Federal Way Police arrest Decatur High school security guard for sexual misconduct
Federal Way WA March 15, 2023
Federal Way Police arrested a Decatur High School security guard on allegations of sexual misconduct with a student.
At 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 8 the security officer, who is on administrative leave, came to the Federal Way Police Station with his attorney to turn himself in, according to police.
He was arrested, transported and booked into the King County jail for first-degree sexual misconduct with a minor.
In late January, allegations of misconduct involving the male security guard were reported to Federal Way Public Schools (FWPS) staff. The district contacted the police and Child Protective Services, according to the district. The security officer was immediately placed on leave.
Information about the alleged misconduct came to light after a former student found out about a second victim, the former student previously told the Federal Way Mirror newspaper. In a phone call on Feb. 8, the former student said she was also involved with the security officer when she attended Decatur. The Mirror confirmed the former student’s identity with the Federal Way Police Department and granted the person anonymity because of the nature of the incident.
During her sophomore year in 2019, the former student — who was 15 at the time — said the security officer helped her with school work and they talked about her home or school life, but later he allegedly began making comments about her body and legs, and was saying he wanted to have kids with her. She also claimed the employee gave her alcohol and cannabis edibles while she attended the high school.
About two years later, she said she went to Decatur to sell the security officer a pair of shoes. The former student, then 18, said the security officer closed both doors to his office and allegedly began grabbing her arm and kissing her.
On March 8, the former student learned about the security guard’s arrest.
“I felt a little bit more at ease because I thought this was kind of going to get swept under the rug. … He’s getting what he deserves,” she said.
On Wednesday, the school district was notified that police concluded their investigation and the security guard was placed under arrest, said Whitney Chiang, chief of communications and strategy for FWPS.
Chiang said the security guard remains on leave and that the district will move forward with next steps regarding his employment as the legal process related to the criminal charges progresses.
In a letter sent to families of Decatur High School students on Wednesday, the district said:
“We do not tolerate the alleged behavior in any of our staff, and this individual has not been on campus since the allegations were reported. We have fully cooperated with the police throughout their investigation.”
All FWPS staff must complete and pass a FBI and Washington State Patrol fingerprint and background check prior to employment, Chiang previously told the Mirror. Staff are also trained on appropriate behavior, boundaries and professional conduct policies.
The Federal Way Police Criminal Investigations Section continues to investigate.