A Cleveland patrol officer was arrested Thursday on sexual battery charges.
According to the arrest warrant, 24-year-old Maria Velez engaged in sexual conduct with a 13-year-old on multiple occasions while she was working as an instructional aide at Clark Elementary School in 2015.
The incidents allegedly happened between March 2015 and December 2015.
Velez allegedly contacted the victim when she discovered there was an impending investigation of her conduct in September. She asked the victim to lie to law enforcement about the situation, the arrest warrant says.
Velez has been working for their division since Dec. 14, 2015. She was most recently assigned to the Fifth District on basic patrol.
An investigation was initiated last month by the Cleveland Division of Police Integrity Control Section to look into these charges.
Velez is suspended without pay pending the outcome of her trial.
