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St. Pete Police Officer Accused of Having Sex with a Minor

Iraj Daniel Karkevandian | Hillsborough Sheriff | Arrests

He turned himself in. The St. Petersburg Police Department has suspended him without pay pending the outcome of the case.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY – A St. Petersburg police officer has been charged with having sexual relations with a 17 year old, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

Iraj Daniel Karkevandian, 34, turned himself in Wednesday (Dec. 19) to the Hillsborough County Jail for an arrest warrant on a charge of Unlawful Sexual Activity with a minor, a second degree felony.

Hillsborough deputies said that, on an unknown date between 2013-2014, Karkevandian began communicating with the girl by using the KIK messenger mobile application. He also began calling her from his cellular phone to her cellular phone, and at times requested to meet her in person.

On an unknown date in October or November 2017, Karkevandian is accused of traveling to her home where he had sexual intercourse with her. Deputies said she was 17 years old at that time.

The St. Petersburg Police Department said that, when officials first learned Karkevandian had been questioned by Hillsborough sheriff’s investigators, he was removed from patrol duties and placed on administrative duty on Dec. 6, for not disclosing this to his supervisor, as required by department General Orders.

Tuesday (Dec. 18), the department said it was notified that the Hillsborough State Attorney’s Office had filed charges and an arrest warrant was pending. At that time, Karkevandian was escorted home and officials took away his department-issued equipment and placed him on paid administrative leave.

On Wednesday evening, when Karkevandian was booked into the Hillsborough County Jail, St. Petersburg Police Assistant Chief Michael Kovacsev, acting on behalf of Chief Anthony Holloway, issued an administrative order suspending Karkevandian without pay until the outcome of his criminal case.

Karkevandian was sworn as a St. Petersburg police officer on June 23, 2014.

Hillsborough Sheriff | Crime | Arrests | Tampabay News

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