Former Police Officer Suspected Of Child Molestation Arrested In Mexico

GLENDALE (CBSLA.com) — A 54-year-old former police officer who was suspected of failing to appear in court on allegations of child molestation and a parole violation has been arrested, officials said Friday.

According to the FBI, Arcadia resident Arthur George Crabtree was taken into custody in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

He will be deported to the U.S. following his arrest and then turned over to the Glendale Police Department.

In February 2011, officials seized a laptop at his home, which revealed materials indicating he was allegedly in contact with children under the age of 18.

The Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles issued a warrant in April 2012, charging him with one count of child molestation.

A federal arrest warrant was then issued by the U.S. District Court, Central District of California in July 2012 after he was federally charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

The investigation is ongoing.

He left the police force in 2000 to practice family law and is known to carry large amounts of cash. In the late 90s, Crabtree was among several Glendale police officers named as defendants in a sexual harassment lawsuit against the city. He was eventually dropped from the lawsuit, which after two trials ended with a jury awarding the three women plaintiffs $3.5 million.