SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA — A man who applied for a job as a San Diego police officer was arrested after answers on his application raised red flags.
On his questionnaire to work for the San Diego Police Department, Robert Williams had to answer questions about crimes he might have committed.
A search warrant affidavit lists question No. 172 from Williams’ applicant questionnaire as trouble.
The question, which asked applicants if they have ever had sexual contact with a child, had a yes answer.
Question No. 175, which asked applicants if they have ever viewed, purchased, sold or subscribed to child pornography, also received a yes response.
10News learned there were two more flagged questions and responses.
Police then searched Williams’ car and apartment, confiscated computers and hard drives and arrested him.
Williams had lived at an apartment in Chula Vista for about a week. A man who answered the door told 10News, “He was a guest and he’s no longer living here. He won’t live here anymore.”
In April, Williams had moved in with a woman and her son in east San Diego.
“I did a favor and brought him in because he had nowhere to go and he gave me a sob story,” said Rory Shipp.
She said one day she turned on her computer and found a strange file after Williams left his hard drive hooked up.
“And when I opened the file, it was a little girl in blue and she was coming out of her clothes, playing with a little thing in her mouth. Oh my God, tears came out of my eyes. It was a home video,” she said.
Shipp said she kicked him out that day.
“He goes, ‘There’s nothing wrong with downloading it, Rory, nothing at all. Looking at it and downloading it, that’s okay.’ I said, ‘Are you sick?’” said Shipp.
Williams’ wife, Sunem, called 10News to read a statement from him. It said, “The San Diego Police Department has problems with the integrity of their officers because telling the truth during the hiring process brings prosecution upon those seeking employment. Mr. Williams told the truth, revealing his secrets, his thoughts, and his past. But he remains innocent of all charges they have illegally obtained. He is seeking expert counsel, pro bono.”
Williams was booked at the George Bailey Detention Facility. His bail was set at $150,000.
He is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.
