OTTAWA COUNTY, Ohio — Multiple area law enforcement agencies arrested Austin Sabo, a police officer in Walbridge, who admitted to an allegation of "exchanging nude images with a juvenile female" after authorities executed a search warrant at his home in Oak Harbor on Wednesday, according to a press release from the Ottawa County Major Crimes Unit.
Sabo, 23, was arrested and incarcerated in the county detention facility on two fifth-degree felony charges of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles and illegal use of minor in nudity-oriented material. His employment with Walbridge police was terminated on Wednesday, according to Mayor Ed Kolanko.
Kolanko confirmed to WTOL 11 that he was recently hired by the department as a part-time patrol officer and was on a probationary period.
The juvenile's age is not provided in the press release.
The search warrant, which the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office and the Oak Harbor and Elmore police departments also assisted in, was part of a still-pending investigation into "ongoing child sexual abuse material" and "involves" Sabo, according to the major crimes unit.
A K-9 with the major crimes unit located "several electronic devices that are of evidentiary value" during the search. The press release does not say exactly how many devices were located or what kind of content is on them.
Anyone who has information on child abuse, or other crimes against victims, is asked to contact the Ottawa County Major Crimes Unit at 419-898-3155 or their local police department.