CMPD Officer Accused Of Sexual Battery At Uptown Bar

CHARLOTTE, NC — A CMPD officer, paid to protect the public, is accused of sexually battery at a Charlotte nightclub.

Officer Michael Santiago is on unpaid leave while the police department investigates.

Police did not arrest him. A magistrate decided to give him a summons to appear in court, and he signed that summons Tuesday.

He faces a charge of sexual battery.

Police say it happened at Roxbury nightclub on 5th St. in Uptown Saturday, January 27 around 1:30 in the morning.

Witnesses say the man was grabbing women on the buttocks, flashing a police badge.

Fellow CMPD officers out there that night working security say they recognized him as Officer Santiago.

CMPD says he was off duty, visiting the bar like anyone else.

CMPD would not confirm what type of sex assault happened but confirmed one woman says Officer Santiago touched her inappropriately at the club.

“It’s disappointing to us an organization and to the men and women who are out there serving in our community to have employees who aren’t upholding the law,” said Deputy Chief Kristina Graue.

Officer Santiago has worked with CMPD as a patrol officer in the Central Division since June 2016.

In addition to the criminal investigation, CMPD is doing an internal investigation and says he will have to go before a board of his peers and supervisors. They will decide whether to fire him.