ROCHESTER, Minn. (AP) - A Kasson police officer is being held on unconditional bond of $1 million for criminal sexual conduct charges in Olmsted County.
Fifty-one-year-old Julio Baez was arrested earlier this week at a Winona motel.
A complaint against Baez says he sexually abused two girls, one for 11 years, from the time she was 5 until she was 16 years old. The second girl says Baez sexually assaulted her beginning when she was 4 and from ages 18 to 23 when Baez lived in Byron.
The charges followed an investigation into what police say was self-inflicted gunshot wounds to Baez while he was on duty June 2 -- two days before the allegations came out.
He was released from the hospital on Tuesday and arrested in Winona shortly after.
The Kasson Police Chief Kent Berghuis told KTTC, "The alleged behaviors are not acceptable and should not be seen as a reflection on the outstanding people who continue to work for our agency. Once the Kasson Police Department learned of the allegations, we immediately turned over the investigation to an outside agency to avoid any conflict of interest and be transparent."
The Post-Bulletin reports Baez's attorney Christa Groshek, in court Thursday, said it wasn't clear who shot the officer. She claims the injuries were foul play. Groshek says Baez "vehemently denies" the accusations.
Baez has been a Kasson police officer for 14 years. He is currently on paid leave.
The Olmsted County Sheriff’s office is heading the investigation.
