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South Valley Riverton Journal

Former Riverton UPD Officer Arrested

Dec 07, 2015 11:04AM ● By Bryan Scott

By Briana Kelley

South Valley - Regan Anson, a 25-year-old Unified Police officer who worked in Riverton, has been charged with sexually abusing a 17-year-old girl. Anson was charged in 3rd District Court with five counts of forcible sexual abuse on Nov. 4, a second-degree felony. Anson was a probationary officer at the time of the alleged offence.

“We hold our officers to a high standard. The public expects us to police our own officers and we take that duty very seriously. We are shocked and dismayed by this incident and will continue to fully cooperate with this investigation,” the Unified Police Department press release stated.

Investigators discovered evidence of a sexual relationship during an unrelated investigation, according to the UPD press release. UPD then contacted the Salt Lake City Police Department and requested that they handle the investigation. Anson was booked into the Davis County Jail as a result of Salt Lake City Police Department’s investigation within 48 hours of discovery of the evidence, according to UPD.

Investigators believe that Anson met the girl while he was on duty but had sexual contact with her on five separate occasions while he was off duty. The teen lived in Salt Lake City with family. Prosecutors say he engaged in illegal sexual conduct with the teen between Sept. 26 and Oct. 21. Anson was fired from the department after his arrest. 

Anson had been a probationary member of the Unified Police Department for seven months. He previously worked with West Valley Police Department for a year and a half. It is unknown why he changed jobs. Anson was booked into the Davis County Jail on Oct. 22. As of Nov. 10, he was being held on $75,000 bail.