Orange County sheriff's deputy suspected of raping a minor [UPDATED]

An Orange County sheriff's deputy was arrested on suspicion of rape and sexually abusing a minor, authorities said today.

Wilbert Dale Garcia was taken into custody about 4 p.m. Friday during a traffic stop at the intersection of Washington Avenue and Nutmeg Street in Murrieta, according to a statement from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department. 

Orange County Sheriff Department personnel were present during the arrest and have placed the 49-year-old deputy on administrative leave.

Garcia has been under investigation by the Wildomar Police Department, which accused him of raping a child under 14 and of continual sexual abuse of a child. Other details of the accusations were not released. 

Updated 4 p.m.: Garcia is a 19-year veteran with the Orange County Sheriff's Department. He was assigned to the south operation, patrolling mostly the Laguna Niguel area.

Sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino said Garcia was placed on administrative leave. He said the department was cooperating with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department and had initiated a personnel investigation today.

"It's disturbing when anyone gets arrested for the crimes alleged, but it's especially more disturbing when that person is a law enforcement officer," Amormino said.

Wildomar police investigators said they were looking for other possible victims.  Anyone with information can call (951) 245-3300.

-- Ruben Vives

Comments

[anthony]

It seems the last few years alot of policeman get in trouble while they are suppose to serve the "public"more and more every week they should be punished harder because they are suppose to enforce laws not break them .throw the book at them! if guilty.

[Mr. G]

They are criminals hiding behind the badge... PATHETIC !!!

[GM Owner]

These men (and women) take an oath to protect and serve their fellow citizens. However, when given a gun and a badge, this power goes to their head and following the law(s) is suddenly beneath them. They gab on their cell phones, make illegal lane changes (not signaling to move over), drive like maniacs, let certain ethnic groups do whatever they want because they don't want to have to wait for interpreters.
But this reprehensible act is so disgusting, it makes me sick. I have minor children, and the thought of someone harming them is scary enough, but when someone in a position of authority does it, be they police, teachers or clergy, it really chaps my ass.
The OC deputy should be raped in the same manor to see how he likes it.
My prayers to the victim and family that they get the help they need to move on from this unjust act of violence.

[August]

I've been SCREAMING at the top of my lungs for decades about the entire gang of thug crooked cop and their crooked system and no one cares, but I will never stop; the truth must be told!

[Bonny]

Funny how some people expect police to treat suspects as innocent until proven guilty, but then throw it out the window when it's a cop being accused.

Stay classy guys.

[Joefriday]

It's sad to hear this but Riverside county Sheriff's deputies are some of the most crooked, law breaking, liars, out there A gang in uniform. They use drugs while on duty, have sex with inmates in the county jail, and lie under oath when testifying in court. Check the history of the "Press enterprise" paper that serves the inland empire to verify these facts! That is if the L.A. Times even posts my comments as they only post what thay want to!

[Dora Glasberg]

Too little of the known facts have been made public to come to any conclusions.

[John]

GM Owner must be on parole or be part of the 5% of society who doesn't obey the law. What a idiot "they gab on there cellphones..." retard that cellphone law exempts ALL law enforcement officers against that. This Deputy who raped this girl I myself hope he gets the same if he did do it. What I don't like is morons who stereotype ALL cops are corrupt. If you seriously believe that you are also a idiot. Most probably 99% of cops out there are normal people doing the best job they possible can. Hey GM how about you thank the LAPD for hunting down the lowlife who killed that USC student??? Thank you to all law enforcement personnel for trying to keep us safe!:)

[What do you think?]

During Christmas back in 2000, we tried to report a 23 year old man to Laguna Niguel Sheriff for felony drug, kidnapping and statutory rape charges after finally finding and digging a 16 year old girl out of a motel room at the Fairfield Inn, Mission Viejo where she had runaway with the creep who served her at a Starbucks. We even had digital pictures of the guy's car (which looks like he crashed it several times while on drugs) and testimony of the motel front desk. After extracting the girl we determined she had been supplied enough drugs (thousands and thousands of dollars worth over her 30 day ordeal) to require hospitalization. We went down to the Aliso Viejo substation it was completely non-responsive. We pounded on their closed front door screaming into the camera, we went down the street to the library to call 911 (because calling from a cellphone in those days didn't ring there) and finally got some cop to come up, turn on the lights and let us in. He listened to us for about 5 minutes and sent us home refusing to "take the freedom away from someone" based on what he had just heard us say. No police report. Nothing. Just "She was 16." and "Stay away from that guy's motel room." We got the girl into rehab but she ran away from her parents again and was reportedly picked up two months later walking along side the road in pitch dark high-on-drugs --and pregnant! She went into a stricter rehab facility for minors, got clean, met someone twice her age in a NA meeting, had two more children as fast as possible with him and then they all fell off the wagon. Now 25, she was last known to be in a shelter for battered drug-addicted women while her ex-husband who is about same age as her parents stalks them. Needless to say, we tell kids to go to McDonalds for their coffee (where the immigrant workers don't have piercings and tattoos). Was the cop we met in Aliso Viejo that night the same one just picked up for child rape? Unfortunately, no. Would that now 25 year old girl (and now her 3 children!) have such a miserable life if that 23 year old rapist had been busted 9 years ago by the cop who had involved child services? What do you think! My take is that the cop we talked to was about 23 years old and was IDENTIFYING with the predator.

[What do you think?]

correction: when I wrote:

>by the cop who had involved child services

I should have written:

by the cop who SHOULD had involved child services

[Williby]

Visit: http://willibys-corruptjustice.blogspot.com/ and you'll find that rape by police officers is a common occurrence.

[GRANSOM]

No one knows the details of this situation. This man could very well be inocent of all accusationsl. NOTHING has been proven yet, there are only accusations. People make faulce accusations for a variety of reasons, divorces, custody battles etc. Everyone involved in this tragic situations needs mercy and prayers.