Office corrections officer has been arrested and fired after an investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation that police say began with a female inmate accused the officer of sexually assaulting her in a cell.
The TBI arrested David Antonio Berruquin, 28, Saturday on charges of sexual exploitation of a minor and a bringing contraband into a penal facility, according to a news release from the Anderson County district attorney general.
Anderson County DA Dave Clark said he expects more charges to be filed in coming days or weeks as the investigation continues.
Berruquin was arrested by the TBI and officers from the Clinton Police Department. The Clinton SWAT team helped the TBI in conducting a related search warrant at another address in Clinton, the DA's office said.
His bond was set at $100,000, which he posted. He remains free pending an arraignment scheduled for April 23 in General Sessions Court, Division I in Clinton.
How the investigation began
Berruquin was working for the sheriff's office when a jail inmate told another employee she was assaulted, the DA's office said. Anderson County Sheriff Russell Barker contacted Clark, who asked the TBI to look into the allegations.
The sheriff's office put the officer on leave without pay at the start of the investigation, which the TBI began April 5. Barker fired the officer after the preliminary investigation findings came in.
The TBI said agents determined Berruquin was in possession of contraband material within the jail. Further investigation, the TBI release said, revealed he was in possession of child sex abuse material.
Sheriff Barker and District Attorney General Clark respond to arrest
“While I am extremely disappointed that a former corrections officer has been charged with a crime, I am very grateful to the employees at the detention facility who took an inmate’s complaint seriously," Barker stated in the DA's news release. "They worked quickly while performing a preliminary investigation and demonstrating our department’s commitment to the highest standards. Anderson County has one of only two Tier II certified jails in Tennessee and their professional standards were on display in dealing with an internal problem."
The sheriff's office will be reviewing the screening and testing procedures used to make hiring decisions at the jail.
“It is a somber day when we have to arrest one of our own, but it also demonstrates the conviction here that nobody is above the law and that the law enforcement community has a tradition of policing the behavior of officers in Anderson County as part of our oath and commitment to justice,” Clark stated. "We should acknowledge and be grateful for the quick and expert work and cooperation that has been displayed in this case. Judges, prosecutors, corrections officers and most particularly law enforcement officers from multiple agencies demonstrated great dedication and teamwork in this case. I am grateful to them all.”
The Oak Ridger's News Editor Donna Smith covers Oak Ridge area news. Email her at dsmith@oakridger.com and follow her on Twitter@ridgernewsed.
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This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Anderson County corrections officer fired, arrested after TBI investigation
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