Sanger police officer accused of on-duty sexual assault. Deputies seek help from public

A Sanger police officer was arrested on suspicion of sexual battery while on the job and unlawfully detaining a person, according to Fresno County Sheriff’s Office.

Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims announced Wednesday that deputies believe the officer may have violated multiple victims.

J.D. Torrence, a 37-year-old from Corcoran who joined the Sanger police force in 2016, was booked Wednesday into Fresno County Jail with his bail set at $250,000.

According to sheriff’s deputies, Torrence stopped his patrol vehicle on June 23 to check on a car parked in Sanger.

There was a man and woman inside the vehicle. Torrence detained the woman and had her stand next to his patrol vehicle due to possibly being intoxicated.

Authorities said Torrence allegedly touched the woman against her will in a sexual manner while interviewing the woman.

The woman feared she would be further assaulted and walked away to a well-lit area and stayed there until Torrence left, the sheriff’s office said.

Mims said that investigators were able to make contact with a possible second victim and believed that Torrence may have victimized others.

“What he did was pretty egregious, offensive and criminal and we just think this wasn’t the first time he has done this,” Mims said “The last thing we want is someone who behaves like that in a law enforcement position.”

Sanger Police Chief Greg Garner said Torrence’s peace officer powers were suspended immediately, and he was placed on administrative leave.

“The Sanger Police Department finds these allegations to be deeply disturbing,” Garner said in a statement. “The Sanger Police Department encourages anyone who has experienced misconduct by law enforcement personnel to file a report.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sgt. Chad Stokes at 559-600-8144 or Crime Stoppers at 559-498-7867, www.valleycrimestoppers.org.

This story was originally published July 7, 2021 at 6:40 PM.