Sheriff's Investigators Looking Into 'Disturbing' Alleged Misconduct Between Deputy, Cadet

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com/AP) — Los Angeles County sheriff's officials say they are investigating an allegation of misconduct involving a deputy and teenage cadet.

Sheriff's spokeswoman Nicole Nishida says Tuesday the department is investigating the "alarming and disturbing" allegations against a sheriff's deputy.

The sheriff's department did not identify the deputy and would not provide details about the allegations.

Officials said the deputy is not assigned to supervise explorers.

They say the department has launched a review of the explorer program and isn't aware of any other misconduct allegations.

The announcement comes amid a probe into the Los Angeles police cadet program after teenage cadets stole police cars, stun guns and radios.

A Los Angeles police officer has also been charged with having sex with a 15-year-old cadet.

Activists from Black Lives Matter - LA, the Los Angeles Community Action Network and the Stop LAPD Spying Coalition gathered outside LAPD headquarters demanding that Mayor Eric Garcetti fire LAPD Chief Charlie Beck and calling for an investigation of the cadet program to be conducted independently of the LAPD or the Los Angeles Police Commission.

"Let us be clear, this is not an isolated event. It is part of a long history and pattern of LAPD officers misusing their authority, abusing power and using excessive force to dominate, intimidate, manipulate, assault, rape and even kill those more vulnerable," Nia-Amina Minor of Black Lives Matter said at a news conference outside LAPD headquarters.

Instead of funding the cadet program, activists say those funds should be used for non-LAPD youth programs.

(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)