West Sacramento officer accused of on-duty sex assaults

A West Sacramento police officer has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting six women while he was on duty.

Sergio Alvarez, a West Sacramento resident, is being held at the Yolo County Jail in lieu of $26 million bail, a jail spokeswoman said Monday evening. He is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday afternoon in Yolo Superior Court.

West Sacramento police Lt. Tod Sockman said Alvarez, who has worked for the West Sacramento Police Department since 2007, was indicted by the Yolo County grand jury on charges that he sexually assaulted six women, whose ages ranged from 20 to 47, while in uniform and performing his patrol duties. He also faces kidnapping charges.

The Police Department became aware of the allegations last September during routine field contact.

“All of the victims frequented the West Capitol Avenue area,” Sockman said, referring to an area of West Sacramento long associated with low-rate motels and prostitution activity. “Alvarez used his position as a police officer to stop and assault the victims.”

Alvarez was placed on leave during the criminal investigation, which also involved detectives from the Sacramento Police Department. The city of West Sacramento has since taken measures to terminate Alvarez’s employment, Sockman said.

“The victimization of vulnerable people is despicable, but the fact that these crimes were apparently committed by a police officer under the color of authority is reprehensible,” West Sacramento Police Chief Dan Drummond said in a news release.

“The actions of one person should in no way reflect upon the outstanding performance and integrity of the men and women of the department,” Drummond added. “I am proud of the way our officers carried out their duties in this investigation and every day in the protection of the community.”

A tip line has been created in connection with this case. Anyone with information is urged to call the West Sacramento Police Department at 916-617-4775.

— Reach Lauren Keene at lkeene@davisenterprise.net or 530-747-8048. Follow her on Twitter at @laurenkeene