Chris Helgren/Reuters
A detective from the Los Angeles County sheriff's child-sex crimes division has been arrested on suspicion of raping a 14-year-old girl in a case he was investigating, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday.
A months-long internal probe into allegations made by a member of the public led to the Friday night arrest of Neil Kimball, 45, an investigator with the special-victims unit. According to a department spokeswoman, the detective is believed to have met the girl during the “scope of his work.” Kimball was booked on suspicion of rape by force and preventing or dissuading a victim from testifying. He has investigated dozens of child-molestation cases as a member of the specialized unit.
The alleged rape occurred in Nov. 2017 in Ventura County, according to Michael Schwartz, chief assistant district attorney. Kimball was relieved of duty with pay. His bail is set at $2 million.