First Openly Gay DC Police Union Boss Arrested on Child Sex Charges [WATCH]

A lieutenant with the Metropolitan Police Department has been ordered held without bond after being arrested in Maryland on charges related to the alleged solicitation of a minor, according to court proceedings.

Lt. Matthew Mahl, who has served with the Metropolitan Police Department for 23 years, was taken into custody Tuesday in Harford County, Maryland.

He faces charges of solicitation of sex from a minor and solicitation of child pornography.

Authorities said Mahl was most recently assigned to special operations and had previously served as the first openly gay chairman of the police union approximately a decade ago.

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According to charging documents, investigators allege that Mahl engaged in a series of online communications over several weeks with an individual he believed to be a 15-year-old boy.

Authorities said the account was operated by a Harford County sheriff’s deputy as part of an undercover operation.

Court documents state that during the exchanges, Mahl allegedly sent sexually explicit images of himself and engaged in sexually explicit conversations.

Investigators said Mahl used his real name during the communications and identified himself as a D.C. police lieutenant, including stating that he had worked on presidential escort assignments.

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Authorities allege that Mahl sent a photograph of himself in uniform as well as sexually explicit images taken inside what was described in court records as his police office.

The documents further state that he discussed the age of the individual he believed he was communicating with and acknowledged the potential consequences if the interactions were discovered.

WATCH:

Investigators said Mahl requested sexually explicit images during the exchanges and arranged to meet the individual after school.

Prosecutors allege that he traveled to the agreed-upon meeting location this week expecting to meet the person he believed to be a minor.

When Mahl arrived at the location, law enforcement officers took him into custody, according to authorities.

Following his arrest, Mahl appeared before a judge, who ordered that he be held without bond pending further proceedings.

The Metropolitan Police Department issued a statement Tuesday after learning of the arrest.

“The allegations in this case are extremely disturbing, and in direct contrast to the values of by the Metropolitan Police Department.

MPD’s Internal Affairs Division will investigate violations of MPD policy once the criminal investigation concludes.

MPD is not involved in the criminal investigation and was not aware of the investigation until today.”

Authorities said the criminal investigation is being conducted by agencies in Maryland.

The Metropolitan Police Department confirmed it was not involved in the undercover operation that led to the arrest.

Officials have not released additional details about the timeline of the investigation beyond the information included in court documents. Mahl’s next court appearance has not been publicly detailed.

The case remains under investigation as prosecutors proceed with the charges in Harford County.

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