San Jose police serve warrant on City Councilmember Omar Torres in child sexual misconduct probe
SAN JOSE — Police served a search warrant on Councilmember Omar Torres and detained him Thursday in connection with a criminal investigation related to alleged sexual misconduct involving a minor, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.
But late Thursday night, Torres strongly rejected the foundation of the police investigation, which he says was “based on misinformation” and “a clear act of retaliation” from a person who Torres had asked police to investigate for extorting and stalking him.
“Let me be absolutely clear, these accusations are entirely false,” Torres said in a statement released by his attorney Nelson McElmurry.
“I want to be clear that I am the victim in this matter,” Torres added. “It’s heartbreaking that my family, my partner, my team, and myself have to respond to such unfounded and defamatory allegations.”
The San Jose Police Department said Thursday it “can confirm that a police investigation is underway involving a member of the San Jose City Council,” but did not offer more details.
“The investigation is active and ongoing. For this reason, we do not have more information to provide at this time,” the department said. “As the investigation unfolds and new information is discovered, SJPD hopes to provide an update at a later date.”
Earlier in the day, officers stopped and detained Torres and served him with a warrant, sources told this news organization, adding that the investigation involved sexually explicit material and probed an alleged relationship.
It was not immediately clear what was listed in the warrant, but police likely sought to seize his electronic devices given the nature and scope of the investigation.
Torres said he was questioned by police but did not reveal what they asked him, according to the statement. He did, however, say he “cooperated fully with SJPD and turned over my passwords without issue as I have nothing to hide.”
In the rest of his statement, Torres said the “attempts to discredit me” will not affect his office’s services to his constituents.
“Rest assured, I will continue to serve this community with integrity and determination,” he said, adding that he is directing further questions to McElmurry.
A spokesperson for Mayor Matt Mahan declined to comment on the matter and deferred to the police department, citing that it involves an active investigation.
Torres, 42, was elected in 2022 as the first openly gay Latino member of the City Council after campaigning as an advocate for youth and families, speaking often about his tough upbringing in the Washington neighborhood and how it spurred him to become more active in his community.
Before representing District 3, which includes much of downtown San Jose, his employment history included work at the Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose, the San Jose Unified School District, Santa Maria Urban Ministry and serving as former Councilmember Magdalena Carrasco’s deputy chief of staff.
Torres also sat on the board of the Franklin McKinley School District and was previously elected as a trustee of the San Jose-Evergreen Community College District. Torres served as a regional director for the California Democratic Party until last year and recently attended the Democratic National Convention in Chicago as a delegate.
This is a developing report. Check back for updates.