BRADENTON, Fla. — A former Bradenton Police Sergeant is under investigation by the FBI. Chief Melanie Bevan said the investigation began last year during an internal affairs investigation into Sergeant Leonel Marines.
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“This is truly a disturbing situation for me as chief,” said Bevan.
Bevan said Marines inappropriately used police systems to make contact with women that he wanted to “date.” He met the women through police calls and out in public, according to Bevan.
“This behavior may have been going on for years, stretching as far back as 2012,” said Bevan.
She said the department identified about 150 women Marines contacted using social media, telephone calls, and showing up at their homes. Bevan said he often contact them under the guise of police business.
The internal affairs investigation revealed allegations of misuse of criminal justice information and sex on duty.
Marines resigned his position in October of 2018. The FBI is investigating to see if his actions broke any federal laws.
The FBI would like to hear from other women Marines may have contacted.
